Her Sudden Groom Read Online Free PDF Page A

Good. Now, come up with some other names.”
    He leaned back in his chair. “I can’t.”
    “ And why not?”
    “ Everyone I know who is interested has already joined,” he said simply.
    “ Not everyone,” she muttered.
    He sighed. “I said I was sorry about that.”
    “ It’s fine.” She flashed him a queer look. “Let’s speak of it no more.”
    “ Agreed.”
    He took a deep breath and nearly snapped his quill in half. Her hair smelled of lavender. He’d always claimed that scent could be a man’s undoing. And on her, he had no doubt it was truly possible. He inhaled again, letting the sweet aroma fill his nose. Perhaps his wife would smell good... He nearly snorted. He had only a month to find a wife. He didn’t have time to be too particular about what she smelled like. As long as she didn’t stink, she’d smell good enough for his purpose. Right now he just needed to think of one to pursue.
    “ Which ladies are you thinking of?” Caroline asked a few minutes later.
    He froze. Did she know he was thinking of suitable brides? “Pardon?”
    “ Females who would like to join,” she explained. “Like me, surely there are others of the fairer sex who have been denied entry and would be delighted to join.”
    She was onto something. “Good point. Do you know any ladies interested in science?”
    “ How should I know? You’re the one who denied them membership,” she said with a shrug. “Who are they?”
    Tightening his hands into fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, he said, “It was only you and your cousin I denied membership. No one else. Ever.”
    “ I see,” she said slowly. “I suppose I would have been allowed to join had Olivia not wanted to as well?”
    “ Probably.” He shot a rueful grin in her direction. “Guilty by association, I’m afraid.”
    She rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath he couldn’t make out. “All right. Enough said. What about Lady Almay and her daughter, Lady Lucinda? I’ve read they both enjoy visiting people’s gardens at parties and balls and such.”
    “ Yes, yes.” He grabbed his quill and jotted down their names. Lady Almay and Lady Lucinda did both enjoy exploring everyone’s gardens. For different reasons of course. Lady Almay enjoyed the greenery and Lady Lucinda enjoyed the gentlemen in the gardens.
    He tapped his quill on the paper again, letting his thoughts wander. If Lady Almay did have a true biological and scientific interest like he believed, and Lady Lucinda a minor one, then wouldn’t that also mean the younger sister might as well? Not that it really mattered at this point. He had to find someone—anyone—to marry, and if she liked science, it was only a boon. But it would help tremendously if she either liked science or had grown up hearing people talk of it. At least that way she’d know what to expect in a marriage with him. That’s what made Lady Lucinda and her sister so perfect—they’d both probably grown up hearing their mother discuss science.
    He frowned down at the pen as he went to write Lady Lucinda’s sister’s name. What was her name? He was fairly certain it started with a C. But that was all he could remember. Was it Catherine? Caitlin? Christine? No, none of those seemed right. He looked at Caroline and shook his head. No, Lady Almay’s daughter wasn’t named Caroline, but she—the Caroline sitting next to him—would probably know. Dare he ask? No, better not. He wasn’t entirely certain of the age of Catherine, or Caitlin, or Christine, or whatever her name was, anyway. He suspected she’d be coming out this year, but he wasn’t positive and didn’t want to field questions from a curious Caroline.
    Instead, he grabbed the quill and wrote a giant C then a few scribbles, followed by a T and a few more scribbles. That was close enough. He’d know who he was talking about.
    He closed his eyes and listened to the clock on the wall ticking off the seconds mixed with the rhythmic