The Wedding Wager Read Online Free PDF

reminding Harry that she didn’t love Julian, and that a few months of happiness - for surely that would be as long as it would last - were nothing when compared to a lifetime of regret for both of them. She had to prevent that at all costs, but now that she had agreed to delude his uncles, was she encouraging Julian to think he might succeed?
    “I hope I’m doing the right thing,” she murmured, half to herself.
    “Of course you are,” Julian answered in a comforting voice. “What could possibly go wrong?”
     
    * * *
     
    As Julian predicted, his uncles were delighted when he invited them to his London house to notify them of his intention to marry Harriet.
    In their eyes, she was the most suitable of brides. Certainly, her passion for horses and preference for country life made her a bit of an Eccentric, but her reputation was spotless, the Woodford name an old and respected one, and her prospective inheritance large enough to be a welcome addition to the already considerable Ardleigh fortune.
    Impressed with their nephew’s good judgment, they readily agreed to send letters to the Ardleigh steward directing him to begin taking his orders from young Lord Debenham. They also promised Julian that on his wedding day, they would commence the legal procedures required to formally end the trust.
    With some reluctance, they acquiesced to Julian’s request to keep the matter quiet. It was a bit odd of the young lady to prefer a secret engagement, but it was no great matter after all.
    Of course, they reasoned, Julian couldn’t possibly have meant them to keep such good news from their own wives . . .

Chapter Four
     
    A few days later, Julian found Harry in the Woodford stables, changing a poultice. Julian recognized the injured horse as an elderly hack that Harry still rode occasionally. It was like her to attend to the loyal old beast herself, rather than leaving the task to a groom.
    He waited patiently as she finished fastening the bandage, patted the afflicted horse and straightened up. Then he cleared his voice before announcing his presence.
    “Hello, Harry.”
    She turned, and a delighted smile lit up her face.
    “Julian! What brings you here today?” she asked as she came out of the stall into the stable yard.
    Julian decided she looked rather fetching, even with a wisp of straw caught in the thick coil of hair atop her head. On impulse, he reached a hand up and brushed it away.
    “I have something to tell you,” he said, and regretted seeing her smile fade. Did he see the hint of a blush in her face?
    “What is it?” she asked, moving away from him and beginning to walk toward the house. “Have you come to tell me I’ve won our little wager?”
    Was it his imagination, or did her voice sound a trifle brittle? This was turning out to be more difficult even than he had expected.
    “No, not exactly,” he replied. “Let’s take a turn about the garden, so we can speak privately.”
    They reached the garden in silence, and began to stroll between beds full of irises, larkspur and early roses. He looked over at Harry. Her cheeks still seemed slightly flushed. She looked uncharacteristically nervous, and yet appealing at the same time. She walked briskly, yet she moved with her usual athletic grace.
    He could see she was ill at ease with the prospect of marriage with him, and longed to reassure her. She’d clearly never even been kissed. Lately, he’d found himself thinking how much he’d enjoy teaching her such pleasures, and trying to picture what charms she hid beneath those curst dowdy gowns of hers. However, her matter-of-fact manner had discouraged him from making any advances.
    Now he feared he might never get the chance.
    “So, what is it?” Harry asked, interrupting his train of thought.
    He cleared his throat before replying. “I told my uncles I’d offered for you.”
    “And?”
    “They were delighted, and they agreed to allow me a hand in running the estate.”
    “I am happy to