Read Corey McFadden for Free Online Page B

Parsons.
    And now it was time to spring the long-set trap....
    * * * *
    “Well, Mama?” John asked, not bothering to hide the touch of impatience in his voice. His mother had made this appointment with him earlier this evening but he had had to cut short a winning game with some of the local gentry in order to come home and see her. Still, when Mama called, it was wise to respond.
    “Close the door, my dear.” She smiled. “I should prefer this to be a private conversation. Where is the rest of our happy family by the way?”
    “Maudie is upstairs; her door is closed. Dear Papa is having a little snooze in the library.” John’s allowed his tone to drip with contempt. “He has managed to roll right onto the floor, snifter and all. Joe is seeing to getting him upstairs.”
    Joe had graduated from stablehand to groom to valet in recent years. No one else could or would manage the sodden James. Indeed, always one to pinch a penny when it didn’t hurt her, Mama had insisted that Joe assume duties both in the stables and in the house, and the young man, loyal to the Romney name since birth, made no complaint.
    Claire grimaced with disgust. “Just as well. I don’t want James lurching in here now. I have something to discuss with you, something I think you’ll like.”
    “Tell on, Mama. You know I always enjoy our little chats.” John was in high spirits, having come out ahead in spite of his early departure from the card game.
    “We must give thought to your future, my dear. I have Amelia settled right nicely, I think, under the circumstances. Now I can turn my attention to your prospects.”
    “I hope you have more care for my reputation than you had for Amelia’s, Mama,” John said a bit peevishly. “I am still trying to explain away the haste of her marriage to my friends. After all, a wedding barely six weeks after the Season is bound to give rise to unfortunate speculation.” John arranged his bulk across her small upholstered divan.
    “I care nothing for the vagaries of gossip, John,” his mother replied, contempt plain in her voice. “I’ve survived it and she will, too. It will all be forgotten inside of a few months, I promise you. And haste is of the utmost importance when one is working with beauty and no money. I could not afford to let Amelia stay in the marriage mart long enough to become a familiar figure. We had to strike quickly while the young bucks were still smitten with her looks and before they could examine our credentials too closely.”
    “That’s all well and good, Mama, but my friends are tittering about an ‘early arrival,’ and I’m not sure they’re not right.”
    Claire laughed dismissively. “There’s no baby coming, silly. We’re not that stupid. Amelia did allow to young Talbot that she thought there might be, to get him to move along, you understand, and do the honorable thing before he had time to think it through clearly, or time could prove her in error.” Claire laughed again. “She’ll just tell him it was a mistake when the time comes. He’ll have to make the best of it now, but after more than two months of marriage he’s still so mesmerized by her, I’m sure he’ll be relieved there will be no ‘premature baby’ to prove the gossipmongers right. But, precious, it’s your prospects I want to turn my attention to now.”
    “Much obliged, Mama,” John said with a smug smile. “I should like to be obscenely rich, if you can manage it, please.”
    Claire gave a short laugh. “No, precious, obscenely rich I cannot manage. But comfortable...very comfortable and secure, I think, with a decent bit of flesh to warm your bed, until you tire of her as you no doubt will.” Her smile was languid and suggestive, her eyes glittering in the glow of the candles. She was clearly enjoying this.
    “Have you given any thought to marriage, my dear? There’s money to be made in a decent marriage,” she purred, as if she had a lovely secret.
    John was slightly