To Catch A Spinster (The Reluctant Bride Collection) by Megan Bryce

muttered, “Oh, bother,” under her breath and attempted to push Nathaniel aside.
    “He has a drawn saber, Olivia. Please stay behind me.”
    Her very angry brother-in-law gazed in fury at Nathaniel, and truth be told, he couldn’t fault the look. He deserved everything he got from the wicked looking sword. But he’d be damned if he got it in front of Olivia.
    “Mr. Eliot-”
    “Unless you are going to tell me the announcement has already been sent to the papers, I don’t want to hear it, Jenkins.”
    “Rufus!”
    “Olivia, he is escorting you home in the early morning. And you told your mother you would be staying with us last night.”
    She gasped again. “You didn’t tell her...”
    “...No.”
    “Oh, thank you. I’m sorry, it was a dreadful thing to do, but-”
    “It was a stupid thing to do. You are not only risking your reputation, but your entire family’s as well.”
    “Yes, well, luckily I’m the only one unmarried.”
    Nathaniel interrupted. “And luckily, I have already asked for Miss Blakesley’s hand.”
    The sharp end of the sword gently fell to earth. “Good. But this is still a stupid idea, Jenkins.”
    Olivia tugged at his coat. “Uh, Nathaniel-”
    “She however has refused me.”
    She uttered a very unladylike word as Rufus speared her with his iron-gaze.
    “How extraordinary.”
    “Rufus-”
    “If you have no feelings for him, Olivia, why are you sneaking around with him?”
    Nathaniel turned to face her, secure in the knowledge that he would not be stabbed in the back by her angry relative. Mr. Eliot’s anger was directed where it should rightfully be.
    “Yes, Olivia. That question has been bothering me as well.”
    Her eyes narrowed, her chin rose, and she tapped her foot. “As I have explained, at length, I do not wish to marry.”
    Rufus Eliot guffawed. “It seems to me that you wish very much to marry.”
    Olivia blushed. “You know nothing of it, Rufus. And you, Mr. Jenkins, know what this is and why I won’t marry you. I have entirely too much freedom. Rufus, please escort me home. It would be a disaster if anyone else saw us together.”
    “It’ll give me a chance to tan your backside.”
    “I dare you to try.”
    Nathaniel rubbed his head. “I’ll leave you to it, Eliot. And you, Olivia, I shall see later.”
    He spun on his heal, frustration flashing in his eyes.
    Olivia sighed, cursing herself for her brainless ideas. Cursing the world in general, and men in particular, for making mountains out of mole hills.
    Rufus sheathed his saber, his jaw tight.
    “Please don’t tell Mary, Rufie.”
    “Why not? You don’t seem to care who knows.”
    “I care! I was just stupid.”
    “Olivia, you are walking a tightrope. Jenkins has every right to force you into marriage; he is being too soft-headed. One word to your father would end this.”
    “Rufus Eliot, you know nothing of the matter. And not you, nor Father, nor Mr. Jenkins, will make me do what I don’t want to. So, tell the whole world if you want.”
    Olivia stomped off. She could hear Rufus muttering and following behind her. This plan was going downhill and she wondered if she’d ever been in control of this experiment. Men were a lot harder to understand than the stars.

    Mary’s strident tones echoed through the house. “Hello, Mother. Where’s Olivia?”
    Olivia cursed Rufus and then herself. He couldn’t keep his big mouth shut and she had been the fool to try and sneak about.
    Mary peeked her head around the door and Olivia glared at her. “I am going to kill your toad of a husband.”
    “Mmm. I believe you have some explaining to do.”
    “He could have kept his big mouth shut.”
    “And you could have stayed at home. Now tell me, was it your idea to sneak off with Mr. Jenkins? Or did he pressure you in some way.”
    Olivia sighed. “It was my stupid idea, okay? I wanted to see him and I wanted to know if I could sneak away undetected. Obviously I forgot to plan for sneaking