A Rival Heir Read Online Free

shrugged. “I have less tolerance for being the subject of servants’ gossip than you do, Emily dearest.”
    A flush rose to her cheeks. “Really, Hugh, that is unjust. I have never given my servants the least reason to gossip about me, I assure you.”
    “Have you not? I wonder, then, that one should hear your name bandied about so freely in the Pump Room. Yesterday, there was something about a cicisbeo being slapped by you, I believe.”
    “Well, my word! That is the outside of enough!” she exclaimed, indignant. “My name is muddied because Frederickson goes beyond the line of what is pleasing. Really, Hugh, you should rather have a word with that ramshackle young man. He tried to kiss me! Word of honor, I did nothing to encourage him.”
    “Nothing but be the most adorable woman in town, with a habit of attracting men of his caliber like filings to a magnet.” He waved aside her protest. “No, no, don’t tell me it is not your fault. I quite understand that you are unable to protect yourself from such hangers on. I believe Holmsly would do well to take a little better care of you.”
    To his vast surprise, tears sprang to her eyes and she dug awkwardly in her reticule for a handkerchief. She turned aside from him, dabbing at her eyes, and eventually discreetly blew her nose on the flimsy piece of fabric. “Holmsly,” she managed to say, “is from town—again.”
    “Devil take the man! I thought he had brought you here to spend a little time in your company after your confinement. Where’s he off to now?”
    “Bristol, apparently.” She tucked her handkerchief back in her reticule and schooled her lovely face to a look of acceptance. “Business, of course. He indicated that he would be gone no more than a week.”
    “A week! There’s very little business one could take more than a day to conclude in Bristol, I swear.” He tried to erase the frown from his brow, taking his sister’s arm and twining it once again with his. “No matter. I’ve seen how proud he is of his son, Emily. You mustn’t fret at his absence. How is the babe?”
    “Thriving.” She sighed but a rueful smile peeped out. “I was about to take Frederickson to see the baby, Hugh, when he tried to kiss me. Really, a new mama! What could he have been thinking of?”
    “Heaven knows. I’ll have a word with him.”
    “No, truly, that won’t be necessary. He did not at all like being slapped.”
    “I dare say. I shouldn’t myself.”
    “Just as well Holmsly is away,” she said philosophically. “By the time he returns it will all be forgotten, I dare say. But you were going to tell me about Miss Longstreet’s young companion.”
    “So I was.” Sir Hugh took a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. “I very much fear that Miss Armstrong may be in a way to edging me out of my supposed inheritance.”
    Emily halted abruptly, her gaze flying up to his very serious countenance. “Surely not! Why, it was decided eons ago that you were to be her heir.”
    “Yes, but these arrangements can be changed, my dear. She is not obliged to leave me her fortune—any more than she is obliged to stick her spoon in the wall any time soon for my convenience.”
    “Oh, treacherous!” his sister pronounced. “She knows you have expectations from her. Are you quite certain, Hugh?”
    “No.” His thoughtful frown furrowed what Emily had once declared his ‘noble brow.’ “There is no knowing what’s afoot—especially with my godmother. Since she has taken me in aversion I’ve wondered if she might not look elsewhere to leave her worldly goods. But I would give a great deal to know if she has changed her will.”
    “Then I shall find out for you,” Emily declared. “I shall insinuate myself into her household.—You know that no one is able to resist Walter—I  shall take him to visit her tomorrow morning—he’s at his best in the morning—and become fast friends with Miss Armstrong. See if I don’t. And then I