Underground Captive by Elisabeth-Cristine Analise Read Free Book Online Page B

Nicki."
                       " Oui !  If I get a hint of propriety out of Nicollette, I'm grateful."
                       "What does the girl do that is not proper? She is young.  She is no different than you when you were her age," she reminded him, a little softer.
                       "That is the point I am making," Charles sighed, troubled.  "She is a young lady, but she has the iron will and rebellious nature of a young man.  The only way I can make her behave like a lady befitting her status is to see her married to someone respectable."
                       Her eyes narrowed.  "Like Jared Fleming?"
                       " Oui !  You've met the man.  He would be able to handle Nicki."
                       Blanche eyed him with doubt, then laughed.  "Nicki acting like a young lady today doesn't guarantee she'll continue to act like a lady next week, no matter who she is married to."
    Charles groaned.
                       "Admit it, cheri , you admire her.  You have an innate knowledge that she will survive no matter what.  From the time Nicki was a very small girl she has shown herself quite capable of fending for herself."
                       "Please, spare me," Charles growled, holding up his hands in protest.  "My pride in Nicki is blown to the wind when she drives me to distraction with the things she does."
                       "I do believe your senses are leaving you.  What has Nicki done now?"
                       "Do you know she has aspirations to marry a wealthy planter, whom she can also love?  Tell me, how many times have you heard of such a match?  It is a rare thing, indeed."
                       Her soft laughter floated through the air.  "I don't understand your reasoning.  You and Marie-Claude had one of those marriages. Maman and PaPa. Rene and
    I—“
                       "All right, you've made your point.  Marie-Claude and I  indeed had something more, and were deeply in love."
    " Oui , but why Jared Fleming?"
                       "There is something regal about him," he said after a moment, "though he is only a carriage builder and a man of very modest means compared to our family.  He has enough money to take care of a wife.  And I will see to it that Nicki's sizable dowry takes care of the rest."
                       "You have them married already?" Blanche gasped.  "What about the other young gentlemen who call upon her?"
     
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                       Charles scowled.  "Their fawning won't get them anywhere with Nicollette.  I know Jared won't fawn over anyone.  There's something about him that suggests he should be the one fawned over."
    "He does appear that way."
                       "I see in Jared honor, dignity, compassion, modesty, and bravery.  Everything Nicki should have--everything Nicki deserves in a husband.  Everything I wish Ricard could be," he said, his voice suddenly filled with sadness.
    "Ricard," Blanche said quietly.  "Gone three years."
    Charles nodded gloomily.
                       "That's a long time for any man to go without seeing his only son."
                       "I know.  Today is his twenty-fourth birthday and I know nothing of how he is."  The pain of Ricard's absence diminished the merriment that usually sparkled in Charles's eyes.  "God, what possessed the boy to leave in such a rush?  True, we argued.  But we always argued.  What was so different this time?  France?  I couldn't believe it at first.  I still