Her Irish Surrender Read Online Free PDF Page A

pipe. “Looks like I don’t have to be the one to explain things after all,” he said between puffs.
    Adaline took a step back. “What do you mean, explain things?”
    “Now don’t you worry, dearie,” Mrs. Brody told her. “We’ll get this all straightened out.”
      “Get what straightened out?” Lorcan demanded. “ Maither , what have ye done?”
    Adaline was quick to notice his Irish brogue got thicker with his rising anger. His voice was deep yet held a velvety softness to it, his accent intriguing.  She took another look at him and despite his obvious bumps and bruises, could se e he was an extremely handsome man. One eyebrow rose in admiration …
    “It’s for your own good!” Mrs. Brody shouted up at him. “Ye mope around the shop all day, ye fight at night! Don’t be acting the maggot, lad. Why else would Reverend Franklin be here?”
    Lorcan’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be joking! Is that what I think it is?” he asked and pointed at Adaline again.
    Adaline’s brow furrowed. “I am not an objec t, I am your mail order bride, and I’d appreciate it if you would stop talking about me as if I were … just another book in your shop.”
    Everyone looked at her. Finn whi stled, then laughed. “Well, what a surprise, it’s true!  A mail order bride ye say?” He tossed a quick look at Lorcan. “Why you’re a lucky fish to be fed such a fair morsel.” He looked Adaline up and down and cocked his head to one side in scrutiny. “If ye don’t want her, I’ll take her off yer hands.”
    Adaline gasped in shock. “Mrs. Brody, I’m sorry, but I will not be treated like a … a piece of horseflesh.”
    “That’s no piece of horseflesh,” one of Finn’s friends said as he elbowed another in the ribs.  They burst into laughter.
      “Get up the yard, the lot of ya!” Mrs. Brody shouted, her brogue as thick as ever.  Adaline made a quick mental note of it and moved out of the way as the fiery woman grabbed a feather duster off a nearby counter and began to wave it about like a whip. “And I don’t want to see ye back here again unless it’s to buy something!”
    They scrambled out the door to leave Finn to fend for himself. He stood as still as a mouse as she stomped past him to her son. “And you! You’re going to get married and that’s final!”
    Reverend Franklin took out his pocket watch. “Mrs. Brody, twenty minutes …”
    Mr. Brody chuckled and planted himself on a stool near the counter.  He caught Adaline’s eye and gave her a wink as he puffed away on his pipe.  She wanted to be angry, but the kindly man’s eyes stopped her.  She looked at the Reverend instead. “Perhaps you’ve wasted your time being here, sir. I do not think there will be any sort of wedding today.”  She turned on her heel, went for her trunk, and did her best to lift it.  “If one of you gentlemen would tell me where the nearest hotel is …”
    “ The City Hotel is down the street,” Lorcan volunteered.
    “ Lor! How can ye tell her that?” his mother admonished.
    “Because she asked.”
    Mrs. Brody rolled her eyes. “Don’t go, Miss Dermont. I’ll see he’s set right.”
    Adaline shook her head. “No, Mrs. Brody, it is quite clear he doesn’t want to marry me. It is also clear he had no idea I …” the thought made her cringe. “I was coming.”
    “Mr. Brody!  Do something!”
    “I told ye earlier, did I not Mrs. Brody, that the lad wasn’t ready for this.”
    She spun back to her son. “I say he’s been ready for sometime now, he just can’t admit it because he doesn’t want to leave us to fend for ourselves.”
    Lorcan stiffened.
    “Ha, ye see!” Mrs. Brody said and pointed at him. “I’m right !” She closed the distance between herself and Lorcan. “Don’t ye think its time to settle down, son?  Look at her, she’s beautiful! Any man would be proud to have such a fine lass on his arm.”
    Lorcan did look at her, with renewed interest no less,