The Unexpected Bride by Elizabeth Rolls Read Free Book Online Page A

knowledge of his wife’s character. It struck George that Peter had an absolute genius for choosing the wrong woman. First Melissa and now Caroline. Expecting women to be like that, he could pick them unerringly!
    Hoping to change the subject, he said casually, ‘Had a letter from my sister this morning. In the family way again. Hoping for a girl this time. Says three boys in row is quite enough. She and Fairford want me to visit. Probably wouldn’t mind if you came along again. Do you good to get out of London for a while.’ He knew that Peter liked and respected Lady Fairford very much. In fact, on reflection, there were plenty of women whom Peter liked and respected but all of them were happily married!
    Peter hesitated before answering, ‘Thanks, George, I’ll hold you to that later. But first I think I’ll go to Darleston alone. I need to do some thinking. A terrible habit, as you say, but necessary. I must marry, but I don’t want to find myself saddled with a second Melissa!’
    ‘Certainly not,’ said George. Then, ‘Don’t any ofthe debutantes interest you? You certainly interest them!’
    Peter laughed cynically. ‘Not really. They all admire my wealth and my title and most of ’em are absolutely tongue-tied when I dance with them. That or disgustingly arch!’
    George thought about that for a moment. ‘Well, if you take my advice you’ll marry the first eligible girl you meet with whom you can hold a rational conversation!’
    Peter chuckled. ‘I did meet one, now I come to think of it. Last year it was. Young Ffolliot’s sister. Can’t think of the girl’s name now. Something beginning with a P anyway. But I haven’t seen her this year.’
    ‘Believe their father died suddenly last year. Driving accident. Carrington and I saw it in the paper,’ said George thoughtfully. ‘They’d still be in mourning.’
    ‘But young Ffolliot has been on the town just as usual!’ said Peter, very much surprised. ‘He’s not in mourning, surely!’
    ‘Ffolliot wouldn’t!’ said George in disgust. ‘Young waster! Carrington said something about it at the time. He’ll be running through his fortune before long if he doesn’t settle down.’
    Their arrival at Lady Bellingham’s ball put an end to the conversation as they stepped out of the carriage to join the crush of people flocking up the steps.
     
    Lord Darleston’s behaviour that evening was described by some as disgraceful and by others as exemplary. The first camp was almost entirely composed of young ladies and their ambitious mamas, all of whom were disappointed that such an eligible parti should elect to spend the entire evening in the card room, dicing while consuming untold quantities of brandy. The gentlemen in the card room, however, were of the opinion that under the circumstances Darleston’s forbearance was remarkable. Admittedly he was badly foxed, not vulgarly drunk, as young Ffolliot was, for example, but on the whole he carried his drink very well.
    The evening was a successful one for Darleston. He had begun with piquet, playing with George Carstares for chicken stakes. His lordship made it a rule never to play for high stakes with relatives, and had extended this taboo to include his best friend. After a couple of rubbers, in which the run of cards was fairly evenly divided, Darleston suggested they should give up trying to fleece each other.
    ‘Had enough, George? Maybe we should try our luck with the rest of the world?’
    ‘Not on my account, Peter. I can afford losing to you!’ answered George cheerfully, hoping he would be able to check his friend.
    ‘My dear George, may I recommend that you go to the devil?’ asked Peter in amusement. ‘Do you imagine I am so drunk I can’t see through your appallingly clumsy efforts to keep me out of mischief. Believe me, I have no intention of adding to my problems by dissipating my fortune! Only myself!’ He had been drinking steadily, but his speech was in no way impaired.