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with Isabelle. name?
Isabelle. Elizabeth sat on the edge of the sofa, her back straight, It s a sacrifice I am willing to suffer.
her face impassive. Do I know her? Will this Isabelle suffer it too?
No. A wry smile escaped him. She has no choice either, since she
I . . . I suppose it is natural for a man to have a . . . mistress when must divorce her husband to be with me.
his own wife Elizabeth launched to her feet once more, staring at him as
Isabelle will be my wife! though he had turned mad. She is married too?
Elizabeth blinked. Wife? What nonsense. How is that possible? He nodded and ran his fingers through his hair. This wasn t
I am soon to leave for York where I shall be petitioning for a going well. Mama
divorce and if I get no satisfaction there, I ll go on to London. A knock interrupted them and the footman stuck his head
His mother shot to her feet. Divorce? around the doorjamb.
Ethan turned away and walked to the empty fireplace. A delicate We do not wish to be disturbed! Elizabeth snapped.
and colourful Chinese screen stood upon the hearth. I cannot I m sorry, madam, but your seamstress has been waiting in the
remain married to Clarice any longer. I wish her no harm but do not parlour for some time. Shall I send her away?
love her. I never did. I m sorry. No. Ethan took advantage of the escape. My mother will be
But you married her! with her shortly. He turned and kissed his mother s soft cheek and
He spun to face her. Yes, for Father, for the estate, for the money, left the room.
but never for me. His heart pounded as memories of that time Elizabeth tapped her foot and nibbled her fingernail. She looked
resurfaced. I never wanted her for me. It was a duty. My duty as a at the waiting footman. Tell Mrs Goodman that I shall be ten
son and heir. Father was dying, he made me promise to marry her minutes more. Send in a tray of tea and cakes for her. She swept
so that we could have her properties and strengthen our land hold- from the drawing room and up the staircase. A slow anger
ings. You know we needed her wealth and she needed a home since simmered in her chest. She burst into Clarice s bedroom, startling
her mother wanted rid of her so she could remarry and move away. the woman where she lay on her bed still in her nightwear. I must
Clarice has done nothing to give you reason to divorce her. talk with you, Clarice.
I have grounds, or if not, I ll get her to divorce me. She has Her daughter-in-law blinked like a mindless ninny, a chocolate
grounds now. He ran his fingers through his hair. She is not a true seashell half way to her mouth. Clarice had occupied the room from
wife to me, never really was. Clarice wanted a comfortable home the very first day of marriage, surprising them all by asking to have
and to be free from her mother s tyranny. She doesn t want to be a a room to herself. Ethan had readily agreed. Elizabeth glanced
wife, a mother or mistress of this house. You know that as well as I around the bedroom. An assortment of sweets and chocolate boxes
do. We ve both known it for years. littered the bed. Clothes hung haphazardly, magazines stacked in
That doesn t make it right. Elizabeth sat back down and Ethan piles by the bed, books lay where they had fallen. Distaste curled in
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ANNE WHI T F I E L D T HE GE NT L E WI ND S CARE S S
her stomach and fed her frustration. reminded her that she had declined Ethan s offer to hire a maid to
Do you allow the maids to clean in here? help with the chores. She smiled as his face swam into focus, her
Clarice stared and popped the whole chocolate into her mouth. swirling movements dwindling until she knelt back on her heels,
Good gracious me! Elizabeth paced the room before stopping at the cleaning forgotten. Her body responded to memories of his
the end of the bed. Now listen to me carefully, Clarice. Do you like touch, his kisses, his loving that sent her reaching for the stars and
your life here? beyond. What a summer it had been. Lazy days together, snatched
Clarice paled. She clutched a sweet box to her ample chest. Her afternoons, and secret meetings in the wood had occupied her
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