Free The Convenient Bride by Catherine Winchester Page B

his feelings for her had been eclipsed. Still, he wasn’t doing much good here and if he stayed, they would surely continue arguing. He got up and collected his coat and hat as he headed to the door, folding the play into his pocket, although he paused before leaving.
    “I will t alk to a few friends of mine in the theatre,” he assured her. “I’m sure we can find you a decent production to-”
    “Don’t bother,” she cut him off and so with a heavy heart, Max left.
    He didn’t know what to do about Marie; she was becoming a nuisance but he did feel a responsibility for her. He still gave her money, even though he no longer enjoyed her pleasures, but she did her damndest to try and tempt him, and then make him feel bad when he refused.
    He had taken a hansom cab here but needing some time to ponder what to do about Marie, he decided to walk at least part of the way home.
    The easiest thing would be if she fell for someone else’s charms. Although she slept with a lot of men, he was her favourite, as she’d told him many times. She had even once told him that she loved him but knowing that he couldn’t answer truthfully without hurting her, he had decided not to reply.
    She had to know that he didn’t feel that way about her and even if he did, he could never be with a person like her. Not only was she a fallen woman, she was a liar. He knew that she wasn’t French, and he sometimes even detected a trace of a West Country accent. She was probably a miner’s daughter or similar, who had come to the city with dreams of marrying well, or perhaps acting and who had quickly had those dreams dashed.
    Despite her words, he decided to see if he could find her an acting job. She could probably be good with a little training, she did do a wonderful impression of a French woman and perhaps if he could make that dream come true for her, she wouldn’t pester him so often. Plus, she was pretty enough that she would quickly develop a following of devoted men, one of whom, he hoped, might eclipse Max in her affections.
    He was so distracted by his thoughts, that he didn’t immediately notice the two carriages outside his house. He wasn’t worried though , until he went inside and noticed the grave expression on the staffs’ faces.
    “What's wrong?” he asked the footman, who was acting as butler until they returned to the country.
    Before the other man could answer, he saw his family’s doctor coming down the stairs, looking grave. Max stepped towards him.
    “What’s going on?” he demanded.
    The doctor headed towards him, also looking solemn.
    “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your wife has lost the child she was carrying.”
    “Is she all right?”
    “Physically, she will recover but she was understandably overwrought when I arrived. I have given her something to calm her nerves and left her a sleeping draught. She needs rest, and a lot of it for at least a few days.”
    “Why did this happen?”
    “She said she had a fall and I believe that precipitated this tragedy.”
    “Can I see her?”
    “Of course, although I would warn you about overtaxing her. No one knew where you were, so the staff sent for your mother; she’s sitting with her at the moment.”
    “Thank you, Dr Hardy.”
    Max dashed up the stairs and burst into Lucy’s room without knocking.
    “My darling, are you all right?”
    Lucy didn’t respond but his mother, who had been sitting by the bedside, got up and headed towards the door, touching Max’s arm as she passed and offering him a sympathetic smile. Max quickly took the seat that she had vacated.
    Lucy was curled up on her side in the foetal position, he r hands tucked under the covers and only her head showing. Her gaze was unfocused, probably because of what the doctor had given her to help her relax.
    “How are you?” he asked.
    She slowly focused on him and her eyes filled with tears, which trickled from her beautiful, ice blue eyes onto her pillow.
    He was about to