The Ghost Who Loved Me by Karolyn Cairns Read Free Book Online Page A

and steadfast. She would come back.
    Anthony was determined to wait to convince her all that they wanted was possible. She could destroy Edward with what she knew of him. Her husband would give her whatever she wanted to not let this get out publically.
    They could leave England for America and start a new life there. She had the means to free herself from Edward Carlisle if she would but use it. He was determined she would see his way in this
    Anthony would gain all the proof needed to seek a divorce for her if it was the last thing he did. If she chose to ignore the only key to her prison out of society’s narrow dictates, he could say he tried.
    The last time they were alone at his flat made him sigh in remembrance, recalling how close they nearly came to making love. Elizabeth pulled away at the last, refusing him, unable to see that they belonged together.
    He watched her leave, frustrated he always met with such a wall whenever he pushed for more. She would overcome her hesitation soon, he knew, relishing when she surrendered to him at last.
    Anthony questioned the sanity in having luncheon with the Fennimore’s next week. With all the money he recently invested with Augustus, he could hardly refuse the man.
    Perhaps the attentions of a beautiful woman like the man’s daughter Jane Fennimore, who was unafraid of taking what she wanted, would dull the anger of Elizabeth’s breaking off with him so cruelly.

Chapter Three
     
    Annie dozed in the seat across from her during the journey. The rocking motion of the coach never failed to jar Elizabeth awake as she contemplated her arrival to her new home. Westerleigh would be her prison for years unless she gave Edward what he demanded.
    Elizabeth avoided thinking of lying with Simon Ives to achieve such a goal, nauseated to allow him such liberties with her person. Simon was quite handsome to look upon, she gave him that much. With his sandy brown hair and rugged good looks it was no wonder what appealed to Edward.
    Edward surrounded himself with such types. All of his house boys and footmen all had the same look, nauseating her to see their smirks when she was at Carlisle House the other morning. All knew very well why she lived apart from their employer.
    The mere thought of allowing Edward’s lover into her bed to get her with child was repugnant to her. It was so inherently wrong what Edward asked of her, she wished she had the strength to stand up to him and flee this impossible situation.
    Her eyes filled with tears, knowing she could not hope to find amnesty at Camden Downs if she fled there. Her mother would only send her back out of her own strict sense of propriety. She would lecture her daughter sternly on her duty, perhaps engage the Dowager’s aid to persuade her, but in the end they would send her back.
    Anthony was her only champion in this. And he betrayed her due to his own dismal financial circumstances. He was no doubt inviting his fiancée for a visit to England to meet his family.
    To think of Anthony marrying another was far too painful to imagine. She pushed such depressive thoughts away. It did no good to wish and want for things.
    This is to be my life, Elizabeth thought is dismay.
    From the moment Edward discovered how her father earned his living, the die was cast. She was prepared to refuse his marriage proposal that last night at Camden Downs while she waited for him in the gardens.
    Even if the estate was struggling and she needed to marry well, she couldn’t bring herself to accept Edward’s suit. She disliked him on sight. She never imagined what he would use to force her to marry him.
    Elizabeth went down to the stables that night to learn the truth. She saw the many crates of liquor and contraband stored there, of all the other high-end foreign goods, all proclaiming her father’s guilt as a thief. She had no choice but to accept Edward’s proposal or face her family being ruined.
    The financial disaster happening around her was kept