Lord Stillwell's Excellent Engagements
Page 8
“Yes,” Miranda said without thinking. “I do.”
“Really?” Bianca stared. “You don’t think I’m being rash or foolish?”
“No, I don’t. You were rash and foolish when you married Martin. This decision is far wiser than that.” Miranda shook her head. “The man has virtually abandoned you.”
“We did not suit,” Bianca said under her breath. It was more than simply not suiting, but Miranda knew better than to bring that matter up. She was the only one Bianca had ever confided in. Partially because she had felt so very stupid at her choice of husband and did not wish for the rest of the family to know, and partially because her brothers would have more than likely killed the brute.
“You have been separated and living apart for nearly three years and you haven’t even spoken for a good year or more.”
“I don’t know where he is.” Bianca set her lips together in a firm line. “I fear I shall have to track him down before I can do anything at all.”
“You do realize society may never forgive you.”
“Nonsense.” Bianca scoffed. “It has been my observation that society forgives anything if one is not involved in outright scandal or—”
“Divorce is generally considered outright scandal.”
Bianca ignored her. “Or if one has enough money.”
“And Adrian and Hugh were clever enough to take the legal precautions to make certain your money remained your own.”
“I resented them a bit in the beginning, you know. The fact that they didn’t completely trust the man I was to marry.” Bianca heaved a heartfelt sigh. “One of the worst parts of this is having to admit they were right and I was so very wrong.” She wrinkled her nose. “I do hate to admit I was wrong.”
“That, dear sister, is a Hadley-Attwater trait. It’s in our blood.”
“Hopefully, they won’t rub it in my face.”
“I daresay they will all be most kind. Once they get over the shock.” Miranda took her sister’s hand. “Why, I suspect they won’t even gloat for some time, perhaps even years.”
“Something to look forward to, I suppose.”
Miranda was not at all the kind of person to consider her own needs at the expense of others and nor did she do so now. But she couldn’t ignore the thought that the impropriety of her business pursuits paled dramatically in light of her sister’s decision to seek a divorce. Indeed, if she timed the revelation of her secret correctly . . .
“Then you think I have made the right decision?”
“Oh, my dear Bianca.” Miranda cast her sister her most encouraging smile. “I don’t know that you can do anything else.”
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Copyright © 2012 by Cheryl Griffin
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ISBN: 978-1-4201-3135-2
First Electronic Edition: December 2012
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