Stormy Persuasion by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online Page B

grinning. Anthony just stepped forward. They all resembled the stranger with
     their exotically slanted, cobalt-blue eyes and raven-black hair.
    “Another Malory,” James stated the obvious in his drollest tone.
    The young man looked directly at James and, not seeming the least bit intimidated
     by him as most men were, said, “No, sir, I am not a Malory. I am Count Andrássy Benedek,
     of Hungary.”
    “Are you now? A blood relation nonetheless. Tell us, which Stephanoff you are descended
     from?”
    “Maria—apparently.”
    “Our grandmother Anastasia’s grandmother?” Anthony remarked. “You don’t sound too
     sure.”
    “I obtained the information from my great-grandfather’s journal, which is only a memory
     now.”
    Anthony began to laugh. “Another journal?” At Andrássy’s curious look, he added, “We
     found one, too, some ten years back, written by my grandmother Anastasia Stephanoff.
     Prior to that, it was only rumored that Gypsy blood ran in our family.”
    Andrássy nodded. “I had never heard of this Stephanoff ancestor. I don’t believe my
     late father was aware of her either. Gypsy bands pass through Hungary, never staying
     long. I have never met one myself. So for me, there was no rumor or other clue until
     I found the journal. Ironically, I might never have known of it, or had a chance to
     read it, if my stepsister hadn’t found it in our attic while she was hiding there
     during one of her tantrums, but that is some unpleasantness I don’t need to burden
     you with.”
    “Another time, perhaps,” Edward said as he stepped forward to lead Andrássy into the
     room. “What happened to your ancestor’s journal? Why don’t you have it anymore?”
    “It perished in the fire that destroyed my home and all my family heirlooms.”
    “How awful,” more than one person said.
    “You’re destitute?” Edward asked.
    “No, not at all. My father might have distrusted banks, but I never shared that sentiment.
     I had an inheritance from my mother. May we speak in private?”
    “No need, m’boy,” Edward said. “Everyone in this room is a member of our family.”
    That rendered the young man speechless, but then all four of the eldest set of Malory
     brothers were present: Jason, the third Marquis of Haverston and the oldest, Edward,
     the second oldest, and James and Anthony. Their wives were present, too, and most
     of their children, including their children’s spouses and a few of their older grandchildren.
     More than twenty Malorys had shown up for Jack and Judy’s send-off, and the young
     count was obviously overwhelmed.
    “I had no idea,” Andrássy said, his blue eyes moving slowly about the room, a little
     glazed with emotion. “I had hoped I would be able to track down one or two of Maria’s
     descendants, but . . . never this many. And you don’t even seem surprised by me.”
    Edward chuckled. “You aren’t the first member of this family to show up full grown,
     my boy, albeit one more distant than we might have expected. And I am sure we are
     all interested in hearing what you read in the journal about our great-great-grandmother
     Maria Stephanoff.”
    Anthony handed Andrássy a drink, which he merely held as he spoke. “The journal belonged
     to my great-grandfather Karl Benedek, Maria’s son. Karl’s father, understandably,
     didn’t want to speak of his indiscretion with a Gypsy woman, and he didn’t until the
     night he thought he was dying. Maria’s caravan was merely passing through and he allowed
     them to spend one night on his land. She came to him and offered herself in payment.
     She was young and pretty, but he still refused her, until she said a son would come
     of it. He had no children, even after going through four wives trying to obtain one.
     He was desperate enough to believe her that night, but come morning he was angry over
     what he guessed was a deception.”
    “But it wasn’t a lie?”
    “No, it wasn’t. Somehow Maria