Valentine by Jane Feather Read Free Book Online

close-cropped cut. “We’re going to have to deal better than this,” he said in some frustration. “We can’t always be manhandling each other.”
    Theo closed her eyes, forcing herself into stillness. If she didn’t react, he would go away and this crazy nightmare would fade. But he was talking, telling her that the only equitable solution to the entail was for him to marry a Belmont. Her mother would no longer have to worry about finding dowries for all her daughters, since he would provide them from the estate. Lady Belmont would remove to the dower house, but she’d still have close contact with the manor. And Theo herself … well, she could judge her advantages for herself.
    Advantages!
She opened her eyes once his even tones had ceased. “I wouldn’t marry a Gilbraith if he was the last man on earth,” she stated, standing up now that he’d moved far enough away to allow her to do so.
    “That’s history,” he said. “It has nothing to do with us … with any of us, anymore. Can’t you see I’m trying to rise above a quarrel that happened in the mists of time?”
    “Perhaps.” She shrugged and went to the door. “Maybe I should have said I wouldn’t marry
you
, cousin, if you were the last man on earth.”
    She left, leaving Sylvester staring into empty space. His hands were tightly clenched, and slowly he opened them, flexing his fingers. He was not going to be routed by an insolentbaggage fifteen years his junior. Not while he had breath in his body.
    He followed her downstairs, his step measured, consciously banishing all signs of his white-hot fury from his expression. Theo’s voice came from the drawing room, shaking with emotion as she demanded to know why her mother had consented to such a hideous proposal.
    Sylvester paused outside the open door, waiting for Lady Belmont’s response.
    When it came, it was calm and equable. “Theo, dear, no one is forcing you into anything. I consider Lord Stoneridge’s suggestion to be both generous and perfectly reasonable. But if you dislike it, then there’s nothing more to be said.”
    “My sentiments exactly, Lady Belmont.” Sylvester stepped into the drawing room. “I’m desolated to have caused my cousin such distress…. I was perhaps somewhat premature in making my declaration.”
    “Perhaps you were, Lord Stoneridge.” Elinor’s look and tone were disapproving. “However, let’s agree to bury the issue. I trust you’ll join us for dinner, sir.”
    Ah … so he hadn’t lost the mother’s support. She considered him inept, no doubt, but she didn’t know that her daughter was a castle to be taken by storm or not at all. However, the door remained open.
    Taking his cue, Sylvester bowed and accepted with appropriate thanks before saying, “I was hoping my cousin would ride around the estate with me, but I daresay I’m too much in her bad graces to ask for such a favor.” He smiled at Theo.
    The ground had been neatly cut from beneath her feet with that swift and delicate apology. She had no choice but to accede if she were not to appear childishly churlish. The trouble was, her mother didn’t know what a shark lay behind that engaging smile.
    “If you wish it, cousin,” she said stiffly. “But we can’t go far this afternoon, it’s nearly four and we keep country hours. Unfashionable, I know, but we dine at six.” She managed toconvey both her contempt for anyone who would find the hour outmoded and her belief that Sylvester Gilbraith was such a fribble.
    Sylvester had his temper on a tight rein. “Then perhaps we should postpone it until the morning,” he said easily. “If I’m to join you for dinner, ma’am, I should return to the inn and change my dress.”
    “By all means. Until later, Lord Stoneridge.” Elinor held out her hand in farewell.
    Sylvester smiled, bowed to the room in general, offering no special attention to his hotheaded soon-to-be betrothed, and left, not completely displeased with the afternoon’s