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

letter was here would make her uneasy. “It’s from the Inn near Dover,” she remarked as she saw the address stamped on the envelope. When Dominique did not respond, Marianne slipped her finger under the flap. “Shall I open it for you?”
“No!” Dominique cried in alarm. She took the letter and smiled at Marianne. “I am sorry for my behavior this morning, child. I have worrying matters on my mind.” She opened the letter and she frowned. She would not lie and pretend she was happy about his intrusion into her life. “It is from my brother, Philippe.” She read the letter and she set it aside. She hated him for doing this to her! “He is here on his honeymoon and wishes to see me.”
“But this is wonderful!” Marianne cried. She pulled Dominique to her feet. “We must speak to Aunt at once, Madame! She will offer your brother and his wife accommodations here at the Manor.”
Dominique found herself being pulled out of the room. She saw Andrew and she dug in her heels to stop her charge. “Marianne, please calm yourself. Ladies do not rush anywhere. We will find your aunt at a more leisurely pace, oui?”
Marianne looked at the woman in confusion and then she saw Andrew turning from the Study door. She hid her smile; so that was the way of things? Madame had a tendre for her uncle Andrew? She wished her well in that endeavor. He was a nice man for all of his stern ways. He could do much worse than Madame as his wife. But then she paused. What if he were already married? Poor Madame would be heartbroken and die from unrequited love. How sad! She decided to leave Madame to speak to Aunt and went to talk to her uncle. He looked up at her as she joined him in the Study and cleared the chair next to the desk as he saw her expression.
“I know nothing about you, Uncle,” she said simply. “Are you married? Do you have children?”
“No,” Andrew shook his head; “to both questions.” He saw the joy blaze into her eyes and knew she was up to something. “No matchmaking. My entire thought must be on keeping you safe.” He sat back as she nodded far too readily. “Who are you thinking the love of my life should be, niece?”
“Madame Bouchard has a tendre for you,” Marianne told him. She watched him choke and wondered why such a suggestion would upset him so. She was completely confused when he started to laugh. “Have I said something amusing, Uncle? She is a very nice woman…”
“You are a treasure, girl,” Andrew broke in as she set her on her feet. “We leave for London the day after tomorrow. Your Aunt Eustacia has decided to accompany us.”
“But she is ill, Uncle,” Marianne protested. “Should she be traveling?”
“You are a good girl for worry about her so,” Andrew smiled and patted her cheek. “She insisted and I hadn’t the heart to refuse. Go to your lessons with Madame now.” He closed the door in her face and smiled. What a curious child. How could she have seen it so clearly? He would have to mention this to Dominique when they were alone later. But if he had been expecting her to be amused, he was disappointed. She was not here with him as she should be. He ran his fingers along her bare arm and looked at her in concern. “Is something troubling you, Domi?”
“Philippe is here,” she said simply and felt him stiffen. “I thought you’d feel that way. He and his confederate will be moving in here later today. The baroness has sent the carriage for them and a guest room is being prepared.” She turned to face him then and he could see her worry. “He is here for the girl, Andrew. I know it.”
“We’ll be able to keep an eye on him if he is here, darling,” Andrew smiled at her in reassurance. “There are enough people around who can run interference if they try anything.” He knew Dominique’s history and he pulled her to him. “He will not hurt anyone while there is anything I can do to prevent it.”
Dominique sighed as he took her lips and forgot about monstrous brothers and irrepressible children for a while. There was only this time and this place and the man she adored in her arms and her heart. She got up with great reluctance an hour later and went downstairs as the front door opened. Her heart turned to ice as Philippe came in with a dark-haired woman on his arm. Dominique bit her lip in distress. How could he bring that whore into this house! She went down to meet him and he kissed her cheek and smiled in amusement as he saw her expression.
“I see you remember Marie, little sister,” he laughed as he brought the woman forward. “She is my wife now,” his voice became quite cold, “so you will treat her as a loving sister.” He heard someone running and looked up to see a pretty child at the top of the stairs. “Your charge?” Dominique nodded and his smile was quite warm. “She is adorable, Dominique.”
“The men who frequent Madame Sophie’s establishment would pay double for her,” Marie said softly; her threat quite intended. She saw Dominique pale. “We have no intention of harming her, dear sister,” she laughed and kissed the silent and fuming woman on the cheek. She turned as Marianne came down the stairs at a more sedate pace. “I see you have been teaching her manners, Dominique.”
Marianne approached the couple and wondered why Madame did not look happier to see her brother. She looked at the pair and saw the handsome man; too full of himself, and the pretty woman; far too common, and guessed it was the woman. Dominique did not approve of her new sister-in-law. Marianne could not blame her, the man and woman both made her skin crawl. But she remembered her manners and pasted a smile on her face.
“Madame,” she said as he looked at her governess; “might I be introduced?”
“Lady Marianne Pumphrey,” Dominique said with great reluctance, “allow me to present to you my brother, Philippe D’arboe and his wife, Marie. They are here on honeymoon.”
“How nice,” Marianne said, feigning delight. She turned to see Dawson standing by. “Dawson will see you to your room. I leave you to settle in,” she continued as she linked arms with Dominique, “while Madame and I have our lesson.” She took Dominique into the Music Room and closed the door. When she turned, she was very angry. “I do not approve of that pair one bit, Madame. They are not nice people.”
“On that, ma petite,” Dominique said sadly, “we are quite agreed.” She nodded to the piano. “Why don’t you entertain us with your favorite sonata.”
“While we plot how to make them so miserable,” Marianne grinned as she sat down on the bench, “that they run screaming into the night and never bother you again?”
“Lady Marianne!”
“I don’t like them, Madame,” Marianne repeated as she launched into the piano piece. The playful tune did not match the mood in the room one bit. She jumped as someone knocked on the door. Madame opened it to admit Andrew and Gerard. He was not at all pleased and she knew he had heard about the guests. “Have you met Monsieur D’arboe and his wife, Uncle?”
“Unfortunately,” Andrew snapped. “You are not to encourage familiarity with that pair. They are far too common to be born by people of polite society.” He looked at Dominique. “I realize they are your family, Madame, but I am adamant on this point. I will not have my niece sullied by association.” He smiled as Gerard held a hand out to Marianne. “The platoon is in need of some drill, Marianne. You will join Gerard as he puts them through their paces.”
Marianne nodded and left the house to the haunting refrain of a sonata Madame chose. She had to do something to help the woman. Gerard looked down at her and saw a familiar expression. She was plotting something. He turned her eyes to his as they approached the stables where his men were waiting.
“I should tell you to stay out of it, Marianne,” he smiled at her fondly; “but in this matter I am in complete agreement with you. The sooner that pair is out of here, the better.” Then he stepped with her into the shadows of the trees and kissed her gently. “I have been wanting to do that all morning,” he sighed as he pulled away. He saw the stars in her eyes and knew she had felt it, too. “Shall we put the men through their paces, my dear?”
“You confuse me, Lord Gerard,” Marianne said as she took his arm. “Aren’t you only supposed to be pretending to be my fiancé?”
“Sweet lady,” Gerard smiled down at her gently. “I may have come here with that intention, but I knew I wanted you the moment I saw you on the road that first day.” He saw her shock and he was stricken. He had meant to be gentler about his admission. “If you could not see yourself accepting me, my lady Marianne, I will return to politeness…”
“No,” Marianne broke in, her heart pounding away in delight. “I would be quite happy to allow you to court me sincerely, Lord…”
“You may call me Gerard, my dear,” Gerard smiled at her in amusement. “We are to be wed, after all.” He saw a brief moment of uncertainty. “I have already told your aunt and uncle about this, Marianne; they have given me their blessing.” He heard galloping and turned to see the platoon gathering on the field. “Shall we review the troops, my lady?”
Marianne nodded and they went to the stables where their horses were already saddled. They rode down to the fields and sat hand in hand as they watched the men maneuver their horses in and out in confusing patterns. She had never seen anything more interesting in her life. She asked if she might be allowed to join and the men looked to their Lieutenant in shock. He was in a mood to humor his lady, however; so he told them to guide her through one of the basic patterns and sat back to watch as her eyes shone with delight and her laughter as she executed the moves floated on the air. When it was over, Gerard rode down to the village with her so she could make her apology. He saw by her frown that she had hoped her uncle had forgotten.
“I know he is an officious little prig, my lady,” Gerard said as he helped her down. He did not want to let her go, he found himself thinking as their eyes met and held. He finally set her down. “But you are of a rank where the way you treat people is noted. Every person, no matter how offensive, should be treated politely.”
“Yes, Gerard,” Marianne bowed her head. She saw the door open and the Vicar stepped out. “Vicar,” she said softly, a look of intense regret on her face, “I must apologize for my clumsiness at tea yesterday. If I may offer to pay the cleaning bill?” He shook his head. “Then perhaps there is some penance I could perform?”
“I am certain you have your time filled with lessons and public service, Lady Marianne,” the Vicar smiled at the child. He really did adore her and the suit was only fabric. “I accept your pretty apology.” He nodded to Gerard a moment and then looked back at the girl. “I hear that Clarice has just received a shipment of