Free A Christmas Courtship by Jeannie Machin Page A

marriage because of financial requirements than it is because of political ambitions . Neither reason is all that admirable, but to marry for love is very admirable indeed, and that will be my prime consideration .’
    She reached over to hug him tightly, blinking back the tears. He was going to give his consent, for once he met Antony and saw how great their love was, his objections would cease to matter.
    ‘No tears now, my dear, for I’m too frail to deal with tears. Here, wipe your eyes.’ He pushed his handkerchief into her hands, watcing as she dabbed her eyes. ‘You realize, don’t you, that Jonathan will be much more difficult to convince?’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘He has conceived a deep dislike for your young man.’
    ‘All over a foolish bowl of mulligatawny soup!’ She rose to her feet. ‘If they hadn’t all been in drink, and therefore argumentative . …’
    ‘Young men will always be the same, my dear. However, like me, your brother isn’t unreasonable, and if I am prepared to give my consent, I promise that I will do my utmost to persuade him around. There is, of course, the matter of his own match. A man who is happy in his new love, will be more disposed to be tolerant toward others.’
    ‘Do you think so?’ She turned hopefully.
    ‘One can never be certain, but it would be my guess. Your brother appears to be enveloped in such a rosy glow of adoration at the moment, that I don’t believe he would be capable of a concerted campaign against your young man. It has to be left in the lap of the gods for the time being, but I think his objections will not be insurmountable – if, that is, I am impressed enough with Master Antony Mortimer to lend my support in the first place.’
    ‘Yes, Father.’
    ‘Now, then, after all this talking, I’m beginning to wonder how close dinner is.’
    ‘I really don’t know, for I have no idea what Hannah is cooking today.’
    He sniffed a little slyly, and leaned back against the pillows. ‘I happen to know that she has a nice piece of salmon to roast.’
    She stared at him. ‘Salmon? Severn salmon?’
    ‘Is there any other?’ he asked blandly.
    ‘Oh, Father! You haven’t allowed Jake to go out poaching again, have you?’
    ‘He merely took a stroll to the old fishing house, lingered a while, and then strolled back.’
    ‘With one of Sir Edmund’s gamefish in his coat! Father, you know how angry Sir Edmund was about that gang of poachers, and how vigilant his keepers have had to be as a consequence, so how could you possibly…?’
    ‘Oh, stop lecturing me, my dear, for that salmon is as much mine as it is Sir Edmund’s.’
    ‘It isn’t, and you know it. Nothing in that river or on that estate has been yours for two years now, and you have no right at all to let Jake go out poaching on your behalf!’
    He scowled, but then heaved a long, resigned sigh. ‘Oh, I suppose you’re right, damn it, but I find it monstrous hard to accept that I can’t have what’s been my family’s for centuries. Very well, you have my word that I won’t let Jake go out anymore, will that do?’
    ‘Do you promise?’
    ‘I’m a gentleman, madam, and you have my word,’ he replied with mock indignation. ‘Plague take it, Blanche, you’ll spoil my enjoyment of dinner if you persist.’
    ‘It would take more than my grumbling to spoil your enjoyment of roast salmon with all the trimmings.’ She smiled, bending to kiss his cheek. ‘Are you going to come down to eat?’
    ‘I believe I will, my dear, for I have a mind to sit in my favorite chair by the fire in the parlor, with a glass of cognac to sharpen my preprandial appetite.’
    ‘I’ll go and tell Hannah,’ she said, and was just about to leave the room when they both heard a single shout from the street outside.
    Puzzled, she went to the window, holding the curtain aside tolook out. For a moment she could only see her own reflection looking back at her, but then her eyes became accustomed to the darkness. A