The Heiress by Evelyn Anthony

them; they took the intolerable arrogance of their own aristocracy for granted; the valet expected to be kicked on occasions by his master, but all the servants at the Château resented this foreigner who ordered them about like dogs. But he was obeyed and he was feared; he was the future master of the Château and everyone in it. When he married the Marquise he would inherit her power over them all. He could have the servants thrown out to starve, dispossess the tenants of their lands, hang them for theft or refusal to obey an order. A lackey tried to stop Jeanne at the outer door.
    â€˜Monsieur is not to be disturbed, Madame. Those are his instructions.’
    Jeanne gave him a look which quelled her own servants and had silenced her own husband on occasions.
    â€˜Get out of the way. I am Monsieur’s sister.’
    Charles was lying on a couch reading when she walked into his bedroom.
    â€˜I told that oaf outside I was not to be disturbed,’ he said. ‘This household needs a lesson in obedience; I’ll take a cane to him for letting you in here.’
    â€˜Oh no, you won’t,’ Jeanne said. ‘You’ll control your temper and pretend that you’re glad to see me after all this time. You might at least get up!’
    â€˜I have no intention of getting up,’ Charles remarked. ‘I’ve spent the morning hunting with my charming fiancée and I’m tired. Why don’t you go away?’
    Jeanne walked over to him and sat down.
    â€˜I want to talk to you, brother, and you’re going to listen to me. Put that book down or I swear I’ll knock it out of your hand!’
    â€˜Poor de Mallot,’ he mocked. ‘Fancy being married to a bad-tempered bitch like you, Jeanne. Thank God my wife will know how to behave with me after we’re married.’
    â€˜You’re not married yet,’ his sister snapped. ‘That’s what I want to talk to you about. Why are you going through with this? Have you any feeling for Anne at all?’
    â€˜What feelings am I supposed to have? It’s a marriage of convenience, surely you know that.… Don’t you approve of me as a husband for her?’
    â€˜I know about your debts and the scandal you’ve caused,’ she answered. ‘As for approving of you, I think you’re beneath contempt. Why did you agree to marry Anne—wasn’t there another rich woman you could victimize?’
    â€˜She was our parents’ choice,’ Charles retorted. ‘You should blame them, not me.’
    â€˜I have no influence with Father; all he’s thinking about are the estates in Scotland. If they weren’t being restored to us he’d have let you go to the Bastille and rot there! All I’m concerned about is Anne. I’ve just left her.’
    â€˜Ah,’ he swung his legs to the ground and sat up. ‘And what has she said to bring you here like an avenging angel—has she complained of me. How miserably disloyal—I see it’s not only the servants I shall have to discipline.’
    â€˜She’s in love with you,’ Jeanne said slowly. ‘That’s what has horrified me more than anything. Did you know that, did you know she loves you?’
    â€˜It depends what you mean by love.’ He grinned at her. ‘I imagine I compare rather better as a lover than these country idiots she’s been accustomed to. Does that answer your question, my dear sister, or must I elaborate?’
    â€˜I don’t want to discuss her feelings,’ Jeanne interrupted. ‘I want to find out about yours. You don’t care for her at all, do you?’
    â€˜What a boring little provincial you’ve become,’ he mocked. ‘Care for her … I’m marrying her because I have no choice. After that she can go to the devil!’
    â€˜I see.’ Jeanne stood up. ‘That’s what I suspected. What are you going to do after you’re