Tempting a Proper Lady (20 page)

“I imagine the subject is not one you have discussed.”

“No, I've been too afraid to bring it up. He thinks I'm pretty, I suppose, but I get the feeling he would marry me even if I looked like one of the plow horses in the fields as long as Pa's fortune goes with me. But is that all he thinks of me? That I am pretty and rich? Doesn't he want to know if I am smart or funny or kind or anything else a man might want in a wife?”

“You already said you believe he is wedding you for your fortune.”

“I
know
he is.” She lowered her voice and looked down at her hands. “I guess I just thought he would eventually fall in love with me…even just a little.”

Sympathy washed over Cilla as she studied at the girl's bent head. She wanted to comfort her, but she also did not want Annabelle wed to a man who might harm her. “I am certain you realize that love is not something that is taken into consideration by the upper classes where marriage is concerned. Very often two people marry for other reasons that have more to do with fortunes than with hearts.”

Annabelle looked up. “Your sister said much the same thing to me two nights ago at the Collingwood affair. But I thought she was simply being mean.”

Curse your sharp tongue, Genny
. “Perhaps she was
simply trying to help you avoid a broken heart.”

“So it's true then? Richard might really feel nothing for me? Nothing at all?”

The despair edging her voice tested Cilla's determination, and her heart turned over in her chest at her young friend's fallen expression. “I am going to tell you something, Annabelle, which might disturb you.”

“Oh, my heavens! What is it?” The girl clenched her hands together, blue eyes wide with anxiety.

“I have heard tell that His Lordship is deeply in debt.”

Annabelle remained frozen for a long moment. “Is that it?”

“Yes. He has amassed quite a number of gaming debts, which forced him to sell this estate to your father. Marrying you will also get him enough funds to pay the men he owes.”

Annabelle gave a sigh of relief. “Heavens, Mrs. Burke, I thought you were going to tell me that the earl was already married or something horrible like that.”

“Debts are no laughing matter. A man who cannot stay away from the tables can bankrupt his entire family.
Your
entire family.”

“Oh.” Annabelle frowned. “I suppose that is a problem.”

“Marrying you may be his only solution, and unfortunately it does not require that he fall in love with you.”

“Like I said, I already knew he needs my money. And now that I know that he has these gambling
debts, everything makes sense.” She gave Cilla a smile. “At least you didn't mention that silly rumor about Richard making young girls disappear from the area.”

Cilla froze. “What rumor?”

“I overheard the servants talking. Something about a girl who worked at Raventhorpe Manor disappearing. They thought that Richard might have something to do with it. Naturally it is nonsense.”

Cilla wrestled with her instincts for a moment. Should she tell Annabelle what Samuel had divulged to her, or should she follow her intuition and shelter an innocent girl from a sordid truth? Protection won the battle. Rather than revealing information that might possibly shatter Annabelle's innocence forever, she would instead build on the doubts the servants had raised and convince Annabelle to jilt the earl. “Naturally such talk about one's betrothed would generate second thoughts.”

“Oh, but I don't believe that crazy story,” Annabelle insisted. “It's just talk. Still…” Her voice trailed off, and uncertainty flickered across her face.

“Doubts.”

“I shouldn't feel this way,” Annabelle burst out.

“Better to address your concerns now rather than after you are wed.”

“Fine. Let's talk about doubts. What about Samuel's ridiculous story? Claiming that Richard tried to kill him.” She shrugged as if to dismiss the charge, but Cilla heard the lack of conviction in her voice.

“Has Captain Breedlove ever lied to you?”

“No, but that was before he disappeared for two years.”

“All right, allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment. Is the captain the type of man to make up wild stories to further his own ends?”

“Of course not.”

“And what are your reasons for believing Lord Raventhorpe over Captain Breedlove?”

“Well, Richard's an earl.”

Cilla waited, but the girl said nothing more. “That is your only reason?”

“Of course. An earl would have no reason to lie.”

“Annabelle, I know America has no gentry as we do here in England, so you must take my word when I tell you that an earl can lie just as easily as any other man. Sometimes more so because their position in society will often shelter them from punishment for their misdeeds.”

Annabelle frowned. “You mean Richard could commit a crime and never go to jail for it?”

“That is exactly what I am saying. If his crime is severe enough, he can be brought up on charges and be tried in the House of Lords. The other peers will decide his fate, though sometimes the accused still goes free.”

“That doesn't seem very fair.”

“But that is the law of England, the law that will govern the earl. Now, knowing that, is there any reason why you should believe Lord Raventhorpe over the captain?”

“Richard never abandoned me.”

“And the captain has already stated he never intended to abandon you. You have admitted that Lord Raventhorpe needs money. He and the captain were in business together, yet only His Lordship returned from their voyage. What happened to the captain's share?”

“Once Samuel resigned his position, his share was divided amongst all the investors.”

“Including the earl.”

“Of course.” Annabelle furrowed her brow. “I do not like your implications, Mrs. Burke.”

“All I am saying is that
if
Lord Raventhorpe were in desperate need of funds and
if
he were the type of man who would resort to desperate action when cornered, he might indeed be tempted to do away with his enemies. What if Captain Breedlove was somehow getting in the way of Lord Raventhorpe making more money?”

“So you are saying that Samuel was trying to keep Richard from making money from the voyage, so Richard tried to kill him, then returned to America and claimed part of Samuel's share since everyone thought Samuel had deserted the ship.”

“Correct. But the captain was marooned, which is why he was gone for two years with no communication. His first act upon being rescued was to come and find you.”

“Oh, my.” Annabelle bit her lower lip. “It sounds crazy.”

“Not if you combine it with the rumor you heard from the servants.”

Annabelle was silent for a long time, and Cilla began to hope she might have successfully sowed the seeds of doubt. But then the girl said, “Now allow me to be devil's advocate.”

Cilla nodded.

“What if Samuel was lying to me the entire time we were courting? He never said he loved me, you know.”

“Neither did Lord Raventhorpe.”

“Nonetheless, Samuel courted me before I was an heiress and never told me he loved me, even when I said the words to him. Then he disappeared. Maybe not coming home was just easier than breaking our betrothal.”

Cilla chuckled. “Do you really think Captain Breedlove is that dishonorable?”

“Well, there's more.” She twisted her fingers together. “Richard told me that there were other women.”

“What?”

“He said that whenever they would put into port, Samuel would take up with…well, you know. Prostitutes.”

“Good God! Lord Raventhorpe talked to you about
prostitutes
? That is most ungentlemanly behavior, Annabelle, I must tell you.”

“But is it true?” Annabelle picked at her skirt again. “Samuel did not love me, and I knew that. What was to stop him? When I told Pa—”

“You told your father? No wonder he was not willing to listen when the captain tried to plead his
case.” Cilla rubbed her suddenly throbbing forehead. “Annabelle, you have known Captain Breedlove for many years, correct?”

“Since I was five.”

“And has he ever in all that time acted the slightest bit dishonorable?”

“Well, not that I ever saw. But I was just a child.”

“Yet you and your family are willing to listen to Lord Raventhorpe over a man who has essentially been a member of your family for some fifteen years.”

“Well, when you put it like that…But Lord Raventhorpe is an earl. We didn't think he'd have reason to lie. And his crew told the same story when Pa asked them.”

“As I said, everyone has secrets. Let me ask you this. Had the captain not gone missing, would you have chosen to marry the earl instead if you had been given the choice?”

“Of course not,” Annabelle scoffed. “Once I give my word, I keep it. That's what's so difficult about this whole situation. I gave my word to both men.”

“But you gave your word to Lord Raventhorpe only when you thought the captain had abandoned you. And if that's not true, some could argue that Captain Breedlove has prior claim.”

“Not if he stayed away on purpose and only came back after Pa got rich. I would never marry a man like that.”

“If you distrust the captain so much, why did you agree to marry him to begin with?”

“I didn't distrust him at the time. He was so handsome and strong and made a good living at sea.” A nostalgic smile crossed her lips. “Samuel used to sing to me some nights as we sat on the porch together. I don't know if he loved me, but I could tell he liked me a whole lot.”

“So you would have wed him and been happy?”

“I thought so. We wanted the same things. A home, family.”

“Do you want something different now?”

“Well, I told you about the ladies in New York. If I were a countess, Mama could have the society life she wants.”

“Do you think she wants that more than she wants your happiness?”

Annabelle sighed. “Probably not.”

“And is Samuel Breedlove the type of man to marry a woman for money?”

“I didn't think so. But…” Her voice trailed off.

“But we know now that the captain has a sizable fortune of his own, which means he is not a fortune hunter. If you believe that, then you must look more closely at the earl, a man you have already determined is
only
wedding you because you are an heiress. Besides, you have already said you used to trust Captain Breedlove.”

“I don't know what to think anymore!” Annabelle buried her face in her hands.

Cilla went to sit beside Annabelle on the bed. Sliding a comforting arm around the girl's shoulders, she said, “You realize it is within your rights to cry off.”

Annabelle turned to Cilla with uncertainty in her eyes. “Won't that cause a scandal?”

Cilla shrugged. “There will be some gossip, but it would be short-lived. The important thing is that you do what feels right to you. Marriage is forever, and you do not want to spend forever with the wrong man.”

“You expected to be with your husband forever, right?”

“Of course. No bride expects otherwise.” She could not control the terseness in her tone.

“I'm sorry to have brought up such sad memories. I'm sure you miss him.”

Cilla hesitated, then decided that the situation deserved the truth. “Actually he was quite the bounder. Gambled, drank, and could not maintain a position of employment for any length of time. The best thing he ever did for me was make me a widow.”

Annabelle's jaw dropped, and Cilla glanced away. Why had she confessed such a thing to this young girl? They were talking about Annabelle's future, not Cilla's mistakes.

“I had no idea you were unhappy,” Annabelle said.

“It is the truth.” Cilla gave her a small, embarrassed smile. “My marriage was not a happy one, but I plan to choose better the next time I take a husband.”

“So you want to marry again?”

Cilla thought of the delights she had discovered in Samuel's bed and could not stop the small smile that crept across her lips. “I would certainly consider it.”

“I always wanted to get married. To have a passel of children for Mama to spoil.”

“Lord Raventhorpe would require an heir.”

“For his title, right?” She shrugged one shoulder. “I just want babies and lots of 'em. Samuel wanted a bunch of children. Neither of us had any brothers or sisters.”

“If you are not absolutely certain about your engagement to the earl, I would advise you to talk to your mother.”

“I just don't know what to think. Richard has been acting oddly these past couple of weeks.”

“Since Captain Breedlove returned.”

“Yes!” Annabelle leaned forward, her face animated. “Do you think he might be jealous?”

“It is possible.”

“I would never allow one man to call on me while I was engaged to another. Though Samuel did call on me, do you remember? Richard was furious, even though I didn't do anything.”

“Some men are not rational about their jealousy. Even if the lady has done nothing wrong, a man might yet think the worst.”

“That doesn't seem very fair.”

Cilla laughed. “When a man is impassioned about something, fairness does not come into play.”

“If he was jealous, at least it would mean that he felt
something
for me.”

“But that, too, could be a problem. A jealous man could be a dangerous man.”

She had expected Annabelle to brush aside the warning. Instead, the girl fixed her with a serious
look. “I'm beginning to wonder how much I truly know about Richard.”

“Then perhaps you should wait. Postpone the wedding until you make a decision.”