Never Less Than a Lady by Mary Jo Putney Read Free Book Online Page B

made a face. “A Gretna Green marriage? Vulgar but necessary, I presume.”
    “Gretna Green is neither necessary nor desirable,” he said firmly. “The town is famous for runaway marriages because it’s the most southern spot in Scotland, but we have time to go farther. I think we should marry from the house of my friend Kirkland. You’ve met him. His respectability will lend countenance to the marriage.”
    Kirkland had been one of the three friends who had come north to find Ashton. Dark and clever and contained, he had treated Julia and Mariah with courtesy and tolerance. Marrying from his house would be far better than a scandalous Gretna Green ceremony. “By marrying you, I come under the protection of all you Lost Lords of Westerfield, don’t I?”
    “Indeed you do.” That glint showed in his eyes again. “We’re a formidable lot in both practical and social terms.”
    “Believe me, I appreciate that.” She had been alone for so long. The idea of protection was gratifying. “We shall need to agree on a story of how we came to marry.”
    “Something less than the truth since part of the exercise is to reestablish you socially.” He thought. “Distraught from the tragic death of your husband, you left society and took up residence with a distant cousin in the country. Later, you became friends with the Duchess of Ashton—that part of the story is very important, you are a very dear friend of a duchess—and we met through her, since I’m close friends with the duke. Having sold out of the army, my thoughts turned to matrimony, so I sought you out and proposed to you.”
    “You mentioned earlier that you’d sold out. That must have just happened?”
    He nodded. “Daventry informed me the last intervening cousin had died and I must return to England and prepare myself for my future responsibilities by finding a wife and establishing a household.”
    “I’m surprised you were willing to do anything he suggested,” she said dryly.
    “I forced myself since it was in accord with my own wishes,” he explained.
    “It’s a good story,” she agreed. “Simple enough that we can keep it straight.”
    “It’s not that far from the truth,” he observed. “I did sell out and determined I should be looking for a wife, and I thought of you.”
    She studied his face. “Yet you traveled to Hartley to visit Sarah Townsend. Does my exalted birth make me more marriageable? A village midwife would be far beneath your station.”
    “You were never less than a lady, even as a village midwife,” he said slowly. “Granted, your rank will make it easier for others to accept you as my wife, but the main reason I looked elsewhere was because you appeared to want nothing to do with me. I didn’t think I could change your mind, but I did want to see you again. Just in case.”
    She looked down at the embers of the fire. “You humble me, Major. I don’t deserve your regard, but I’m grateful for it.”
    “To say you don’t deserve my regard implies that I have poor taste,” he said with lurking humor. “Quite the contrary.”
    She laughed. “My apologies.” Her laugh turned into a yawn.
    “Sleep now. You must be exhausted.”
    “I am.” She raised her gaze to him. “I would never have imagined such a day as this one.”
    “Nor would I. Yet here we are.” He gave one of his rare, surprisingly sweet smiles. “I think we shall deal well together, Julia.”
    “I hope so.” She lay down and wrapped the blanket around her, so tired that she didn’t mind the unyielding floor. Agreeing to marry a virtual stranger was madness. But it was good to have someone concerned on her behalf. She’d been alone so long.

Chapter 7
    Randall eased down next to the door and leaned against the wall. His damaged leg ached abominably as he stretched it out. He had demanded far too much of his body today, but it had been worth it. Julia was safe, and he’d see that she stayed that way.
    He opened the door a few inches so