With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) by Cheryl Bolen Read Free Book Online Page A

rights. "For the first
year we'll make every effort to assure others the marriage is a
love match. Most of all, my brother is to be convinced. If he were
to suspect I married only to collect my inheritance, he would
undoubtedly challenge me in court."
    "And my brother?"
    "I shall attempt to convince him I've fallen
in love with you. George would not relish his sister being a pawn
in a ploy to get my inheritance."
    They trod silently along through the muddy
mire. Filled with anger, first at Glee then at himself for not
exposing Glee's scheme, Gregory pondered his unwelcome predicament.
He would have to make the best of it. After all, now his
inheritance would be secure. He thought of all the reasons Glee had
cited to encourage the marriage. There were worse fates. Yet this
was not the fate he had strived for all these years. Damn
Glee .
    The poor girl would never have her prince.
Never bear a child. "I propose to allow you to select the house of
your choice in Bath. You'll have carte blanche in its
furnishings and decorations." Merely a crumb he was tossing her
way. Women liked that sort of thing. "You also will have a
carriage." Such materialism compensated poorly for depriving her of
a loving husband and the children he knew she wanted.
    She nodded solemnly. "I wanted this marriage
because we are. . ." she swallowed, " were friends. Can we
not still be?"
    He strode ahead. They came to the park in
front of Hornsby. They had been friends. Always. Far better for
Glee to marry a friend than a man bent on wringing her innocence
from her, on using her. But, he somberly reflected, wasn't he to be
using her? He tried to shake away his feelings of guilt by
reminding himself of her shameless trap to ensnare him. She was
only getting what she had asked for.
    Finally he glanced down at her. "We'll
continue to be friends." It suddenly occurred to him the chill had
been absent from his voice.
    As they drew nearer the manor house, he took
her hand. "Remember, everyone is to think we're in love. You're to
tell no one the truth."
    "From this day forward, I'll do whatever you
ask," she said in a soft voice. "When can we marry?"
    Even if it were not to be a real marriage,
Gregory meant to cling to his bachelorhood for as long as he could.
"We can post bans this week."
    Her face fell. Of course, she would have
preferred the quicker special license. Why was the girl so eager to
marry? God knows he was in no hurry.
    * * *
    Gregory's stomach knotted as he faced his
dearest friend across the Turkey carpet of the library, steeling
himself to lie to George for the first time in the seventeen years
they had known one another.
    From his silk damask settee, George spoke
somberly. "Despite that you're my best friend, I must tell you I
would be excessively displeased were you to use my sister merely to
gain your inheritance. Glee needs a man who will love her and take
care of her for the rest of her life. She wants a happy home
bursting with children." He stopped for a moment. "I would be
extremely surprised if you can offer her any of the things she
needs."
    Gregory felt the knife turning. He came
dangerously close to calling the whole thing off. Then he
remembered Glee's pledge to marry the first man who sought her out.
And with rising anger, he thought of the scoundrel Jefferson.
Gregory coughed. "You must know I have had a soft spot for Miss
Pembroke since she was a little girl. It wasn't until this stay,
however, that I realized how much I truly cared for her. It was
Miss Pembroke herself who pointed out that a match between us would
be a most fortunate connection. And since my feelings for her were
rapidly changing from that of a brother to that of a lover. . . I
came to realize how very much I wanted to marry her." His voice
lowered and he spoke somberly. "That is, if you have no
objections."
    How had he ever found the words? Gregory
thought of the times when he had been alone with Glee in the
meadows and the unexpected feelings of lust she summoned