Free The Diabolical Baron by Mary Jo Putney Page A

airs! You’re damned lucky to have such an offer, and you’ll accept him with no shilly-shal lying!”
    Trembling, a white-faced Caroline said desperately, “I won’t! I turned twenty-one at the end of February, and you can’t make me. I’ll leave home and teach music.”
    Purpled with anger, Sir Alfred took two quick strides across the room and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her violently. Raising one hand to strike her, he bellowed, “Oh, can’t I now? If you don’t agree immediately, you’ll be begging me—”
    “Stop that this instant, Alfred!” Lady Hanscombe moved forward and seized his upraised hand before he could complete the blow. “There is no call to behave like a wild beast. Let me talk to Caroline. She will come around when she understands what is involved.”
    Breathing heavily, Sir Alfred backed off. “See that you make it good, then, because if she isn’t ready to accept Radford when he calls tomorrow, she’ll be sorry she was ever born.” He strode across the room and slammed the study door with a force that rattled the windows.
    Left with a sobbing Caroline, Louisa hesitated before starting to address her. She was not a perceptive woman, but she knew that only the most acute distress could have caused her stepdaughter to defy her par ents’ wishes. However, Caroline’s compliance was essential to the family. Since Louisa genuinely believed Radford would make a good husband, she had no qualms about using any method necessary to bring the marriage off.
    “Sit down and calm yourself, Caroline. Here is my handkerchief.” She gave the girl a few moments to collect herself before saying, “You have formed no other attachment, have you?”
    Her sobs subsiding somewhat, Caroline shook her head and made a muffled noise that must have been “No.”
    “Why is it such a surprise to you that Lord Radford has declared himself? I’m told that in the clubs they have been betting on the outcome for weeks.”
    At this Caroline raised her head in pure shock, say ing, “How could they?” in a dazed tone.
    Realizing that it was a mistake to mention the matter, Lady Hanscombe said hurriedly, “His attentions have been of the most flattering. Admittedly there is some thing of an age difference, but he is a very well-looking man, and what is of particular importance, a very wealthy one.”
    Here she paused, wondering how best to phrase the nub of the argument. “I have always attempted to shield my children from unpleasantness, but it is an unfortunate fact that our financial situation is very difficult. In fact, I do not scru ple to tell you it is desperate. Surely you must have wondered why only you and Gina came to London while the children remained in Great Chisbury?”
    Her unwilling attention caught, Caroline said, “You talked about their educational needs being more impor tant ...”
    “The real reason was to reduce our costs. Every penny we had went into making it possible for you and your sister to be presented creditably. It is essential that one or both of you make very good marriages. Your younger brothers and sisters are depending on that fact.”
    “Isn’t there money to come to me from my mother? I am of age now. I do not mind giving it to help them.”
    “It is not enough to signify,” Louisa said quickly. Far better to leave that stone unturned!
    “Gina is making a good marriage. Everyone says so. Can’t I be released from this one?”
    Ignoring the girl’s pleading blue eyes, Lady Hanscombe said, “It is a respectable alliance, but of little use at present. Gideon will eventually have a good property and income, but his parents are still alive, healthy, and relatively young. He does not have the per sonal fortune to help his wife’s family. The best we can hope for is that he accept Gina without a portion, as in deed he has done. And”—playing her trump card— “were it not that Lord Radford’s offer was imminent, we would have been forced to refuse young Fallswor