Free Christmas Carol by Flora Speer Page B

cause, Alwyn has every hope his father
will approve.”
    “It would seem as if Montfort and Lord
Simmons have our lives neatly arranged between them,” Carol
murmured.
    “Well, of course they have. Men are supposed
to arrange these things. You cannot object, Caroline, since you
wanted a good marriage for me, and now both of us have found
wealthy and titled husbands. What noblewoman could ask for more?
You are happy, aren’t you?”
    “Divinely happy.” Penelope missed the dry
tone of Carol’s voice and went on cheerfully talking about her
plans for a blissful future as the wife of Lord Simmons.
    Carol was unwilling to spoil Penelope’s happy
mood by discussing what she knew about Penelope’s dowry. Since she
wasn’t sure whether Penelope knew of this arrangement or not, a
certain amount of discretion seemed to be advisable.
    After her revealing talk with Nicholas on the
previous night, Carol was aware that he was using her sister’s
dowry to exert a subtle pressure on Lady Caroline. He would not
actually make that all-important settlement on Penelope until after
Caroline had fulfilled her part of their bargain by marrying
him—and, Carol was sure, by allowing Nicholas to consummate their
marriage so he could have at least some hope of an heir. The Earl
of Montfort was far from being a mustache-twirling villain, yet he
had Lady Caroline exactly where he wanted her.
    “Excuse me, my lady.” Lady Augusta’s personal
servant, Marie, stood in the doorway. “My mistress would like Lady
Caroline to attend her in her chamber at once.”
    “Oh, dear,” said Penelope in mock terror.
“Caroline, shall I go with you to protect you from the dragon?”
    “I think I ought to handle this one by
myself.” Carol gave the girl a quick hug and a kiss. “We will talk
more about your plans later. If you are happy, and if you are sure
of Lord Simmons’s affection, then you have my blessing and I wish
you all the best.”
    Carol was halfway down the hall to Lady
Augusta’s room before she realized what she had just done. She
could not remember the last time she had hugged someone out of pure
affection. But hugging Penelope felt good. There was an unfamiliar
warmth around her heart as she knocked on Lady Augusta’s door.
Unfortunately, it did not last long.
    “I have been waiting for more than an hour to
speak to you.” Lady Augusta did not waste time on small talk.
“Kindly explain to me just what you thought you were doing with
Montfort last night.”
    “He wanted to kiss his fiancee. I could
hardly object, could I?”
    “What I saw appeared to be considerably more
than a mere kiss.”
    It had indeed been more, and at the memory of
Nicholas’s demanding mouth on hers, Carol began to feel again some
of the tumultuous emotions she had experienced on the previous
night. There seemed to be no way for her to prevent her own
reactions to him. The realization of her own susceptibility made
her angry. Telling herself the anger was for Lady Caroline’s sake,
she attempted to explain the incident to Lady Augusta.
    “Lord Montfort believes he is in complete
control of his relationship with Lady Caroline,” she said. “He is
apparently loaded with money, so he thinks he can do whatever he
likes. Did you know he is providing a dowry for Penelope? But only
after Caroline marries him.”
    “Yes, I do know. It is not an entirely
uncommon arrangement, not when a man is as rich—and as generous—as
Montfort. Do you expect me to believe that what you were expressing
in the library last night was gratitude for his consideration of
your sister’s happiness?” The hint of sardonic amusement in Lady
Augusta’s voice made Carol wonder just what this irritating ghost
was really up to.
    “I was trying to show him that Lady Caroline
has some backbone,” Carol retorted. “I was hoping he might treat
her better.”
    “I am not aware that he has been treating her
badly.” Lady Augusta’s eyes bored into Carol’s. “I very much