Married in Haste Read Online Free PDF Page A

choice but to gallantly step aside, although one mumbled something ungracious and received a rap of Lady Garland’s fan for his temper. She released Brenn’s arm and stepped forward. “Miss Hamlin, this is Brenn Owen, the new earl of Merton. It’s in Wales.” She made the country sound as foreign as Calcutta. “My lord, may I introduce Miss Tess Hamlin.”
    Brenn took the last step forward, conscious of his obvious limp, and yet Miss Hamlin seemed unaware of it. Instead, she met his eyes, her cool gaze as bold as any man’s.
    In that moment, he knew he liked her.
    He bowed over her gloved hand. “Miss Hamlin.”
    “My lord.” Her voice was warm, husky, and a far cry from the shyly sweet sopranos of the other debutantes he had met this evening. It made him feel as if he were the only man in the room.
    “You don’t dance, Lord Merton, but perhaps you can take Miss Hamlin on a turn around the terrace?”
    Lady Garland hinted.
    He picked up on the cue. “That is an excellent suggestion. That is, if Miss Hamlin would enjoy a breath of fresh air.”

    “Yes, I would, my lord,” the lady agreed.
    “Then I’ll leave the two of you to become acquainted,” Lady Garland said, her eyes dancing with matchmaking possibilities. She then seized one of the disgruntled young gentlemen who had been wooing Miss Hamlin and hurried him off to dance with a shy, mousy girl who was a distant cousin of hers.
    For a moment, Brenn wanted to pinch himself to see if he wasn’t dreaming. There was no doubt in his mind that Miss Hamlin had been the one to request an introduction. He nodded toward the terrace door.
    “Shall we take a stroll?”
    She smiled, a smile that made Brenn feel a touch light-headed. She was extraordinary. Her skin was like the smoothest cream, except for the smattering of light freckles across the bridge of her nose. He was glad they were there. They reminded him that she was human, although they didn’t stop him from wanting to shout, Marry me, Miss Hamlin. Let me make you happy in exchange for your prodigious fortune! She was so delicious to look at, he’d been tempted to marry her even without money.
    They had traveled halfway toward the door when Sir Charles stepped into her path. “Merton don’t dance,” he said bluntly. “And I have someone I want him to meet.”
    She didn’t react to his rudeness. Instead, she held out her hand. “Sir Charles, you were one of my father’
    s favorite friends. How good it is to see you again.”
    Brenn hid a small smile as his crusty old friend was forced out of his defensive stance to take her hand.
    “Pleasure,” Sir Charles said, his voice tight. “Hate to take Merton from you but I saw someone on the other side of the room that I particularly wanted Merton to meet. Come, lad, we shouldn’t keep the fellow waiting.”
    He reached for Brenn’s arm but Brenn eluded him. “I am taking Miss Hamlin for a walk.”
    “But lad,” Sir Charles pleaded. “This gentleman is very important.”
    “So is my turn around the terrace with Miss Hamlin,” Brenn told him pointedly.
    He took ahold of Miss Hamlin’s arm at the point where her glove ended above the elbow and started to steer her around him but Sir Charles could not be dissuaded. If he could not deter them, he would join them. He fell into step beside Miss Hamlin. “You know Merton is a war hero,” he told her.
    “Sir Charles,” Brenn said in warning. What was the man doing?
    “A hero?” Miss Hamlin asked with interest.
    “Aye,” Sir Charles said. His eyes met Brenn’s and he shook his head in answer to Brenn’s silent, but no less clear command to leave it be.
    Miss Hamlin caught the head shake. “Then you aren’t a hero?” she asked, confused.
    “He is!” Sir Charles quickly stated. Refusing to look at Brenn, he said, “He saved my life, almost lost his leg doing it.”
    “That’s why you limp,” she said with complete candor.
    “From that and years of kicking Sir Charles, trying to get