Free Engaged in Passion (A Bridal Favors Novella) by Jade Lee

Anthony was nothing but an upstart clerk. Now there was no hope that her father would consider Anthony. And worse, neither would she.

 
     
     
    Chapter 8

     
    Did she look good? Was she pretty?
    Francine thought maybe she was, but Anthony hadn't looked happy at all. She thought she looked good. Mrs. Mortimer thought she did. And even Lord Redhill, well, he didn't think she looked good per se. According to him, she looked sensual and lust-inspiring. And that, of course, was better than looking good!
    Except she didn't want Lord Redhill to think about her that way. She wanted Anthony to. And he had appeared downright miserable as he left the room to get tea.
    Francine sighed and wondered what she should do now.
    "Don't be slumping right now," snapped Penny, the girl who was measuring her foot for slippers. "You'll throw off the numbers. Plus you'll ruin the line of that dress, and Wendy hates that because it strains the stitching."
    Francine straightened immediately, even as she looked at the girl at her feet. In the weeks that she'd been coming to the shop, she and Penny had become friends of a sort. They were of the same age and could talk easily. But whereas Francine seemed to drift through life looking for things to do, Penny seemed overburdened and exhausted half the time. No wonder, given that she had a boy still in nappies to care for. Some said it was her son, but Mrs. Mortimer said Tommy was Penny's younger brother. It didn't matter which. The point was that Penny was alone in the world except for the boy, and that made life extra hard.
    "Do you think they're right?" Francine asked, her mind still on Anthony. "Do you think I'm pretty in this dress?"
    Penny rocked back on her heels, looking at her with serious eyes. "I think you've always been pretty. But I think your father has these wrong ideas, and you're angry about them. So you dress badly and eat a lot of sweets."
    Francine's eyes widened in shock. Could it be true? Over the last weeks, she'd confided in Penny, told her things she'd never told anyone else. That meant Penny knew her better than almost anyone. "You think I look ugly on purpose?"
    Penny straightened to her full height which was just a bit taller than Francine. "I think fathers are selfish sometimes."
    Francine bit her lip, feeling the ache build again right beneath her stomach. It had become a constant presence these days, one that often threatened to overwhelm her as day after day slipped by without a solution. "Papa gives me everything, but it all comes with one demand — that I marry a title. He doesn't even think about me. Just his grandson!"
    Penny grimaced. "Some of the gents aren't that bad."
    "They're horrible!" Francine cried. "And Papa's already mailed the contract. I'm supposed to marry a lackwit!"
    Penny leaned forward, her expression canny. "Is there someone you do want to marry?"
    Francine's eyes slid away. She'd never mentioned Anthony by name, but it was clear that Penny had already guessed that Francine was in love. "Is it obvious?"
    "Only to me. But if you want someone other than that lackwit, you're going to have to force your father to understand."
    "I've tried! You don't know how many different ways I've tried to make him understand!"
    Penny folded her arms across her chest. "You're of age, aren't you?"
    Francine nodded.
    "Marry whomever you want, then. But do it quickly! Assuming the man's got a good job. Is he a good man?"
    "The best!" She'd thought about this already, thought about eloping one night to Gretna Green. That would be wonderfully romantic, but then they'd have to come back to London and face everybody. Papa would be furious and since the marriage contract was already signed, he might have to give her dowry to the lackwit. Anthony would lose his job, and then they'd both be penniless. She was willing to risk it. She wanted Anthony enough, but her mind balked at the thought of that future. She knew exactly how much Anthony's dreams depended on the money and