Pride of the Courtneys by Margaret Dickinson

reason than that he did not wish to hurt her feelings.
    â€˜Very well mother,’ Bassett was saying, ‘since you seem so desirous of having both your children enter matrimony on the same day, I will give in. I will marry but I am not marrying Millicent. I shall marry Louella.’
    There was a moment’s silence as the room vibrated with his words. Then came the violent reactions.
    I jumped to my feet and screamed.
    â€˜No. Never. I will never marry you, Bassett Courtney.’
    Lady Courtney fell into a swoon and Lord Rothbone and Charles rushed to her aid. Sir Hugh pottered over from his corner and clasped Bassett’s hand.
    â€˜My dear boy, my dear boy, a Courtney and a Lloyd. Fancy, after all these years, a Courtney and a Lloyd.’
    The words brought back a vague disturbing memory that I had heard those words before, but I could not place it.
    Millicent burst into tears, whilst Georgiana, her own misery forgotten for the moment, hugged me joyfully.
    â€˜Louella, you’ll really by my sister then. How wonderful.’
    â€˜I won’t. I won’t,’ I shouted, like a cross child. ‘I won’t marry that—that—brute. How can you be pleased Georgiana, when he won’t listen to your troubles? How can you wish him on me? I thought you cared about me.’
    My temper, my fear of the Courtneys, burst in fury. I felt trapped and, like a cornered animal, I fought.
    â€˜I do care for you, and Bassett. That is why I am so pleased.’
    Lady Courtney was recovering and was not going to let such an announcement, even from her masterful son, pass without reprimand.
    â€˜Bassett, have you taken leave of your senses completely? Marry her . How can you? Think what it will mean to me, your own mother, to have that girl as a daughter-in-law? It’s bad enough that she should live here, but to think that she will be the future Lady Courtney is beyond comprehension. After what her mother did, you would do this, to me?’
    â€˜I am sorry, mother, that you feel it so. I have made up my mind. Louella shall become my wife whether she likes it, whether you like it, or anyone else likes it, or not.’
    And he left the room.
    The remarks about my mother did not go unnoticed by me, but I was in no mood to argue that point then. Millicent’s tears and anger were directed at me, joined, of course, by Lady Courtney.
    â€˜How can you, you vixen? You have schemed this.’
    I ignored her and spoke to Lady Courtney.
    â€˜Lady Courtney,’ I was, for once, not afraid of her. ‘I don’t want to marry Bassett any more than you want me to, so I suggest you do everything in your power to stop it. For once, we shall be in agreement.’
    â€˜Don’t be impertinent, girl. And if you think anyone in this house can dissuade Bassett from this ridiculous idea, then you don’t know my son. I am more sorry than I can express, Louella, but when Bassett says something like that, he means it, mark my words. If he means to marry you, however much it may hurt us all, then he will do so.’
    I sighed and moved away. I was afraid her words were true. Lady Courtney was a forceful personality. She ruled her husband and daughter, but beside Bassett, her might was insignificant.
    The days wore themselves into weeks, and no one could change Bassett’s mind. After pleading with him once to release me from his intention of marrying me to be met with a sardonic smile which quickly changed to anger. I left him severely alone and avoided his company. His only answer to my impassioned plea was to place a diamond ring on my finger.
    I was not unaware of the great honour he was bestowing upon me, for I knew that once he married me, for a man like Bassett Courtney, it would be until death.
    But why he wanted to tie himself to a woman he did not love, and who almost hated him, I could not imagine. I realised that he had reached thirty without having any serious romantic