Amy (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 1) (20 page)

“Our cousins were on the list, too, since they would inherit if they married one of us,” Amy said. “It would have been very comfortable to stay here at the Hall, and James was quite persistent, but I must confess that I do not quite like him. There is something… unsettling about him.”

“He is not a very steady young man,” Ambleside said. “And with no title and not a great deal of money, he would not have been much of a catch for you, my dear. You are far better off with me.”

That brought another blush and a little giggle, as she twisted the skirts of her gown between her fingers.

“As to titles, the Marquess of Carrbridge was also on the list,” Belle said. “He would have been an excellent match for Amy, if he had only had the good sense to put in an appearance when he was required.”

“Now there you have me. If the Marquess had ever deigned to visit his great-aunt, I should have been quite in the shade, I am sure.”

“Oh no!” Amy said, casting adoring eyes in his direction. “Indeed, I should never have aimed so high. A Marquess! The very idea! But Belle is quite clever enough to run a great household, so she may look as high as she chooses, especially since— Oh, may I speak of it, Mr Ambleside? Your discussions with Mr Plumphett, I mean.”

“I do not see why your sisters should not know, my dear. I have been talking to Mr Plumphett about settlements and so forth, and it appears that the portion your papa set aside for you all has grown. You will now each have in excess of twenty thousand pounds.”

“Twenty thousand? That is quite astonishing,” Belle said. “How is it possible for funds to grow so much in less than a year? Two or three percent, perhaps, four at most, but not this much.”

“There may have been some fortunate investments,” Ambleside said.

“May have been? Does Mr Plumphett not know?”

“He does not have the management of the funds. There is a trustee, a solicitor, who looks after it, and Mr Plumphett has to apply to him for information. He was told the total amount in the account, but not the reason for the rapid increase. I wonder that your father never told you about all this.”

“He never talked about money, and none of us dared to question him,” Belle said. “Such matters are not for ladies, he always said.”

“And there is a great deal of truth to that,” Ambleside said. “Business matters are troublesome and complicated. They are much better left to a man to take care of.”

“Oh, yes,” Amy said. “I am so glad I do not have think about such horrid things as money and… and everything else.”

“Money is only horrid when one does not have enough of it,” Belle said. “Which we have, it appears.”

“And I am glad of it for your sake, sister,” Amy said. “With such a substantial fortune, you will have any number of suitors vying for your hand, and you will not be forced to consider the dreadful prospect of marrying Cousin James.”

Belle laughed. “I do not want suitors to vie for my hand, sister, dear. I cannot think of anything less appealing. To be dragged through one public ball after another at Brinchester, with all the dowagers whispering behind their fans. ‘Did you hear, she has twenty thousand pounds? Terribly plain, but think of the money!’  They would be lining up the unpromising younger sons for me, or the gouty uncles who drink themselves into a stupor after dinner, or the penniless clergymen or army officers. Or perhaps if I am very fortunate, I might be able to secure an impoverished Honourable. No, Amy, I am not so desperate as all that.”

“Oh.” Amy’s eyes were round. “But Belle, you must marry. We all have to marry in the proper order, Papa said so in his will, and if you do not, then none of the others will have their dowries.”

“I have every intention of marrying,” Belle said. “As soon as you and Mr Ambleside are safely wed, I plan to accept Cousin James.”

“Oh, Belle, no!” Amy said, shocked.

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