Free A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer Page B

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    ‘This is unnecessary, sir!’ Adam interposed. ‘If I haven’t been able to put her out of my mind, you may rest assured that there’s no thought of marriage to her there, or to anyone!’
    ‘Now, listen, Adam!’ begged Oversley. ‘If you’re thinking that Miss Chawleigh is like her father, she’s not! She’s not a beauty, but she always seemed to me an agreeable, well-behaved girl. I see no reason why she shouldn’t make you an amiable wife. She’s a little shy, to be sure, but perfectly sensible, and will give you no cause to blush for her manners. As for Chawleigh, I don’t think he’ll embarrass you. He’s not encroaching. Yes, I know he has a bee in his brain where his daughter’s concerned, but he don’t himself wish to be admitted into the ton. You might not believe it, but he’s never been across my threshold till today. I’m under a considerable obligation to him, and I did think I might be regularly in for it, but not a bit of it! All he wanted me to do was to put Jenny in the way of meeting what he calls the nobs ! Refused the only invitation I ever sent him to dine in Mount Street: told me he’d be happy to dine with me in the City, but wouldn’t come to my house. There’s much in him that I like – and there is no one whose credit stands higher in the City!’
    ‘I’m sure he’s a very respectable person,’ said Adam, ‘but I have no desire to marry his daughter.’
    ‘Come out of the clouds, Adam!’ said Oversley sternly. ‘They say – and I believe it! – that he’s one of the richest men in the country, and that girl of his will inherit his whole fortune! He has a name for driving devilish hard bargains, but he’s not a screw, and the more he spends on his Jenny the better pleased he seems to be. Marry her, and you will live as high as a coach-horse for the rest of your life! You will not only be able to hold Fontley: you will be able to bring it back to what it was in your grandfather’s day.’ He laid his hand on Adam’s shoulder, gripping it. ‘Listen to me, you young fool! You’ve no right to refuse the only chance offered you to restore what your father squandered! If you could do the thing by your own exertion I wouldn’t urge you to this marriage, but you can’t. You talk of rejoining your Regiment, and for anything I know you might achieve the highest rank. But once Fontley has passed out of your hands you will never win it back again. You think that over, boy, and remember that you’re the head of your house, and have the power to prevent its falling down – if you choose to exert it!’ His grip tightened. ‘Don’t make a piece of work over it!’ he said, with rough kindness. ‘It’s a fair bargain: no need to feel you’re offering false coin! The girl knows you’re not in love with her. As for the rest – I wish with all my heart you might have had time to recover before this came upon you, but, believe me, Adam, you will recover! Now, that’s all I have to say. Good God, look at the time! I must be off!’
    A quick handshake, and he was gone, distressed by the drawn look in Adam’s face, but not (as he later informed his lady) unhopeful of the issue.
    And on the following day, after passing a sleepless night, Adam wrote to accept Mr Chawleigh’s invitation. Two days later still he set out in a hackney-coach, to take his pot-luck in Russell Square.
    He had been bidden for six o’clock, and warned that the occasion was to be informal, but although he had at first supposed this to mean that morning-dress would be worn, a doubt later shook him, and resulted in his assuming the long-tailed coat, white waistcoat, black pantaloons, and silk stockings which constituted correct evening attire. Possibly he would find himself overdressed, but to be underdressed, he suspected, might be taken as a slight.
    It took some time to reach Russell Square, which was of recent date, built on the site of Bedford House, when this ducal mansion had been