Stealing the Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

looked like a Monday afternoon at Tattersall’s.
    Temple stood at the window and watched as the two suitors shot hasty orders to their drivers before setting off for Highgate and then on to the Manchester road.
    A long unheard voice nagged at him. Do something.
    Unconsciously he shook his head, ignoring the need to follow its unwanted advice.
    Demmit, Diana. You’re a headstrong, willful bit of baggage. What trouble have you found your way into now?
    Nothing that was any of his business, he decided, turning from the raucous display. To his surprise, he spied his cousin, Colin, Baron Danvers, stepping out of the shadows from across the room.
    Of all his relations, Colin was his favorite, so he grinned at the sight of him, having thought him well out to sea on another of his clandestine voyages for the Admiralty.
    At that moment Lord Oxham stopped by Temple’s side. The tall, narrow man sniffed and shook his head as he glanced in Colin’s direction. “I say, it’s a fine turn of events when a man who should be swinging from the end of rope is as rich as Midas just because he has a talent for piracy and thievery.” He turned his back to Colin, giving him the cut direct.
    “Piracy and thievery, well, I never!” Lord Bethel, another of Temple’s set, added in agreement.
    “I fear I will have to extend Lord Danvers the courtesy of my company,” Temple told them. “One may choose his friends and companions, but I fear family is another matter.”
    “Bah,” Lord Bethel spat out. “I don’t see how he dare show his face here. Dirty business and its cowardly ilk have no place at White’s.”
    “Yes, perhaps,” Temple agreed, all the while casting a discerning glance at the cup in Bethel’s hand—filled to the rim with illegal French brandy. It was good to know the man knew where to draw the line on not associating with “dirty business.”
    “Besides,” Oxham muttered. “You were about to share with us your secret for tying that infamous cravat of yours.”
    Temple took a preening stance. “I wish I could, my friends. But my cousin’s money has a way of coming in handy when I am short on blunt. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see if he is inclined to buy me a drink or two…and perhaps loan me something for my tailor. Elton informs me the man is becoming rather insistent about my bill, despite the fact that I am a walking advertisement for his services.”
    The gentlemen all laughed, but once Colin stepped into their midst, their good humor ended and en masse they moved away without so much as a word.
    Other men might have taken such a slight to heart, but Colin’s court martial and subsequent disgrace nine years earlier had made such occurrences commonplace, and he barely spared the departing fops a glance.
    Instead, he caught Temple by the arm and steered him to a quiet and secluded corner. “Are you going after her?” he demanded.
    Temple smoothed his wrinkled sleeve. “After whom?”
    “Diana, you witless lout. How can you stand idly by and watch her be married off to one of those…those…”
    “Idiots?” Temple offered.
    “Yes, idiots.” Colin frowned. “How can you?”
    Once again that needling little spark of conscience prodded him. He ignored it, just as he intended to ignore his cousin. “Might I remind you, the lady wouldn’t be in this spot if you hadn’t allowed your betrothal to her to go awry.”
    Colin had the decency to flinch at this accusation, but any guilt he might have felt didn’t last very long. “You know that isn’t what happened.” On the eve of the baron’s wedding to Lady Diana, Colin’s conviction for treason had been made public. The lady had cried off—quite vehemently—not that anyone had questioned her hasty decision.
    However, Colin had always maintained that there was another reason for her sudden reversion of affections…
    Temple groaned. “Don’t start down this path again, cousin. The lady is not suited for me, and I am certainly not suited for