Read Darrington 01 - Marriage Minded Lord for Free Online

about. We all have opinions. You are entitled to voice yours, but I do not need to agree.” He gave her a small bow from the waist. “I’m afraid I need to bid you adieu for the evening. The dinner was lovely as was the conversation. Thank you for making the effort.”
    As quickly and silently as he arrived, he departed the kitchen. Clarice sagged against the wall with a hand pressed to her quaking stomach. Merciful heavens, if I live to my next birthday despite my free speaking, it will be a miracle. Lord Swandon was a handsome eyeful and an interesting conversationalist. Too bad she’d never see him again.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    Felix rattled his newspaper in the hopes his female relatives would take the hint he wished to dine in silence over luncheon. They did not. Instead, his mother and Charlotte prattled on about only God knew since Felix hadn’t paid them the slightest attention. He’d merely known the noise of said talk annoyed him to no end. When he folded down a corner of the paper and peered at his sister, who didn’t pause in her jabber, he cleared his throat.
    “If you two insist on chattering away like birds, I shall ask Samuel to relocate my meal to a quieter setting.”
    “We hardly sound like birds.” One of his mother’s eyebrows rose toward her hairline. When a lecture from Roberta was in the offing, that eyebrow would rise; the higher, the more irritated she was. “It’s Sunday morning, Felix my darling. What could you possibly be in a snit about this early? Did you not have fun at the musicale last evening?”
    He snorted. Almost noon wasn’t early by any stretch of the imagination. “I’m not in a snit, Mother. As for last night’s entertainment, let’s just say it was all relative and there were a few high moments.” Ever since he’d left the Drummond residence, he couldn’t forget the French woman’s food, the sound of her voice, her verve or daring, even though he’d left with a rather annoyed attitude.
    “Ah, then you’ve found Lady Drummond worthy of your pursuit?”
    “Perhaps.” Felix refused to commit to anything, especially to his mother. He didn’t want to spend time with Olivia overly much, but if he were in her house again, he might catch a glimpse of Miss Delacroix. Never had a woman captured his attention as much as the Frenchwoman, yet continuing down such a path would be sheer folly. His mother would give him a dressing down he wouldn’t soon forget, not to mention that the scandal he’d bring to his family name would be the talk of London—until the next one on someone else’s doorstep. Yet would the greater crime be in building up Olivia’s hopes when the probability of him actually choosing her to wed was almost nil? Botheration. I should have stayed in the country.
    His parent clapped her hands in evident glee. “I do hope you’ll hurry things along.”
    He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Don’t read too much into this, Mother. I refuse to take leave of my common sense merely to wed upon your dictate. I’m not certain Lady Drummond is a good match.”
    “She’s as good as anyone else , and it’s no secret she’s looking for a husband.”
    “Mother.” A note of warning crept into his voice.
    Roberta sniffed. “When have you ever followed one of my suggestions without argument?”
    “Not now, Mother.” Felix sighed. Some days he wondered what it must be like not to have family constantly underfoot, annoying him at every turn, questioning his every decision. “I simply wish to enjoy my paper and meal without the droning of pointless conversation interrupting me.”
    “It’s not pointless.” Roberta selected a slice of ham steak from a tray bearing cold cuts and cheeses then laid the meat on a piece of baguette. In the strong midday light streaming through the windows, her hair gleamed auburn. If it weren’t for the streaks of gray glimmering in the coif, no one would guess she was in her mid-fifties, and with her still-bright hazel