The Convenient Bride (2 page)

To her
surprise, the three brothers turned their backs and started to converse in low
voices. Were they truly going to bow to their baby sister's request and teach
the girls to waltz? Or had they already discovered their ploy?

"Well,
dash it all, I don't like it above half, but she has to learn," Clayton
said in a hushed tone.

"You
have a point," Stephen put in. "Every lady should know how to
waltz."

"Don't
like it," Marcus added. "Don't like her waltzing with any gentleman.
Devil a bit. It ain't a seemly dance for either of those imps."

The
whispers were no longer audible and Briana started to panic when the brothers
shot them curt glances over their broad shoulders.

"Emily,"
she said, scooting toward her friend, "don't you think—"

Beneath
her handkerchief, a smile sprang to Emily's lips. "Wait thirty
seconds," she whispered.

"Why
does Mother not hire another dancing master?" Stephen's voice rose
suspiciously as he turned toward Briana and Emily.

"Because,
Monsieur Buckette is at least three score, if not more," Clayton said,
narrowing his brow and regarding the two girls. "He's ... well... he's
safe."

"There
is Sir William," Stephen announced calmly. "I hear he has filled in
as a dancing master for Lady Penelope—"

"Sir
William?" Clayton said, exasperated. "You have to be jesting. There
is no idiot on earth that would have that rogue dance with any female of his
acquaintance, let alone a sister."

He
peered at Briana and frowned. "Or a sister's friend."

Stephen
smiled. "Are you calling Lady Penelope's father an idiot?"

Clayton
ground his teeth.

Marcus
frowned. "Don't like it above half, but it will have to be us. Don't trust
any of those young dancing masters."

"Marcus
is right," Clayton put in. "Come on inside, Em. Bring Miss Garland
with you. You will learn how to waltz. Give us some time to clean up."

Briana's
eyes grew wide. She was astounded that her friend's plan was falling into place
so easily. "Emily, I—"

"Shhh."
Emily squeezed Briana's arm as the three men sauntered back into the ballroom
and up the stairs to change.

"But,
Emily, Monsieur Buckette is in fine health. We saw him only yesterday."

"My
brothers don't know that." Emily shrugged. "Besides, I think the man
had the sniffles yesterday."

"But..."

Emily
giggled. "Oh, won't it be divine when we take London by storm?"

Briana
was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. Emily always liked excitement,
and that was one reason Briana usually enjoyed her company—except for a few
times like this, when her taste for excitement forced Briana to, well, lie.

"I
would rather be reading about Egyptian artifacts," she mumbled.

Emily
laughed. "My brothers won't bite. They are quite tame when they dance. And
besides, they like Egyptian artifacts."

She
pulled Briana along. "Don't worry, silly. I'll make certain you are paired
with Clayton. He's not as stuffy as Marcus. But just don't look at him with
those fairy eyes."

"I
don't have fairy eyes."

"Yes,
you do. I've always wished mine were your color. But Clayton has a sixth sense
about these things." She giggled. "Except when I stretch the truth.
So remember, if your eyes give us away, it's good-bye waltz, hello,
boredom."

Courage
welled up inside Briana. Good heavens, she was going to dance with Clayton!
"I can keep this a secret."

"Of
course you can. I never said you couldn't."

A
chuckle escaped Briana's lips. "I can be just as stubborn as you about
withholding information."

Emily
turned to her and frowned. "If you think me stubborn, don't even test
Clayton. If he discovers our trick, well, I vow he will make it hard for me to
ever waltz again."

Briana's
brows fell into a concerned V. "He will?"

Emily
laughed. "I am only jesting, Bree. But he is stubborn. Come on."

Briana
managed a half smile as they turned the corner and entered Elbourne Hall. She
always had a sixth sense about these things, too. Something was bound to go
wrong.

Thirty
minutes later, Briana found herself in the arms of Lord Clayton, while Emily
was partnered with Marcus and Stephen played the pianoforte.

"One,
two, three, one, two, three," Clayton said aloud, swinging Briana about
the room. "That's it. Just let your partner take the lead. Everyone will
think you two girls have been dancing since you were four."

Briana
was acutely conscious of the man's nearness. His hand was firm and strong about
her waist, while the scent of bayberry drifted her way, sending a tingling to
the pit of her stomach.

A hot
ache grew in her throat when she thought about her mother's plan for her to
marry a Clearbrook. With a sinking heart, she realized nothing would ever come
of it.

She had
heard Lord Clayton was in love with Lady Serena Brently from London. A diamond
of the first water. A lady with lustrous yellow hair and large chestnut eyes. A
lady, not a mere girl of sixteen.

And to
make matters worse, just last week she had overheard him talking about buying a
commission in the army. All the Clearbrook brothers would be going to war soon.
Napoleon was causing too much havoc for them to watch sedately from the English
countryside.

Her
stomach clenched at the thought of Clayton hurt on the battlefield—or worse,
even dead. Too embarrassed to look anywhere else, she dropped her gaze to the
floor.

"Miss
Garland, if you look down at your feet, you will decidedly trip over them. Look
up at me."

Briana
stumbled and felt Clayton's large hand tighten about her waist. She slowly
lifted her gaze. Dark brown hair hung over his right temple, framing eyes that
sparkled with a mixture of amusement and compassion. This was the Clayton she
liked best.

"That's
it, Miss Garland. Now, just follow me. Relax."

Briana
felt herself floating on air. She circled the room like a princess in the arms
of her prince.

"How
long are you staying at Elbourne, Miss Garland?"

Briana
blinked and accidentally stepped on his foot.

He
smiled, sending her heart somersaulting.

"Um,
the entire summer, I believe."

He
nodded, his lips parting in a heavenly display of even white teeth. "Now,
it is your turn to ask me a question."

Her
blood froze. "I—"

Emily's
twittering laughter broke into Briana's thoughts. Her friend had stepped on
Marcus's toe, and he was groaning.

Clayton
turned Briana toward the window, while Stephen's fingers ran up and down the
pianoforte in a sweet melody of notes.

"Perhaps
something about the weather," Clayton suggested.

Briana
cleared her throat. "The weather?"

"Yes,
the weather." He chuckled. "Or perhaps how fine I look today."

Briana
colored and was saved when Marcus laughed. "Spare us the self-adoration,
Clay. You're embarrassing the poor girl."

Briana
noticed the arms about her stiffen. "He was only trying to help me,"
she said, surprising herself.

Clayton's
lips spread into a wide grin. "There, you see, the lady defends me. Now,
tell me about the weather, Miss Garland."

Briana
blinked. "I don't... um, the weather?"

"Yes.
Is it raining out? Or is it pleasant?"

Emily
chuckled. "Clayton, you are supposed to teach us to waltz, not talk about
the weather."

"Did
you hear about Miss Winters?" Stephen asked. The music softened to a
whisper as the two couples kept dancing.

Emily
gave Briana a wink. Briana tried not to stumble.

"What
about the lady?" Marcus asked his younger brother.

"Ran
off with Mr. Summers, the dancing master."

Briana
laughed.

Clayton
looked down at her and grinned. "You know, Miss Garland, when you smile,
you are the prettiest girl in the county. Your eyes sparkle like a sea of
emeralds."

Briana
faltered a step. His brows lifted in mirth as he swung her toward Emily and the
dance ended. They practiced a few more times until the girls were decent enough
at the dance, and then the brothers left for a ride into the village.

Standing
in the ballroom, Briana stared in shocked amazement at her friend.

"Well,
what did I tell you?" Emily asked, smiling as she leaned against a
towering pillar on the edge of the dance floor.

Briana
clapped both hands to her cheeks. "It was the most thrilling day of my
life. I will never forget it, ever!"
You know. Miss Garland, when you
smile, you are the prettiest girl in the county. Your eyes sparkle like a sea
of emeralds.

Emily's
face glowed. "My brothers are pudding in my hands. Mama will never know.
We handled it perfectly, did we not?"

"I
heard that."

Briana's
head snapped up to see Clayton's hovering form blocking the entrance to the
ballroom. He was no longer pudding in his sister's hands here. His arms were
crossed over his chest and dark sapphire eyes stared back at them. Briana
gulped.

Emily
snatched Briana's hand and carefully hastened past her brother. "Well,
what's a girl to do after all, Clay? I mean, if not you or Monsieur Buckette,
then who? Sir William?"

"If
I had known Mother would not allow this—"

"Well,
you didn't know!"

Clayton's
eyes were almost black.

Emily
took a hesitant step back and Briana began to worry. She decided it was time to
take over. Emily was always manipulating a plan; now it was Briana's turn. She
felt her lips quivering in mirth when the absurd thought came to her.

"Yes,
truly, my lord," Briana blurted out. "You don't want us dancing with
Mr. Summers, do you?"

Emily
turned to her friend and burst out laughing. "Oh, Bree. That's
hilarious!"

Shocked,
Clayton dropped his hands to his sides. He stared at Briana as if she had never
spoken before. Not giving him a chance to make the next move, the girls took
off down the hall.

"Emily,
you are going to pay for this!" his voice boomed.

Emily
laughed, waving her hand in the air, as if he were nothing but a stranger on
the road.

Briana
giggled. It was the most perfect day of her life. She was definitely in love.

Chapter Two

Six Years Later

"
A
nd to my
godson, Lord Clayton Peter Cathaven Clearbrook, I leave my castle and all its
holdings, including any monetary sums remaining after all debts are paid. There
is one stipulation and that being—"

Lord
Clayton Clearbrook glanced up at his uncle's solicitor and let out a boisterous
laugh. "Oh ho, tell me this is a jest. By Jove, the castle is more of a
dungeon than a home."

Clayton's
brother Roderick, Duke of Elbourne since their father had died a few years
earlier, looked up from his chair in the library of the Elbourne townhouse,
trying to suppress a grin. "Now, now, hear him out, Clay. Who knows, there
may be something for the rest of us."

Both
Marcus and Stephen let out snorts of amusement. A small chuckle even passed
Emily's lips.

"This
is just what you need," Stephen said. "Taking refuge in that castle
up north may save you from all the matchmaking mamas. Don't you see?"

Marcus
sat back against his chair, his eyes dancing. "A hideout for all the
bachelors like you and me, Clay. Why, you don't have to marry at all. It's just
what you wanted."

Mr.
Banes, the solicitor, cleared his throat. "Forgive me for interrupting,
but there is a bit more to the will."

Clayton
raised his hand in apology. "Banes, I think this calls for a drink.
Anybody else?"

Clayton's
siblings were barely able to control their mirth as they declined his offer.
Banes, however, sat as stiff and proper as a starched neckcloth.

Clayton
shook his head as he strode toward the rosewood sideboard. He had invested
almost everything he had in a tobacco shipment that had been lost last month,
and the blasted castle was the last thing he needed.

"I
say, I will take a bit of brandy, my lord."

Clayton
glanced over his shoulder at Banes's request. The solicitor pushed his slipping
spectacles back up his rounded nose and swept his bald head with a
handkerchief.

Clayton
regarded the man as he handed over the glass of amber liquid. Why, the man
actually looked quite nervous. But Clayton was determined. He was not going to
take that castle.

He
grimaced as he took his seat. It was a deuced good thing his mother had an
appointment and wasn't here. The lady had a soft spot for old Cathaven, and she
would insist that Clayton take the dilapidated old hellhole and everything that
went with it

Dash it
all! It didn't matter. She would eventually learn the details of the will and
then he would be sunk.

"I
fail to see why none of you inherited the castle," Clayton snapped,
glowering at his family.

"You
are his godson," Marcus put in, smiling. "Ah, a poor failing on our
parents' part, to be sure, but there you have it. Roderick here was left the
dukedom, and you, dear Clayton, have been left Uncle Cathaven's delightful
castle."

Emily
coughed into her hand, but it was definitely a laugh.

Clayton
peered over the rim of his glass. "You all realize there's probably a
mountain of back taxes to be paid. I could be inheriting a debtor's prison. I
won't take it. Besides, the man was a hermit. Heard he took a bath once a year
and never paid a penny for anything but the bare essentials. Even Emily hated
visiting there with Mother."

Roderick
shook his head. "Em has no taste. Love her dearly, but look at the man she
chose for a husband."

Clayton
let the brandy slide down his throat. His sister had married the Earl of
Stonebridge, a man every bit as stubborn as Roderick and the love of her life.
They were the perfect couple.

They had
what Clayton had once wanted for himself. A loving spouse, a family, a home. But
after Lady Serena had run off with a colonel, Clayton vowed never to fall in
love again. Freedom and security were his goals now. And devil take it, he
would not be saddled with a dirty old castle.

"Em?"
he asked. "Have you nothing to say?"

"You
are correct," she said, raising her delicate black brows. "Indeed,
the man took a bath once a year."

Another
round of laughter filled the room. Clayton's hand tightened on his glass as he
swung his gaze back toward the solicitor. "I am not taking that castle. Is
that clear?"

The
small man gazed over the top of his spectacles and pulled at his pointed
neckcloth. "I would like you to hear me out, my lord. If you wish, I can
simplify this process and merely state the facts."

"Fine,"
Clayton said in a clipped tone. "Just the facts."

Stephen
gave an exaggerated clearing of his throat. "I believe Uncle had a damsel
in distress imprisoned in the turret and now Clayton will inherit her,
too."

"Let
the man finish," Roderick announced, winking at Emily.

"I
won't take the damsel either," Clayton said calmly, glancing toward the
mantel clock.
I have another damsel waiting for me in London. A very pretty
one, in fact.

"Go
on," Marcus said to Banes. "Just do it quickly. We don't need all
those fancy words."

The solicitor
snapped the papers in his hands. "Very well. As I said, I will try to
simplify the process. Lord Clayton will inherit the castle and all its
belongings."

Stephen
snickered. "All its belongings? Well, well, Cathaven certainly wasn't the
penny-pincher I thought he was."

Clayton
shot him a cool stare.

"To
His Grace," the solicitor went on, trying to ignore the interruption,
"my client leaves a small cottage outside Brighton. To Lord Marcus, a
townhouse in Bath."

Banes
swallowed and peered up at Stephen. "I believe, for you, my lord, I should
read the words as they are stated."

Clayton
leaned back in his chair and smiled. Cathaven had never liked Stephen. "By
all means. Mayhap my baby brother has inherited the moat with all its
delightful artifacts."

Emily's
lips twitched.

Stephen
wasn't affected in the least. "Cathaven was a miser of words as well. This
has to be more entertaining than Nigel fighting with Mother's cats."

Clayton
couldn't help but laugh at the solicitor's confused expression. "Nigel is Lord
Stonebridge's dog, my good man."

"I
see. Well, may I continue?"

Roderick
waved the man on.

Banes
dropped his gaze to the papers. " 'To Lord Stephen, the youngest, I leave
nothing, for at the present moment I believe he has behaved with the utmost
disrespect, declaring me a penny-pinching miser. Therefore, let it be so.'
"

Clayton
wiped at his eyes, his sour demeanor lifting. "Oh, this is too much."

Stephen's
lips thinned. "I have all I need with my Elizabeth. I don't need an old
moat from a dead uncle, thank you kindly."

Clayton
glanced at Emily, who was trying to contain her laughter. It wasn't working.

The
solicitor reddened. "May I proceed?"

Roderick
crossed his arms over his chest "Forgive us. Banes. Cathaven was ... uh...
eccentric, to say the least"

Banes
pinched his lips. "Yes, well, except for Lord Stephen, instead of reading
the details, I will circumvent the obvious."

Clayton
massaged the back of his neck. "Go on, Banes. We are on pins and
needles."

Stephen
snorted. "This should be interesting."

"Very
well," the solicitor said, adjusting his spectacles. " 'To Lady
Emily, I leave my portrait The one that hangs above the hearth in the big
hall.'"

"His
portrait?" Emily blurted out

Chuckling,
Clayton accidentally tipped what was left of his drink onto the plush rug
beneath him. Stephen's eyes twinkled. Roderick stood and walked to the other
side of the room, his shoulders shaking, while tears came to Marcus's eyes.

"Em,"
Clayton said, rubbing a hand across his mouth, "we all know you had a soft
spot for the old boy."

Emily
groaned. "But his portrait?"

"At
least you weren't left a dingy castle," Clayton said as he rose and
glanced at the solicitor. "You can let the ruins go to the nearest
vicarage for all I care. I don't want it."

"But
I have not finished," Banes interrupted, shuffling the papers and quickly
rising. "There is a bit more, my lord, and it has something to do with
your inheritance. The stipulation I mentioned. Thought I would leave it for the
end, you know."

"I
knew it," Stephen put in. "A lady imprisoned."

Clayton
knew the castle would push his finances beyond repair. Shaking his head, he
crossed the room and grabbed the door handle. "I have an appointment in
Town. Roderick can inform me of the details later. Better yet, send it off to
my man-of-affairs, and he can inform you of my refusal."

"Wait,"
Emily said, rising from her chair. "If I have to take old Cathaven's
portrait and stick it in my attic, you can at least hear the man out."

The
mantel clock ticked in Clayton's ear. "I have an appointment."

"Is
it that pretty blonde you are accidentally meeting in Hyde Park again?"
Marcus asked, all laughter gone from his expression.

Emily's
eyes widened. "Oh! You are meeting Miss Hookston?"

Clayton
stiffened. Miss Hookston might be a bit soft in the head, but she was the
prettiest thing in England. "Have a bit of decency, Em." He peered at
Banes, who was turning crimson, whether from embarrassment or anger he knew
not. "It's not as if I am going to marry the lady. Carry on, Banes. I have
a minute or two."

Banes let
out a deep breath of relief. "Very well, my lord. You are to inherit all
your uncle's money."

Clayton
gave a dry chuckle. "The man had next to nothing. Even an idiot could
guess that when you rode past the place. It would take a king's ransom to fix
the ruins."

Banes
peered over his spectacles. "But my lord, it seems your godfather stored
all his coin in the dungeon."

Clayton
leaned against the door, crossing one Hessian boot over the other. "Oh,
this is getting quite good. Sounds like one of the fairy tales I read to
Emily's stepdaughter, Gabrielle. She would adore this."

Stephen
stood, his brown gaze flashing with humor. "Banes, now let me get this
straight Are you saying my brother is to seek out that dungeon and clear out
all the skeletons?"

The men
tried to hide their snickers, but it was almost impossible. Even Emily could not
help laughing. Banes was turning a deeper crimson, if that was possible.

"You
must forgive us, Banes," Clayton said, feeling sorry for the older
gentleman. "It's not every day a man inherits a castle with a dungeon full
of money from his hermit of an uncle. Had my brother informed me of this little
meeting ahead of time, I could have planned my day better."

He
looked at the clock again and set his jaw. "I do have an engagement and
must not be late. But rest assured, I'm not going to take that blasted castle.
Good day."

Clayton
opened the door and barely took another step before Banes hurried toward him.
"My lord! Please! Hear me out!"

Clayton
released a tired sigh. "Don't think this is out of disrespect for our dear
uncle. Quite the contrary. He was an angry old man, set in his ways, but we did
cater to his whims every now and then, and we, or at least I, had a liking for
the old fellow. The man was in good mental health until his wife died." He
threw up his hands and turned to leave. "It was a devilish shame, but the
poor man lost touch with the world, especially when he wrote that blasted
will."

"My
lord!" Banes clamped his hand upon Clayton's arm, stopping him.
"There's more than skeletons in that dungeon."

Clayton
lifted a sarcastic brow. "Indeed? Well, my good man, I will not be the one
who will be cleaning it out."

"B-but
I must inform you of the stipulation if you wish to inherit the castle."

Clayton
shot a sharp glance toward his siblings, who were doing nothing to help him.
"Thank you for the information, Banes. But as I have said, I will have my
man call upon you to make certain that does not happen." He started down
the hall, his heels clicking upon the marble floor.

"My
lord! Have you no wish to know the quantity of funds?"

Clayton
kept walking. "How much, Banes?" he drawled.

His
siblings filed out of the library to listen just as Banes quoted a sinful
amount of money.

Clayton
spun on his heels. "What did you say?"

Stephen's
head snapped up. "Why, that sneaky little devil."

Clayton
hastened back down the hall and grabbed the solicitor's shoulder. "Forget
my earlier words. I will take that castle and all its belongings."

"Clay,
oh favorite brother, can you put me in your will?" Stephen said mockingly.