while facing battle, he’d dreamed of the life of a country gentleman. Now he had his chance to fulfill that dream, but he needed money for seed, equipment, livestock, and to rebuild the house.
Still, he couldn’t prevent his gaze from drifting back to the flame-haired beauty who’d smiled at him from the doorway. Her smile could captivate a eunuch, and he certainly wasn’t that.
“Merton! Are you paying attention to me?”
Brenn dragged his gaze away from the sparkling blue eyes and back to his host, Sir Charles Merriam, a man some thirty years or more his senior. They’d served together in Portugal. Back then, Sir Charles had been Brenn’s commanding officer. Now, he was Brenn’s guide on his wife hunt.
“I’m sorry. My mind wandered. What were you saying?”
The corners of Sir Charles’s mouth turned down. He had a balding pate and a strong hooked nose. “It’s hard enough to find a suitable wife for you without you wool-gathering. If you wish my help, you’ll have to be more alert.”
“Yes, sir,” Brenn answered with almost military precision, although he couldn’t help smiling. He was very fond of old Sir Charles. The man had been a damn fine military officer in his day.
“Good. I’m glad we have settled that matter,” Sir Charles said with irascible agreement. “Now, look over there across the room at that yellow-haired chit.”
Brenn stared in the direction he was pointing. “I’m sorry, Sir Charles, but I see exactly four yellow-haired chits between myself and that potted palm.”
“Don’t be impertinent. I’m talking about the one with the row of diamonds around her neck. The other three don’t count. Not a jewel on them.”
Brenn now focused on the passably pretty young woman whose gaudy necklace reflected the candlelight.
“The lady talking to the gentleman in the blue coat?”
“Yes, that’s the one. Her father is related to Marlborough. No title but she is worth two thousand a year.
What do you think? Handsome filly, what say?”
“Two thousand is considerable.” But unexciting. Brenn shrugged, letting his gaze wander back to the redhead. She wore a dress of filmy white muslin with gold stars embroidered in the hem around the skirt and across the bodice. Her magnificent abundance of hair was artfully styled and held in place by jeweled stars.
Two foppish young men had gathered around her, each of them posturing and preening for her benefit.
She appeared to be listening to them…then her alarmingly direct gaze moved past their padded shoulders and straight at him.
He smiled.
She smiled.
He had no doubt that she was as attracted to him as he was to her.
“I don’t know what you want with a damn-fool wife anyway,” Sir Charles grumbled. “They can be nuisances and dull bores. No amount of money is worth their nonsense…I’ve had two and I advise you to go back to Wales, live in your hut, and be happy. You always had skill with the ladies. Don’t lash yourself to only one. Enjoy them all!”
“Who is the redhead?”
“Which redhead?” Sir Charles leaned around Brenn to see where he was looking. With an abrupt noise, he rocked back on his heels, his expression distressed. “Don’t tell me she’s caught your eye?”
“Who is she?”
“Tess Hamlin.” He practically spat the words out.
“Is she married?”
“No! But you don’t want her. In fact, you should pity the poor lads talking to her instead of sending murderous looks their way. She may be fair of face and rich as a Turkish sultan, but she has no heart.”
“Rich?” The word whetted Brenn’s hunting instincts.
“The richest. A fortune beyond compare.”
“More than two thousand?”
“More like fifty.”
Brenn’s mind reeled at the number. “Then she’s perfect! Exactly the woman I came to Town to meet.”
Sir Charles snorted. “Hardly.”
“What the devil is wrong with her?” Brenn demanded. “She looks perfect from here.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said past the