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

bed, and I woke up in the middle of the night as I heard yelling and crashing things. So I went downstairs and saw Mama throwing things at a man and demanding he leave at once. He – he laughed at her and slapped her across the face. Then he turned and saw me. He said ‘If you won’t see reason, woman; then I shall take your child. She’ll give me what I want’. Mama screamed at him and grabbed the fireplace poker. He caught it and hit her with it and she fell. I remember falling then and I wake up at the foot of the stairs and he is dragging Mama out of the house.”
“That’s enough, Andrew,” Dominique cried as Marianne burst into tears. She pulled the girl to her and stroked her back as Marianne sobbed. “Don’t you see how much this nightmare distresses her?” Marianne quieted and they saw she was asleep. Andrew carried the child upstairs and they left her to nap. Only when they were out in the hall did he saw anything.
“It’s not a nightmare, Domi,” he said simply as he escorted the woman to her room. “It’s a memory.” He quieted for a moment. “Her mother was murdered,” he said finally and saw the look of horror on his friend’s face. “The monster went to great lengths to make it look like she’d gone riding and was injured when she fell. None of us believed it; Angharad was a superb horsewoman.” He looked back towards Marianne’s door. “He is still out there, Domi. If he realizes that the child remembers what actually happened…”
“He will come after her,” Dominique finished. She frowned. “As if this French edict against her is not enough; now we must worry about murderers?”
“Keep her close to you, Dominique,” Andrew asked her. “Make up some excuse that she needs to remain with you when she is not with Gerard. Lessons in deportment,” he smiled briefly, “might not go amiss.” He took her hand in his and placed a kiss at her pulse point. “We’ll be leaving for London in two days’ time. I’d like you to come along as her companion.” Dominique wasn’t fooled; she knew whose ‘companion’ he wanted her to be. “Good night, Madame Bouchard. I have enjoyed our conversation tonight.”
“Lord Andrew,” Dominique nodded and went into her room. She closed the door and leaned against it, shaking in reaction to his kiss. She heard a mocking laugh and looked up to see her brother coming out of the shadows. “Philippe! What are you doing here?”
“I came to see how my darling sister was doing,” Philippe smiled at her. He caught her arm as she turned to run. “Now, Dominique. Is that any way to greet your doting older brother after five years separation? I am not here to hurt you…”
“Your very presence here hurts me, Philippe,” Dominique snapped and pulled free. “I have finally found a place where I am respected and at peace. I will not have you ruining this for me!”
“I would not destroy your illusion of safety for the world, dear sister,” Philippe replied. “I merely wish to spend time with you.” He grabbed her arm as she backed away, shaking her head. “In the morning, you will receive a letter from your dear older brother. He is in town on his honeymoon and wishes to see you. You will be quite overjoyed at the chance of seeing him again.”
“We are leaving for London in two days, Philippe,” Dominique protested. “I don’t have time for your games.” He slapped her and she glared at him as she put her hand to her cheek. “You’re just like Papa. All you know is violence!”
“Then you would be wise not to anger me, Dominique,” Philippe snapped at her. “I might do something foul,” he continued as his eyes went dark and deadly; “such as harm your pretty charge? She is a beautiful child…”
“You will not touch her!” Dominique cried in dismay. She saw him waiting and she hung her head. “Very well, Philippe. I will meet you tomorrow at the Inn.” Her eyes snapped with anger. “And then you go away and never approach me again!”
“That will very much depend,” Philippe laughed as he melted back into the shadows, “on how you respond to my request.”
Philippe D’arboe slipped out of the house and past the guards with the practiced ease of a master spy. He mounted his horse and walked it slowly past the grounds. Only when he was out of hearing did he spur the animal to speed. He arrived back at the Inn and went to his rooms where his confederate was waiting. He did not speak to her for quite some time as she made her pleasure at his successful return quite evident. Afterwards, as they lay entwined together on the bed, did he speak of his mission.
“We will be there tomorrow,” he said simply. “How could her employer refuse to allow my darling sister’s devoted brother and his wife to visit?” He laughed. “If the old biddy is as proper as we have heard, she will offer us a guest room for the duration of our stay in town, yes?” He ran his hand along Marie’s bare arm. “We will have to move fast. We have two days to take the girl before they escort her to London and our chances decrease.”
“You have done well, Philippe,” Marie beamed up at him. “I can see why you were chosen for this assignment.” She pulled his head down and kissed him soundly.


They pulled up to Tremayne Manor and Marianne was impressed with the number of carriages there. Most of the county had been invited to this party, and that meant that people had known Andrew was coming long before she had met him. She stepped out and took a place behind Eustacia and Andrew. She had done as her uncle said and worn a red gown. Among the regimental uniform she almost disappeared, she thought. Andrew had given her a white and gold sash to wear over one shoulder and smiled at her proudly. They entered the ballroom as the orchestra sounded a fanfare and the butler was quite pleased to announce them.
“All attend!” his voice intoned and quieted the room. “Lord Andrew Macalester, Earl of Avondale, and Baroness Tregallen; Lady Marianne Pumphrey and her fiancé, Lord Gerard Travers, Earl of Strathmore, and Members of Macalester’s Regiment.”
There was applause as they swept in and Marianne noted the respect on their faces for her uncle and his men. Obviously the regiment was renowned and she was a bit annoyed that she appeared to be the only person in the room who had never heard of them. Andrew saw Eustacia to a seat and then held his hand out to Marianne as the music started. She curtsied as he bowed and then danced among the others. There was nothing to match him on the floor, and Marianne smiled up at him proudly and happily. This man was her uncle! The dance ended and she went to her aunt. Almost immediately, several young men who had never taken note of her before swarmed around her.
“Damn, Travers,” one man, a lord Walter Thornton, frowned. “You don’t play fair! We none of us had a chance at the girl.”
“And you won’t ever have one,” Gerard said as he laid his hand on her shoulder possessively. “Lady Marianne is taken. You’ll have to find your own ladies.” Marianne looked up at him and saw his proud expression. He was actually pleased at being able to keep the men away from her. He smiled down at her and she blushed. “May I have this dance, my dear?” Marianne went out on the floor with her and he took her in his arms. She blushed at his nearness and felt faint. But then they were dancing and everyone else disappeared. It was only her and this strange man who was pretending to be her fiancé. When the dance was over, he took her out in the gardens for some air and they strolled along the walkways. When they were quite alone, he turned her to face him. “I could truly love you, Marianne Pumphrey.”
Marianne was stunned by his admission. He started to lean down and she knew he was going to kiss her. She had listened to the maids talking about such things but this would be her first kiss and she could not think. His lips were within inches of hers when someone cleared their throat behind them. They turned to see Moody standing there. Gerard backed up a step and offered her his arm. Andrew was scowling as he saw them coming in from the gardens.
“Travers,” he said coldly. “She is still an innocent. I will not have you trifling with her affections. Dance with Sergeant Moody, Marianne.”
“I was not trifling, sir,” Gerard said stiffly. Andrew looked at him sharply and he was nearly quieted. But this was too important. “I may have agreed to a pretense of engagement, Avondale, but I am lost. I am falling in love with your niece.” He saw Andrew’s jaw clench. “If you wish, I will remove myself from this assignment and return to London.”
“That won’t be necessary, Lord Travers,” Eustacia spoke up. She looked at Andrew. “My dear,” she said simply; “I know your mind and I believe you were correct in choosing this young man for her. If Lord Travers wishes to court my niece sincerely I have no objection to it.” Then she turned to Gerard. “But if you do anything to hurt her, young man, Avondale will be the least of your worries.”
Walter watched the girl as she danced with one member of the Regiment after another. They were keeping her close, he noted sourly. Only the Duke’s sons were allowed near her. He knew they had grown up with her, and she considered them brothers, but this did nothing to ease his mounting anger. The girl was meant to be his! He had done everything he could to see that this would happen and he had been blindsided by her uncle and that insufferable Travers. The couple danced by and he scowled darkly. From the way her eyes were shining, she was already half in love with the man. He would have to do something about that.


Madame was distracted, Marianne noted with some concern. It was not like the woman to be so jumpy and unfocused. She had asked her governess several times the next morning if she might be excused and Madame had not answered her. There was a knock at the front door and Marianne was on her feet, running at her normal speed, to answer it. Dawson beat her there and looked at her in feigned annoyance. His twinkling eyes told her differently; he enjoyed their little contest as much as she did. She let him sort the mail and he handed her a letter for Madame. Marianne turned and ran right into Gerard. She looked up at him and he righted her. As he looked at her with something in his expression that left her feeling very confused, he nodded to the letter.
“I believe you were about to deliver that letter?” he said softly. His expression was doing something quite strange to her sense of well-being. She could not take her eyes off of his as his thumb stroked her palm. His words made her blink. “Letter?”
“Oh,” Marianne said softly as she found it hard to tear her eyes away from his. “Yes.” She bobbed as quick curtsy to him. “Excuse me.”
“Madame?” Marianne called out as she took it to Dominique. “There is a letter here for you.” She saw the woman flinch and wondered why the fact a