Regency Sting Read Online Free

out of the question.”
    Anne jumped to her feet. “But, Mama, why ?”
    â€œOh, my poor dear, don’t you know ? The Claybridges are almost as deep in the suds as we are! Mathilda Claybridge confided to me today that her husband’s gambling debts have left their estate much encumbered. They are relying on Arthur to make an advantageous match. That tiny legacy from your mother scarcely qualifies you . So you see, my dear, a marriage between you and Lord Claybridge can never be.”
    Anne stared at her stepmother in disbelief. “This can’t be true! Arthur has told me nothing of this!”
    â€œYou see, dearest, until today, there was the hope (even if only a faint one) that Osborn would deal generously with you—with us all! But now … I hate to say this, Anne dear, but now our only hope is for you, too, to make a good match.”
    Anne sank into the nearest chair. “I cannot believe that our circumstances can have altered so drastically overnight.”
    â€œBut they have,” Harriet said hollowly. “The fortune that has been keeping us secure and comfortable all these years is now in the hands of my American nephew.”
    Anne and Peter exchanged troubled glances. “Yes,” Anne said thoughtfully, “I can see now that we have much to think about.”
    There was a long moment of brooding silence. At last Peter’s voice broke through the gloom. “We needn’t fall into the dismals yet awhile,” he suggested bravely. “After all, the heir is not even here in England. At least, not yet.”
    â€œYes, that’s right,” Anne agreed, brightening.
    â€œWhy, with the tensions between our government and America so great at this time, the fellow may not be able to come to England at all !” Peter pointed out hopefully.
    â€œWhat tensions?” his mother asked.
    â€œDon’t you pay any attention to politics, Mama? The Americans have been hinting that they may throw their support to the French. Napoleon, you know, has been trying to entice them to cut off intercourse with us again, and it looks as if he may be succeeding. I understand he sent the American President a letter last summer—it’s known as the Cadore letter, I believe—in which he promised the Americans all sorts of shipping concessions. Of course, if they take Napoleon’s word for anything, they’re nothing but fools. But Mr. Madison is a great lover of the French, I hear—”
    â€œWho’s Mr. Madison?” Harriet asked.
    Peter threw his mother a pitying glance. “The American President, of course. As I was saying, Mr. Madison is said to favor the French, so the tensions between us and the Americans are quite strained at the moment.”
    â€œAre you saying, Peter,” his sister asked interestedly, “that there may be another war with America?”
    â€œNo, I very much doubt that things will go that far, but there very likely will be a declaration of non-intercourse from the Americans (as there was once before) which will very severely limit American shipping to England.”
    Lady Harriet’s worried look lightened perceptibly as the import of Peter’s words sank in. “Do you really think it is possible, then, that the new heir may not come?”
    Peter shrugged, but Anne nodded eagerly. “Of course it’s possible!” she exclaimed enthusiastically.
    â€œLet’s not fly into alt, my dear,” Peter cautioned sensibly. “I only suggested a possibility. A possibility is not a probability , you know.”
    â€œI know, I know,” Anne assured him cavalierly, “but so long as the new heir doesn’t show himself, we need not feel depressed. I see no reason to fall into the vapors because of something that may not even come to pass. Until the new Viscount manages to find his way across the ocean—if he ever does—we may go on as we always have.”
    â€œI