Season For Surrender (A Danby Family Novella Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

favors in exchange for saving the theatre.” Her lips
trembled as she spoke, from humiliation brought on by the memory. “I resisted
at first, but then Father started dismissing people and not paying the actors
and actresses. An older seamstress there was like a mother to me, and one night
I heard her crying because she didn’t have the money to pay her rent. It was
December and snowing. I couldn’t allow her to be put out on the streets.”
    Lillian swallowed hard, her stomach
twisting with the painful memory of her father’s cruelty. “That night and for
seven nights after, I slept with the man and collected enough money to pay all
the people my father owed, save the theatre and give Beatrice, the seamstress,
enough money to retire on. Father, thank God, hired a reputable accountant to
manage the money. I vowed to him no matter how much it would pain me to leave
the theatre I would do so before ever playing whore again.”
    Lord Edgeworth stared at her without
speaking. His face had gone white and sweat ran down his brow. Worry turned her
stomach. After a moment, he blinked and cupped her face.
    “Lord Edgeworth?” She shot a gaze around
the room, but no one paid them any mind.
    “Two things.” He spoke softly, a steely
thread beneath his noble accent.
    Did he mean two things and he’d agree?
His warm hands against her cheeks were oddly comforting and did not make her
feel threatened as she usually felt when a man touched her. Her heart nearly
burst from her chest. “Yes?”
    “No one could ever force me to marry
anyone. Do you understand?”
    She did, and she liked him even more for
it. He was a man who would rather be penniless than submit to the demands of
others. If she only had herself to consider, she’d be the sort of woman who had
uncompromising principles like he did. “I understand perfectly.”
    “Good.” His tone had gentled. “I’ll
marry you on the condition you tell me the name of the patron who bought your
favors.”
    She would have pulled away, but Lord
Edgeworth moved swiftly and gripped her arms. He brought his face mere inches
from hers. His right temple beat furiously. “It’s my right to know who had my
wife before I did.”
    Lillian frowned. He had a point, but he
sounded too angry. She didn’t want him doing anything stupid, such as calling
Lord Derwent out.
    Lord Edgeworth’s gaze bored into hers.
“It’s about honor. I simply would rather know and be aware of who he is.” His
tone was steady, the anger seemingly gone.
    “You’re sure you just want to know his
name?” She was almost afraid to hope this marriage was going to work out.
    He nodded as he released her. “Positive.
I’d rather not lose all my money, and you’ve just offered me the perfect
solution. A wife who wants separate lives but is willing to offer conjugal
relations so long as I take steps to ensure I don’t get you with child. It’s
the best luck I’ve had in years.” He sounded chipper. “My mother, and more
importantly my grandfather, will be satisfied and unable to complain. I’ll keep
my money and you and I can live separately. Many a bachelor’s fantasy, I
assure you. Thank you for seeking me out.”
    Her heart raced. “I forgot to mention
I’d need you to stipulate in the marriage settlement that the money from my
father and the theatre are mine to do with as I wish. Not yours. I know the
law.”
    He waved a hand in dismissal.
“Absolutely not a problem, my dear. I’ll have my solicitor draw up the
paperwork immediately, so you can view it before we’re married.” He smiled
slowly. “Do we have an agreement?”
    Disbelief seized her and nearly stole
her ability to speak. She was going to marry, and not only that, she was going
to wed a man she’d known for less than an hour. She squared her shoulders and
held out a hand. “We do.”
    He glanced from her hand to her face and
then brushed his lips across her knuckles. “I’ll have the man’s name now, if
you please.”
    Dazed