An Honest Deception Read Online Free Page B

estate; I would hate to see
Jamie unable to live on his ancestral lands when he is of age and pass it on to
his own heirs.”
    “The mortgages on
the estate are immense, my lady,” observed Mr. Linkwall. “Your husband did not
seem to care for the land except as a source of income, and his father was
little better. Your dowry could have served to salvage the estate at the time
of your marriage, but I am afraid Lord Morgan chose to put that money to other
uses. There is nothing left of it.”
    “If I may make a
suggestion, I believe it would be best if Lady Morgan gave up the idea of
preserving the estate and sold it,” said Lord Bainstall. “To attempt to carry
on for years with a woman at the head of Morgan Park, until young James is able
to assume his duties, is simply to incur more debt and disintegration. With the
money realized from the sale, James could lead a comfortable life, and the
title will be retained, of course. Lady Morgan and the children are welcome to
live with Lady Bainstall and me; in this way her income can be saved for James’
education and Emily's dowry. My wife is sickly and Lady Morgan could aid her
about the house. There is nothing quite so unattractive as a woman living alone
when she has male relatives to turn to.”
    During this speech
Letitia had gradually looked more and more amazed, and Lady Exencour was
clearly extremely annoyed. Before her amused husband could stop her, she
launched into speech.
    “Lord Bainstall, I
suggest that you rethink these ideas of yours. You are apparently unaware that
I have for many years managed my own estate in the Cotswolds. Lady Morgan, if
she chooses, can be an able manager of Morgan Park, as her brain is every bit
as capable as yours, if not much more so. As for your suggestion that she live
in your home, which was once her father's, as a poor relation, I do not
hesitate to tell you that I find the notion so incredible as to be
unbelievable.”
    Lord Bainstall
listened with raised eyebrows to this speech. “I must inform you, Lady
Exencour, that I find your interference in this matter to be most unusual,” he
said. “If your husband chooses to indulge your whims of being a lady of
independence, that is his business, but you can hardly expect others to agree
with him. Letitia has always been a gently-bred female, with no pretensions to
the unattractively strong-minded ways that you display. I am merely proposing a
solution which will enable her to continue in the path which she has chosen,
and which, I believe, is the correct one for a female.”
    Isobel's color was
greatly heightened, and it was obvious that she had a reply to this comment,
but Letitia stepped in. “Please do not continue this conversation,” she said. “While
I appreciate your defense of me, Isobel, it is not necessary.” She turned to
Lord Bainstall, who was bestowing a smug look on Lady Exencour. “I can speak
for myself. Cousin, I appreciate your interest in my affairs, but I have no
intention of selling Jamie's ancestral estate, or of coming to live with you at
Bainstall. It is no longer my home, but yours, and I would not care to put your
wife in the position that my return must engender. I do not know what course I
shall take, but that one is not open to me.”
    Isobel was now able
to return Lord Bainstall's look in kind, and a small silence fell. Lord
Exencour stepped into the breach.
    “I believe that
there is a ready solution to Lady Morgan's problem, which no one has mentioned
up to this point,” he said quietly. “This property, while heavily encumbered,
should be able to produce a decent income still, and I am sure there are
individuals who would find it a pleasant home. If Lady Morgan were to lease it
until such time as James is capable of assuming his rightful place, the income
would be sufficient to pay off the worst of the debts, and would prevent her
from having to manage the estate herself. This would, of course, necessitate
Lady Morgan and her children