Once Upon A Wedding Night Read Online Free PDF

impertinence.
    Grimley continued, "In the event Lady Brookshire delivers a son, the title will revert to the child, held in trust by Lady Brookshire until he reaches his majority. If the child is female, there have been no provisions made, just as there was no jointure provided for you, my lady." Grimley cleared his throat, obviously ill at ease with the topic of her potential destitution. "A terrible oversight of the late earl, but the law must be followed accordingly."
    Blast the law. She gave a slight nod and smiled tightly, wishing she could tell Mr. Grimley exactly what she thought about British law.
    "If the baby is female, I will provide for both the child and Lady Brookshire," Caulfield intoned.
    Meredith gaped in disbelief.
    Aunt Eleanor's eyes, equally shocked, met hers over the tea service.
    Could they have been wrong about him? He would assume responsibility? As simple as that? She took another look at his hard features. Impossible. More than likely he wished to appear magnanimous in front of Grimley and did not mean a word he uttered. Even if he did, how long would his generosity extend? A year? Ten years? What would become of her if something befell him and he died? Once again she would be left scrabbling for her livelihood.
    "Splendid! I was hoping you would make such a gesture, my lord." Grimley beamed. Leaning forward, he grasped both his knees. "These matters are not always dealt with so amicably. It truly speaks to the manners and breeding of the aristocracy."
    "Don't rush to include me in the ranks of the aristocracy," Caulfied said dryly.
    Feeling slightly sick at the possibility of defrauding a truly honorable gentleman, Meredith pressed a hand over her queasy belly. She wanted to hate him, needed him to be a greedy, villainous man, undeserving of the inheritance.
For the sake of her conscience, he had to be
.
    "I have dependents, you should know. My aunt and my ailing father" she blurted out, then held her breath, waiting to see a flicker of doubt cross his face, waiting to hear him recant or simply refuse to extend his support to her relations.
    Unfortunately, he did not sprout the horns and forked tail she desired. At least not yet. Instead, he replied with total equanimity, "That should not be a problem."
    Meredith scowled. He and Edmund shared the same blood. The wretch in him would surface yet. "And there are certain members of the household staff—certain, um, colorful individuals—you may not wish to keep on. I feel responsible for them as well." Lifting her chin, she figured that statement would certainly rattle him.
    "The rather imposing butler, I presume?"
    "Yes, Nels's scar does tend to make some visitors squeamish," she allowed.
    "An interesting choice for a butler, I should think."
    "I feel he has just the right air of self-importance for the position."
    He raised an eyebrow at her description of the former pugilist. "Yes, no unwanted guests would scurry past him."
    "Indeed," she primly responded.
    "Should I decide to dismiss any of the staff, they may have the option of continuing on in your household, provided they do work, of course. I will not support the indolent. And I would not have them take advantage of your generosity."
    Her fists curled at her sides. As if she needed him telling her how to run a household. She had managed without a man these last years.
    "Be assured, I am an excellent judge of character."
Except for Edmund
, a small voice in her head reminded. But that was long ago, when she had been a naive girl. Dreams of love no longer clogged her vision.
    "Then all is settled?" Grimley asked. "For now at least?"
    How she wished she could warn Caulfield not to get too comfortable with his temporary power over her. Yet she couldn't very well inform him that she was guaranteed to deliver a son. Instead, she said, "You are too generous, my lord. Might I inquire of your plans for the interim?"
    "I should like to stay here a fortnight—speak with the steward and see that the