Duchess by Mistake Read Online Free
see."
Once Elizabeth had sent Anna away, Lydia then came and told her she must marry the duke. In her two decades, Elizabeth had never dared not to obey her wise and much-respected eldest sister. But today she sent Lydia away with vehement refusals to do as her sister bid.
Next, her sister Kate had come to assure her of her stupendous good fortune in securing a--forced though it was--proposal from a duke! Really, Kate insisted, Elizabeth was the most fortunate lady in the kingdom. Being Elizabeth's least favorite sister as well as the sister whose mercenary opinions generated the greatest animosity, Kate, too, was sent away.
That night Elizabeth refused to leave her bedchamber. She even sent away untouched trays of food that kindly Anna had sent up.
* * *
Aldridge never would have believed his first night back in London would find him standing behind closed doors in Haverstock's library, begging the hand of his youngest sister. Or was she the second youngest? Deuced if he knew. She'd been but a babe in arms the first time Aldridge had come home from Eton with Haverstock, who was then Lord Charles Upton. There must be a dozen years separating Aldridge's age from hers.
She had still been in the schoolroom when he left England five years earlier. In the ensuing years she had come out, and despite that she was in possession of a pretty face and figure had failed to attract a husband.
To his great misfortune.
Nevertheless, in the past half a dozen hours he had resigned himself to this marriage. Ever pragmatic, he had enumerated the advantages to this alliance. First, it would unite his family to that of his greatest friend. Secondly, the Haverstocks were an old family of lineage nearly as noble as his own. Third, this Elizabeth-Who-Used-to-be-Cynthia was prettier than most of the young ladies of his acquaintance. And, fourth, if she was in possession of even half the intelligence of her plain elder sister, Lydia, he would count himself fortunate to be wed to so sensible a woman.
Haverstock sat behind a sweeping desk, glaring. His anger obviously prevented him from extending the courtesy of asking Aldridge to sit. Consequently, Aldridge stood there feeling much as he had as a twelve-year-old standing before the headmaster.
"You must know one of the reasons I've returned to England is to seek a wife, and it would give me inordinate pleasure if you'd do me the honor of allowing Lady Elizabeth to become my duchess."
Still staring at him, Haverstock rose, then a smile slowly lifted as he stuck out his hand. "Welcome home, brother."
The two shook hands.
"Won't you have a seat?"
Aldridge dropped into a nearby chair.
"Damn, but it's good to have you back," Haverstock said.
"It's good to be back. I'm looking forward to meeting your marchioness. Word of her extraordinary beauty reached me in Italy."
"I hope one day your marriage to Elizabeth will bring you the happiness Anna's brought me." Haverstock grew solemn. "Despite her extraordinary beauty, I wasn't in love with Anna when we wed, but I soon fell under her captivating spell."
It was a pity Aldridge would never be as besotted over Elizabeth as he'd been told Haverstock was over his wife. "I pray that you're right."
Haverstock's countenance brightened. "Did you know Morgie and Lydia have a son?"
"I did not. As fond as I am of Morgie, I never credited him with having such good sense as he demonstrated by marrying Lydia."
His comment launched Haverstock into a chuckle. "They are uncommonly good for each other--and devoted to one another."
Aldridge shook his head. "I cannot picture Morgie as a father."
"Nor can he. I don't think he quite knows what to make of the little fellow, but in his own way, Morgie's very proud to have a son."
Now Aldridge grew solemn. "What about you? Is your Incomparable breeding yet?" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Aldridge regretted bringing up a possibly painful subject.
Haverstock's face shadowed. "We're just in the
Once Elizabeth had sent Anna away, Lydia then came and told her she must marry the duke. In her two decades, Elizabeth had never dared not to obey her wise and much-respected eldest sister. But today she sent Lydia away with vehement refusals to do as her sister bid.
Next, her sister Kate had come to assure her of her stupendous good fortune in securing a--forced though it was--proposal from a duke! Really, Kate insisted, Elizabeth was the most fortunate lady in the kingdom. Being Elizabeth's least favorite sister as well as the sister whose mercenary opinions generated the greatest animosity, Kate, too, was sent away.
That night Elizabeth refused to leave her bedchamber. She even sent away untouched trays of food that kindly Anna had sent up.
* * *
Aldridge never would have believed his first night back in London would find him standing behind closed doors in Haverstock's library, begging the hand of his youngest sister. Or was she the second youngest? Deuced if he knew. She'd been but a babe in arms the first time Aldridge had come home from Eton with Haverstock, who was then Lord Charles Upton. There must be a dozen years separating Aldridge's age from hers.
She had still been in the schoolroom when he left England five years earlier. In the ensuing years she had come out, and despite that she was in possession of a pretty face and figure had failed to attract a husband.
To his great misfortune.
Nevertheless, in the past half a dozen hours he had resigned himself to this marriage. Ever pragmatic, he had enumerated the advantages to this alliance. First, it would unite his family to that of his greatest friend. Secondly, the Haverstocks were an old family of lineage nearly as noble as his own. Third, this Elizabeth-Who-Used-to-be-Cynthia was prettier than most of the young ladies of his acquaintance. And, fourth, if she was in possession of even half the intelligence of her plain elder sister, Lydia, he would count himself fortunate to be wed to so sensible a woman.
Haverstock sat behind a sweeping desk, glaring. His anger obviously prevented him from extending the courtesy of asking Aldridge to sit. Consequently, Aldridge stood there feeling much as he had as a twelve-year-old standing before the headmaster.
"You must know one of the reasons I've returned to England is to seek a wife, and it would give me inordinate pleasure if you'd do me the honor of allowing Lady Elizabeth to become my duchess."
Still staring at him, Haverstock rose, then a smile slowly lifted as he stuck out his hand. "Welcome home, brother."
The two shook hands.
"Won't you have a seat?"
Aldridge dropped into a nearby chair.
"Damn, but it's good to have you back," Haverstock said.
"It's good to be back. I'm looking forward to meeting your marchioness. Word of her extraordinary beauty reached me in Italy."
"I hope one day your marriage to Elizabeth will bring you the happiness Anna's brought me." Haverstock grew solemn. "Despite her extraordinary beauty, I wasn't in love with Anna when we wed, but I soon fell under her captivating spell."
It was a pity Aldridge would never be as besotted over Elizabeth as he'd been told Haverstock was over his wife. "I pray that you're right."
Haverstock's countenance brightened. "Did you know Morgie and Lydia have a son?"
"I did not. As fond as I am of Morgie, I never credited him with having such good sense as he demonstrated by marrying Lydia."
His comment launched Haverstock into a chuckle. "They are uncommonly good for each other--and devoted to one another."
Aldridge shook his head. "I cannot picture Morgie as a father."
"Nor can he. I don't think he quite knows what to make of the little fellow, but in his own way, Morgie's very proud to have a son."
Now Aldridge grew solemn. "What about you? Is your Incomparable breeding yet?" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Aldridge regretted bringing up a possibly painful subject.
Haverstock's face shadowed. "We're just in the
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