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Her Secondhand Groom(11)

By:Rose Gordon


“I―I―” she stuttered, trying in vain to think of how to finish the sentence. Several phrases from “I don’t wish to marry you” to “I cannot marry you” to “Who do you think you are to affiance yourself to me without so much as a by-your-leave” ran through her mind. Finally, she decided on, “I think we need to talk about something.”

“We do?” He blinked his brown eyes owlishly at her.

“Yes,” she said through clenched teeth. His first wife might have passed away some time ago, but surely he remembered something about women from the time she was alive. “Don’t you want to ask me… I mean―that is―I…uh…I overheard you talking to my parents in there and…”

“Oh,” he said as if he’d just solved a complex mathematical equation. “You heard about the wedding, then?”

“Yes,” she acknowledged.

“Well, you can relax. You’ll be able to enjoy yourself that day without the worry of supervising my girls again. I’m planning to bring Mrs. Jenkins with me to attend them.”

Juliet stared at him unblinkingly. What was he talking about? There was no way she, the bride, could supervise his children that day. Why would he even mention such a thing?

“I must be off,” he called. “I’ll see you in six days hence. Give my best to Juliet.”

Juliet? Give his best to Juliet? Was the man cracked or did he just not… Laughter overtook her. He thought Henrietta was Juliet!

Well, she thought, turning back to the cottage, two could play at that game. She bent her head to hide her grin as she walked past her mother. If he thought he was going to get away with something as underhanded as betrothing himself to her―or her sister, in his mind―without so much as a word in passing, he deserved the little surprise he would find come their wedding day. Not that she expected him to go through with the service, she didn’t. He’d call it off once he raised her veil, but the look of shock on his arrogant face would be well worth the embarrassment she’d face.





Chapter 4





Patrick could hardly contain his excitement as he rode back to Briar Creek. Before he’d left his estate that morning, he hadn’t told the girls where he was going or that they might have a new mother―and governess―by the end of the week. He knew it was a slim possibility Ian Hughes would turn his offer down, but remote as it might be, he didn’t dare risk the girls’ feelings.

As soon as the carriage jolted to a stop, Patrick swung open the door and jumped down to go in search of his daughters. He finally found them out by the stables getting ready for their riding lessons. It would seem they’d developed quite an interest in equines since their week at Marcus’ a few months ago. That alone shocked Patrick more than anything he’d ever witnessed. That man hated horses, and for good reason, too.

“You girls about ready to mount?” he asked, walking up behind them.

Celia nodded vigorously. “Yes. And Harry said I get to go first.” Her words spoken as proudly as if she were declaring she’d just won a war.

Patrick grinned at her. She may be a girl, but there was no denying she’d been spending too much time with Cook’s two sons. A mother would be very good for her, indeed. He’d have to ask Juliet to work with them on being more ladylike. It wouldn’t do for Celia―or any of them―to continue to puff her chest out as she spoke when she got older. That could result in all sorts of situations he’d rather avoid.

Clearing his throat, he stepped closer to her. “Allow me to help you.” He grabbed her about the waist and hoisted her up into the saddle. “Settled?”

Grabbing for the reins, Celia grinned. “I’m ready to ride.”

Reluctantly, Patrick handed the reins to his daughter. “Be safe and do exactly as Harry says.”

“Yes, Papa.”

Patrick waited for her to ride off before turning back to Helena and Kate. “Can I interest either of you in a secret?”

“A secret?” Helena shrieked. “Always.”

He chuckled. “I thought you might be interested. How about you, Kate?”

Kate just stared at him with her big hazel eyes in a way that would have made him feel bad if not for the good news he was concealing. She was still disappointed she’d had to leave the Hughes’ home yesterday without a promise of return, but he also knew he had just the words to make her look at him as if he were the bravest hero in the world.

Locating the nearest mounting box, Patrick sat down and pulled Kate and Helena down to his lap. Settling one on each of his knees, he grinned at one, then the other. “All right, since only Helena’s interested in my secret, I’m only going to tell her.” He winked at Kate before turning to whisper his news in Helena’s ear.