Free A Christmas Courtship by Jeannie Machin

agreed ?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Impossible. He’s too ambitious to regard an Amberley match as in any way desirable. You may once have been sought-after as a bride, my dear, but that isn’t the case now. Why has he consented?’ He looked shrewdly at her. ‘Come now, I want the whole story, for I know Clement Mortimer too well not to see that there’s an ulterior motive.’
    Reluctantly she nodded. ‘You know that Mr Mortimer wishes to become a member of parliament, don’t you? Well, for that he requires the patronage of the Duke of Norfolk, and in return for your assistance in that connection, Mr Mortimer is more than prepared to allow Antony to marry me.’
    Mr Amberley sat up furiously. ‘How very gracious of him, to be sure! I’d as soon recommend a rat to the duke!’
    ‘Please don’t be angry, Father.’
    ‘Angry? I’m downright furious! And as to a Christmas betrothal…!’
    ‘I love Antony, Father, and he loves me. We want to spend the rest of our lives together.’
    ‘I’ll never consent to such a calculated arrangement!’
    She met his angry eyes. ‘All it is is an agreement, Father, no worse than yours was with my mother’s family. You’d barely met when your parents arranged the match, and it was a contract based on financial benefit to both families. Is that more honorable and desirable than the match I wish for now? At least Antony and I know and love each other.’
    He was silent for a long moment, and she waited in an agony of suspense. Would he accept that she had a valid point? Or would he dig his well-bred Amberley heels in and refuse to evercountenance an alliance with the upstart Mortimers?
    At last he drew a long, quivering breath, and nodded. ‘You’re right to remind me of the circumstances of my own marriage, and perhaps I would indeed be guilty of unfairness if I rejected your wishes out of hand, but I will never regard the Mortimers as worthy of an alliance with this family. Too many bad things are said of your young man’s father, and there are whispers about Antony himself, but I cannot justly say that I know for certain that he has followed in his sire’s footsteps. I know you wouldn’t ask this of me unless you did indeed hold this young man in exceeding high regard.’
    ‘I love him with all my heart.’
    ‘Then I will receive him, but….’
    ‘Oh, Father!’ Glad tears sprang to her eyes, and she tried to blink them back.
    He put a hand to her cheek. ‘I only said I’d receive him, and I was going to go on to say that under no circumstances will I agree to a Christmas betrothal, for that is by far too soon. I will receive him, form my judgment, and then, if I am disposed to accept him as a prospective son-in-law, I am prepared to begin discussing dates and so on.’
    She took a long moment to consider her next words. ‘Father, you do understand that Mr Mortimer will withdraw his consent unless you….’
    ‘Agree to put in a good word or two with the Duke of Norfolk? Yes, I understand, but I disapprove heartily, and I can’t believe that you’re entirely happy. What if all the good words in the world don’t achieve Clement’s ends? What then? Will your betrothal be abruptly ended?’ He put his hand over hers. ‘The duke isn’t a fool, you know, and he won’t be persuaded to put forward a candidate he doesn’t think worthy, no matter how many old friends approach him on the subject. However, it seems to me, strangely enough, that Clement Mortimer probably has the necessary qualities to become a Whig member of parliament .’ This last was said somewhat acidly, for as a lifelong admirer of the late Mr Pitt, Lionel Amberley was a staunch Tory.
    ‘Your political allegiance is showing, Father,’ she said quietly.
    He smiled. ‘Tory I may be, my dear, but I’m also very fair, andif I am impressed by your young man, then I will bear in mind the condition that his father has placed upon the match. I can see that it is no more reprehensible to connive at a