The Virtuous Ward - By Karla Darcy Page 0,46

only your best interests at heart. Paige will call on you this afternoon. It is a good offer and I think you should accept him. Perhaps you do not entertain any strong feelings for him at this point but once you are married those feelings will come. I think he would make a good husband. He would provide financial security and he no doubt would cause you little grief," Max said.

"It does not sound very exciting," Amity ventured. Then seeing the smoldering glint in her guardian's eye, she hurried on. "Thank you for your advice, Max. I will think on it. When he comes I will give him my answer."

After Amity left, Max sat for a long time staring at the books on the shelves without really seeing them. He suspected with his recommendation, Amity would accept Paige's offer. For once the girl was doing what he wanted. He should be jumping for joy yet he felt a curious depression. Determined to ride off his ill humor, he stomped off to the stables.

Amity spent her time pacing her bedroom considering what answer to give to Bancroft. As usual, Muffin reclined on the striped chaise longue, opening one or both eyes to consider the restlessness of his mistress. Sometimes as she passed him, she stroked the soft head and he responded with an unenthusiastic tail wag.

She tried to remind herself of how much she wanted to marry and have a child to love but somehow that thought did not stir her as it used to. It had become apparent to her that having a baby was not the perfect solution to her loneliness. In her dealings with Max she had discovered the real joy to be found in a friendship with a man. This was such a novel experience for her that she did not understand why she had not suspected it earlier. Her solitary life at Beech House had not prepared her for the contentment she would feel in her relationship with her guardian. She loved talking with Max, sharing ideas and arguing about books or the latest news; she enjoyed being with him, watching the play of emotions across his face and the special way his eyes lit up in approval. It never had occurred to her that this type of relationship was possible or that she would find it so satisfying. This revolutionary idea was confusing.

For Amity, a child had always been the reason for marriage. She was now beginning to understand that the real prize to strive for was to find a person to marry who could love her and with whom she could share an adult relationship. A child would be a bonus, a gift of celebration of her love for a man. Now she wondered if without that love her life would be complete.

She liked Bancroft better than any of the other men she had met since her arrival in London. He was handsome and in her dealings with him he had been kind to her. Was it possible that she might grow to love him? Max wanted her to marry Bancroft and she did want to please her guardian. He was far more worldly than she and he seemed to think she would deal well with Bancroft. She knew she must marry. She could not continue to live with her guardian and Lady Grassmere. Especially if Max married Honoria.

With all her heart she wished he would not marry the woman. She loved Max dearly and would have him marry a woman who could bring light and laughter to his life. He had changed much since the day she had arrived at Edgeworth. It had seemed to Amity then that he was little used to laughter but as the days and weeks passed he had seemed to view the world more humorously and his words were less filled with biting sarcasm. There was little laughter in Honoria.

Amity admitted that she did not have a positive opinion about the woman but it was not just based on her own dealings with her. The more she went about in society, the more aware Amity was of the ill feelings others had toward Miss Waterston. Although she had not probed for information, she heard the stories and was amazed that Max should think so well of the woman. She had come to the conclusion that the woman was two-faced, showing sunshine and docility to Max while hiding another side which was considerably darker.

Before Amity was brought to Edgeworth,