Connie (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 3) by Mary Kingswood Read Free Book Online Page B

he was about to offer to Mary suspended in mid-air. “I heard that rumour, too, to my great surprise. Do you say that it is untrue, or is it a matter best left unsaid?”
    Cousin Henry seemed on the point of apoplexy, so Mary said, “There is a distant relationship, but not of a kind we would wish to acknowledge.”
    “Ah.” His eyes glittered with interest as he digested this information. “In that case, the persons in question were ill-advised to come here at all. They know no one, and the daughter has not danced a step. She is a pitiable sight! I had considered asking for her hand myself, if no other partner offered, as an act of charity. However, I shall not do so now, out of respect for the feelings of those I have the good fortune to consider friends.”
    “Your sensibility does you the greatest credit, sir,” Mary said warmly. “I applaud you for your compassion. Yet I fear that not everyone will share your delicacy. Where there is money, there will always be those willing to overcome their scruples as to rank and circumstance. The Barnetts will add to their acquaintance soon enough.”
    “For myself, I cannot express my distaste for such ambition strongly enough,” Merton said. “Where is the respect for rank if everyone with a little money to his name is to be allowed to ape his betters and walk about as if he is as good as the next man? There is more to being a gentleman than having an independent income — a man’s breeding shows in every word he speaks, in his manner of dress, in his treatment of others and his knowledge of the world. One cannot disguise one’s true rank.”
    “You think it reprehensible in a man to have the ambition to rise?” Cousin Henry said. “Surely you approve of some flexibility in our stratified society.”
    Merton gave a little bow. “Your point is well made, sir, and naturally there must be some who rise and others who fall. But even so, there must be limits or society would crumble. One cannot dress the ploughman in fine clothes and pretend he is the equal of a duke, nor can the duke ever be other than noble, even if he were ploughing a field. Breeding is innate, and can be neither disguised nor feigned.”
    “That is too deep for me,” the Marquess said cheerfully. “But then I am only a marquess, not a duke. Miss Constance, I hear the musicians warming up again. Shall I return you to your mama?”
    As Connie rose and took his arm, Mary leaned forward intently to continue the discussion.
    “Mr Merton is a deep thinker,” Connie said as they descended the steps from the supper room. “I do not understand a quarter of anything he says.”
    “Merton likes to think he is clever,” the Marquess said. “As far as ambition is concerned, I should think he speaks with some authority. He has certainly beguiled Sir Osborne Hardy, or so my great-aunt says. Ah, here is Lady Sara. Thank you for the pleasure of your company, Miss Constance.”
    He bowed, and almost before she had made her curtsy he was gone. She was not unhappy with her progress, however. So long as he lingered in the neighbourhood, more opportunities would arise where he just might happen to fall in love with her. She passed the rest of the evening with very favourable thoughts of the Marquess. With every meeting she became more convinced that they would suit each other admirably.
    ~~~~~
    The furore over Jack Barnett, his mother and sister did not die down quickly. All the Allamonts’ friends were scandalised. It was not the mere fact that the late Mr William Allamont had had a mistress and several illegitimate children that offended, for such happenings were all too common. Rather, it was the ostentatious public display that so affronted sensibilities. Mistresses and their children were expected to understand their place in the world and keep out of the sight of respectable people.
    Connie was surprised to discover, however, that the existence of this particular mistress had been widely known for years.