Free Confessions From an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville Page A

the sentiment does you great credit. Lift up your head so I may look for gray hairs.”
    â€œAfter all, Blakeney is heir to one of the most powerful political families in England. He may not be very clever but perhaps that’s for the best. I shall guide him.” She wished she felt as confident as she sounded.
    â€œThat’s all very well, but Blake’s not just a dynasty. He’s a man too. And I think you’ll find when you get to know him he’s not all bad. I wouldn’t have considered marrying him if he was.”
    â€œYou thought you were in love with him because of his looks!”
    â€œTrue. Mostly. But I like him too. I always have. Sebastian has his own reasons to loathe him, going back to their childhood, but he’s getting over it.”
    â€œNot that I’ve noticed. He wanted to kill Blakeney after the ball.”
    â€œBlake did behave abominably. I was so furious when I heard about it.”
    â€œHe thought I was the Duchess of Lethbridge, I understand that. I understand that men have mistresses, too. I’ve been trying to tell myself he didn’t mean it.”
    Diana’s arms tightened about her. “Poor Min. I don’t know what to say. Try and forget it. How have you been getting on with him since?”
    Minerva shrugged. “We’ve only met a few times. We have been pleasant to each other.”
    â€œNothing more?”
    â€œWe had one conversation about criminal justice reform, but since then he’s shied away when I talk about anything interesting.”
    â€œInteresting to you, you mean.”
    Min grinned back at Diana. “Of course.”
    â€œYou used to complain about his hunting stories. Have you had to suffer a lot of them?”
    â€œNot one.” Min stopped to think about it. “How very odd. He’s mentioned horses a couple of times, but no hunting. He’s been living in Devon for a year or two. Perhaps they don’t hunt there. If not, I don’t know what he was doing there.”
    â€œHe sold his hunters when he left London. The duke keeps him very short of money but that will change now. Sebastian made sure of it when he negotiated the marriage settlement. You needn’t worry.”
    â€œI wasn’t worrying,” Minerva said absently. Blakeney had always been hunting mad, yet apparently he’d given up the sport, just like that. She added it to the compilation of odd facts she was amassing about her husband-to-be.
    â€œWhat about the duke and duchess? Have they received you kindly?”
    â€œThe duke and duchess could not have been more gracious. Dining at their table and hearing the latest political news from its very source is thrilling. I can’t believe I am to live at Vanderlin House.”
    â€œIs that settled then?” Diana asked. “Did Blake agree?”
    â€œI’ve seen my rooms. Our rooms.” Minerva replied. It was true that her fiancé had been silent on the subject of their abode. Silence meant consent, didn’t it?
    â€œI think it an excellent sign that the duke and duchess are so cordial in their welcome. If they respect you, Blakeney will too.”
    â€œThey are giving me a lot of jewelry.”
    â€œTell me about it.” Diana’s eyes lit up at the mention of one of her favorite subjects.
    When it came to describing jewelry, or clothing, Minerva inevitably disappointed her fashionable sister. “Some diamonds. And some other things. I can’t remember, there were so many. You’ll have to wait and see them when they’ve been cleaned. Although,” she added, “they didn’t look dirty to me.”
    â€œI don’t know Blakeney’s parents well,” Diana said. “Sebastian likes them.”
    Min frowned. “I like them, I suppose, and I admire them. But they aren’t very warm. Not at all like our parents. In fact they are quite cold with Blakeney.”
    â€œI’m sure it’s