[Harlequin] - Sarah Westleigh - The Impossible Earl (txt), Ksiazki, txt
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
The Impossible EarlbySarah WestleighMILLS BOONMakes anytime specialWould nothing deter her?He smiled on a sudden thought. "You have not yet seen theaccommodation, Miss Vincent," he reminded her."Nor have I inspected your gambling hell," she returned with patentlyfalse affability. "At what hour do you close?""At three in the morning, Miss Vincent." His lips twitched with quiteirrepressible amusement. "You are determined to stay? It would behighly improper in you to do so."Sarah Westleigh has enjoyed a varied life. Working as a localgovernment officer in London, she qualified as a chartered quantitysurveyor. She assisted her husband in his chartered accountancypractice, at the same time managing an employment agency. Moving toDevon, she finally found time to write, publishing short stories andarticles, before discovering historical novels.Recent titles by the same author:JOUSTING WITH SHADOWSA HIGHLY IRREGULAR FOOTMANSEAFIRETHE OUTRAGEOUS DOWAGERFELON'S FANCYSarah WestleighMILLS BOON'DID 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 northe publisher has received any payment for this book. 411 thecharacters' in this book have no existence outside the imagination ofthe author. and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the samename or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individualknown or unknown to the author. and all the incidents are pureinvention. 411 Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction inwhole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangementwith Harlequin Enterprises H B.V. The text of this publication or anyPart thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans. electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording.storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without thewritten permission of the publisher.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 1997Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,Eton House. 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond. Surrey Tlg9 ISRSarah Westleigh 1997ISBN 0 263 80505 0Se in Times !0 on 12 pt. byRowland Photo.typesetting Limited Bur."v St. Edmunds, Suffolk04-9802-71853 .Printed and bound in Great Britain by Caledonian International BookManufacturing Limited, GlasgowChapter One"A legacy?"The faint frown which appeared between Leonora's well-defined browsserved only to emphasise her excellent complexion and its generalfreedom from lines. Her eyes, grey liberally flecked with blue andgreen within a dark outer rim, widened on the elderly solicitor, whohad written for an appointment and undertaken the long and tiringjourney from London to Buckinghamshire especially to see her.Mr. Warwick wiped the lenses of his spectacles and put them back onhis bulbous, large-pored nose, winding the wires of the frame about hisears."Did you not expect it, Miss Vincent?" he asked, his watery blue eyes,set beneath white brows, surprised. "Mr. Charles Vincent did notinform you of his intention to name you as his heir?""No," said Leonora. She made a quick gesture with her hands. "He waskind to me as a child, but I have not seen or heard from my great-unclefor many years. I had supposed that my uncle the Earl would havebenefited upon Uncle Vincent's death."She sat on a sofa in the morning room of Thornestone Park, her feettogether, her hands folded neatly on the dove-grey muslin of her gown.On no account must she show the excitement, the elation growing insideher. Her Uncle Vincent, the Honourable Charles Vincent, youngerbrother to her grandfather, who had been the Earl of Chelstoke, had notbeen rich, but as far as he knew he had not been stricken by povertyeither.There should be something to come--unless, of course, he had diedheavily in debt, like his nephew her father. That disaster had leftthe Honourable Peregrine Vincent's wife and daughter homeless andpenniless. His wife had not possessed the strength of character tosurvive and had speedily followed her husband to the grave.Leonora, on the threshold of life, made of sterner stuff and valuingabove everything her independence, had come here, to Thornestone Park,as governess to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Farling's two daughters. She hadnot thought to be trapped for seven long years but now, suddenly, whenshe was almost at her last prayers and faced with the problem offinding another, most probably uncongenial, position, the prospect offreedom seemed something too precious to be hoped for."As I understood my client's mind, Miss Vincent," went on the lawyer inhis dry voice, 'he remembered you with great affection. Knowing thatyou had not been offered a home with your uncle the Earl and had notyet found a husband to provide for you, he sought to ease yoursituation with this legacy.""My uncle did offer me a home," said Leonora honestly."But you did not accept?""No. I would rather earn my living as a governess than live as a poorrelation at the beck and call of Lady Chelstoke and her brood."A faint smile touched the whisk cry lips of the lawyer. "I see. Ibelieve my client understood something of the kind. He ... er ... heheld Lady Chelstoke in some dislike.""So." Leonora drew a breath and grinned wryly. "I have become anheiress, but rather too late in life to hope my good fortune will lurea gentleman of consequence to offer for me." Her neatly folded handsgripped each other as she sought to hide her overwhelming anxiety toknow. "How much am I to inherit?""My client left everything to you, Miss Vincent, apart from a small sumwhich is to go to his valet, a man who had been with him for manyyears."Mr. Warwick made a show of consulting a sheaf of papers on his knee.He was sitting on an upright chair opposite Leonora, with a table byhis side. He cleared his throat and reached out for the glass ofMadeira he had been offered on his arrival. Leonora quelled hergrowing impatience, making herself take inaudible but deep, calmingbreaths as she waited for him to continue.He took a sip of the wine and then, at last, went on. "There is ahouse in Bath, a substantial residence not far from the Abbey. Youknow Bath?"Leonora shook her head. He said, "I am informed that it is an olderproperty, but superior in size to the fashionable terraced buildingsdesigned by John Wood and his son. It is near the Pump Room and Bathsand the shops in Milsom Street are within easy walking distance. Aconveyance would be required to reach the Upper Rooms, where the Ballsand Assemblies are held. The property would be worth a fair sum if youcared to sell it."Leonora stirred and he went on quickly, as though he wished to continuewithout interruption. "At the moment the ground and first floors arelet to a friend of the late Mr. Vincent, who himself Occupied therooms on the floor above. The gentlemen shared the kitchen andservants' facilities in the basements and attics."The frown, which had disappeared from Leonora's brow, reappeared."Would this tenant expect to remain?"Mr. Warwick looked uneasy and coughed slightly. "That I cannot say,but he holds a sound lease which does not expire for another fiveyears.""I see. But unless he goes, I cannot hope to sell the propertyimmediately at its full value?"Mr. Warwick took another sip of wine to cover his hesitation."Possibly not, Miss Vincent," he allowed2 "But in addition to theproperty, my client had investments, mostly in the five percents, andsome cash in the bank. There were, of course, a few debts to besettled and the valet's legacy to find, but the residue of theinvestments and cash together will total around three thousandpounds."Not a great fortune," he added hurriedly, anticipating Leonora'sdisappointment, 'but, together with the interest on the investments,the rent Lord Kelsey pays would provide you with a comfortable incomeshould you decide to move into your great-uncle's apartment. Or youcould increase your competence by letting that as well."Leonora was not disappointed. How could someone who had nothing bedisappointed to inherit somewhere to live and enough rent and intereston capital to enable her to set herself up in modest style? In grandstyle for a period, were she prepared to hazard the capital in anattempt to secure a suitable gentleman's hand in marriage.An idea was forming in her mind. At five-and-twenty she might bealmost at her last prayers, but women older than herself did wed. And,to be quite honest, she longed for an establishment of her own. Anestablishment with a nursery and an agreeable husband Who might, wereshe lucky, love her and, in turn, win her love.She said, "I should like to see the Place before I make up my mind."Mr. Warwick nodded. "Very wise."Rosy pictures of her future flew into Leonora's mind and drifted outagain as she forced herself to listen to Mr. Warwick's furtherinformation; but he had little more of moment to impart...
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]