As Rich as a Rogue by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

but a clergyman, and yet you state clearly in the next item, no clergy. If I may ask, why do you object so strongly to the religious?”
    â€œBecause their wives have to be even more circumspect than I’ve been. If I thought these last six years have been a trial, imagine constantly having to be the epitome of moral rectitude. It would be maddening.”
    Eleanor gifted Mari with one of her rare true smiles. “We are of the same mind, you and I. And now that I know you will be content without a title, then I see no impediment in getting you to the altar by Season’s end.”
    Well, that was a relief.
    â€œExcept, of course, for the obvious one.”
    Mari nodded. “Lord Whitly.”
    â€œI was going to say any temptation to willfulness on your part. I see now that your natural inclination is not nearly as restrained as I’d been led to believe.”
    â€œIt is only because Lord Whitly has interfered.”
    â€œWell, that is as may be, but you must restrain yourself. One impetuous wager can be survived. Especially as Lady Castlereigh and the others have approved it. But any more such nonsense, and even I will not be able to redeem you.”
    Mari took a deep breath. So her path was clear. She was to be circumspect in all things no matter how much Lord Whitly provoked her.
    â€œYou may count on me.” She refolded her list. It might be a list about a man’s requirements, but in truth, it was all about her. About the woman she would have to be to attract a man like that. She returned it to her reticule, next to her folded list of possible husbands. Many of the top tier were crossed off as unattainable or unsuitable. Mr. Camden was the highest available to her now, and he was number twenty-seven.
    Meanwhile, Lady Eleanor clasped her hands together and started to rise. “Do you intend to go to Lady Barnes’s ball tonight, Mrs. Winter’s musicale, or the theater?”
    â€œThe theater tonight, and Lady Carlyle’s ball tomorrow.”
    â€œVery well. I shall see you tomorrow then, as I’m to the musicale.”
    Mari scrambled to follow. “But…but what are we to do about Lord Whitly?”
    â€œIgnore him. You have the approval of myself and the patronesses of Almack’s. If you cannot turn that to your advantage, then you are not as clever as I thought.”
    Mari stared at her a moment, then blurted out her thoughts. “But you are here to help me.” In fact, Papa had paid her to help.
    â€œAnd I am. I am giving you my approval. The rest is up to you.” Then she gave her a beatific smile. “Don’t fret so much. I think your gowns are perfectly sound.”
    Then she departed. Horace must have been listening, because he opened the parlor door with perfect timing. Mari stood silently, watching as Eleanor donned her outer wraps and walked away.
    Mari never said a word. She most certainly didn’t scream or rail that the woman had been paid to give better advice. That she’d been less than useless in offering sympathy. And most of all, that Mari absolutely, positively did not want to wear perfectly sound gowns !
    Which meant there was only one thing left to do. One simple and perfect choice. She was going to teach that dratted bird to say “happy day,” and then she was going to stand over Lord Whitly and gloat. Yes, she was going to savor every second that man was on his knee before her, and she wouldn’t let him up until Easter!

Four
    â€œHappy day, you dratted bird.”
    Peter and Lady Illston’s butler paused outside the back parlor door. It wasn’t good form to laugh while in the company of someone else’s butler. Indeed, it wasn’t good form for the butler to be chuckling under his breath either, but the two men exchanged amused glances and then—good man—the butler bowed and withdrew.
    That left Peter free to open the door quietly to the parlor in which Miss Powel was