Love Me True Read Online Free Page A

blush was from pleasure and not embarrassment. With one more squeeze to her shoulder, Justin strode out the door and headed for his father’s study. He entered without knocking and found not just his father, but Mr. Wheaton, Lord Edenbray and his brother Tristan arguing loudly about Clarry’s disappearance. This was going to be awkward.
    “Where the hell have you been!” his father bellowed.
    “Visiting with Her Grace.” Justin crossed the room. “May I have a private word with you, Father?”
    “Later, boy, later. Miss Wheaton is missing and must be found.” His father turned back to Mr. Wheaton who was consulting a large map of the district.
    Justin cleared his throat. “Ah, I should tell you about Miss Wheaton first. She’s with Her Grace at present.”
    Both men turned to stare at him, their expressions hot enough to bore holes into his head. Somewhat tardily, Justin remembered that neither man had a reputation for keeping his countenance when faced with unpleasantness.
    Clarry’s father closed the gap between them. Tall, ginger haired and renowned for his quick temper, Mr. Wheaton added invisible daggers to his chest. “She’s where?”
    Justin swallowed before speaking. “She is with Her Grace. I just left her there.”
    “Jus—” his brother began—“what have you done?”
    He’d not be explaining a damn thing to Tristan since he was the one who’d led him—albeit inadvertently—into this mess. “I’d like to request an interview with you too, Mr. Wheaton, at your earliest convenience.”
    Mr. Wheaton scowled, teeth grinding together, but he did nod his head. “Am I to assume there might be some unseemly haste to your need for this discussion?”
    Justin dipped his head cautiously, wondering how the older man would take the news. Mr. Wheaton scowled and then he sat himself down to wait.
    “For Gods sake, Justin—” his father huffed—“I said choose a bride quickly, but this is ridiculous. Have you no sense of timing?”
    “No, Father, apparently none at all.”
    His father scowled and then ushered Lord Edenbray from the chamber. Tristan settled against a wall, arms over his chest, but their father hooked his arm and hauled him toward the door. “Out. Go back to your wife.”
    “But—” Tristan began.
    Their father slammed the door shut in Tristan’s face and the crash gave Justin chills.
    “Justin,” his brother shouted through the wood, “I’ll be back to speak with you later.”
    Oh, wonderful. Did Tristan expect him to relate all the details of his future wife’s affections? Justin would not share that information with her one true love even on his death bed.
    Well, this was it. This was the most important negotiation of his life. He had to fool them both into thinking he and Clarry were so madly in love that they might agree with his request to be married by special license to save her reputation. If only that could be remotely true.
    Clarry’s father sat forward. “Explain yourself young man.”
    He met Mr. Wheaton’s gaze direct. “We are in love.”
    Mr. Wheaton scoffed. “The only thing my daughter is in love with is herself. Young man, you’ve made a foolish choice for a bride.”
    He snapped his mouth shut as his father started coughing into his fist. That wasn’t the type of comment Justin had expected either. “I’m sure you’re mistaken. Your daughter is everything a man could want for a wife.”
    Except for the small problem of her being in love with his happily married brother.
    Mr. Wheaton looked on him with pity. “My wife spoiled my daughter to an alarming degree. Despite my attempts to nurture more serious interests, she has the attention span of a flea. She will bore you to tears within a week.”
    Justin glanced at his father to find him wide eyed. What the hell kind of interview was this? He had expected Mr. Wheaton to rail at him for ruining his daughter, not to be the object of pity. He found Mr. Wheaton’s lack of concern astonishing.