The Convenient Bride Read Online Free PDF

hand and kissing it. "I
have a little side trip planned just for the two of us," the duke
whispered.
    Jane's
face colored, and Clayton gave Marcus a hard look. Down to one sibling. It was
quite apparent Roderick was out of the game. Blast it to pieces! The duke had
been married almost a year, and by Jove, staring at the couple, one would think
it had been only a week of wedded bliss!
    Roderick
lifted a wary gaze. "Gentlemen, I will leave you to the details. My duty
awaits."
    Clayton
sank into a nearby wing chair and groaned as the door snapped shut once again.
"Duty! You would think all my brothers would help me out in a time like
this."
    Marcus
crossed the room and grabbed the decanter of brandy, a wicked sparkle in his
eyes. "Yes, well, married life can do that to you. You'd best be sure of
what you want."
    "Hell's
teeth. I never planned to be married, not after—"
    "Lady
Serena?" Marcus said, not glancing his way.
    Clayton's
face went grim. "History. But the worst of it is, I lost everything in
that shipment from the West Indies."
    His
brother peered at the glass in his hand. "Everything?"
    "Everything.
And if I don't take that blasted castle, I will be dependent on dear old
Roderick and the family coffers."
    Marcus
pulled the bell cord. "I had no idea things were that bad. Then this
mission calls for a bottle of a finer substance."
    "Make
it two bottles. If we have to make a list of ladies, I want to make it as
painless as possible."
     

 
    Chapter Three
     
    " Y our
mother entrusted me to find you a husband. And I intend to do just that, even
if I have to move the search beyond the Season."
    Briana
Garland looked up from her seat in the moving carriage and frowned at her
godmother's remark. Oh, she loved the lady dearly, but sometimes Agatha was
just as stubborn as she was.
    Miss
Agatha Appleby had been childhood friends with Briana’s mother, Lady Garland,
and there was nothing Agatha wouldn't do for the lady or her godchild,
including finding Briana a husband. And since Lady Garland had withdrawn to the
country to recuperate from her persistent headaches, Agatha had become Briana's
sole chaperone for the London Season.
    "I
have obligations other than marriage, Agatha."
    The
elderly lady's black parasol hit the floorboard with a loud clap.
"Fustian! Obligations providing for a women's home? As a Christian I
believe in your cause, but as a single woman you will be shunned by the
world."
    Pressing
her lips together, Briana stared out the window of the vehicle as it rolled
down the London streets toward the Duke of Elbourne's townhouse. Whether Agatha
liked it or not, Briana intended to follow through with her plan.
    She was
going to visit her friend Jane, the Duchess of Elbourne, hoping the lady could
help her find a home for her proposed women's shelter, a project that Agatha
obviously believed would result in social suicide.
    Briana
leaned her head against the cool pane of glass, her throat tightening. What did
she care about Society anyway? It's not as if she ever intended to marry.
    "Briana,
did you hear me?"
    Briana
turned. Her gaze collided with a pair of steely gray eyes. "I heard you.
But you do things and you are not shunned."
    Most
people would take one look at Agatha, with her salt-and-pepper hair and plump
body, and think her a sedate older lady consumed with thoughts of tea parties
and peaceful drives in die country. But this harmless-looking lady had been
secretly involved in the war against Napoleon for years. No one would ever
think she worked for Whitehall.
    Briana
certainly hadn't thought such a thing, not until a few months ago when Agatha
had come to her for help in the area of Egyptian architecture, which had led to
the deciphering of certain mathematical formulas.
    For
whatever reason, Agatha had needed answers fast. Briana had provided the
answers, but her suspicions about her godmother had grown to astronomical
proportions.
    Briana
badgered Agatha for her own answers.
    It all
came to a head when