Plain and Proper - M J Marlow (red queen free ebook .txt) 📗

dress for dinner. Andrew had told her they were having company and she took great pains to dress properly so that she would not embarrass him. The tall silver-haired man who rose to his feet as she joined them in the sitting room smiled warmly and kissed her hand. She was instantly enchanted with him.
“Andrew,” the lord Anthony Pertwee Duke of Marshwood smiled as he turned to Andrew; “she is your sister all over again. Every fortune hunter in England will be after her.”
“They will have to go through me, sir,” Gerard said as he walked into the room just then. He claimed Marianne’s hand and lingered over it a moment longer then was strictly necessary. “Are you feeling better after your nap, my dear?”
“Yes, thank you, Gerard,” Marianne nodded, caught once more by the warmth in his eyes, the gentle smile on his lips. The other people in the room disappeared and there was only the two of them. She came back as she heard something fall and hit the floor. Andrew bent down to pick up the book Eustacia had ‘accidentally’ knocked off the table.
“Lord Anthony is my superior officer, Marianne,” Andrew explained to her. “He works in the War Office.” His words reminded her of the threat against her and she shivered. “He is also a very dear friend of your aunt Eustacia.”
“Nearly married her,” Anthony nodded as Marianne looked at her aunt in surprise. “But she wouldn’t hear of it. She said her duty lay at Pumphrey Manor with her family.” He saw her confusion. “You didn’t know this, child?”
“I saw no point in boring the child with my past, Anthony,” Eustacia said stiffly. “She knows all she needs to know.”
“Aunt Eustacia is my father’s older sister and he allowed her to run the estate so he and Mama were free to travel.” She sat down next to him, her eyes glowing. “You must tell me everything!” She was fascinated as he described how he had met, and fallen instantly in love with, the pretty Eustacia Pumphrey.
“Her father died just after I asked for her hand and she ended our engagement.” He shook his head. “She threw herself into the estate business and I was left heartbroken…”
“As I recall, Marshwood,” Eustacia spoke up, her voice laced with affection for her former beau and lifelong friend, “you were hooked six months later by the very delightful Veronica Dandridge.” She looked at Marianne. “He is the proud father of three sons and four daughters.” She saw Jemison at the door and Gerard came over to offer his arm to his fiancé. “Come along now. Dinner is ready.”
Marianne sat at dinner and listened to the men and women discuss the situation facing her as if it was not the life-threatening matter she believed it to be. She was distracted as Gerard took her hand under the table and rubbed her palm with his thumb. She blushed as Andrew looked at them sternly and pulled her hand away. Now that he was no longer a ‘pretend’ fiancé, Gerard was taking liberties with her that she was not at all certain she should allow. She would talk to Dominique about it later in their rooms. She caught the look that her companion sent towards Andrew and smiled.
“So, Madame Bouchard,” Anthony smiled at Dominique suddenly. “When is the happy day?” She looked at him in confusion. “Your wedding, my dear?”
“Madame?” Marianne choked out. She looked at the others and saw their expressions. Then she squealed in joy and went to throw her arms around Dominique’s neck. “You will be my aunt! I shall have to stop calling you Madame now.”
“Not until after the wedding,” Andrew said stiffly. “In private, you may call her Domi now.”
“I know how to behave, Uncle!” Marianne frowned.
“Tell that to Vicar Winfrey,” Andrew laughed. He turned to Anthony and told him about the ‘tea’ incident and the Latin lessons. “If I needed any further proof that she had taken after my sister, that did it.” He ruffled Marianne’s hair as he rose. “We men will retire to the den with our drinks and leave you ladies to discuss wedding gowns and such.”
“Madame,” Marianne laughed as she hugged the woman again. “I am so very happy for you! We shall have to go at once to the dressmaker and have them start making your gown!” She helped Eustacia to her feet and Dominique and she took her aunt upstairs with them. She found the fashion plate book. “I saw a dress in here that would be perfect for you!”
The men watched the women going up the stairs and they all smiled. Marianne was a force of nature, they were all thinking. She would take what life handed her and deal with it. But they were determined that she not have to deal with a certain matter, if they could do anything to prevent it. Andrew accepted the whiskey Jemison poured for him and nodded his thanks. He took a sip and set it down.
“Are they certain about this, Anthony?” Andrew asked as he saw Gerard standing at the windows, scowling. “Well?”
“We have gained onlookers,” Gerard nodded confirmation. He turned back towards the conversation. “I do not like this. D’arboe could not possibly think to move on her here.”
“They are desperate,” Anthony told the younger man. “That property would give them a crucial foothold on English soil. Napoleon is adamant that it be in French hands by the end of the month.” He looked at Gerard. “Marry her now, boy. That would put an end to their plots…”
“I am not marrying her for political reasons,” Gerard broke in. He looked aghast as he realized he had just snapped at his superior. “I apologize, sir. It’s just that…”
“You’re in love with the girl,” Anthony nodded, “and want her believing your intentions are sincere and not motivated by political concerns.” He smiled as he saw the man’s shocked expression. “I don’t blame you, Gerard. She is a beautiful girl and enough like her father and aunt that lying to her would alienate her from you.” He looked over at Andrew. “Their marriage would certainly solve things for us.”
“Strathmore could certainly supply enough resources to see that property secured,” Andrew nodded. “I certainly have no objection to it, sir.”
“Then you will marry the girl, Gerard,” Anthony told the young man. “Do whatever you must to get her to agree.”
Marianne had come down to get some water and heard their voices drifting out of the den. They had been in there for quite some time. Whatever could they be talking about? She went into the Library next door and opened the door a crack so that she could hear. She had arrived just as Anthony was begun talking about how a marriage between her and Gerard would solve their problems. She was outraged. He could not seriously think she would agree to a marriage merely to make this problem with Napoleon go away? When she married, she wanted the church and all the trappings, not a quick trip to the Registrar’s Office.
“Very well, sir,” Gerard said to his superior. “I will do my utmost to get the lady Marianne to agree to a speedy union.”
“He is quite angry at us,” Anthony sighed as Gerard stormed out of the den.
“We are asking him to do something he does not wish to do, Anthony,” Andrew replied. “He’s in love with my niece, Anthony, and he wants to do it up proper for her.” He finished his drink and looked at the clock. “It’s growing late. Won’t your brood be waiting to be tucked in for the night?”
“Veronica and our children are at her family’s estate in Surrey,” Anthony replied. He got to his feet and caught a flash of skirt at the library door. He frowned as he realized the girl had overheard their conversation. He kept this to himself. It would do Gerard good to have to fight for something he wanted for once. “I’ll see you at the Office in the morning, then?”
“Yes, sir,” Andrew nodded. He saw the man to the door and turned to see Marianne going into the kitchen. He walked in to see her and Dominique deep in conversation. “It’s a bit late for you to be up, isn’t it?” Marianne glared at him, kissed Dominique on the cheek, and fled from the kitchen. “Is something wrong?”
“She heard you, Andrew,” Dominique sighed. “She was on her way past the den when she heard Lord Anthony telling Gerard he had to marry her at once.” She looked at Andrew harshly. “How do you think she took it?”
“Gerard is in for a fight,” Andrew laughed. He saw the censure on her face. “He needs to learn not everything in life will be handed to him, my dear. I have a feeling he’ll rise to the occasion. He loves her…” He saw the shock on Dominique’s face. “You didn’t know?” He laughed at that. “It’s usually the women who see the truth.” He sobered as she glared at him. “Gerard loves her, Domi. He will do whatever he must to prove he is sincere in his affections for her.”
“I don’t envy him the fight she’ll give him,” Dominique laughed. She brought his hand to her cheek. “Shall we make it harder for him?” Andrew shook his head. “You’re right. She’ll make it hard enough for him as it is.”


The next morning Marianne accompanied Dominique to the dressmakers that her aunt Eustacia had told her would handle her. She was tired after a night of tossing and turning. She had been unable to forget the anger in Gerard’s voice when he had been told he had to marry her. Did she disgust him that much? She had begun to think he was fond of her but his behavior last night had ended that little fantasy. She had to remind herself, for the hundredth time since last night, that he was merely here to play a role. At breakfast, she had been told that the marriage would take place as soon as a special license could be provided. Unlike Dominique, she would be married without fanfare, in the town home of her uncle by a judge.
“You will make me the envy of every other dressmaker in London, my lady Pumphrey,” the woman assured her as her assistants took measurements. “Never have I seen such exquisite coloring and delicate features.” Marianne shook her head and laughed. So many people were so determined to lie to her. She was passably pretty, perhaps, but nothing special. She thought of Gerard then, the man who held her heart, the man who had made her feel like she was beautiful, and she sobbed. “Have I said something wrong, my lady?”
“No,” Dominique shook her head as she took Marianne into her arms. “My fiancé’s niece is overly emotional right now. She is soon to be married herself and is overwhelmed at the thought of being a wife.” She patted Marianne’s hand. “Her wedding…”
“Wedding?” a cold voice cut through the emotion. They looked towards the door to see Gloriana Thornton, who was the very type of woman Marianne had always compared herself to unfavorably all blond and delicate like a doll; standing there with her mother. “Well, well,” she said snidely, her eyes narrowed as she looked at Marianne; “that is fast work! You’ve only known the man a week or two.”
Marianne looked at the blond, blue-eyed woman in confusion. Why was she so nasty? Marianne did not even know her, so how could she have done anything to warrant such an attack. Glorianna caught the look on Dominique’s face and kept her cattiness at a minimum.
“I hear you are to be