Free Lord Portman's Troublesome Wife by Mary Nichols Page A

he would be related to one of the wealthiest men in the country and that could do him nothingbut good. He smiled broadly. ‘Portman, I did not know you were here.’
    Harry bowed to him. ‘As you see. I am about to leave.’ He turned to Rosamund. ‘Your obedient, ma’am. If you change your mind, send me word and I will attend you again.’ And with another flourishing bow, he took his leave.
    Max watched him go, consternation writ all over his face. ‘Rosie, do not tell me you have rejected him.’ He threw himself on to the sofa and looked up at her, standing exactly as she had been all through her interview with Harry, stiffly straight with her hands clasped in front of her. ‘Are you run mad?’
    She sighed and sank back on to the chair by her escritoire. ‘You know why he was here?’
    ‘Of course. No gentleman would compromise a lady by being alone with her if he were not going to make an offer of marriage. It is the most marvellous thing. You will be the envy of the ton. ’
    ‘I will not, for I have not accepted him.’
    ‘Oh, that does not signify. He expects you to change your mind.’
    ‘I cannot help thinking you have contrived the whole affair and I find it humiliating in the extreme.’
    ‘Fustian! If our father had arranged it, you would think nothing of it and as I am the head of the family, it behooves me to do what I can. All I have done is make you known to each other. Is there anything wrong in that? You do not think, for a moment, I could influence Lord Portman to do something he does not want to do, do you?’
    ‘No, I certainly do not think that.’
    It seemed she was to get no peace, for Mrs Bullivant arrived at that point. Max rose to bow to her. She brushed past him, panniers swaying, the plumes in her hat waving. ‘Is all ready?’ she asked Rosamund. ‘I thought you might need help with conveying your trunk tomorrow and came to tell you that I will put my coach at your disposal. I shall come with you and see you safely installed…’
    ‘Why, Aunt, did you suppose I would abscond?’ Rosamund queried.
    ‘She might very well do so, for she has butterflies in her attic,’ Max told her. ‘She has rejected an offer of marriage.’
    ‘Marriage?’ queried the lady, much astonished. ‘To whom?’
    ‘To none other than Lord Portman,’ Max told her.
    ‘Portman!’ The old lady sat down heavily on the sofa vacated by Max. ‘You mean the Lord Portman I met outside Lady Bonhaven’s three days ago?’
    ‘Yes,’ Rosamund said. ‘He requires a wife and a mother for his children and apparently I have been selected.’
    ‘Good heavens!’
    ‘As you say, good heavens,’ Max said. ‘He is the answer to Rosamund’s prayers. She will have the rank and consequence of a fine lady, not to mention a generous portion and a home at Bishop’s Court. That is his estate near Isleworth, you know. I believe he has others.’
    ‘I know that,’ the lady snapped. ‘I had it from Lady Bonhaven herself, who used to be a bosom bow of his late mother.’
    ‘Oh, Aunt,’ Rosamund said. ‘You surely did not quiz her ladyship about him.’
    ‘Oh, not in that way. I simply said I had met him and found him very agreeable. I cannot believe someone of his consequence has offered for Rosamund. Why, she is—’
    ‘Past marriageable age,’ Rosamund put in with a wry smile. ‘But do you know, he said it did not signify, that it meant I should not be giddy and demanding.’
    ‘Quite right.’
    ‘Nor am I a beauty.’
    ‘Did he say that?’
    ‘He did not need to. I know it. I am to be a brood mare and give him an heir.’
    ‘So what’s to say about that?’ her aunt demanded. ‘Though I could wish you had phrased it a little more delicately.’
    ‘She rejected him,’ Max said gloomily.
    ‘Oh, you do not say so. Rosamund, whatever were you thinking of? To be sure, I arranged for you to go to my dear Clarissa, but only because I could see no other course open to you. You must accept. Just think