Lady Amelia had long since made up her mind to marry Lord Marbeck. She found him attractive, he was wealthy and a nobleman, and she had indulged in some agreeable flirtation with him. He was notoriously a man not to be caught in any woman’s matrimonial net, but she knew, for one of her brothers had told her, that the bets were being laid in the clubs that this time flirtation might turn to something more serious.And why should it not? She was far prettier than that gypsy he was dancing with, all dark hair and flashing dark eyes. She was as well born as he was; she had a good portion…That thought made her frown, for her own fortune was not near a hundred thousand pounds, a sum large enough to tempt any man. Although probably not Marbeck, whose own wealth was considerable enough for him to marry where he chose.As the dance came to an end, Amelia and Sir Richard Brindley exchanged glances. He said, knowing his words would wound, “Marbeck seems mightily taken with Miss Welburn. What a waste, that her substantial fortune should be added to his own immense one.”Amelia said, “He is a good friend of Lord Mountjoy’s; I daresay he is only dancing with her out of politeness.”She spoke with an air of indifference, but Sir Richard was not taken in.
