The Six Month Marriage by Amanda Grange Read Free Book Online Page A

customary leer. ‘Although this one’ll take some beating, I
agree.’
    ‘That is the second time you have insulted Lady
Pemberton,’ said the Earl, the wave of danger intensifying. ‘Do so again and I
will call you out.’
    Gareth dropped Madeline’s wrist and a look of fear
crossed his face. The Earl had fought on the Peninsula . His reputation was formidable. ‘Now, look here, Pemberton,’ he
said shakily. ‘You can’t do this. She isn’t your wife. You know she isn’t.’ His
tone was almost pleading.
    ‘The Countess and I were married by special licence this
morning. Which means that she is no longer under your “care and protection”, Delaware . She is under mine. If you wish
to complain that I married her without your consent then I suggest you take the
matter up with the proper authorities.’
    ‘You . . .You . . .’ spat Gareth, words failing him as
his rage momentarily overcame his fear. Then, ‘You’ll never get her dowry,’ he
said, holding his ground and squaring up to the Earl; only to quail a moment
later before the latter’s aura of power.
    ‘I don’t want it.’ The Earl spoke contemptuously.
    ‘You don’t want ten thousand pounds?’ asked Gareth
incredulously.
    ‘It would barely cover the Countess’s pin money. You may
keep her dowry. Provided,’ he said, his voice becoming like polished steel, ‘that
neither I nor the Countess ever see or hear from you again. Is that understood?’
    ‘I –’ Gareth’s eyes were calculating.
    Madeline watched him in fear, seeing the play of
emotions across his face. She had learnt to read him well; indeed, her safety
had often rested on her ability to know what he was thinking.
    He felt ill used, that much was clear from his aggrieved
expression, but there was a calculating look in his eye which told her that he
was reluctant to make a fuss. And small wonder. With Madeline’s dowry he could
pay off his debts, and what use was she to him anyway? Without her dowry she
was no use at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. She was a hindrance.
    True, her dowry was tied up so that he could not touch
it, but if Philip did not want the money, then he could easily claim it and
give it back to Gareth.
    If she married him.
    Which she was determined not to do.
    But Gareth did not know that.
    He thought she was already married.
     ‘I don’t like it,’ Gareth said grudgingly at last. ‘You
have played me a dirty trick. But - yes. It seems I have no choice. I agree.’
    ‘A wise move,’ said Philip. ‘And now, you have polluted
my house for long enough. Crump will show you out.’
    Gareth looked as though he might choose to stay and
create further trouble, but one look at Philip’s implacable face decided him.
He gave a curt nod and followed Crump back into the house.
    ‘Are you all right?’ asked Philip, striding over to
Madeline.
    But now that the immediate danger had passed, another
worry forced its way to the front of her mind. Was the Earl going to force her
to marry him after all? Was that why he had claimed they were already married?
Only last night he had told her that she had a choice in the matter of her
marriage. He had made her think she could agree to his proposal or reject it as
she chose. But by telling her uncle they were married he had taken that choice
away from her.
    ‘You had no right to say that,’ she declared. ‘I have
not agreed to be your wife.’
    His stopped in his tracks.
     ‘I have just —’ he began.
    ‘Taken my choices away from me.’
    ‘I have done nothing of the kind,’ he said. ‘If I had
not told your uncle we were married he would have had every right to take you
back - though how he found you in the first place I don’t know,’ he added.
    ‘As to that, the answer is simple,’ said Madeline. Her
anger was beginning to fade as it did not seem as if he was going to force her,
after all. ‘My uncle sent his servants out to look for me. A drunk saw me
getting into the carriage with you, and told my