Never Marry a Stranger by Gayle Callen Read Free Book Online

Professor Leland fixed Matthew with an amused gaze.
    “As of today, all of England will know of your return. You made the Times.”
    He displayed the front page, and they all could read the headline: OFFICER RETURNS FROM THE DEAD!
    “I was only in London for a few hours,” Matthew said, amazed.
    “The servants at Madingley House must havebeen so excited,” Lady Rosa said, clapping her hands.
    “And talkative.” Matthew glanced at Emily, wondering at her reaction. “I did not think I could keep my return a secret, but I’ve been in England less than two days. This is fast work.”
    Lady Rosa smiled. “Good news can travel just as swiftly as bad. Perhaps people are glad to have a reason to celebrate.”
    Matthew smiled at Emily, and she returned his smile. But did she seem a bit…distracted? What did she think of having his arrival—and her own name—splashed across England’s most widely read newspaper?

Chapter 4
    T he eggs tasted like dry pieces of rubber going down Emily’s throat. She hadn’t anticipated that a duke’s cousin returning from the dead would be so newsworthy. But, of course, he was an army hero—who was not quite married. If that got out, it would set the newspapers ablaze.
    She took a deep breath to calm herself. There was nothing she could do now. She only hoped that Emily Leland would not be connected to Emily Grey.
    She glanced at Lieutenant Lawton, Matthew’s friend, with his curling black hair and rakish grin. His presence complicated everything. At first, thinking he would denounce her, she nearly panicked, then realized that he hadn’t done so last night. If Matthew truly was married to another woman, then Lieutenant Lawton didn’t seem to know her. What a confusing mystery.
    Emily looked around the table, where everyone watched Matthew with the rapt attention of aloving family thrilled to have their only son back. They weren’t examining his words as she was, studying his expressions and mannerisms. Perhaps that was why something rang false for her. He skimmed over months of painful recovery too easily. She decided to help him explain his poor correspondence, in hopes of eventually earning his trust.
    She asked him, “Wasn’t it also difficult to write a letter when you couldn’t remember everything? I imagine you did not want to reveal your problem.”
    The two sisters gasped in unison, as if they’d been foolish not to realize that.
    Matthew looked down at Emily, one brow arched in surprise. “Yes, it was difficult,” he said softly.
    “A wife would understand,” Lady Rosa murmured with pleased satisfaction.
    No, Emily thought, a woman who spent time analyzing everything she said or did would understand.
    “As I mentioned,” Matthew continued, “I had to be told about my duties in my first regiment. I was worried there were other, more important things I couldn’t remember. And of course, there were,” he said, glancing at Emily. “I didn’t know what to write, and I didn’t want to make you all worry if I sounded…wrong.”
    “Of course, son,” the professor said. “What areletters, when we now have the real thing? The rest of the family will be overjoyed.”
    “Can we discuss all of this later today, privately, Father?” Matthew asked. “I have so many questions.”
    “We will speak when you’re ready,” the professor said, happiness softening his eyes. “I do not have to be at Cambridge until tomorrow.”
    Emily realized that Matthew probably wanted to talk about her . When she’d awakened that morning, she half expected to find him there in the bedroom with her. Even in a common marriage of convenience between acquaintances there was a price for the woman to pay: physical intimacy without any love. She told herself that she was prepared to pay the price.
    Rebecca began, “Matthew, what about—”
    “Enough, girls.” Lady Rosa rose to her feet. “Poor Matthew came home late. He has more recovering to do, so I suggest we allow him to do it at