The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy by Elizabeth Aston Page B

I’m a man, and no one will give me a second look dressed like this.”
    â€œDoes Mr. Napier not give you money for your gowns?” Georgina said, unable to get over the shock.
    â€œNever mind the gown.”
    â€œIs Norris not with you?”
    Alethea rushed her fence. “Georgie, I have run away from him. He is—”
    She couldn’t finish her sentence. “Run away! Do you mean you are here in Paris alone?”
    â€œI have a servant with me.”
    â€œA servant! Why have you done such a dreadful thing?”
    â€œIf you’ll listen, I’ll tell you.”
    And she did, and Georgina did listen, but with no very sympathetic ear. “You always were fond of dramatics, Alethea. It is wrong of you, very wrong, to run away from your husband. And I don’t believe what you say about him. I heard from Letty; she says you were in Yorkshire complaining about Norris, and he was there with you, and she said she never saw such an attentive husband. You are making it all up, Alethea, you are in some scrape and think you can get out of it by running away. And coming to Paris! The very idea of it. The scandal, if it should become known.”
    At first, Georgina had the moral advantage. Alethea felt shabby and ill at ease, and she hated having to say how things were between her and her husband. Just as she hated having to beg a favour from her older sister. They were attached to one another, but weren’t close, and Georgina had always been a little afraid of her younger sister’s sharp tongue and clever mind. Alethea’s perception was as keen as her words, and she had the ability to make both the twins uncomfortable when she chose. Moreover, she laughed at them, and Georgina was one who took herself very seriously.
    â€œScandal!” Alethea hit back. “Any scandal there may be in my marriage is as nothing compared to the way you behaved when you ran off with Sir Joshua, yes, and lived with him before you were married and were his mistress before that.”
    Georgina looked sulky. “We were married almost at once.”
    â€œYes, and twins eight months later.”
    â€œThere is nothing to that, twins rarely go to term, everyone knows that. There isn’t a soul in Paris who does other than admire me for presenting Sir Joshua with an heir so promptly after we were married.”
    â€œWell, I don’t admire you for it.” She caught herself up. “No, I didn’t mean that, they are fine boys, and I am glad for your happiness. But can’t you see, Georgie, that my marriage is not a happy one? Don’t you wish for me to have the same pleasure in married life that you do?”
    â€œMr. Napier is a proper man, he is handsome, rich, well-mannered, well-born, what more can you ask? He is a lover of music; that alone should make him acceptable to you.”
    â€œThat is the front he displays to the world. Let me tell you that once the door to the bedchamber is closed, he is a very different sort of person.”
    â€œAs to that, you are prudish, I dare say, and not used to quite what the marriage bed means. You will become accustomed by and by, and take pleasure in it.”
    â€œI don’t believe it is how Sir Joshua takes his pleasure of you.”
    Georgina clapped her hands over her ears. “I won’t listen. You are making it up. Letty told me it would be so.”
    â€œHow heartless you are become, heartless and selfish.”
    Georgina held out her hands. “It is not so,” she said in cajoling tones. “Where are you staying? I will send a servant to collect your things; you may stay in Paris with us, you know, for as long as you want.”
    â€œAnd Sir Joshua will send off an express this very day and before I have time to turn round, Mr. Napier will be on the doorstep. I thank you, but no.”
    â€œAlethea, you cannot walk away from your marriage like this, believe me, it is not possible. You have