Lord Portman's Troublesome Wife by Mary Nichols Page A

make the ton believe he had fallen in love with her? And why would he want to? Marriages of convenience were not rare. While still being in complete control of his horses, he had turned to look at her and was studying her face so closely she began to wonder what there was about it that absorbed him so. She knew she was not a beauty, but neither was she ugly. ‘You must be the first gentleman I have met who is indifferent to the opinion of the haut monde ,’ she said.
    He laughed. ‘I can afford to be. They call it eccentricity.’
    ‘Eccentric enough to take a nobody for a wife.’
    ‘Please disabuse yourself of the notion you are a nobody. According to your aunt your family can trace its lineage back to Tudor times.’
    ‘No doubt she is busy this very minute telling that to her friends to explain away your eccentricity. ’
    ‘And your eligibility.’ He paused to negotiate a turn, which he did to a nicety. ‘Shall we agree we are well matched and leave it at that? Tell me about the wedding arrangements. Do they go well?’
    ‘Yes, and I have you to thank for that.’
    ‘Forget that too. I have. Have you sent out the invitations?’
    ‘Not yet. My aunt is busy drawing up a list.’
    ‘I have one or two names I should like to add, if you would be so kind. My Aunt Portman, my father’s sister, and my cousin Francis and a few close associates.’
    ‘Of course. Please give my aunt their directions. I assume Sir Ashley is one of their number?’
    ‘Yes, but you need not fear he will betray us. He is the soul of discretion. As far as the world is concerned we have contracted a perfectly conventional marriage.’
    ‘Is it my pride or yours you are protecting?’ she demanded.
    Not for the first time he was taken back by her perceptiveness and her outspokenness. ‘Both, my dear. Now we are arrived in Hampstead, be so good as to direct me to your maid’s address.’
    Janet was overjoyed to find she was going to back to Rosamund, whom she had known since she was a child, and as a lady’s maid, which was a big step up for her. And Miss Rosamund was to become Lady Portman, which was a source of even greater delight. ‘You deserve some happiness, after looking after your papa for so long,’ she told Rosamund, while Harrylooked on with amused tolerance. ‘And I wish it for you with all my heart.’ Her sister was out and she needed time to pack her few belongings and so Harry said he would send a carriage for her the following day; having arranged a time, they left.
    ‘I cannot believe this is happening to me,’ Rosamund told Harry as they set off back to town. ‘I sincerely hope you may not regret it.’
    ‘I cannot think why I should,’ he said calmly. ‘We have each set out our stall and there can be no room for misunderstanding, can there?’
    ‘None at all,’ she said. His words put a damper on her feeling of euphoria and brought her back to reality with a painful bump, and for the remainder of the journey, they talked about the weather, speculated on what the Royal bride would be like because she had not yet arrived in the country, and commented on The Jealous Wife , the latest play at Drury Lane, which had been heralded as one of the finest comedies of its time—everything except their coming nuptials.
    When they arrived at Chandos Street, Harry accompanied her to the door, but declined an invitation to come in for refreshment. ‘I will call again, if I may,’ he said, taking her hand and bowing over it. ‘To bring my friends’ directions. And we can arrange an evening for our visit to the Theatre Royal. I will introduce you to some of the cast afterwards and perhaps we can have supper with them. That is if you would like it.’
    ‘Certainly I would, my lord.’
    The footman had opened the door and she passed inside, leaving him to go back to his carriage.
    Her aunt was alone in the drawing room and allagog to know what had happened, to which she replied, ‘Why nothing, Aunt. We saw Janet and