The Earl Claims a Bride by Amelia Grey Read Free Book Online Page A

brighten when they swooped across his face? Would they linger and take the time to thoroughly look him over as he had her the instant he’d seen her?
    Harrison’s lower body gently swelled at that possibility and he thought, I want to be the gentleman she’s looking for.
    He was attracted to her in a way he hadn’t been attracted to a young lady since Maddie. Quickly her gaze caught his and stayed for a few seconds. Just about the time he thought she was interested, her sight skipped past him and continued her exploration of all the gentlemen in the room. He smiled to himself. She might not have had the same reaction to him as he’d had to her, but she had paused and for now that was enough.
    Was she searching for a beau, a lover, or a husband?
    No, his mind quickly shut down that line of thinking. He didn’t want to consider the likelihood that she already belonged to another. Right now, he only wanted to meet her. Then he would continue from there.
    It had been much too long since a young lady had intrigued him at first sight. He hoped that when he met her, she wouldn’t want to tell him how good she was at stitchery, painting, or some other talent most ladies thought captivated a man. That she could arouse him on sight—that impressed him and that interested him.
    As he continued to stare at her a petite, older lady and tall gentleman suddenly flanked her and the three of them stepped down into the ballroom. He watched her alabaster-colored skirt swirl around her long legs until she was swallowed by the crowd.
    He chuckled to himself. Harrison didn’t believe in love at first sight. He wasn’t even sure he believed in love. But he did believe in want at first sight. Just as had happened with Maddie years ago, his mind, his body, and his soul told him he wanted that young lady to be his.
    When Harrison turned to set his champagne glass on the table behind him so he could follow her, someone clapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see his good friend Bray, the Duke of Drakestone.
    “Why the devil didn’t you send word you were back in Town?”
    Harrison couldn’t very well tell him the truth—that he had ruined every shirt he owned with soot and had to visit the tailor before he could be seen in public.
    “Why bother to send over a note when I knew I’d see you tonight? I expected to see your lovely duchess by your side, though.”
    Bray and Harrison had been friends since their first year at Eton. The two of them, along with fellow student Adam Greyhawke, had managed to get into one madcap escapade after another all the way through Oxford, their teens, and on into their twenties. In fact, their raucous behavior hadn’t stopped until four years ago when Adam married and Harrison left to tour the world.
    “And she will be. My mother whisked her away to meet someone the moment we walked into the ballroom. I was on my way to pay respects to the dowagers and widows when I saw you standing over here without your usual swarm of young ladies vying for your attention.”
    “Oh, so your ritual of having the first dance of the evening with one of them is not going to change now that you are happily married and no longer the most eligible bachelor in London.”
    “No reason it should.”
    Harrison gave him a doubtful look. “I have a feeling it was Louisa who insisted you continue the tradition.”
    “It was.” Bray grinned and then said, “When it comes to whatever Louisa wants, I don’t usually mind. I wasn’t sure you were coming to Town for the Season. How are things at Thornwick?”
    “Better,” he said, knowing Bray wouldn’t press him for details he didn’t want to share. “The rebuilding started last week.”
    “Good to hear. You plan to stay in London for the Season?”
    “I’m not sure I have a choice right now.”
    Bray seemed to study on that comment before saying, “That sounds ominous, my friend. What’s happened to cause this?”
    “How well do you know the Prince?”
    Bray shifted