The Convenient Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

duke. "Or Jane, Your
Grace."
    A flush
swept across both gentlemen's cheeks.
    "Em,"
Clayton said, hoping his sister would relent, "what about one of your
friends?"
    "Oh!"
Emily marched toward the door. "You are impossible!"
    Turning
toward the window, Clayton caught sight of Banes stepping from the walk and
into his carriage. Three weeks! Who the deuce would fit into his plans and
marry him in such a short amount of time? Clayton stared back at Emily.
    Her eyes
burned into his. "I would never give you leave to marry one of my
friends!"
    Hmmmm,
one of her friends...
    A pair
of intelligent emerald eyes suddenly came to Clayton’s mind. Of course! Miss
Garland! The girl wasn't bad to look at, with her dazzling auburn hair and
those fairylike eyes. And it didn't matter to him that her nose was always in
the books.
    At least
he could have a decent conversation with the lady. Of course, he wasn't fond of
her matchmaking mama, who had been hounding him for years. Still, he recalled
the girl's kindness and biddable nature. There was that one time when he had
been teaching her to waltz, but that did not signify. No, not at all.
    His lips
curved into a satisfied smile. "Em, I believe Miss Garland is staying with
you for a spell, is she not?"
    Emily
wagged a stern finger at him. "Don't you dare!" With a huff, she
turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her.
    Roderick
raised a mocking right brow. "If I don't miss my guess, I think that means
you are to stay far away from the lady."
    Stephen
fixed his eyes on the door and frowned. Clayton looked at him in disgust.
"Do not tell me you are leaving, too?"
    "I
daresay Emily has a point." Stephen plowed a hand through his brown hair.
"I love my wife and don't plan to have her separated from me because of an
old man's will. If you were to marry for convenience and I helped you,
Elizabeth would be livid."
    Stephen
had almost been pushed into a marriage of convenience with Elizabeth over a
stupid wager. Though the couple had worked out their differences and eventually
fell in love, Clayton knew the same thing wouldn't happen to him. Love would
not be involved at all.
    He
pointed Stephen toward the door. "I am not one to meddle in my brother's
marriage. Off with you, then."
    Stephen
gave a sigh of relief and started across the room.
    Clayton
turned. "Roderick, are you with me on this?"
    His
eldest brother stiffened. "I am a duke. I can do whatever I want. No woman
dictates my life."
    Jane
might have something to say about that, thought Clayton, but he had desperate
need of Roderick's assistance and he kept that thought to himself. "Then
you will help me?"
    Roderick
played with an ivory letter opener on his desk. "This is the end of the
Season. The parties are winding down. As I said, we are hosting a ball in a few
days, but I fear that will not leave you enough time to make a choice. You need
a more intimate setting to make your move."
    Stephen
turned with his hand on the door. "By George, never say it came from me,
but I believe Lord Grimstoke is having a house party at the end of the week. I
think you might find a reasonable female in the mix."
    Reasonable
female? Clayton dragged a hand over his face. What choice did he have? Emily
was going to deny him the one biddable girl who would fit perfectly into his
plans.
    He
heaved a resigned sigh and peered up at his brothers. "Never thought I
would be saying this, but devil take it, which ladies would you suggest?"
    Stephen
yanked open the door. "This is where I take my leave. Ah, good afternoon,
Jane."
    The duke
let the letter opener slip from his hands when he heard the duchess's name. The
man's eyes softened as his wife's baby blue eyes peeked into the room.
    "Roderick,
dear. Forgive me, but I was wondering when you will be finished. I have need of
the carriage for some shopping and the groom told me you wished to come
along."
    The duke
gave her his sweetest smile. "Indeed, I do."
    Roderick
hurried to his wife's side, taking hold of her