Courting Lord Dorney by Sally James Read Free Book Online

a few days yet?’
    He followed the footman up to the drawing room where his aunt, the widow of his father’s younger brother, sat near the window with some embroidery on her lap. She glanced at the footman and sighed. Lord Dorney had no difficulty in interpreting that sigh. She maintained that she could not afford a butler, and the footman was less than six feet tall, and his calves were less impressive than the calves of her wealthier friends’ footmen. Despite his own monetary difficulties, his aunt frequently wondered why he was not willing to assist her to move to a better part of the town, and employ more servants. The truth was different. She was miserly and resented spending money.
    ‘Well, Richard, it’s been a long time since you deigned to visit your poor relations,’ she said now. ‘You may kiss me.’
    He bent down and brushed her cheek with his lips. He’d been in Bath three months ago, but knew better than to argue with his aunt. She positively enjoyed complaining about her grievances, and she had a multitude of them. He wondered how Alex and his sisters could endure living with her. One day, one hour, was enough for him.
    ‘I’m here now. I trust I find you well?’
    She launched at once into a catalogue of her aches and pains, the snubs and slights she had received, and the disgraceful behaviour of tradesmen who did nothing but cheat honest customers. Lord Dorney exchanged a wry glance with Alexander. Eventually they escaped and Alexander led the way downstairs, letting out a huge sigh as he did so.
    ‘Why don’t you take rooms in London?’ Lord Dorney asked abruptly. ‘You can afford it. She has her jointure, and you’re not nearly so poor as she pretends.’
    ‘I can’t leave Fanny and Anna to bear all her ill humours all the time,’ Alexander said, sighing. ‘As it is I’m away more than she likes.’
    ‘I honour you for it. Most young men would have fled long ago. But what will happen when you marry? Could you subject your bride to her constant complaints?’
    ‘That’s what I need to talk to you about. I wondered, that is, I hoped, you would allow me to rent Dorney Court from you, when I marry Felicity. That is, if she accepts me, I haven’t actually asked her yet. Mama could move into the Dower House. She’s often said she’d like to live in the country. Then I’d still be near enough to look after her.’
    Lord Dorney frowned. ‘Alex, I need somewhere to live myself. I’ve sold almost all the property my mother left me, apart from Fellside, which I hope I’ll sell soon, and a couple of houses in Highgate Village, which are let out. I only have the hunting box, and the town house is let. I may dislike what Selina has done with Dorney Court, but I used to love the place, and will no doubt appreciate it again when it’s restored. It’s my only proper home.’
    ‘Are you planning to marry?’ Alex asked swiftly.
    ‘After Robert’s experience of marriage, do you think I’m in a hurry to tie the knot?’
    ‘You’ll change your mind when you meet the right girl,’ Alexander said, and Lord Dorney marvelled at the optimistic confidence of youth.
    ‘Perhaps,’ he said. ‘You can have the dower house, but I don’t think Felicity would care to share it with your mother. And what of your sisters? They are still young, they no doubt wish to marry, if only to escape from your mother. They’d have far less opportunity of meeting suitable men if they were living in the country. Dorney Court is isolated, there isn’t much society nearby.’
    Alexander sighed. ‘I know. But I can’t bring Felicity here. My mother would soon drive her to distraction. I can afford to buy a small house in Bath just for us, so that we could live separately, but not one in the country too, and Felicity likes the country.’
    ‘You can come to Dorney Court whenever you wish. I won’t object, and you can invite friends at any time. But if you ask your mother to stay, give me good warning and I will