His Unexpected Bride Read Online Free

calm. “This is madness, Masterson. I was completely foxed last night, if my aching head is any indication. If I was so foolish as to agree to a marriage to your daughter, it was because I had too much brandy.”
    â€œYou insult my lovely daughter!”
    The marquess bowed his head toward Tess. “Belittling you in any way was not my intention, Miss Masterson, for I am indebted to you for your kindness with my pounding head this day.” Looking back at her father, he said with a hint of an emotion she had not heard before in his voice, “I do not comprehend why you believe I would be a willing party to any such match, Masterson. By the elevens, I never laid eyes upon your daughter before yesterday.”
    â€œBut you have had the opportunity to see far more than her pretty face since then.” Papa’s smile began to fade.
    â€œRegardless of that, this marriage is in error. It is time to put an end to this conversation and this unwanted marriage.”
    â€œAre you saying you wish to annul whatever ceremony took place last night?” Tess asked, unable to keep hope from her question.
    Her father frowned, but the marquess smiled tightly at her as he replied, “It would seem, Masterson, your daughter wishes this marriage no more than I do. There is no time to delay. If we get a quiet annulment …”
    â€œNo!” Papa’s voice was thunderous.
    Tess stared at her father in astonishment as Lord Hawksmoor cursed and winced with pain as he held his hand to his head. Papa often expressed himself with enthusiasm and candid fervor, but she had never heard him speak with such cold vehemence.
    â€œPapa—”
    â€œStay out of this, Tess.”
    She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it. Getting into a brangle with her father would humiliate him in front of Lord Hawksmoor. She sat on the very end of the chaise longue as she watched the two men face each other. They reminded her of two dogs sizing up each other as they met for the first time.
    But that made no sense. Papa had known Lord Hawksmoor’s father for years, for they once had belonged to the same club in London. Papa no longer belonged to that club, because, she guessed, the money was not available for the dues. He had traveled often to London in recent months, but she had not heard him speak of the club again.
    When the duke had died last year, Papa had delivered his condolences to the duchess in person. He had been at the family’s estate of Peregrine Hall for nearly a week for the funeral. Surely Papa must have spoken with Lord Hawksmoor, the duke’s younger son, while there.
    So why were they acting as if they were strangers? It was all too puzzling.
    Lord Hawksmoor’s eyes narrowed, but no other expression eased his taut face as he took another wobbly step toward her father. “Masterson, why do you wish to bring your daughter unhappiness in being wed to a man she barely knows?”
    â€œBecause if you annul this marriage, she will never find another man willing to marry her.” Papa flung out his hands, his voice still booming so loudly Tess suspected it would reach the kitchen. She wanted to urge him to lower it, especially when he added, “You spent the night with Tess, Hawksmoor. Who would have her now?”
    â€œShe is untouched.”
    â€œSo you say.”
    â€œAnd so she says.” Lord Hawksmoor put his hand on the blanket over her shoulders. Was his motion meant to comfort her? It did not, for his chaste caress brought to mind how his arms had enveloped her and held her to his firm body. “Speak the truth to your father, Miss Masterson.”
    â€œNothing untoward happened, Papa,” she hastened to say. “Lord Hawksmoor is being honest about that.” She clenched her hands under the blanket as she gave her father a supplicating look. He must be able to find a way to put an end to this, and she longed to beg him to do so. Unable to speak the