Frigid Waters (Ladies of Loomcroft) Read Online Free
Author: J.E. Clymer
your time.”
They were now on the edge of the park where she would be safe. George bent over her hand and kissed it lightly. Most innocent young women of the ton would have at least blushed, she looked at the gesture as if she had just touched a roach. “One would think,” he whispered as he turned and walked away.
###
George returned to his family's London townhouse after leaving Miss Loomcroft at the park. He found his way to his father's study. He wanted a bit of advise on the situation. No woman had every disliked him and he had no idea how to change this one's mind. Her disdain for him had become an annoyance to him that pricked constantly at his pride.
He found the Earl of Riverton in his small study. He knocked on the door before entering. His father glanced up from his work. The Earl was immediately looking at his papers again. “How much do you need, George?” The Earl asked briskly.
George rubbed his forehead as he sat down across from the old man. “I do not need blunt, father. I have not needed blunt from you for years.”
His father chuckled, “Fourth sons always need blunt. I would rather you get it from me instead by some nefarious means.”
George sighed, “That is not why I am here.”
The Earl sigh and gruffly told his son, “Out with it, then.”
“Have you ever had a woman look at you like you were disgusting?” He got out quickly.
His father raised his eyebrow in curiosity. “Who is this bold chit?”
George fidgeted, “I did not say...”
“Yes, you did. I will have a name, George.” His father replied sternly.
George sighed. “Miss Loomcroft.”
His father studied him for a moment. “Which Miss Loomcroft?” He asked. He shrugged. “No matter, any Miss Loomcroft would be a good match for you. Even with as many daughters as Martin Loomcroft has they will all have significant dowries.”
George felt his chest tighten. “Father, I do not need a rich wife. I have my business ventures, my merchant vessels.”
The Earl huffed, “All men need rich heiresses. It is not like you would have to warm the girl's bed on a nightly basis. All you need to do is share it enough to keep her with child.”
“Father, this is a moot point. The woman detests me.” George sneered.
The Earl shrugged, “If it is Miss Belladonna Loomcroft then you have a significantly better chance than the other fortune hunters; she rarely even acknowledges they exist.”
“She does not wish to marry.” George said flatly.
The Earl shrugged, “Your mother did not wish to marry. She adapted. Miss Loomcroft will as well, once she is finally forced.”
George cringed. His mother had committed suicide when he was six. She should not have had to cope and adapt to his father's needs for as long as she did. There was something fundamentally wrong about forcing someone to wed and then bending them to your will until they broke.
He wished his father would quit trying to force him to do such a thing. Changing the subject quickly George said, “I leave for a merchant voyage to Spain in two weeks.”
His father nodded, “Enjoy your little voyage, but come back prepared. If you have a chance with a Loomcroft girl, then you should take it.”
George pushed himself up out of the chair and walked out the door. His father would never understand that he needed his independence. He would have a wife one day, but not a wife from money. He would support his family; not have a woman's dowry do it for him. George just wished he could shake off the unease from the glint he saw in his father's eyes. It was like the man could see gold at the mere mention of the girl's name.
His first task was to get Miss Loomcroft, whichever Miss Loomcroft she was, out of his head. There was a ball in six hours to attend. He was sure she'd be there and he
They were now on the edge of the park where she would be safe. George bent over her hand and kissed it lightly. Most innocent young women of the ton would have at least blushed, she looked at the gesture as if she had just touched a roach. “One would think,” he whispered as he turned and walked away.
###
George returned to his family's London townhouse after leaving Miss Loomcroft at the park. He found his way to his father's study. He wanted a bit of advise on the situation. No woman had every disliked him and he had no idea how to change this one's mind. Her disdain for him had become an annoyance to him that pricked constantly at his pride.
He found the Earl of Riverton in his small study. He knocked on the door before entering. His father glanced up from his work. The Earl was immediately looking at his papers again. “How much do you need, George?” The Earl asked briskly.
George rubbed his forehead as he sat down across from the old man. “I do not need blunt, father. I have not needed blunt from you for years.”
His father chuckled, “Fourth sons always need blunt. I would rather you get it from me instead by some nefarious means.”
George sighed, “That is not why I am here.”
The Earl sigh and gruffly told his son, “Out with it, then.”
“Have you ever had a woman look at you like you were disgusting?” He got out quickly.
His father raised his eyebrow in curiosity. “Who is this bold chit?”
George fidgeted, “I did not say...”
“Yes, you did. I will have a name, George.” His father replied sternly.
George sighed. “Miss Loomcroft.”
His father studied him for a moment. “Which Miss Loomcroft?” He asked. He shrugged. “No matter, any Miss Loomcroft would be a good match for you. Even with as many daughters as Martin Loomcroft has they will all have significant dowries.”
George felt his chest tighten. “Father, I do not need a rich wife. I have my business ventures, my merchant vessels.”
The Earl huffed, “All men need rich heiresses. It is not like you would have to warm the girl's bed on a nightly basis. All you need to do is share it enough to keep her with child.”
“Father, this is a moot point. The woman detests me.” George sneered.
The Earl shrugged, “If it is Miss Belladonna Loomcroft then you have a significantly better chance than the other fortune hunters; she rarely even acknowledges they exist.”
“She does not wish to marry.” George said flatly.
The Earl shrugged, “Your mother did not wish to marry. She adapted. Miss Loomcroft will as well, once she is finally forced.”
George cringed. His mother had committed suicide when he was six. She should not have had to cope and adapt to his father's needs for as long as she did. There was something fundamentally wrong about forcing someone to wed and then bending them to your will until they broke.
He wished his father would quit trying to force him to do such a thing. Changing the subject quickly George said, “I leave for a merchant voyage to Spain in two weeks.”
His father nodded, “Enjoy your little voyage, but come back prepared. If you have a chance with a Loomcroft girl, then you should take it.”
George pushed himself up out of the chair and walked out the door. His father would never understand that he needed his independence. He would have a wife one day, but not a wife from money. He would support his family; not have a woman's dowry do it for him. George just wished he could shake off the unease from the glint he saw in his father's eyes. It was like the man could see gold at the mere mention of the girl's name.
His first task was to get Miss Loomcroft, whichever Miss Loomcroft she was, out of his head. There was a ball in six hours to attend. He was sure she'd be there and he
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