What A Gentleman Wants by Caroline Linden Read Free Book Online

property and breeding who would obey orders. Wouldn’t it be amusing to watch them cross swords, though? David thought with a grin. If only there were some way to throw them together without any danger to himself…
    An audacious idea came to him. Something that he hadn’t done in years, something Marcus had threatened to kill him for if he ever tried again. But if he managed it, Hannah would be set, he would be free, and Marcus would swallow a dose of his own medicine. All in all, it sounded rather ideal. David seized his cane and hobbled after Percy.
    “Oh, no,” was Percy’s assessment. “Really, Reece. That’s too far. He’ll horsewhip you for certain.”
    “I’ll tell him you helped me, of course.”
    Percy swore. “No! Even I have more sense than that.”
    “Come on, Percy,” cajoled David, warming to the idea with every moment “It’ll be better than when we convinced old Deveraux his mistress was sleeping with his son. How could you miss it?”
    “I value my life, that’s how. He’s not my brother. He’ll kill me.”
    “Let’s go to Italy, then. If we’re gone before Marcus finds out, everything will be fine.” Percy grumbled some more, but David could see that he was weakening. It had been a long time since they pulled off such a prank, and perhaps if Marcus had given him any credit for that, David wouldn’t have considered this. But he was the useless younger brother; Marcus was responsible and competent and did everything to perfection. David had been raised with the trappings of wealth and power, but no real hope of possessing them, and with a dry stick like Marcus hovering critically over him, there was absolutely nothing for him to do but enjoy life, in any way he could. In the end, Percy agreed, as he always agreed to David’s suggestions, and they opened a botde of wine to perfect the plan.
    “David, is something bothering you?” Hannah asked. They were five miles out of Middleborough, finally free of the wedding guests, and heading for
    London in a luxurious coach which had appeared mysteriously at the White Swan. David said only that it was his brother’s, sent to bring them back to town. Hannah thought it very kind of his brother to send the coach even if he hadn’t attended the wedding, but when she said so, David just gave her a curiously cunning smile. All day he seemed to hum with excited energy, as did Mr. Percy. If they weren’t grown men and beyond such things, Hannah would suspect they were plotting mischief.
    “No.” He had propped his still-healing ankle on the opposite seat where Molly was curled into a sleepy ball, her doll clutched to her jam-smeared dress. “Why do you ask?”
    “You seem very excited about something.”
    He grinned. “Why shouldn’t I be?” Hannah colored.
    “David, I hope that… perhaps I should—”
    “Hannah,” he said, taking her hand. “I promised I wouldn’t ask. That’s not what I meant.” She breathed a faint sigh, ashamed of herself for being so relieved. The thought of the wedding night had given her some pause. On her first wedding night, Stephen had been almost as nervous as she, but there had been no thought of waiting. David was being generous.
    “Thank you. I’m sorry I mentioned it.” He nodded, releasing her hand. Hannah put it back in her lap. Curiously, she still felt no spark of attraction at his touch, just a strange sense of disbelief that she was someone’s wife again. She hoped her lack of warmth hadn’t disappointed him.
    By the time they reached London shortly after nightfall, Hannah was exhausted. Once woken from her nap, Molly grew restive and cross. David had managed to calm her with a long story about a princess who tamed a dragon with strawberry tarts. He really was very good with her, but eventually Molly erupted into a full-fledged temper fit. Hannah almost wept with relief when they finally stopped outside a handsome town house, and Molly stopped crying. David took Molly by the hand and asked