[Harlequin] - Gail Whitaker - Blackwood's Lady (txt), Ksiazki, txt
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blackwood's ladybygail whitakerOriginally hailing from Pembrokeshire, Gaff Whitiker now lives onbeautiful Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada.When she isn't indulging her love of writing, you'll find her enjoyingbrisk walks along the Island's many fine beaches, or trying to catch upon her second love, reading.She wrote her first novel when she was in her teens, and still blessesher English teacher for not telling her how bad it really was.To Mum and Dad, the best parents in the world And to Ron, forencouraging me to strive, and for never forgetting the little thingsthat are so importantDid YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did, you should be aware it is stolen property as it wasreported unsold and destroyed by a retailer.Neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for thisbook.All the characters in this book have no existence outside theimagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyonebearing the same name or names.They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknownto the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or inpart in any form.This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises HB.The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproducedor transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrievalsystem, or otherwise, without the written permission of thepublisher.This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way oftrade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulatedwithout the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding orcover other than that in which it is published and without a similarcondition including this condition being imposed on the subsequentpurchaser.MILLS & BOON and MILLS & BOON with the Rose Device are registeredtrademarks of the publisher.First published in Great Britain 1999 Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR� Gail Whitiker 1999ISBN 0 263 81658 304-9905-80530 C1Printed and bound in Great Britain by Caledonian International BookManufacturing Ltd, GlasgowSo, my boy, are the rumours true?a beaming Sir Giles Chapman enquired of the younger gentleman sittingacross from him."Have you really decided to do it or is the story nothing more thanhearsay spread on the lips of fools?A brief flicker of amusement lit the silvery blue eyes of DavidPenscott, fifth Marquis of Blackwood, as he settled back into thecomfort of the deeply padded armchair and reached for the glass ofbrandy his uncle's manservant had just refilled."I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific than that if I amto give you an intelligent answer, Uncle Giles, since I've no idea whichrumours you're referring to."No idea!My dear boy, I am referring to the ones that have you marrying the Earlof Wyndham's daughter.Everyone knows how loath you are to enter the wedded state, and giventhat the lady is something of a mystery to Society circles the subjectis generating considerable interest.So, I am asking you straight out.Are the rumours true?David raised the cut-crystal glass to his lips and smiled at his uncleover the rim."That depends.Does your interest stem from the fact that you've money riding on myanswer or from a genuine interest in my welfare?"Money riding on my-- Egods, sir, you wound me!Sir Giles cried, clasping his hand over his heart as though he had beengrievously injured."You know I don't wager on my family."I know that you have been warned not to," David replied, his smilebroadening, 'but I wasn't sure how seriously you were taking the threat."I am taking it very seriously indeed, considering that it was levied byyour aunt Hortensia.That meddlesome woman has threatened to sell off my entire collection ofsnuff boxes if I so much as look at another betting book.And she'd do it too," Sir Giles muttered, the tips of his silverymustache bristling with indignation as he thought about his eldestsister and her much publicized campaign to reform his character."Hence, I fear I must consider myself cured of the dreaded vice.But, as regards these rumours, I do admit to being curious.I never thought to see You brought to heel by a woman, David, andcertainly not by a dark horse like the Lady Nicola Wyndham."I hardly call making the decision to marry at four-and-thirty beingbrought to heel, Uncle," David replied, choosing for a moment to ignorethe latter part of his uncle's comment."It simply suits my purposes, that is all."I see.Then is it indeed the Lady Nicola upon whom you have set your heart?"It is, though I fail to see why you would doubt one part of the rumourif you believed the other."Because I would doubt anything that was being hailed as the truth bythe likes of Humphrey O'Donnell and his cronies."O'Donnell!David's smile faded as an image of the handsome but far too cocky youngdandy appeared in his mind."I am surprised that young scapegrace would trouble himself over myaffairs.He has been overheard to say that no intelligent woman would be foolishenough to take me on."Yes, and so he would once he'd learned that the lady in question wasthe Earl of Wyndham's daughter.Are you not aware that O'Donnell has been casting after Lady Nicolahimself these past few weeks?David frowned."As a matter of fact I was not."No, I thought not.I hate to sound like an interfering old busybody, David, but you reallyshould pay more mind to what goes on in the drawing rooms of London ifyou are at all serious about this marriage business," Sir Giles advised."The hunting fields can wait."I am very serious about this marriage business, as you call it, UncleGiles, but no man could possibly be expected to keep up with all therumours drifting through London's drawing rooms," David objected."As for the hunting fields, I take leave to tell you that this proposedalliance with Lady Nicola may well have been forged through the verysport you now decry."Really?I was not aware Lady Nicola rode to hounds."She doesn't, but her father does, and I thought perchance the number oftimes he and I have hunted together might have made him look morefavourably upon my suit."More favourably?My dear boy, an offer of marriage from the Marquis of Blackwood would beviewed as exceptional even for the daughter of an earl.Especially one who, at five-and-twenty, is--' Sir Giles broke off inmid-sentence and stared at his nephew."Tell me that you are at least aware of the lady's age?A glimmer of mirth danced in David's eyes."I am well aware of the lady's age, Uncle, and I considered it a pointin her favour, rather than against it."You did?"Most assuredly.At five-and-twenty, Lady Nicola is far more likely to possess thequalities I seek than any of the simpering young ladies making theirbows at court.And, while I know that it is well past time I settled down, having hadit pointed out to me time without number, and by people whose opinions Ivalue, that does not mean I intend to plunge into the situation with myeyes closed.Marriage is far too important a decision to make based solely upon thefeelings of the heart.Sir Giles couldn't help smiling."Some gentlemen consider it the only way to make this particulardecision, David."Possibly, but I am not one of them.I can think of nothing worse than leg-shackling myself to a vapid youngwoman whose head is filled with silly romantic nonsense and little else."I see.Then what kind of wife do you seek?"I seek a competent hostess and a loyal companion," David replied,without hesitation."A woman who will be a good mother to my children, and who willdischarge her role as Marchioness of Blackwood with dignity and style,as my mother did.And I believe Lady Nicola to be precisely that type of female."She also happens to be a remarkably beautiful young woman," Sir Gilesremarked idly."Or had you taken time to notice that during your rather clinicalassessment of her many other fine attributes?"I have most certainly taken note of the fact that Lady Nicola is anexceedingly lovely young woman, but more important to me than her beautyis the fact that she has been raised in a nobleman's house--anupbringing which will have equipped her with the knowledge andrefinement necessary to take her place in mine."Knowledge and refinement.Dear me.Sir Giles regarded the only child of his much loved younger sister,Jane--who, sadly, had succumbed to a virulent lung infection eight yearsago--with an expression akin to pity."Is that all you can say about the woman you intend to marry?"Is that not enough?"Have you spoken to the young lady?"Of course.I accompanied her on the pianoforte at Lady Rutherford's musicale lastmonth, and we danced twice at Lady Dunbarton's ball just a few weeksago."And you feel that to be a sufficient foundation upon which to make adecision that will affect the rest of your life?David's brows drew together in a dark line."I take it you do not.Sir Giles shrugged eloquently."Doesn't matter what I think, David; I'm not marrying the girl.I simply thought you might have.well, taken time to get to know her before offering for her hand.Then, seeing the look which appeared on his nephew's face, Sir Gileschuckled."Forgive me.I thought love and marriage went hand in hand."Only in penny romances,"...
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