Free The Bride by Christine Dorsey Page A

older man, but he didn’t think killing him was called for.
    “Well, you probably could get away with just wounding him, but—”
    “Listen, Douglas, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Sorry, old chap. Just a little joke. Several of us down at the Reading Room were speculating on what old Franklin would do about you compromising his daughter. Not that I blame you. I’ve thought about... well, you know. Eleanor may not be a great beauty, but she does have a certain appeal. Hell, what are you doing?”
    What John had done was grab the ribbons from Douglas and none too gently reined the high-strung bays to a stop. Then he faced a startled Douglas. “Tell me precisely what you’re talking about and do it now!”
    “No reason to get upset, old man—”
    With his free hand John grabbed the front of Douglas’s emerald green lapels.
    “All right. All right. Sir Alfred is spreading the word that you and Eleanor were alone in a fisherman’s hut after you were both swept overboard.” Despite his trussed up position, Douglas managed a smirk on his boyish face. “Sir Alfred said you two were caught in a pretty compromising position, if you know what I mean.”
    For one raging moment John considered pounding his fist into Douglas Milner’s freckled nose. Then reason took hold and he decided it wasn’t worth the effort. With a shove he let him go, then leaped from the carriage.
    “Wait... John. What are you going to do? No need to be upset. It’s not as if anyone is making you marry the chit.”
    Before the last word was out, John bounded onto the seat and grabbed Douglas’s starched shirtfront. “Never... ever refer to Miss Fiske as anything but a lady.” Before the startled Douglas could catch his breath John was back on the road, jogging toward Oakgate.
    ~ ~ ~
    Another afternoon picnic, like so many boring others. Only Eleanor could detect a slight charge in the air, like the buzz of a hundred bees. Not one of the guests said a word to her about the ugly rumors, but she’d heard them nonetheless.
    Her mother had raged into her room last evening, angrier than Eleanor had ever seen her. Mrs. Van Mullin had let it slip over tea that Eleanor was the principal topic of conversation, especially among the young men of Newport. Word was that she’d been compromised by John Bonner on the day she fell overboard.
    “I can hardly credit the truth of it, Eleanor, but the very hint of scandal will ruin your chances with Sir Alfred.”
    “Why, Mother?”
    “Why?” Matilda’s face grew redder with each passing minute. “Because he will want a bride above reproach, of course.”
    “No, I was asking why you can’t believe that I was compromised.”
    “You stupid girl, to even ask such a question!” She stormed across the room and then back. “John Bonner may be crude and lacking in manners, but he isn’t stupid. What he wanted from you was a place in society. Seducing you was hardly a means to that end. And it certainly wasn’t as if he was swept away by passion.” Her expression when she looked at her daughter made it clear why she thought that impossible.
    “At any rate we, shall have to counter this nonsense. I shall give a picnic tomorrow. Mrs. Van Mullin and Alexandra have already agreed to come, and no one else will dare not show their faces. I only wish your father had the decency to be here.” She continued pacing the area between the door and window, making plans. “You, of course, shall have to be above reproach in your dealing with everyone, especially Sir Alfred. I’m certain your silly rejection of his proposal caused him to say what he did.”
    “Sir Alfred started the rumor?” Eleanor was incensed.
    Matilda made a tsking sound with her tongue. “Simply wounded male pride which you must do your best to assuage, Eleanor.”
    Her mother stormed out of the room before Eleanor could tell her she had no intention of assuaging Sir Alfred or anyone else. Her first reaction was to refuse to