The Convenient Bride (25 page)

His lips
turned upward. "And I can say the same about you, wife. But there is one
thing that will never change." He gently cupped her chin to look at her.
"When I said I loved you, that is the absolute truth and always will
be."

She
smiled, working her hands around his neckcloth, breathing in the scent of him.
"You talk way too much." And then she kissed him, long and hard.

He swept
her into his arms and started for the door. "By Jove, I am an idiot. Don't
know why I didn't think of this before." His brows narrowed. "But if
you think for one deuced minute that I am willing to leave you behind for all
the Kingsdales of the world to fawn over you, you had best think again."

She gave
him a faint smile. She didn't want to think of Kingsdale's death or the
horrible day. "I love you," she said softly.

"And
another thing, about this castle—" His face froze. "What did you
say?"

"I
said I love you, you idiot."

He
pressed his lips to hers in a slow, passionate kiss. "Why didn't you say
so in the first place? We could have sidestepped all this nonsense and headed
to Bath for a honeymoon."

They
were both laughing when the drawing room door flung open. "What in the
blue blazes do you think you're doing?"

It was
Agatha, and she was looking at Briana with a smiling eye. But Clayton hadn't
caught on. He was still clinging to the wife in his arms as if she would run
away the minute he put her down. "My dear Miss Appleby, I am taking my
wife home, if you don't mind?"

Agatha
raised a discriminating brow. "It certainly looks like you are doing
something else, my good man."

Clayton's
cheeks colored as he let his wife slip gently to the floor. "I was—"

"Yes,
just what the devil are you doing?"

Clayton's
jaw dropped at the sight of Lord Stonebridge standing in the hall. The earl's
knowing gaze switched from Clayton to Briana, then back to Clayton again.

How the
earl showed up at that timely moment, Briana didn't want to know. Something to
do with Whitehall, no doubt.

Clayton
seemed at a loss for words, but the next moment he dragged Briana into his arms
and kissed her until her knees gave way. When he was done, he held her against
his side and shot a determined glance toward the earl and Agatha. "If you
must know, I was sweeping my wife into my arms so I could bring her upstairs
and—"

Agatha
clapped her hands over her ears. "Stop! I don't want to hear it! You
insolent puppy!"

Stonebridge
laughed. "Go on, Clay. I want to hear it. I happened to be told about your
new wife early this morning. Ah, don't worry, I am not going to call you out.
Unless I miss my guess, you are in love."

"Of
course I'm in love," Clayton said.

Blushing,
Briana opened her mouth to speak when Clayton cleared her feet from the floor,
moved into the hall and started carrying her up the steps.

"For
your information, Jared," he said over his shoulder, "I have a few
things I need to talk over with my wife, if you don't mind."

The earl
laughed. "But this is Grimstoke's house, Clay. Don't you think—"

Clayton
stopped and turned. "No, I really don't think, as you can probably well
testify! Miss Appleby, you can unplug your ears now."

Agatha
dropped her hands. "I heard you. But listen here, you young puppy, if you
ever hurt her, I will come after you!"

Briana
let out a light laugh. "Clay, put me down. I think this has gone on long
enough."

Clayton
kept walking up the stairs. "Oh, no, madam, that is where you are wrong.
This hasn't gone on long enough at all." He looked back at Agatha and gave
Jared a wink. "Not at all."

Agatha
gasped "You are without a doubt the most... most... well!" She turned
on her heels and marched into the drawing room

Briana
chuckled. "Clay, please. Her head injury. Let me go see her."

"Oh,
no, my little bride. Jared can tend to her. You and I have some business to
discuss."

Briana
tightened her hold on his neck. "Oh, about the castle and all its secret
hiding places?" Her words were said in such a silky caress that Clayton
stumbled on the stairs.

She
wanted to laugh. Merciful heavens, this man was pudding in her hands.

Clayton
paused and gazed warily back at her. "You know, I think we have a problem
here."

She
frowned. "What is it?"

"I
believe I married a woman with an intellect that far exceeds my own, did I not?"

She
shrugged, her eyes peeping from beneath her lashes. "Does it matter, my
lord husband?"

He
quickened his pace and smiled. "Not at all. Not at all."

Chapter Twenty

O
ver a month later Briana arrived at
the Stonebridge townhouse to visit with her new sister-in-law. She had just
returned from her honeymoon and this was the first time she had seen Emily
since she had been married. The two had written, of course, but neither of them
could wait to see each other. After the tears were shed, the ladies sat down in
the drawing room for tea. Clayton was speaking with Jared in his study and
would join the ladies later.

"You
know, I wanted to send all those clothes back the minute I discovered your
ploy," Briana said, smiling as she referred to the new gowns Emily had
sent to Grimstoke Hall.

"Well,
Bree, I can't say they didn't help my plan. You did marry my brother. Not that
the gowns did it, but I am certain they caught many gentlemen's attention. And
if I know Clay, he has more than one jealous bone in his body. He never liked to
share, you know."

Briana
laughed. "Yes, I can see that."

Emily
paused, setting her teacup on her saucer. "But there is something
different about you, and it has nothing to do with the beautiful gown you are
wearing." She lifted an amused brow. "A gown my brother bought for
you?"

Briana
blushed. "Different? How different?"

"Like
a woman who is about to have a baby different?"

Briana
paled. "A baby?"

Emily
laughed. "I was only jesting. You seem as nervous as I did before my child
was born."

"Oh."

Emily's
lids fell halfway over her eyes. "Is there something you wish to tell
me?"

Briana
circled her finger around her teacup. "I'm carrying your brother's
child."

Emily
squealed. "But it's only been—"

Briana
took in a deep breath. "I know how long it's been. But I know my body. And
Clayton didn't want a baby so soon. He was determined to spend time alone with
me. He mentioned having children, but only in the future."

"That's
silly, Bree. It will be the future. Sometimes Clayton is an idiot."

Briana
fought back a smile. "You're talking about my husband." Then she
started to cry. "But truly, I am thinking of telling him in a few months.
You know, prepare him." She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "I
cry one minute and laugh the next. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Emily
smiled. "You're having a baby. And nothing's wrong with you. Go on
upstairs to see Gabrielle for her tea party. Clayton will be here in a few
minutes to join you."

Briana
swayed, trying to settle herself against the arm of the chair. Emily was at her
side in a second. "And depend upon it, if you don't tell him about the
babe, I will."

About
ten minutes later Clayton walked into the drawing room, greeting his sister.
"Jared will be here in a minute," he said. "And where are the
little ladies who desire a tea party?"

Emily
stood, looking out the window, barely glancing at her brother as he strode
across the Aubusson rug. "Gabrielle is upstairs, readying the table,"
she said. "Briana is there, too."

Clayton
knitted his brows and sank into the wing chair beside the hearth. "Is that
cursed dog going to be up there? To tell you the truth, Em, I think Stonebridge
should keep the beast in the country. Nigel doesn't fit into city life."

Emily
whirled around, her eyes flashing. "We love Nigel! We love babies! And
would you please stop complaining!"

Clayton
folded his arms over his chest. "It isn't like you to keep silent."
He waved his arm in the air. "For the love of the king, don't be civil for
my sake. And might I say, I am overwhelmed at your loving welcome."

"Oh!
If I were not a lady I would box your ears!"

His lips
twitched. Had Jared forgotten her birthday? An anniversary perhaps? "Ah,
the claws come out."

"You
oaf." She strode across the floor and swatted his shoulder. He didn't
flinch. "I never knew someone so pigheaded in my life."

"Hell's
bells, Em. What are you so angry about?"

"You
love her, then?"

"Briana?"

"Yes,
you idiot."

"
'Course I love her."

"Well,
you ninny. She's upstairs right now, wanting to tell you something."

He
jumped from his seat. "Is she ill?"

"She's
miserable."

"Then
what is she doing in the nursery?"

"Having
a tea party."

"I
know that. But what the deuce is wrong with her? I knew something was up. She's
been acting rather strange the past week. Crying at the drop of a pin."

Emily
spoke between clenched teeth. "Sometimes I wonder where men come
from."

Clayton
didn't hear his sister, for he was already taking the stairs two at a time,
practically running down the hall, and then slowing to a sedate pace as he came
upon the nursery.

"Oh,
hello, Uncle Clay," Gabrielle said, walking down the hall from the other
direction.

"Hello
there, Gabby." He swung her into his arms. "I'm looking for someone.
Do you think you could help me?"

Gabrielle
clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh, you're looking for the Fairy Lady?
Mama told me you married her."

"Yes,
the Fairy Lady. I need to tell her something."

"What
do you want to tell her? I can do it for you."

"You
can?"

The
little girl nodded.

"Well,
let's see. I want you to tell her I love her. Oh, and don't forget to tell her
I miss her."

"I
can do that." Her lips puckered in thought. "Do you miss her this
much?" she asked, opening her fingers about an inch. "Or do you miss
her this much?" Her arms went wide.

He
chuckled. "The second one because I haven't seen her for almost thirty
minutes."

"That's
a long time, Uncle Clay. I think it would be better if you just touch her
feckles and make a wish."

Clayton
let Gabrielle slip to the floor. "Could I?"

She
nodded, her blue eyes dancing. "The Fairy Lady is over there." She
pointed to the open door of the nursery. Her small hand slipped into his, and
he let her direct him into the room.

He drew
in a ragged breath when he saw Briana standing near the window, her back to
him. She had been crying. Was she ill? Or could she be regretting their
marriage now that she was back in London? He didn't want to think about either
of his two choices.

"There
she is," Gabrielle whispered.

"I
see her," Clayton said calmly. "Why, she's even more beautiful than I
remember."

"Yes,"
said Gabrielle gravely, running to Briana. The girl looked back at Clayton, her
blue eyes tearing up. "But I think she's sad. She's crying, Uncle
Clay."

Clayton
strode across the room. "Well, did you know when a Fairy Lady cries,
there's only one thing to do?"

The girl
put a finger to her own cheek. "Mmmmm, what?"

"A
prince must kiss the tears to make them go away."

Gabrielle
jumped up and down. "Do it! Hurry, Uncle Clay! Do it! Do it!"

Clayton
slipped a firm arm around his wife's waist, taking in the subtle scent of
vanilla. "Will you let me kiss the tears, Fairy Lady?"

Briana
threw her hands to her face. She had heard Clayton in the hall. How could she
tell him she was going to have his child? She wanted this baby more than
anything. But it made her think of Clarice. And she was frightened. What if
Clayton didn't want the child? Of course he would. Oh, why couldn't she think
straight?

Gabrielle's
bottom lip formed a shovel as she tugged at Briana’s skirt "He wants to
kiss them, Fairy Lady. Please, don't cry."

Briana
smiled, wiping away the tears. "I won't cry."

Clayton
turned Briana slowly in his arms and kissed her cheek. "That was one
tear."

"Oh!
Oh! There's another one!" Gabrielle cried.

Clayton
touched the outside of Briana's eye. "Here?" he asked, smiling.

Gabrielle
pointed to Briana's face. "Yes!"

Clayton's
lips touched Briana's skin with such tenderness, she buried her face against
his cravat and cried even more.

"It's
not working!" Gabrielle said, her bottom lip starting to quiver.
"You're doing it wrong!"

Clayton
looked down at the girl. "Hell's bells! I'm trying, Gabby!"

"Oh!"
the girl cried, pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks. "I'm telling
Mama! You said bad words!"

Gabrielle
squared her shoulders and turned swiftly around, dashing toward the door before
Clayton could catch her.

He
hurried after her. "Gabby!" He thumped his hand against the wall when
the girl disappeared down the stairs.

Briana
couldn't keep from laughing. "You want to try again, Uncle Clay?" she
said sweetly.

Clayton
glanced over his shoulder. "Why, bless my soul, it worked," he said
with a wicked grin, walking toward her.

He
kissed her again, making her world tilt. "I've missed you for all of
thirty minutes. Now, tell me why you're so miserable."

"There
he is, Mama! Tell him to go to his room! He said bad words!" Gabrielle's
little feet came thumping into the room, along with a laughing Emily and a
barking Nigel.

Clayton
threw his hands into the air and winked at Briana. "I confess. I will go directly
to my bedchamber as soon as I return home."

Gabrielle
wagged her finger at him. "I love you, Uncle Clay, but next time, no bad
words!"

Briana
eased an arm around her husband's elbow. "I shall accompany him, Princess,
and make certain he talks nice."

The
little girl nodded her head in satisfaction. "Good."

Emily's
violet-blue eyes gleamed. "And make sure you don't say those words around
the baby fairy."

Clayton
stiffened. "Baby fairy?" he said, turning to Briana.

Emily
frowned. "Ooops. Sorry." She grabbed Gabrielle and hurried back down
the hall.

"Baby
fairy?" Clayton asked again, his brows knitting into a frown. "Is
that why you're crying?"

Briana
swallowed. "Now, Clayton—"

She
tripped over a chair and he caught her.

"What
the devil do you think you're doing?" he growled.

For a
long moment she stared back at him.

"A
baby?" he asked softly. Pride and joy danced in his eyes.

She
nodded, her heart too happy to speak.

"Well,
well!" He seemed very pleased with himself and started kissing the
freckles on her nose.

"You
don't mind?" she said. "I thought you wanted to wait."

He
looked up. "Of course I don't mind. What do you think I am, an idiot?
Besides, I'm making wishes on your feckles. Wishes for a magnificent life, and
wishes for a very large family."

Overwhelmed,
Briana pressed her face against his chest. A sense of peace filled her. She had
even told Clayton all about Alistair and he had been wonderful. Briana wished
Clarice had loved such a man. "I love you, Lord Clayton Clearbrook."

His eyes
were blurry. "And I you, wife."

"He
has fairy tears, Mama," Gabrielle whispered from the doorway. "Those
are very special. Papa told me so."

Emily
wiped the tears from her own eyes and smiled. "Yes, dear, they are very
special."

The door
closed and Clayton's smile grew as he wiped his wife's tears away. "I
think it's time to return to our castle."

Briana's
heart swelled. "And live happily ever after?"

"Hmmm,
I'm not certain about that. I had better make another wish on one of those
feckles first. For my safety, you see."

She
grinned. "And why is that?"

"Had
a talk with Stonebridge. There's danger in the air."

"Danger?"
she asked, frowning.

"Your
sweet godmother has bought another blasted parasol."

Briana
burst out laughing. "My hero."

He
opened the door. "You think that funny—"

"There
you are!"

Clayton's
head snapped up at the sound of the all too familiar voice. "Miss Appleby,
how nice to see you again."

A shiny
black parasol swung by her side as she marched toward him. "Is it, now?
The last time I saw you—"

With a quick
jerk of his arm, Clayton pulled Briana back into the nursery and locked the
door. "By Jove, she looks mean."

Briana
giggled. "She is not mean."

"She
looks as if she wants to hit me. What did I do?"

"You
made her cover her ears."