Beauty for Ashes Dorothy Clark
This book is dedicated to my husband, Ralph
because hes my Justin.
Thanks, honey, for being my hero, now and always.
Contents
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Epilogue
Chapter One
March, 1820
E lizabeth stopped outside the door of her fathers study to gather her courage. She was certain his summons was about her refusal to accept Reginald Burton-Smythes offer of marriage, and equally certain he would be very angry. There was simply no help for it. She couldnt abide Mr. Burton-Smythe. His mere presence made her skin crawl. And no one, not even her father, could force her to speak words of acceptance to him.
Elizabeth pressed her hands to her abdomen, drew a slow, deep breath to ease the sudden, painful spasm in her stomach and opened the doordelay would only increase her fathers ire. She stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. The room smelled of smoke, after-dinner port and cigars. The combination did little to help the state of her stomach. You wished to see me, Father?
Ezra Frazier looked up, placed the paper he was reading on his desk and motioned her forward. I understand from Burton-Smythe you refused his hand. Is that the right of it?
His tone of voice did not bode well for her. Fear moistened her palms. Elizabeth pressed them to the soft velvet fabric of her long skirt. Yes, Father, it is.
His features tightened. Tomorrow when he comes calling, you will ask his forgiveness and tell him you accept. He lifted the paper from his desk and resumed reading.
She was dismissed. As easily as that her life was ruinedany hope for future happiness destroyed. Anger overrode the fear clamped around Elizabeths chest. She squared her shoulders and forced words out of her constricted throat. Im sorry, Father, I cannotI will notaccept Mr. Burton-Smythes offer of marriage.
Shock spread across her fathers face. The vein at his right temple pulsed. He rose to his feet. You dare to defy me?
The soft, icy tone of his voice made Elizabeth shiver in spite of the anger heating her blood. She searched for words to turn away his wrath. It is not out of defiance I speak, Father. Rather, it is revulsion and fear of Mr. Burton-Smythe that gives me voice.
Make me no puling excuses, Elizabeth! The flames of the fire glittered in her fathers cold, steel-gray eyes as he looked at her. The betrothal agreement has been
signed. When you wed Burton-Smythe the warehouse property he owns on South Street comes to me. My fortune will doubleand more yet. Ill not lose my gain because of your mewling fear.
But, Father, I
Silence! Ill hear no more excuses. Ive long sought that property and it will be mine. Now go to your room and prepare yourself to accept Mr. Burton-Smythe tomorrow. The banns will be read on Sunday.
Elizabeths stomach churned. She took a deep breath. Im sorry to cause you distress, Fatherbut I will not wed Mr. Burton-Smythe.
The vein at her fathers temple swelled. He placed his hands on his desk and leaned toward her. Do not stand stubborn in this matter, Elizabeththere are ways to ensure your compliance. It would be well if you yield gracefullybut yield you will.
Elizabeth stared into her fathers eyes and knew further protest was useless. He would not listen to her. Greed was his master, and she nothing more than chattel to him. It had always been thus. She swallowed back the bile rising into her throat, lifted her long skirts and walked to the door.
Elizabeth.
She paused. Took a breath. Yes, Father?
Ill hear no complaints from Burton-Smythe. When you are wedbe as other wives and suffer your fate in silence.
Elizabeth shuddered and shook off the memory. She would not think of that meeting with her father two nights ago, or of the events that followed. Yesterday was a horror that must be forgotten. It robbed her of strength. She would think only of today. What would happen today?
Moisture filmed her eyes. Elizabeth blinked it away and stared at the carriage waiting on the cobblestone street below. He was going to do it. Oh, God, help me. Please help me!
The front door of the house opened and her father stepped out onto the stoop. Elizabeth yanked open the double sashes of her bedroom window. Father, stop! I beg youplease dont do this to me!
Ezra Frazier halted.
Hope, born of desperation, trapped the breath in Elizabeths lungs. She braced herself on the sill and leaned forward, willing her father to heed her plea. He removed his top hat and tilted his head back until their gazes met. Close the window, Elizabeth.
Everything in her went still. The chill of displeasure in her fathers eyes was colder than the March air blowing in around her. A shiver slithered down her spine. Cold knots formed in her stomach. That was it then. He was going to meet with Reginald Burton-Smythe to complete the wedding arrangements, and nothing she could say or do would change his mind. He had coveted that waterfront property for too long to let it slip through his grasping fingers now.