Her Sudden Groom Read Online Free PDF Page B

them. It just didn’t work that way.
    “ It’s almost time for dinner,” Caroline told him. “Stay after and we’ll work on this some more.”
    He was about to tell her he couldn’t when a light knocking sound came from the door. “Dinner’s almost ready,” Marcus boomed.
    “ Thank you, Marcus,” Caroline said breathlessly as she picked up the stack of heavy tomes she’d knocked to the floor. “We’ll be out in a minute. I’ve finished, but Alex hasn’t.”
    “ What?” Marcus roared. He opened the door a crack. “Caroline, out. Alex, don’t even think about leaving. I need to speak to you. I’ll be coming in that room in two minutes.”
    Alex and Caroline exchanged looks. Alex had shared a room with Marcus at Eton for almost five years. During those five years, he’d never once heard Marcus raise his voice. Something was off.
    Caroline put the books down and quietly left.
    Exactly one hundred twenty seconds after his declaration, Marcus reentered the room. “I did not give you permission to seduce her,” he hissed.
    Alex crossed his arms. “I didn’t.”
    Marcus clenched his jaw. “Then what did you do?”
    “ We worked on science. See?” He went over and grabbed the stack of papers Caroline had abandoned in her hurry to depart the room.
    Marcus blinked, then groaned and tossed the papers on the settee. “So you did,” he said dully, scrubbing his face with his hands. “Why?”
    Now Alex blinked at him. “Because you suggested to her I could use her help with an experiment. Which, by the way, was more difficult to work on with her in the room.”
    Leaning against the back of a chair for support, Marcus stared at him. “Do not tell me you told her.”
    “ I didn’t. I told her I needed to increase membership of the Society of Biological Matters .”
    Marcus shook his head. “Of the two of you, I don’t know who is the more obtuse.”
    “ Her,” Alex said automatically. “She actually believed it and worked on ways to recruit people. I, on the other hand, came up with a list of names of possible brides.” He gave his list to Marcus.
    “ No, Alex.” Marcus scanned the parchment. “I think ‘Most Obtuse Man Who Ever Lived’ is the title you came into the moment you entered into the world.”
    “ What’s that to mean?” Alex tugged on his annoying cravat.
    Marcus shrugged. “You’re far more obtuse than she is. Why are half these names of men?”
    “ Just look past those,” Alex said testily. “Oh, and my cousins, too. I had to put them on the list because Caroline thought I was compiling a list of possible Society members.”
    “ I hope that’s why Lady Almay’s name also made the list,” Marcus mused.
    With a sigh, Alex ran his hand through his hair and gave it a tug before letting go. “It is,” he bit off. “But her two daughters are possibilities.”
    “ Lady Lucinda and Lady Ca—C something?” A smile tugged on Marcus’ scarred lips.
    “ Yes. Lady Almay’s other daughter.”
    “ Ah,” Marcus said, nodding in understanding. “I believe her name is Christina, but a recluse like me might be wrong.”
    Alex grinned. Now he knew her name.
    “ Alex,” Marcus started again, “the reason I believe you to be the more obtuse of the two of you—and of everyone in England at that—is because you sat in this room for more than an hour and only came up with two names.” He limped over to the secretary, grabbed Caroline’s abandoned quill, and wrote something on Alex’s paper. “As for me, it took less than ten seconds to come up with the perfect person. Someone you didn’t even have on your list.” He handed the paper back to Alex and walked from the room.
    Not wanting to appear too impatient, Alex waited until he was sure Marcus was down the hall before looking at the list. After he read it, he blinked and read over the paper again.
    Andrew
    Lady Almay
    Lady Lucinda Almay
    Lady Cmmmtmmm Almay
    Brooke
    Benjamin
    Madison
    Paul
    Liberty
    Caroline