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.Leslie moved to stand beside Lord Pellen.“You have no choice, Heather,” my husband replied.“I do not intend to let you set foot in London until you have agreed.Remember, my position is at stake also.” My eyes narrowed and he hastened to add, “But you will gain—or lose—the most.It is to your advantage to secure an unsullied reputation so easily.”“Very well,” I said at last, “I see I have no alternative.And upon reflection, I am grateful, Lord Pellen.You could easily have continued to ignore my existence.”Leslie smiled oddly and Pellen coughed.“Yes, well.er.never mind that.” He hesitated.“I think it best if you call me Father.” I nodded and he grew bolder.“I must say, Heather, I am quite pleased with you.When Sir Leslie told me you existed, I had no notion what to expect.After all, I’d never seen you, had I? Oh, of course I knew you’d been sent to excellent schools; still such training is no guarantee.But I am definitely pleased.You recall that last night I seemed to be quite rude? No doubt you felt I was extremely impertinent? Well, of course you were right.You see, I was testing you.I wished to see how composed you would remain.You have dignity, my dear, you have dignity.I was disappointed this morning when you fled the room, but even then it might have been worse.A little experience and you shall deal quite well in society.You must be presented at court, naturally, and I shall undertake to arrange that myself.My wife, Lady Phyllis, will coach you.”“Are you sure she will wish to?” I asked skeptically.Lord Pellen seemed surprised at the question.“Of course.Phyllis is a sensible woman.She will see the importance of it.And she knows protocol as well as I.”For the next several minutes, Leslie and my father discussed how best to manage the affair.When should I arrive in London? Whom should I see? Decisions on matters such as these were made.As they talked I tried to think over what I had been said.I still could not quite believe all I had heard.Then I found myself wondering, “What did you tell Mrs.Bentworth?”Pellen looked up, startled.“Eh? Oh, why, I told her our touching story.She was quite embarrassed and most apologetic for her.rudeness.I was, at first, stiffly cool, then allowed myself to be coaxed into amiability.I believe it is safe to wager that by week’s end everyone will have heard the tale.You may expect a great many bride-visits, my dear.As for Mrs.Bentworth, I am sure you will see her again, suitably respectful the next time.” At the sight of my face, he added, “Yes, I know.I detest the woman myself.But you must learn to be polite to such people.Handled properly, they often prove to be quite useful.”I nodded since he seemed to expect it, but I was not happy.Leslie and my father began to talk again.I was startled to hear the words, “.marriage settlement, Sir Leslie.It ought to be arranged before I leave here.”“Marriage settlement?” I asked stupidly.“Of course.I must settle something on you,” Lord Robert explained.“It would seem odd otherwise.”“I do not want your money,” I heard myself say.“My dear child, that is for your husband to decide.Now, Sir Leslie.”I swallowed, foolishly hurt and angry that Leslie had not refused.I felt ill and very small and I found myself wondering why my mother had married this man.Or had he been different then? Gentler, kinder perhaps? Why had my mother’s father opposed the match? Why had Lord Pellen allowed himself to be dragged home? Well, perhaps he hadn’t a choice.But why marry the other girl, less than a year after my mother’s death? If my mother had not died, what then should my father’s family have done? Had I not been born Robert’s parents might well have contrived an annulment.What of my mother then? My mother.Did she believe herself simply deserted? Or did she know or guess that her husband had been removed against his will? Lord Pellen’s voice scattered my melancholy thoughts.“Well, Heather, have you any questions?”“What did she look like?”“Who?”“My mother!” There was impatience in my voice.Whom else could I have meant?“Oh.Very much like you, I believe.The same sort of hair and eyes.A somewhat softer chin and mouth.She was a bit more feminine and delicate perhaps,” he answered with a shrug.More submissive? I wondered silently.“Did you love her?” I asked aloud.“Love her? I must have thought I did or I should not have eloped with her against the wishes of our families,” my father said.“And Phyllis? Did you love her?” I persisted.“No, of course not.What an absurd notion.”I could not hide my shock.“Absurd? Why?”Lord Pellen sighed, but his patience was unshakeable.“My dear child, I can see that someone unwisely has allowed you to read novels.You must realise that love is a very poor foundation for marriage.Consider Elizabeth and myself.We only had two weeks together before we were found, and yet we succeeded in making each other extremely unhappy.Of necessity, we had differing opinions on many subjects and this distressed us.We each felt the need to convert the other.And naturally it was impossible.We could not, moreover, bear to be apart even for the very shortest period of time.That may do during a short honeymoon, but believe me, very soon one tires of such restrictions and wants more freedom
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