Miss Darcy Falls in Love by Sharon Lathan Read Free Book Online Page B

ours. The financial benefits are substantial and it will increase our family’s landholdings significantly. Additionally, she wants to marry him! That fact continues to placate Lord Webbing, but even his forbearance will cease if Sebastian does not accept our arrangement soon. I am running out of excuses.”
    “As pointed out, you have adequately informed our son of these facts. Sebastian does not need to be lectured again. He needs space and freedom. If he is not browbeaten and instantly placed on the defensive, then perhaps he will come to the same conclusion.” When hell freezes over , she thought. “Gentle persuasion may serve better, and I shall apply myself to the endeavor, but I still suggest you consider alternatives.”
    “I suppose you think you can persuade him better than I?” When she did not answer his mocking question, he grunted, waving his hand condescendingly. “Do what you think you can do. Just make sure he is betrothed before too much longer or I will sign the papers myself and drag him to the church.”
    She nodded and steered the conversation away from talk of bargaining a wife for their son as one bargained for a prized stallion. “I was surprised at your compromise. I hope that you are sincere and finally accepting of music as a necessity to our son.”
    “The ‘compromise’ was to shut him up. Oh bloody hell, Maria! I am sick to death of fighting with him! I swear he purposely goes the opposite direction from what I ask of him. If I thought it would do any good, I would pay the authorities at the Conservatoire to revoke his acceptance.”
    “He would only pursue another course, probably heading to Italy.”
    “Precisely.” Lord Essenton sighed, unguarded for a moment and showing a man confused and frustrated. He stared into the brandy, gentle hand motions causing it to swirl. “I hate music. Hate it with a passion. Why I ever allowed you to bully me into teaching the children is beyond me.”
    “Ladies must be able to play. It is a requirement of our class along with other artistic capabilities. Our daughters would not be as valued if not fully accomplished. Artistic talents and refinement are vital for a good marriage. We have seen this already with Clarisse’s marriage to the Duke of Tichbourne and Guinevere’s betrothal to Lord Rycroft.”
    “Yes, I have heard all the arguments and went along with it even at the risk of one of them being like my sister,” he spat, draining the glass and hastily reaching for the decanter. “And after being careful to hire instructors aged or hideous to look at, and limiting their exposure to any one art, who is it that ends up betraying me and running off as she did? My only son!”
    “He has not betrayed you, Albert. And he is not running off with his instructor as your sister did.”
    “He might as well have, living amongst poor musicians in shabby tenements and frequenting unsavory music halls and pubs. It is disgusting and shames the family just as her behavior did.”
    Lady Essenton could not stop her laughter, even when her husband glared at her with the tips of his ears turning red. “Oh, Essenton! You do have an overactive imagination! Sebastian is studying with the finest, most respected artists of our generation. Why the Conservatoire is a highly prestigious institution with impeccable standards.”
    “Yet what benefit is it to him?” he shouted, launching from the chair. “In the end he will have nothing to do with it except play in base locales just to feed this ‘need’ of his.”
    “How many times have we sat in the best parlors and salons of London or Paris and been entertained by pianists or flutists? All of them have been men of renown and elegance, some with titles and family connections of the highest caliber.”
    “Minor titles and none of our class or with our responsibilities.”
    “You are shortsighted, my husband.”
    “And you are a foolish woman, blinded by your maternal pride,” he snarled. “You forget