The Convenient Bride (12 page)

Briana
frowned. "I bid him farewell last night."

Agatha
folded the papers and stuffed them back into her reticule. "You are young.
You will eventually find that men do not take rejection well. They sulk and
simmer, planning their next move. But never fear, I will be with you as your
chaperone."

The lady
raised her parasol and whacked it against the seat. "La, my dear! If the
brute does not leave you alone, I will bop him over the head with this!"

Briana's
lips quivered with mirth. "It will take a few good whacks. I have heard he
has a very hard head."

Agatha
smiled. "You have yet to see me in true form. Ask Lord Stonebridge."

Chapter Eleven

T
he lady whacked me with that deuced
parasol!" Clayton threw his sister a dazed glare. "I can only say I
am glad the old bat is out of the house right now."

Emily
was pouring tea and looked up, calmly setting the teapot onto its tray.
"Why in the world would Agatha do that?"

Clayton
shrugged. "Don't know. It happened when I walked past her in the ballroom
the other night. It was so swift, no one saw it. Afterward, she acted as if she
were the sweetest woman on earth. And d—dash it all, Em, she knew exactly where
to hit me." Frowning, he sat back in his chair.

Clayton
had come here this morning in hopes of catching Miss Garland alone. He needed
to warn her about Kingsdale. But upon his arrival he discovered the lady and
her godmother had already left for the country. Staying with friends, Emily had
said.

Clayton
had wanted to smile. It would be hard for Kingsdale to follow them there.
Still, he would have to warn Miss Garland sooner or later about the man. But
not for a while. Today he was leaving for Grimstoke Hall, with this being his
last stop before he rode out of London.

"Oh,
come now, Clay. Agatha does not use that parasol without cause."

"I
cannot agree with you, dearest."

Clayton
looked up to see Lord Stonebridge standing by the door. The earl's eyes were
dancing with mirth.

"Did
you have any idea your aunt almost killed me the other day?" Clayton asked
with a scowl.

Jared
laughed as he strolled into the room to kiss his wife on the cheek. He angled
his head toward Clayton. "You must have come too close to one of her
puppies."

Emily
frowned. "Agatha has no puppies, Jared. There is only Nigel here."

The dog
gave a loud bark.

Clayton
gave Jared a cool stare. Emily watched the exchange of male glances and jumped
from her seat.

"Oh,
you didn't, Clay!"

Clayton
stood, pulling his waistcoat tight. "What?"

Jared
smiled and took a step back, his hands in the air. "I never said a
word."

Clayton
growled. "Depend upon it. You said plenty."

Emily
clutched her teacup. "If you did what I think you did, I will be
furious."

Clayton
lifted a defensive brow. "What do you think I did?"

"You
asked Briana to marry you."

"And
what if I did?"

"You
oaf!" The teacup went flying toward him.

Clayton
jumped back, but not before his breeches were soaked with tea. Nigel barked. Jared
laughed. Emily scowled.

"You
know," Clayton said with a grimace as he strode hastily toward the hall,
"there is something about tea parties in this house that doesn't appeal to
me." He glared at Emily. "I thought you had outgrown your tempers.
Evidently not."

Emily
slapped the sofa. "How could you ask Briana to marry you? After all she
has gone through! I cannot believe this!"

His face
hardened. "I am not an ogre, Em. There are many women who would want to
marry me."

"Ha!
Then marry those women!"

Clayton
glanced at Jared, who was standing with his hands behind his back, his brows
creased in disapproval. The man wasn't going to be any help at all. "I
want a marriage of convenience. I want someone who will—"

"What?"
Emily shouted, finishing for him. "Understand your lifestyle? Live in the
country most of the year? Have a marriage with no love? Do you want Briana to
live like Mother did?"

He
groaned. "It would be nothing like Mother's situation. She loved Father.
Father didn't reciprocate. I am only asking for a marriage of convenience. Both
of us can go our separate ways. The emotions will be plain from the
start."

Emily
started toward him. "You want that castle and money so much you would hurt
Briana like that? I never thought you were that kind of person."

He
stiffened. "I would never hurt her."

"You
already did!" She cuffed him on the shoulder. "She loves you!"

Clayton
turned. "What?"

Emily
glared at him. "She loves you, Clay. Since we were children. You were just
too stupid to notice."

"But
she ... you ... that was years ago. You were children."

"Were.
We aren't anymore."

He
combed a hand through his hair, knowing in his heart that Miss Garland had had
a fondness for him, had even adored him at one time. But love? "How the
devil was I supposed to know?"

Nigel
gave a soulful whine.

Emily
took an agitated turn about the room. "How could you do this to her? This
will only make her go through with her plans."

"What
are you talking about?"

Emily
whirled on him. "Briana has plans to provide a women's home for females
in, well, let's just say delicate situations."

Clayton's
expression turned suspicious. "How delicate?"

Emily
sank onto the sofa, her hand flying in the air. "You know, women in
delicate situations ... without a husband."

Clayton
looked at Jared, who was now frowning.

"And
why was I never told of this?" the earl asked.

Emily's
head snapped up. "Why? Because you're a man."

Clayton
wasn't even going to respond to that comment. But the
ton
would surely
shun Miss Garland if she dared try to follow through with her plan as an
unmarried woman. "Why the devil would she take this project upon
herself?"

"Because
her sister was in such a delicate position and Sir Garland threw the poor girl
out of the house. We all know Clarice drowned, but I believe she killed herself,
and deep down, I believe, Briana thinks the same."

Emily
shook her head in frustration. "She doesn't trust men, Clay. And now you
have given her another reason not to trust them. She always thought you a
wonderful man, kind and considerate. I told you she adored you when we were
young. And lately I see how she looks at you when you play with Gabrielle. Her
face simply glows when you are around."

"Why
the deuce didn't you tell me?"

Emily
swallowed. "I never said a thing to her or you. I thought eventually
..." She shrugged. "Well, it doesn't signify. You wanted to have a
marriage of convenience, and the poor girl never wanted to marry after what
happened with her and the lieutenant."

Clayton's
expression froze and his voice rose. "What lieutenant?"

"I
should not be telling you any of this, but I don't want you to hurt her any
more. Briana was once in love with a lieutenant who pledged to leave the army,
but the man went back on his promise and was eventually killed at
Waterloo."

Clayton's
lips thinned. For some selfish, idiotic reason, he didn't like to think of the
lady in love with anyone but himself. "And her trust in men came to a new
low when her father threw Clarice out of the house? Needless to say, the man
responsible for Clarice's situation never came forward either. Am I correct?"

Emily
nodded. "She vows never to marry and instead intends to take care of these
women—"

"In
delicate situations," he finished for her. It was a noble cause, but it
was not for a young lady to carry out alone. "I take it Miss Appleby knows
her goddaughter's plans?"

"She
loves her, Clayton, and so do I." Emily set her chin. "And I believe
you hurt her. I am sure of it. It will take me a long time before I forgive
you!"

She
hurried from the room, her silk gown rustling against Nigel's fur as the dog
marched alongside her, his nose in the air.

Disgusted,
Clayton glanced at Jared.

"I
assume the lady rejected your offer," the earl said calmly. "So
what's your next step?"

"I
intend to find a wife. When next I see Miss Garland, I will apologize for my
behavior."

Jared's
eyes darkened. "I warned you, and I am not happy."

"You
are not her family."

"And
you are?"

Clayton
threw up his hands. "I have no wish to argue with you. Emily is quite
enough, thank you."

Jared
crossed his arms over his chest. "Marcus told me you intend to seek out a
bride in the country. Some house party, I believe. Grimstoke's, is it?"

"Hell
and thunderation! Is there anything else you know?"

The earl
scowled. "Don't do it, Clay. A marriage of convenience will haunt you the
rest of your life."

"I
am without funds. It's easy for you to say. You have a wife and children who
love you. You have plenty of money. I have nothing."

"You
have a family. Brothers, a sister, a mother, a stepfather." Jared smiled.
"Why, you even have me."

Clayton's
lips twitched at the earl's attempt at humor, but it didn't change his mind.
"As a gentleman, I will see to my needs as I see fit. I have a few weeks
to secure my destiny. A castle full of money sounds rather inviting, especially
to a man who does not want to ride on his family's coattails the rest of his
life."

Jared
stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Emily is furious."

Clayton
threw a booted foot upon the hearth. "Very well. I admit it. I didn't know
everything about the lady before I approached her."

"Didn't
you?"

A dark
thundercloud seemed to hover over them as they glared at each other. Clayton
knew the earl was referring to Clayton's knowledge of Miss Garland's partiality
toward him. And to tell the truth, it had surprised the hell out of him that
she had rejected his offer. Now, at least he knew why.

The
mantel clock chimed twelve, and he realized he was running behind schedule.
Because of the little tea incident, he would need to change clothes before he
started for Grimstoke Hall. If he rode long and hard, however, he could make it
there tonight. His trunks had been sent on ahead of him. He also had his list
of ladies that would suit his needs.

Miss
Cherrie Black was a bit young, but she was pretty and had a quiet disposition,
not at all like the auburn-haired Fairy Lady from the other day. Miss Black
would not care a whit if he lived in Town and she was to reside in the country.
Yes, Miss Black was at the top of his list.

"Uncle
Clay, did you have another ackident?"

Gabrielle's
concerned voice made Clayton cringe. The little girl had walked into the room
and was staring directly at the wet spot on his breeches.

"Yes,
Gabby," Jared said, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "Poor Uncle
Clay had another accident."

"Oh,"
she said, tipping her head. "Is that why Mama is mad?"

Jared
chuckled. "Well, poppet, I think Uncle Clay wasn't very nice."

Clayton
gritted his teeth and stalked from the room.

Gabrielle
ran after him. "Uncle Clay."

He
looked over his shoulder, trying to smile. "Yes?"

"Mama
still loves you."

He bent
down and flung his arms wide.

Gabrielle
jumped into his arms and kissed his cheek. "I love you, too. Don't be
sad."

His
heart constricted as her tiny hand patted his cheek.

"Everything
will be all right. Ackidents happen."

Jared
lounged in the hall. "That's what it's all about, Clay. A castle and a
dungeon full of money can't buy that."

Clayton
put Gabrielle down, sending her off to play. "Don't play with my mind,
Jared. A woman ran away on me once. I am not about to put myself in that place
again."

"Oh,
I understand now. You are a coward. You won't try love again. Is that it? Or is
it that you don't understand love at all and you feel stupid?"

Anger
simmered in Clayton's veins. "I want a marriage of convenience."

Jared
leaned against the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest, his amber eyes
regarding Clayton with a steady gaze.

"So,
you really did ask the lady to marry you? Or was it more you telling her the
two of you would make an agreeable couple?"

Clayton
felt a stab of guilt. "I think you've made your point. Now, if you will
excuse me, I have a house party to attend. The next time you see me, I will be
married." The challenge in his words wiped the smile off the earl's face.

"You
have it all figured out, except the bride, is that it?"

Clayton
pulled out his list. "I have the lady right here."

Jared
walked toward him and grabbed the paper from his hands. "Miss Cherrie
Black?" He looked up at Clayton. "And pray tell, where is Miss
Garland's name? Or is she out of the running?"

"I
said I think you have made your point." Clayton snatched the paper from
the man's hands and turned to leave.