Free The Cinderella Debutante by Elizabeth Hanbury Page A

marriage to her sister was imminent and the truth she had been denying refused to be subdued any longer.
    Within a fortnight of their first meeting – or had it been within a minute? – he had destroyed her calm and demolished her comfort. Attraction had flared and burnt fiercely inside her. Exactly how it had happened, Lucy didn’t know. She had not spent a great deal of time in his company and even less time alone with him, but it was enough. This wasn’t just infatuation. It felt much worse than that. Incurably truthful, Lucy was now forced to acknowledge how she felt, even as she chided herself for being an idiot.
    She was truly, madly, desperately in love with the man who was about to offer for her sister.
    Her enjoyment of the evening had melted away like snow on a spring morning. She felt more alone than ever. She looked at the ormolu clock on the mantelpiece through a shimmer of tears as it chimed midnight. Her posy of forget-me-nots slid from her nerveless fingers to the floor.
    For what seemed like endless minutes she waited to make sure they had gone. Then, she closed the library door and made her way back to the ballroom, biting her lip to suppress the sadness engulfing her.
    Lord Devlyn was a dream she had to let go of.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    A marriage proposal
     
    Arriving at Lord Sneyd’s lodgings the following morning, Sir Oswald found him in a propitious mood. As he lowered himself into a chair, his corset creaking ominously, Sir Oswald also noted that his lordship wore a satisfied expression. It transpired his good humour was due to his excellent progress with the heiress; for the first time in months, Lord Sneyd believed his fortunes were about to take a turn for the better.
    “The marriage banns will be issued soon,” he explained, “and the ceremony will follow immediately afterward. The mother is a halfwit: she is all encouragement for her daughter to make a good match. The chit herself appears willing enough, although she is a heartless minx with a temper; I shall enjoy taming her once we are married.”
    Sneyd’s soft tone sent a shiver down Sir Oswald’s spine. “Excellent, Julius. Only the formalities to be dealt with then and Devlyn will be cut out, just as you planned.”
    “He observed the civilities last night but from his expression he wished me in Hades.” He laughed sardonically. “I’m aware of society’s opinion of me, but wealth makes one suddenly much more agreeable.”
    “But what if Devlyn offers for her first?” queried Sir Oswald, “Great deal of address, you know, as well as being rich, one of the leaders of the ton and a war hero to boot. Bound to impress a young girl.”
    “Nothing will stand in my way. The stakes are too high and I will take drastic measures if necessary. The only difficulty lies with the older sister. Her distrust of me becomes more obvious by the day. The marriage must be done quickly before she can influence her mother and sister.” Sneyd’s expression became thoughtful for a moment as he concluded, “What a pity it is not she who has the fortune. She would make a more worthy adversary.”
    “Seems now to arouse almost as much interest as the heiress,” said Sir Oswald, whose precarious social status depended on following the ebb and flow of fashion.
    “Nevertheless, she must not be allowed to meddle. This arrived today, Hen. Read it and you will see how little time I have left; that damned leech is after my blood!” He thrust a grubby letter in Sir Oswald’s direction.
    The missive was brief, but the meaning was clear,
     
    It pains me to write to your lordship, but news has not yet reached me of your betrothal to a certain wealthy young lady. My sources inform me that the lady looks with favour upon you, but also on many others. If I do not hear of your marriage soon, I shall be forced to act. I hope that your lordship would not be foolish enough to try and trick me - others have tried and paid dearly for their mistake