The Convenient Bride Read Online Free Page A

request?” Max asked.
    “I have,” Lucy said, taking a seat in the armchair that was among the cluster of green leather seats near the fireplace.
    “And?” Max looked hopeful.
    “I will marry you,” she told him.
    Max grinned and stepped forward, his arms outstretched to embrace her. Lucy held her hand up to stop him.
    “I do I have some conditions that you might want to hear first.”
    His smile faltered at her words but he supposed that it was a reasonable request. He nodded for her to continue and took the seat at the end of the small sofa, next to her.
    “Number one, I am putting my inheritance in trust for our children. If I should die before you, you will have the use of my property for the remainder of your life , but they will belong to our children.”
    “Why?” he asked.
    “Because you gamble, Max, and while I don’t believe you to be a degenerate gambler, I won’t take this risk with our childrens’ future. If you should happen to gamble your estate away, our children will still have something. My lawyer is taking care of the details and the trust document should be ready to sign by Monday.”
    Max nodded. Were his inheritance about to become the property of someone who enjoyed a flutter, he supposed that it would be prudent to take steps to protect his interest.
    “Very well.”
    “Second, I realise that you have no intention of changing your womanising ways but I would prefer it if you no longer discussed them with me.”
    “But we tell each other everything!” He sounded shocked.
    “Yes but right now, we’re only friends. When we’re man and wife, it won’t be appropriate. Not that it’s appropriate for you to talk about the things you do with a woman anyway but… well.”
    “ You’re not a woman, Lucy, you’re my friend.”
    Lucy took the blow well. “Be that as it may, my condition stands.”
    “Luce? I don’t understand why you’re saying this.” Didn’t she know that he would be faithful to her? That she was probably the only woman he could be faithful to?
    “As someone who will share your bed on occasion, I would really rather not be reminded on a regular basis, of all the possible diseases that you could give me!”
    “But you know that I'm always safe.”
    Yes she did know that, but her real fear was the pain she would feel when he talked of his conquests.
    “I don’t believe that my request is asking too much of my husband !”
    Lucy rarely raised her voice so he knew she was serious. “All right, fine, no talk of other women.”
    “And no flirting with them in public. I have no wish to become a laughing stock. I know discretion isn’t something that you are very familiar with, but I ask that you learn to exercise it.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Yes, no sleeping with another woman and me on the same day. The very thought of that just…” She shuddered at the idea.
    “Of course, that would simply be crass.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Is that all of your conditions?” he asked.
    “Yes, but there are some details to be worked out, like where we shall live.”
    “I had thought we might live in your properties. Unless you want to continue living with my parents?”
    “As much as I care for them, I don’t believe that would be appropriate. The estate is empty but being the Season, my London house is currently rented.”
    “Then we will rent a small house for the rest of the Season.”
    A part of Lucy had hoped that he would say they could remain in the country until next year, far away from his club and his women , but she knew that she had to forget fantasies like that. Her dreams of marrying Max were over; now it was time to face the harsh realities of what marriage to Max really meant.
    This was a marriage of convenience, nothing more.
    “Very well. I want to sign the trust contract before we obtain a marriage licence, so with the banns needing to be read, we could marry in four weeks’ time.”
    “Or we could obtain a special licence,” Max suggested.