The French Bride by Evelyn Anthony Page A

at least give me warning. I promise I shan’t speak a word to them.’
    â€˜No.’ He shook his head. ‘I shall be back to marry you, depend on it. By God, so many people are against it, it’s almost a challenge to me now. I’m going to bed. I’ll start at dawn tomorrow. You can make what excuse you wish to my family.’ She began to walk up the staircase with him; at the entrance to his suite of rooms she touched his arm.
    â€˜I must speak to you, just for a moment.’
    â€˜Everyone wants to speak to me just for a moment,’ he sneered. ‘My dear sister came bursting in upon me, just to speak for a moment. Now it’s you … what do you want? Do me the favour of being brief. I’m bone weary.’
    â€˜I don’t know what Jean said to you but I can guess. What I have to say is brief indeed. We began this engagement in the worst possible circumstances; let us review it before it is too late. Charles, I don’t want you to marry me against your will.’
    â€˜And what exactly did you think I was doing, except that?’ he demanded. ‘Didn’t I make it clear to you that I was being blackmailed into this marriage?’
    â€˜You did indeed,’ she said. ‘But even so, I hoped – I thought that you might change. Now I can see you haven’t. You’re unhappy here; nothing I’ve done has pleased you. I don’t please you, I doubt I ever shall. Charles, I cannot force you into this. Let me give you the money to pay that creature De Charlot, and I willingly free you from any obligation to marry me, or pay me back.’
    She was very pale; it had taken all her courage to offer him his escape when all she wanted in the world was to keep him by her at any price. To her surprise he laughed.
    â€˜Very noble of you, my dear Anne. Is it possible that you have changed your mind and seek to buy me off? By God, there’s no end to the subtlety of women, even the stupidest! Do you think my father would be balked of his desire to bolster his Highlands with your money? Do you think my lady mother would allow you to frustrate her plans to fetter me? De Charlot would have his money and I should be a penniless outcast, disinherited from my Scottish rights!’ He stepped close to her and caught her arms; the grip was so tight that she winced.
    â€˜You agreed to have me and now I’ve grown used to the idea. I’m going to marry you, my little cousin, whether you want it or not.’
    â€˜Don’t judge me by the strumpets at Versailles,’ she said. ‘I made the offer out of decency – and pride, if you like. Women have pride too. I admit I haven’t shown much in the last few weeks, but that was only weakness. If you wish to humiliate me further I’ll oblige. I still want you, detestable as you are! But if you want your freedom, you can have it!’
    â€˜Generous, honourable Anne,’ he mocked. ‘To hell with your generosity!’ He was still holding her and there was something in his face that made her shrink away and struggle to release herself. He laughed and forced her arms behind her back.
    â€˜Go down and console that poor oaf De Bré,’ he sneered. ‘And don’t forget, I shall be back the night before the wedding.’ He thrust her away from him and disappeared into his rooms, slamming the door on her.
    The wealth that Charles left behind him at Charantaise did not extend to the villages and towns on the estates as he travelled back towards Versailles. Anne’s people at the great château were well fed and properly cared for; her stewards and bailiffs treated the servants and the estate workers with the consideration due to pedigree animals. Unlike the majority of the peasants, undernourished, sullen, frightened, and dirty, the staff were intelligent and trained. Charles had heard a great deal about the poverty of Scotland and the wretched conditions to which the