The Convenient Bride by Teresa McCarthy

miserable."
    "Miserable?
I've been miserable. I don't want to be there again. The castle, the money,
they are not something I asked for, but by heaven, I'm going to take this
opportunity. See if I don't."
    The
earl's face softened. "Clay, for your sake, let this go."
    "I
am not about to let it slip through my fingers. I have three weeks to make my
choice. Miss Garland is at the top of my list. Though a bit of a
bluestocking"—and a bit stubborn, he wanted to add—"she seems quite
agreeable. And," he emphasized, "she is not some simpering female who
has to be at my side at all times."
    Jared's
brows dipped considerably. "I don't think your sister would take kindly to
that description."
    "You
know that's not what I meant," Clayton snapped. "I meant that Miss
Garland has the capability to live in the country without me. I will visit upon
occasion, but my life will be here in Town. Besides traveling to Newmarket and
racing some dashed fine horses, I will have my clubs and other entertainment to
keep me busy. Not something a country wife needs or wants."
    "And
what about children?"
    A pair
of twin girls with auburn curls came to mind, and Clayton smiled. With Miss
Garland as their mother, they would be smarter than most men he knew. And in
this day and age, having brains was not a bad thing at all. "Of course I
plan to have children."
    Jared
let out a rush of air. "I should shoot you right now. You know that, don't
you?"
    Clayton
could not resent the earl coming to the lady's defense. In fact, he was glad
Miss Garland had a respectable gentleman shielding her from the advances of
unwanted suitors, but this was the outside of enough. Jared knew him.
    "You
have what you want," he said to the earl. "A wife, children, a home.
I am only asking for a bit of that."
    Jared's
face hardened again. "You don't know what the hell you want anymore. All you're
thinking about is that castle and the money!"
    The dog
let out a groaning howl of distress.
    With a
scowl twisting his handsome features, Jared marched across the room and swung
open the door. "Yes, I know, Nigel. It hurts my ears, too."
    The dog
dashed into the hall with another wail.
    Clutching
the door, Jared regarded Clayton with a disapproving stare. "I don't like
it. You should love your wife. I don't care what the rest of the ton does or doesn't do. It isn't right, Clay. It just isn't right."
    "I thought
I loved once, too, Jared. But I was wrong. The lady ran away, thinking she
would have a better life with an older man. So you see? A marriage based on
what you have is not for me."
    Another
lady holding even a part of Clayton's heart would set him in a weak position,
and as Wellington had learned during the war against old Boney, any sign of
weakness could get a man killed.
    "Then
you're a fool, Clay. A deuced fool."
    Briana
had started down the stairs, but halted when Nigel came rushing toward her.
"Hello, boy." Smiling, she patted his thick brown fur. "Ah, I
understand. You are running from someone. Did Gabrielle get ahold of Agatha's
parasol again?"
    The dog
let out a yelp and licked her hand.
    "Not
Gabrielle, huh?" She laughed and pushed him up the steps toward the
nursery. "Go on, then. I suspect your favorite girl will be there
soon."
    The
massive dog dashed up the staircase and disappeared around the corner as if a
nice juicy roast were waiting for him on a silver platter. With a low chuckle,
Briana continued down the stairs. If only life were that easy.
    She
paused at the bottom step when two angry voices met her ears. The sounds were
coming from the library. Lord Clayton and Lord Stonebridge were shouting at
each other.
    "I
thought I loved once, too, Jared. But I was wrong. The lady ran away, thinking
she would have a better life with an older man. So you see? A marriage based on
what you have is not for me."
    Briana
fought the impulse to run back up the stairs along with Nigel. It was Lord
Clayton's voice and it shook her to her very core. Whatever tiny hope she had
had