Love Me True Read Online Free

me. Is that understood?”
    Claribel’s eyes filled with tears. “What are you going to tell her?”
    He wasn’t in the mood for tears. Not from this scheming chit, and certainly not after this morning’s revelations. “Certainly not everything. Not even a quarter.” He grasped her arm, tucking her against his side. “But it must be done immediately if we have a hope of being believed. Come on. Smile Miss Wheaton. Your reputation depends on it.”
    As the two footmen positioned outside the ducal apartments came into view, Claribel clutched his arm. “I don’t think I can do this.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Clarry. Marriage is the only choice you have.”
    Justin nodded to the servants. “I’d like to see my mother immediately. Would you ask if she is prepared for visitors?”
    “Of course, Lord Justin.” The tallest man tapped on the door and stepped into the antechamber leading to his mother’s bedchamber. After a brief rush of words with his mother’s maid, they were ushered inside. Claribel dropped his arm immediately and moved to the fireplace, rubbing her arms as she went. There would be a lengthy wait, of course. His mother was notoriously fussy about being seen in perfect looks. So when the door burst open and his mother rushed in, he was so surprised that his hastily put together announcement flew out of his mind. He gulped to clear his throat. “Mother. You’re already up?”
    “Well, of course I am, my darling boy. I’m standing here, am I not?”
    She took another step into the room then her eyes widened as they landed on Claribel. “Mother, I have some wonderful news.”
    The duchess clutched her hands together at her waist. “You found her first. Thank heavens. Now that she’s been located, unharmed, we can return her home. Her father is beside himself with worry.”
    Justin glanced at Claribel and noticed she bit her lip. Was she wondering if it were possible to get out of this mess without anyone knowing where she’d spent the night? Her mouth opened and a squeak of sound emerged. Justin shook his head to silence her. “Mother, you can be the first to congratulate me. Miss Wheaton has consented to become my wife.”
    The silence in the chamber was loud enough to deafen them all. Then the duchess clucked her tongue and turned away, sinking into a chair with a sigh. “I hardly think such a drastic action is necessary, Justin. No doubt Miss Wheaton fell asleep in some out of the way place. There is no need to offer marriage for a miscalculation on her part.”
    Since his mother disliked Miss Wheaton quite strongly she would, of course, try to save him from what she saw as a potential entrapment. If she knew the truth of last night, he hated to think what she’d do to them both. The duchess could make Clarry’s life here at the Hall hell on earth if she learned what her real aim had been for the previous night.
    Justin set his hands to his hips. “There is every need, Your Grace. We wish to marry.”
    His mother glanced at him sharply, eyes taking in his fresh appearance and then Claribel’s rumpled state. Her eyes narrowed. “Is that so? And whose idea is that?”
    Justin braced himself. “Mine.”
    The duchess glanced between them again, a frown softening slowly into a less hostile expression. She sighed heavily. “Your father will need to see you immediately, Justin. Leave Miss Wheaton here with me while the pair of you debate the consequences of your rash decision.”
    “Of course.”
    Although he loathed leaving Clarry alone with his mother, he did need to speak to his father, especially if there was a search underway. Justin kissed his mother’s cheek and then turned to Clarry. Her face had drained of color and her hand rested on the back of a chair for support.
    Justin crossed the room and set one hand to her shoulder. “I’ll be back soon, my love.”
    He dropped a kiss to her cheek then drew back to see how she reacted. Her skin flushed a delicious pink. He hoped that