Desperate Measures (Regency Undone) by Claire Firth Page B

really come as any great surprise when she had declared herself passionately in love with her second cousin.
    ‘He has been posted to France,’ she had said, eyeing him nervously, ‘and I wish to go with him.’
    He had stared at her in absolute shock.  ’Do not be ridiculous. Think of the scandal you will cause - and what of Charles?’
    A crafty look had entered her eyes.  ‘Ah now that is where I think we might make a bargain.    Roland is not fully happy with the thought of starting our marriage with a child already in place.   Especially when it is not his.’
    ‘ Starting a marriage?  I would remind you madam that you are already in one.’
    ‘ Marriages can be annulled.’
    ‘ Not when they have been consummated and there is a child to show for it.’
    ‘ Divorce then?’  Her eyes flashed her determination.   ‘I will not be swayed from this Guy.  You have never treated me properly and you are too serious.  Roland treats me as if I am the only thing in the world he cares about and he enjoys having fun as much as I do.  I thought I would enjoy being a Duchess but I find it is too boring for words.’
    ‘ Too boring for words?  May I remind you Madam, that since you have been my wife, our life has been a round of non-stop parties and socialising that would drive most men to an early grave.  And be all that as it may, we entered into a contract of marriage.  Divorce does not happen in my family.’
    ‘ Oh don’t be so stuffy.  It is not such a stigma as it was.’
    ‘ I repeat Charlotte.  It does not happen in my family.  I will not divorce you.’
    ‘ Oh, but I think you will Guy.’
    His eyes narrowed at her change of tone and he was quick to note the determination in her gaze.
    ‘Make no mistake,’ she said in a hard voice, ‘I am leaving you, and though you may wish to, you cannot prevent me.  Now you can either let me go peacefully and quietly in which case I will let you keep your son, or I shall leave not so quietly and take Charles with me - to France.  And before you say you would prevent me from doing that, let me just say that you cannot watch me and Charles twenty four hours a day for the next ten years or more.  I will get my opportunity and I will take it.’
    It was as if something had snapped inside him as he ’d listened to her ultimatum.  He had stared at her long and hard, then actually found himself considering her proposal.  Of course he would be mortified by being the first one in his family to divorce, but was he doing his family name any more of a favour by remaining married to one such as she?  And did he really want to be tied to her for the rest of his life?  Have her bring up his son?
    A veil had descended over his eyes, his demeanour becoming icy.  ‘Very well, Charlotte.  If that is what you want then you can have your divorce.  But it is not because you threaten me that I am prepared to let you go.  It is because you are a strumpet not fit to hold the Rotherham name - and certainly not fit to be a mother to my son.  Go to your lover with my blessing.  I certainly wish him an easier time of you than I have had.’
    ‘ How dare you call me a strumpet.’
    ‘ I dare because it is the truth.’
    ‘ And I suppose you think you have had the last laugh?’ she said, her eyes flashing.  ‘Well let me tell you this Your Grace.  Next time you look into your son’s face ask yourself this question.  Do you really think he looks like you?’
    And she had swept angrily from the room.
     
     
    Now as he sat in his mother’s drawing room brooding, he swirled the brandy in the bottom of his glass and told himself that he was not making any better a job of his second marriage.  He was not a rash man usually, but it had certainly been a rash action to ask Isabelle to participate in a pretend Engagement.  And once again, his wretched sense of honour - that no-one other than he seemed to consider of any importance - had placed him in a situation