Plain and Proper by M J Marlow (beach read TXT) 📕

congratulated, Madame Bouchard.”
“If you meant it, Lady Gloriana,” Dominique nodded stiffly, “I would be very happy.” She turned away from the woman and looked through the book of fashion plates with the dressmaker and Marianne. “I like this one,” she said as she saw the simple gown with the ivory rosebuds at the neckline. “It suits me.”
“You are quite correct, Madame,” the woman smiled. She turned towards Marianne. “And jewel tones for your attendant’s gown, young lady; no insipid pastels.” She heard a sniff and realized that Gloriana was dressed in just such a color. “They look quite nice on some women, but your coloring and personality needs something more vibrant.” She frowned as she heard Gloriana and her mother both stamping their feet. “Chantal! Attend lady Thornton and her daughter! I need to concentrate on this consultation.”
The next hour passed quite pleasantly and the party moved on to the hats and other accoutrements. Andrew found them at a teashop down the lane from the salon and he was looking very worried. He did not speak of his worries, however; and both women left it alone.
They told him about their day and he frowned as he heard about the Thornton girl. What an unbelievably nasty woman she was becoming, he thought uncharitably. But remembering her mother, he knew she really had not had the opportunity to become anything else.
“She needs a man of her own,” Dominique sniffed. “Unfortunately, she thought she had her claws in our Gerard.”
“Gerard and that – that woman,” Marianne was shocked. “No,” she shook her head as she thought about her. “He would be bored with her pettiness in a week.” She saw him coming down the street now and she could not keep herself from blushing. She rose to her feet and turned away. “I think it’s time I returned home now…”
“Then by all means,” Gerard smiled as he caught her before she could flee; “allow me to escort you, by way of St Peter’s.” He nodded to Andrew and Dominique. “If you would care to join us?”
“Of course,” Andrew nodded. “Dominique and I have an appointment at St. Peter’s with the pastor.” He raised Dominique’s hand to his lips. “We are going to choose our wedding date.”
Marianne smiled and was completely oblivious to what they were planning. They entered the pretty church and Dominique took her to a room by the altar. Margaret Tremayne and Eustacia were there. Estelle was holding a white satin gown in her arms and a veil. Marianne looked at them in shock. They couldn’t possibly be expecting her to go through with this insanity, could they?
Please don’t make me do this, Aunt,” Marianne protested as Estelle and Dominique started to undress her. “It’s not right!”
“Marriage to Lord Gerard will keep you safe,” Eustacia said from where she sat watching. “And he is fond of you…”
“No,” Marianne shook her head. “He is not! He is only marrying me because he was ordered to do so. He doesn’t care for me at all.” She burst into tears and ran blindly out the side door and directly into someone. She looked up to see Walter Thornton standing there. “Oh dear!” she blushed and backed up a step. “I am sorry, Lord Walter…”
“I’m not,” Walter smiled down at her nastily. “I have been hoping to have a little conversation with you, Lady Marianne.” He grabbed her wrist and yanked her towards a waiting carriage. “Come along.”
“No,” Marianne shook her head and tried to pull free of his hold on her wrist. “Let me go, Lord Walter! You have no right…”
“Take your hands off of my fiancé, Lord Walter,” Gerard hissed at him from behind. Walter turned to see the entire regiment behind his competition. He let Marianne go and bowed mockingly as the girl ran to Gerard sobbing.
“I didn’t think it was right for her to marry,” Walter laughed as he backed towards his carriage; “without knowing there were other options available.” The look he shot Marianne as he got in his carriage warned her he was not done with her yet.
“Did he hurt you, Marianne?” Gerard cried as he looked into her face. He saw fear fading and anger mounting and he smiled and kissed her gently on the forehead. “We were about to do something before that fiend interrupted…”
“Yes, Gerard,” Marianne sobbed and tightened her hold on him. “I will marry you.” He took her back to the ladies in the church and she tried to be happy. But she was worried. Yes, she was marrying the man of her heart, but the threat that had seemed so innocuous before had suddenly become quite real. Gerard was making himself a target by making this decision, Marianne realized; and she did not want to lose him.
The reception was held at the Travers town home. Gerard took great pride in showing her around the residence. The servants were all quite pleased to meet her and she wondered if he had been telling them about her. Estelle was still with her, of course; but her greatest joy came when Gerard informed her that Eustacia would be coming to live with them at the end of their honeymoon.
“Three months should be long enough,” Gerard smiled down at her as he carried her upstairs once all the guests were gone; “don’t you agree?”


For the next three months Marianne and Gerard remained in the town home alone with their servants. Visitors were politely but firmly turned away and life was peaceful. Aunt Eustacia was settled into an apartment after that and Marianne was content. So she knew that life was about to change for them again when Gerard came into their home with a dark look on his face. He had gone to the War Office at Lord Pertwee’s request and it was obvious he had not liked what he had been told. He entered the sitting room where Marianne and Eustacia were doing their embroidery and kissed them both on the cheek.
“The news is bad, my dear?” Marianne asked as he had a servant bring him some whiskey. Gerard nodded and she took his hand in hers. He saw a shy smile on her face and wondered at it. “The doctor was here today,” she said simply. He looked at Eustacia in concern and the two women laughed.
“I am fine, dear boy,” Eustacia told her confused nephew-in-law. “Marianne…”
Gerard was at her side instantly, his hands on either side of her dear face. His worry was plain as he waited to hear the news. She had been sick with the flu for nearly the past two months and he was afraid. He did not want to lose her now, not when he had gone through so much to make her his wife. So he was not expecting what she told him.
“He told me that I was not suffering from the flu, as we had thought.” Marianne waited for him to guess and sighed when he proved obtuse. “We are going to have a child, Gerard.”
“Pregnant?” Gerard choked. He looked at her, then at Eustacia in shock. Then he picked Marianne up in his arms and danced. “My lady! Your news has driven all other concerns from my mind.” His eyes drank in the sight of her lovely face. “How far along are you?”
“Three months,” Marianne told him, blushing as she thought of it. The very first night they had been together as man and wife had born fruit. She laughed at the look of shock on his face. “You look stunned, my love. Surely you knew it could be possible?” He nodded slowly as he got himself another drink. “Uncle Andrew and Aunt Dominique are coming to tea. I thought we could share our good news with them.”
“If it is a girl,” Gerard smiled as he kissed her warmly, “she will be called Eustacia Angharad Travers.” He saw the older woman blush. “After my beloved wife’s two mothers,” he explained his decision to her. Eustacia blushed like a young girl as he kissed her on the cheek. He sank down next to his wife and held her hand as his mind spun. “We shall have to find a nurse for you, Marianne; someone who understands about such things…”
“I am certain Aunt’s nurse understands these things,” Marianne laughed at him. He looked hurt. “I am pregnant, you darling idiot, not ill. I will be just fine.” She got to her feet and Gerard was at her side, helping her. She shook her head at him. “I am fine, Gerard,” she repeated firmly. “I am just going to go speak to Cook about tea. We’ll want something extra special today.”
“You can entertain me while she is gone, Gerard,” Eustacia said to her nephew-in-law. Once the door closed behind Marianne, her smile died. “He isn’t giving up, is he?” Gerard shook his head. “So this marriage has just made a target of you, boy.” She shook her head. “I am glad you married her, but it would break her heart if anything happened to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me, dear aunt Eustacia,” Gerard told her. “We shall be leaving for Strathmore in two months,” he continued as he made a decision. “I want our child born at our family seat. You will come with us?”
“Of course I will, idiot,” Eustacia smiled back at him. “You could not keep me away from my darling niece now.” She laid her hand on his. “Don’t worry. I will not tell her.” He kissed her on the cheek. “It is your place to do so.” He looked at her worriedly. “Surely she has proven herself capable of handling the truth, Gerard?” He nodded. “Then I know you will do the correct and proper thing and tell her.”
The butler, Lawrence, came to announce the arrival of the visitors and Gerard went to greet them. Tea had been set up on the terrace in back overlooking the gardens. Andrew could tell from the fidgeting of the couple that they had news to share, but he did not push. Gerard finally broke down and told them. Dominique embraced her husband’s niece and kissed Gerard on the cheek, smiling. When Gerard and Andrew left for some private conversation, Dominique and Eustacia kept Marianne busy with talk about the new dresses she would need to have as she grew larger.
“As much as I love you for trying to protect me, my darlings,” Marianne shook her finger at them; “I know that something has happened. No,” she shook her head as the two women looked uneasy, “I will not ask you to tell me. It is Gerard’s place, as my husband, to tell me.”
But the conversation did not come up as tea ended and their guest went home. Eustacia went to her rooms and Marianne and Gerard dressed to attend a new exhibit at the museum. Gerard remained quiet and she wanted to strangle him for his obstinacy. She knew he was worried even more about her now that she was carrying his child; but she did not allow that excuse. She was no different now than she had been before. He needed to tell her what was going on before she hurt him. They were coming out of the museum discussing some of the artwork they had seen when she saw him falling. She tried to go to his aid, but someone had their hand clamped on her arm tightly. She was being dragged towards a waiting carriage in a side lane. Marianne screamed as the man’s other hand covered her mouth. She was shoved into the vehicle and her wrists bound behind her back before someone helped her sit. She looked at Philippe and Marie in shock.
“Hello, Lady Travers,” Philippe smiled and bowed