His Perfect Bride by Jenn Langston Read Free Book Online

solicitor to inquire about Lady Brianna. It should not matter to him how appropriate her social standing would be for the position of his marchioness, since she didn’t meet his requirements. Any lady bold enough to kiss an unknown man was not his idea of an obedient soft-spoken wife.
    Richard tried to think of the other ladies he met to determine which ones satisfied his requirements. Unfortunately, he could not picture a single one. His search was not being conducted favorably, and considering the nature of evening balls, the setting was not conducive to his purpose. At his next opportunity, he would pick several ladies to call upon to give him a better chance at determining their eligibility.
    “Mr. Richard? Is that you?” He heard a familiar voice calling from behind him.
    Not knowing anyone who would address him thusly, he ignored her, assuming she spoke to another gentleman. Then he stopped, suddenly realizing who the voice belonged to, for he had been hearing it inside his head all day.
    His mind must have conjured her, for the odds of her passing at the exact time as he was unfathomable. Richard felt anticipation welling up inside him as he slowly turned toward her voice. He sighed. She looked as spectacular in her day clothes as she had the other evening in her ball gown. The soft pink fabric taunted him as it encircled her perfect form.
    “Lady Brianna, what a happy coincidence to see you here,” he replied, enjoying the way her face lit up with a brilliant smile.
    “You remember me,” she said, pleasure clear in her voice.
    How she could possibly imagine he would have forgotten her, he could not understand.
    “I find it difficult to forget such a beautiful lady.” He omitted the fact that their unorthodox introduction would forever be preserved in his mind.
    “So, what brings you here?” she asked, cocking her head, unable to hide her blush at the compliment. “Are you looking for something in particular? I may be of assistance, for I’m quite familiar with the shops in this area.”
    Her companion, who appeared to be a maid, gasped at her offer, but Lady Brianna continued watching him expectantly. Would she ever cease to surprise him? From the companion’s reaction, this was not the behavior she typically exhibited, so why was she acting so now?
    He wondered if someone had put her up to this. Had she found out who he was, and now she would hunt him like the rest of them? If not, then why would she choose to associate with him, a proclaimed untitled gentleman? He had so many questions, and he felt the compulsion to ferret out all of her secrets.
    He’d been on the verge of allowing her to join him when he caught himself and realized what was happening. He was becoming too involved with this unsuitable lady, for she already fascinated him. If he didn’t proceed carefully, he could easily become engrossed until it was too late to escape.
    “Thank you for your kind offer. However, I’m merely passing through to attend to some business. It was lovely to see you again.” His voice came out more abrupt than he’d intended.
    “Yes, very lovely,” she replied, her smile falling.
    Richard didn’t hesitate long enough for her to question his sudden change in mood. With a polite nod, he turned and made his way back to his town house. All the while he reaffirmed his resolve to keep away from this fascinatingly beautiful lady.
    Brianna allowed her dance partner to lead her to her mother. The end of yet another ball neared, and she’d been unable to locate Mr. Richard. It had been too long since she’d last seen him, and she began to wonder if he was purposefully avoiding her.
    She’d felt so lucky the other day when she and Ashley had run into him on their way to the milliner’s shop. He appeared even more handsome in the light of day, and Brianna found herself wanting to spend the day with him. At first, she thought he seemed pleased to see her, but after her offer, his immediate departure confused