Скачать книгу

told you enough times.’ Sophie tilted her chin upwards. Her stepmother’s revelations were proof enough that she needed to be cautious.

      ‘Sophie, are you sure you want to marry this man?’ her stepmother asked in a rush. ‘With Robert and Henri out of the country, I feel I must say something. Refuse to be rushed. You can have a long engagement. You don’t need a special licence, an ordinary one will do.’

      ‘I thought you always wanted me to marry by special licence.’

      ‘Only if the man is suitable for you.’ Her stepmother gave a long sigh. ‘I don’t know what is wrong with me. This morning when Lord Bingfield was here, I was transported with happiness for you, but I have spent all afternoon staring at Mr Ravel’s portrait and wondering—is this the sort of man your father would have approved of? Is being in the aristocracy worth your ultimate happiness?’

      Sophie concentrated on her bare hands, rather than looking at her stepmother’s face. Her stepmother only ever spent time talking to her father’s portrait when she felt overwhelmed. It was tempting to confide in her, but the arrangement would only make her more agitated. And could she trust her stepmother to keep it a secret? Her stepmother had the habit of gossiping with friends. It was far more important to catch Sir Vincent and destroy him. She’d confess later. Her stepmother would understand. Far better to beg forgiveness, than request permission in this case.

      Sophie glanced at her stepmother’s kindly face and swallowed. Or at least she hoped her stepmother would understand.

      ‘I know what I am doing. And it was in all the papers, Stepmother. You know what happened to the Neville girl. She was banned from court and that was fifteen years ago. Once the gutter press get hold of you, they do not let go.’

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEAYABgAAD/4RPTRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAUAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAhodp AAQAAAABAAAAnAAAAMgAAABgAAAAAQAAAGAAAAABQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIDcuMAAyMDEzOjAy OjA4IDEzOjMxOjM2AAAAAAOgAQADAAAAAf//AACgAgAEAAAAAQAAAfSgAwAEAAAAAQAAA0MAAAAA AAAABgEDAAMAAAABAAYAAAEaAAUAAAABAAABFgEbAAUAAAABAAABHgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAIBAAQA AAABAAABJgICAAQAAAABAAASpQAAAAAAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAAB/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEASABI AAD/7QAMQWRvYmVfQ00AAv/uAA5BZG9iZQBkgAAAAAH/2wCEAAwICAgJCAwJCQwRCwoLERUPDAwP FRgTExUTExgRDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwBDQsLDQ4NEA4OEBQO Dg4UFA4ODg4UEQwMDAwMEREMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDP/AABEI AIAATQMBIgACEQEDEQH/3QAEAAX/xAE/AAABBQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGBwgJCgsBAAEF AQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYHCAkKCxAAAQQBAwIEAgUHBggFAwwzAQACEQMEIRIxBUFRYRMi cYEyBhSRobFCIyQVUsFiMzRygtFDByWSU/Dh8WNzNRaisoMmRJNUZEXCo3Q2F9JV4mXys4TD03Xj 80YnlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vY3R1dnd4eXp7fH1+f3EQACAgECBAQDBAUGBwcG BTUBAAIRAyExEgRBUWFxIhMFMoGRFKGxQiPBUtHwMyRi4XKCkkNTFWNzNPElBhaisoMHJjXC0kST VKMXZEVVNnRl4vKzhMPTdePzRpSkhbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2JzdHV2d3h5ent8f/ 2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AOJJaw6zLuABJPyCLYwPxxY4FtlRDXA9wfou/wC+rW6FTTF990MY3bT9oiTU +wWWsu2D91mLZvf/AIOve+mu2/00uu0ObLfs/p3W3D0aa/cSHncW1Nr3+tien7sS2v8ARWV1+p+j VL36IjW54b83WjGIxGJ3MSfD1eqLzl8isx81VZExwrvUKbKnNreIfG4tmSJ4a4fvKrZi5NTBZZU5 jHaBxGk8wrMCKGu7nTBs6E8O7IERJjQfif8AeiUbpgzJ7d4VevWWnv8AJFbLSDEAmZ/klIhAKYPe AWN0gTxBSIJAJJJ89U7tosa4jc0aOaD7iD/0VrHohdjsymPLaHHbuLd0Qfd7m7f3lFOYjV6W2McT IEDWnHLdAltMLosTC6TVYxt+LblPawtcNYc8/StbX/wbP5qtWR0f6t+sf09vo+kHh+u2NrnFu+P6 Z/I3+ko/vMbqj59F/wB3lvo//9DK6Z0WzLoN1XVBgGxpD2AgSGu9jbv0rfUbub6rGWVIzem2Y1jH 5HXftTccubj0gENBe3Z+rV+rsY13qbPofvq91j6sHqOT0/p/T6666n1Ofde1ssrr9Rm+ywj3XWP9 P0qmOf8ApbP5Cq/81rukfWeinHDrMXJ9V1NjgC4xXY/7O/aNu/az9EqP6O4ujpX4cTpUbHr034a2 czqlQOMd9bX3Y14a95aC4B24QbPpenucs/qFAuqe6ne59pZ7DpEc6f1l2fVOifaYsrHtzqRsfMBt 7PbH8rc5rHe799crjvY5ku0saS17DyHDQtTIzOkh0/8ARkmIIMekv/RXId0nKaGw0vJ8NoH/AE3N VtvRr2Y7rctzKGtEglwcfJo2n85a192KcYVvq9Z24FrIktB+lb/L2oGZRVe6nHxSxjdDdbtHt13a 0+17nbWN/wDPacM85UDUdfmrokcpjFyAMtNI3+l0/lxOfj9OcCz1n+x5HtYC6AT/ADj5/Nb/ACPp rpsGosoz+n12tdjGx7sRznAuse/bU19c+3ZuqpuUXY4x+kOrvsa9/NZaNpn6X8r85G6n0yl7cO2g Cq3IZbcAwRtLGV2Tp/pP/PihnlM9zp+Gi8Yo46oa/i2ekZWNTk0Pte1mQyDW46NcAf6Pkbm/orKr P5i//B/ze9CHTsodYLdx+xvvGd9j/O9rjZ9n9P8Am/R9e31N+/7P6aHi9UrzhXjZlNRtMTc9o3P2 td6bXT7Xe8bfcj+hWXmDX6zW+sazWI2kb24rcefs30mure/+Z/m1FZBoj6fkV4HV/9HZ+qPUTZiB hlwZo4DWCR7fb/KXQ5mJ9qqDWODLB7qLTOjh+a7+T/3z/i15p9U7r3dSFVD313vqeazXDi81/pXY 9lFnsyWPZuf6f87+j/Qr0urKc6kB4G4gbXidu6J2vn3VqiQBYLeJOkhu0qKmZeNkYuzZaD69db9Y Mll1f9i5l1C86+uHS7On9SHUaRsqzpc9vb1Wgep/Zvb+m/431l6ddYWel1Bo99NgFo77Hn

Скачать книгу