Frederica by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online

circumstances, ma’am?”
    She was silent for a moment or two, not, as was evident from her thoughtful expression, from embarrassment, but from consideration of how best to present her case. “You may say, I suppose, that they arose from my father’s death, a year ago. That isn’t to say that I hadn’t thought about the matter before, because I had; but while he was alive there seemed to be nothing I could do.”
    “I am very sorry to learn that your father is dead,” he interjected, “but I must take this opportunity of informing you that my acquaintance with him was of the slightest. As for the relationship between us, I had rather have called it a connection merely. It derives from my grandmother’s family, and is, as far as my memory serves me, so remote as to be almost negligible.”
    “But Papa was used to speak of you as his cousin!” she objected. He offered no comment; and after a short pause, she said: “Yes, and I know we meet some-
    where, because I’ve seen your name on the family tree which is in the big Bible at home.”
    “Only through two marriages,” he answered discouragingly.
    “I see. You don’t wish to recognize us, do you? Then there isn’t the least occasion for me to explain our situation to you. I beg your pardon for having put you to the trouble of visiting me.”
    At these words, the Marquis, who had had every intention of bringing the interview to a summary end, irrationally chose to prolong it. Whether he relented because Miss Merriville amused him, or because the novelty of having one of his rebuffs accepted without demur intrigued him remained undecided, even in his own mind. But however it may have been he laughed suddenly, and said, quizzing her: “Oh, so high! No, no, don’t hold up your nose at me: it don’t become you! I’ve no objection to recognizing you, as you put it: I won’t even repudiate cousinship—though I hold out no promise of lending you my aid in whatever project it is that you have in mind. What, by the way, do you hope I’ll do for you?”
    She relaxed, and smiled gratefully at him. “I am very much obliged to you! It is quite a small thing: to introduce my sister into the ton!”
    “To introduce your sister into the ton?” he repeated blankly.
    “Yes, if you please. And perhaps I should warn you that you might have to introduce me too, unless I can persuade my sister that I truly don’t desire it. In general she is the most biddable girl alive, but in this instance she declares she won’t go to parties unless I do, which is excessively tiresome of her, but comes from her having such a loving disposition that—”
    He interrupted her without ceremony. “My good girl, are you seriously suggesting that you should make your come-out under my aegis? What you need is a matron to chaperon you, not a bachelor!”
    “I know I do,” she agreed. “That was why it came as a severe disappointment to me to learn that you are a bachelor. But I’ve already thought how we might overcome that difficulty! Would you object to it if we pretended that Papa had left us to your guardianship? Not all of us, of course, because Harry has just come of age, and I am four-and-twenty, but the three younger ones?”
    “I should—most emphatically!”
    “But why?” she argued. “You wouldn’t be obliged to do any more for us than to sponsor Charis—and me, perhaps—into society! Naturally I shouldn’t expect you to interest yourself in anything else concerning us! In fact, I shouldn’t relish it above half if you did,” she added frankly.
    “You need be under no apprehension! What you don’t appear to realize, ma’am, is that you wouldn’t find my sponsorship a passport to the Polite World!”
    “How is this?” she demanded. “I had thought a Marquis must always be acceptable!”
    “That, Miss Merriville, depends on the Marquis!”
    “Oh!” she said, digesting this, “Papa said you were a—an out-and-out cock of the game. Does that mean that you