Read The Widowed Countess for Free Online Page B

bit the aristocrat she was. “Really, Clare. It would make this whole situation so much easier if you and Daniel would settle whatever differences you have and marry. He’ll have to provide protection for you anyway, and should you carry a son, it will still be heir to the title,” she explained with a wave of her hand. “I can speak with him about it if you’d like ...”
    “ No !” Clarinda countered, her mouth now wide open. “My lady,” she added on seeing Dorothea’s look of shock. “No. I cannot marry a man who ... who despises me,” she spoke in a much softer voice. “And I do not think you could compel him to consider such an arrangement.” David must be spinning in his grave! she thought in horror, his mother’s discussion of marriage quite improper considering a year was the proper amount of time for mourning a dead husband.
    And then she realized why this talk was really improper. David couldn’t be spinning in his grave. He wasn’t even buried yet!
    Dorothea drained her brandy, arching her eyebrow as if Clarinda had dropped a gauntlet at her feet. But the older woman’s countenance suddenly softened. She leaned back into the chair, as if her backbone was suddenly gone. Tears welled in her eyes. “I apologize. I ... You carry my grandchild. I want to be sure I am allowed to spoil it,” she whispered sadly.
    Clarinda dipped her head, wondering if Dorothea’s tears were real or if they were meant to elicit sympathy from her. “And you shall, of course, my lady. I promise. And I would offer a hanky, but mine are quite drenched,” she added as she pulled one out of the pocket of her gown and held up the damp linen.
    “Mine, too,” Dorothea replied, holding up her own damp hanky. She gave her daughter-in-law a wan smile before sighing. “We’re a pair, aren’t we?” she murmured with a sigh.
    Clarinda offered a wan smile in reply. Then her brows furrowed. “How is it you were able to get to London so quickly?” she wondered, thinking the dowager countess and Daniel would be arriving together the following day.
    Catching her lower lip with a tooth, Dorothea sighed again. “I was attending a house party in Kent. Daniel had a courier sent up with the news moments after it reached him. I expect he’ll be here on the morrow.” Her gaze settled on Clarinda again. “Do afford him all the courtesy you would your earl,” she said in a quiet voice. At Clarinda’s surprised expression, she added, “Well, except for the conjugal visits, I suppose.”
    Clarinda’s eyes widened even more. “You mean, have him move into the earl’s apartments?” she asked in surprise. David had only been dead a couple of days. She was sure his belongings were still where he’d left them, although she intended to spend some time with his valet determining what should be done with some of his more personal things that probably wouldn’t be included in his will. There were paintings meant for David’s eyes only. And the bed. Well, David hadn’t slept in that bed for some time, she realized, remembering how wonderful it had been to have him sleep with her in her bed this past week.
    “Yes. Even if you carry David’s heir, Daniel will still have to run the earldom until the little bastard is old enough to take over.” At the sound of Clarinda’s audible gasp at her mother-in-law’s use of  the word ‘bastard,’ Dorothea shook her head. “I meant that in the most loving way, I assure you,” she stated with a nod, not even bothering to apologize. When Clarinda’s eyebrows didn’t come down from their record heights, though, she added, “I almost called him a ‘little bugger,’ my dear,” she claimed, as if that would have been worse.
    Somehow, the comment, or perhaps just the tone of voice in which it was made, was absurd enough that Clarinda had to allow a smile. “I can hear you now, calling your grandson, ‘Bugger’,” she replied, her smile of amusement genuine. The smile slowly faded as