Anne Ashley by His Makeshift Wife Read Free Book Online Page A

appeared to consider what remained of the rich liquid in his glass. ‘There
were several reasons, m’dear, for taking such a drastic step.’
    The response was hardly destined to satisfy her, and it didn’t,
of course. Furthermore, she wasn’t overly impressed, either, by the quick return
of that infuriating drawl he continued to affect whenever the mood happened to
take him. She was instantly on her guard, all at once intensely suspicious of
his motives.
    ‘Come, sir, let us have a degree of honesty between us at the
outset, otherwise relations between us are likely to become strained indeed, if
we become mistrustful of each other,’ she suggested, refusing to admit defeat so
easily. ‘I made no secret of the fact why I agreed to marry you. My motives were
purely mercenary. Marriage offered me financial security, which I would never
have attained without it.’
    ‘True, but I strongly suspect you would never have married for
money alone, otherwise you would have done so long before now.’ There was a
suspicion of a challenge in the look he cast her, almost daring her to deny it.
‘I clearly recall Aunt Lavinia being quite vexed because you flatly refused to
accompany her to London for a Season. Hardly the actions of an avaricious miss,
now were they, m’dear?’
    Resentful though she was, she was obliged to accept that he
knew a deal more about her than she did about him. She couldn’t help wondering
what else Lady Ashworth had revealed in recent years and was doubly determined
to discover the reason for his wishing to marry.
    ‘What a persistent little madam you are to be sure, Briony!’ he
scolded, after she had reminded him that he hadn’t satisfied her curiosity.
‘Still, my aunt did warn me that there was a stubbornly determined streak in
your nature. And Aunt Lavinia—bless her!—was a rare, truthful woman.’
    He grinned at the look of exasperation he received. ‘Oh, very
well, though I’m obliged to own it doesn’t redound to my credit.’
    Once again he appeared to find the contents of his glass of
immense interest. ‘You may or may not have heard that I’ve been playing rather
deep of late. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m even remotely close to ruining
myself, but my recent losses have been steadily mounting and, more
significantly, have come to the ears of my uncle. Lord Kingsley is a most
abstemious fellow, almost to the point of meanness, some might say. All the
same, since his son died, and I became his heir, Uncle Augustus has made me a
generous quarterly allowance. Furthermore, you’d need to go a long way to find
an ancestral pile maintained to such a high standard as Kingsley Hall. It is
little wonder that he would be concerned over its future well-being. By marrying
and settling down in the country for a spell I hope to put the old man’s mind at
rest as to my worthiness to step into his shoes.’
    Briony wasn’t at all sure she liked the explanation she was
being offered. Or believed it, either, come to that! ‘But won’t he think quite
the opposite—that you’re utterly fickle, when the marriage is annulled?’
    He shrugged, appearing completely indifferent to the prospect.
‘Oh, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. He hasn’t been at all well of
late. That’s why he didn’t attend Aunt Lavinia’s funeral.’
    Yes, at least Lord Kingsley had some excuse for not attending. Which is more than can be said for you! Briony
longed to retort, but managed to check the stricture long before it reached her
lips.
    ‘In fact, he hasn’t enjoyed good health for some time, not
since the death of his only son,’ he continued, quite oblivious to the fact that
he had plummeted in her estimation. ‘Sadly, I don’t believe he’s long for this
world. Which I cannot imagine troubles him overmuch. He’s never been the same
since Giles’s death.’
    This did succeed in diverting her thoughts. ‘Yes, very tragic.
I only ever met your uncle on one occasion, many years ago,