Free The Runaway Heiress by Anne O'Brien

lord.'
    'Very well, Matthew. Lead
me to the horse. And no, you cannot ride him, before you ask. I will return
very soon.' He gave Frances a brief smile of encouragement before following his
brother through the door.
    Frances was left alone
with her mother-in-law. She could not allow herself to show any weakness or to
be intimidated. Lady Aldeborough had the air of one who had spent a lifetime
in achieving her own ends. And she would not be prepared to accept defeat on
this occasion.
    'Miss Hanwell. Oh, do
forgive me—I still cannot believe that you have actually entered into this
alliance with my son.' Her sugary tones set Frances's teeth on edge. 'Do come
and sit here. I will ring for some tea. Perhaps you would like to tell me a
little about yourself. ' The Dowager smiled, but achieved it only through sheer
effort of will. Frances responded with as much equanimity as she could muster.
She had nothing to lose. She knew at once that she would never win the good
will, much less the affection, of this dominant lady and she wished fervently
that Aldeborough had not forsaken her to such an ordeal.
    The
arrival of the tea tray gave Frances a much-needed breathing space. When
everything had been disposed to her liking, Lady Aldeborough handed Frances a
fine bone-china tea cup.
    'Now.
Let us have a feminine gossip.'
    Frances
cringed inwardly, predicting accurately the direction it would take.
    'Who
are your family? Do I know them?'
    'My
uncle is Viscount Torrington—and he is also my guardian.'
    'So,
are your parents then dead?'
    'Yes.'
    'How
unfortunate. I do not think I have ever seen you in London. Or at any
country-house parties. Perhaps you have never been introduced into society?'
    'I
have always lived in the country on my uncle's estate.'
    A
pause developed as the Dowager considered the information. 'Perhaps you have
other living relatives?' The catechism continued.
    'The
present Earl of Wigmore is my mother's nephew, my cousin.'
    'Really?'
Elegant eyebrows rose in apparent disbelief. 'I am somewhat acquainted with the
family, of course, but I was not aware of your existence.'
    'We
have not kept close contact.' Frances was determined not to give any more cause
for speculation.
    'I
see.' Lady Aldeborough placed her cup down with careful precision before
fixing Frances with austere censure. Let us be clear about this, my dear. I am
very disappointed in the turn of events. So shoddy, you understand. And as for
what the world will make of the rumours of an abduction—'
    'There
was no abduction. I did nothing against my will'
    'Whatever
the truth of it, it is quite shocking. As Marquis of Aldeborough, my son should
have enjoyed a wedding at which all the members of the ton were present. An event of the Season, no
less. Instead of which...' Her mother-in-law shrugged with elegant disdain.
    There was no suitable
response for Frances to make. She waited in silence for the next onslaught,
raising her teacup to her lips.
    'It makes me wish once
again that Richard was still alive.'
    'Richard?'
    'My son. My first-born son.' The Dowager indicated with a
melancholy sigh and a wave of her hand an impressive three-quarter-length
portrait in pride of place above the mantelpiece. 'It is very like. It was
completed a mere few months before his death.'
    'I...I'm sorry. I did not
know.'
    'How should you? He was
everything a mother could wish for. Duty and loyalty to the family came first
with him. Not at all like Hugh. He should never have died.'
    Frances studied the
portrait with interest as her companion applied a fine lace handkerchief to her
lashes. The young man before her was very like her husband. Indeed, the
Laffords all had the same straight nose and dark brows and forthright gaze.
Richard was dark too, like his brother, but the portrait highlighted a subtle
difference between the two. The hint of mischief in Richard's hooded eyes and
roguish smile were unmistakable. He sat at his ease in a rural setting with the
Priory clearly