Hiding from Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

might come for her, but could she ever have imagined that it would be in such an underhand way – to approach her stepfather over a game of cards in an inferior gentleman’s Club that reeked of stale tobacco smoke and dirty ale glasses!
    â€œI would have pressed for good terms, of course,” continued Mr. Schilling.  “But since he offered me a very lucrative business deal if I brokered the match, I shook on it there and then.”
    Leonora gasped loudly, her disillusion complete.
    â€œYou and he – shook on it?  As if I was a horse or a mule or a bale of hay?”
    Mama gave a low moan.
    â€œYou have sold her, Mr. Schilling!   Sold her !”
    He looked surly.
    â€œNow don’t you two give me any trouble.  I’ve done the best that could be done for Leonora.  How else is she going to get a husband of worth?”
    Leonora leapt up passionately from her stool.
    â€œI don’t consider a man who barters for a wife to be a man of worth!” she cried.  “I don’t consider any man you choose for me to be a man of worth!”
    The mask was stripped from her gentleman’s face and what she saw in her mind’s eye was an expression as greedy, cynical and immoral as her stepfather himself.
    Mr. Schilling spluttered and rose to his feet.
    â€œWhat else is there for you, eh?  Being a skivvy at the big house, invited to put on an apron and wash dishes?  You fouled up your relationship with your aunt and ended up left out of her will.  You’re not going to foul up this arrangement.  You’re going to do what’s good for you and, more to the point, what’s good for me !”
    â€œI would rather die than marry a man I could not love,” cried Leonora.  “And there’s one thing I’m sure of.  I could never, never love a man of your choosing.”
    â€œWhy you, you ungrateful little madam!” he roared.  “You’ll do as I say or you both can go to the dogs.”
    Mama from her chair caught at his arm.
    â€œP-please, Mr. Schilling, d-don’t threaten so.”
    He threw off her hand and brought his face so close to Leonora’s that she could smell the tobacco on his breath.
    â€œI agreed with Lord Merton that you’ll marry him next week and that’s what you’re going to do.”
    Leonora lifted her chin defiantly.
    â€œ Never !  Never!”
    Provoked beyond control, Mr. Schilling drew his lips back in a snarl and raised his hand as if to strike Leonora across her cheek.
    Before any blow could fall, Mama rose with a cry from her chair.
    â€œMr. Schilling!  This I cannot permit.  Lay a finger on my daughter – and I shall – order you from my house.”
    Mr. Schilling rounded on his wife in fury.
    â€œ Your house?  You forget.  You’re married to me so it’s my house now.  Obstruct me and it’s you who will be ordered out!”
    Blood drained from Mama’s face.  She staggered back and fell in a dead faint to the floor.
    *
    Leonora scrutinised the doctor’s face anxiously as he emerged from her mother’s room.
    â€œH-how is she?” she asked fearfully.
    The doctor hesitated.
    â€œMiss Cressy, your mother’s heart is weakened, she needs peace, rest and freedom from strife of any kind.”
    â€œI see,” mumbled Leonora faintly.
    The doctor patted her arm kindly.
    â€œSo you see, it is up to you and your stepfather to help her recover.”
    Leonora bit her tongue from replying.
    She was convinced that it was the strain of being married to Mr. Schilling that had made her mother ill in the first place.  It was not possible for her to recover under his ministrations.
    Not that Leonora harboured any illusions as to the likelihood of Mr. Schilling helping to nurse his wife.  He had shown so little concern except to mutter complaints at now being saddled with an invalid as well as a fool.
    And he