THE RELUCTANT BRIDE Read Online Free Page A

encounter.
    He
placed a brandy before her. “I thought you might like something
stronger,” he said and dropped into the chair at her side.
    She
cupped her glass and stared down into the golden liquid, conscious of
his sprawled length close to her. How could he be so relaxed. They
might have been discussing a machine maintenance contract.
    She
stole a resentful glance at him and saw that he was smiling.
“Something amusing you,” she asked.
    He
laughed. “I was just thinking. Here we are, planning to spend
the next five years together, and I know nothing of your tastes or
interests.” A gleam of mischief lit his eyes. “I don't
even know which side of the bed you prefer.”
    Her
glass rocked so violently that some of the brandy spilled on to the
table. For a moment an unbidden image flashed before her eyes. Rod
and herself... Sharply she turned her head, hiding the telltale rush
of blood to her cheeks.
    “ Have
I said something to upset you, Gabriella?” His voice was
gentle, enquiring.
    She
fought to control the trembling that filled her body before she
turned back to him. “If I did agree
to marry y ou there would be no question -” Her voice was
unsteady. “No question of – of -”
    “ Consummating
the marriage?”
    She
risked another glance and saw that the mocking gleam had left his
eyes. Now he was cool, speculative. He set down his glass and leaned
forward in his chair.
    “ Do
I take it that you're now prepared to consider the proposition?”
    “ To
– consider it, yes. But that doesn't mean -”
    “ What
changed your mind, Gabriella? The money? The house?”
    She
opened her mouth to explain but the flicker of contempt she saw in
his eyes silenced her., How dared he despise her? He had shown quite
clearly that he would do anything to get Englands. Let him think what
he liked about her own motives. She had never sought his good opinion
and she cared nothing for it now. In a few short weeks, if the
marriage went ahead, they would both have all they wanted. What else
mattered?
    A
lamp still burned in Mrs Stevens' room when Gabriella let herself
quietly into the house.
    “ Still
awake?” she whispered, popping her head round the door. Her
mother, in bed, spectacles propped on her nose, was reading a romance
from the local library. After the life she'd led, how could she enjoy
romances, Gabriella wondered, not for the first time.
    “ Darling,
you're so late,” said her mother but with more delight than
reproach.
    “ The
Poachers Arms was crowded, so we went for a drive.”
    “ Such
a nice young man. And so handsome! He is unattached, isn't he?”
    “ Yes,”
said Gabriella. Apart from a few dozen besotted females, she added
silently.
    “ Could
you help me lie down, dear?”
    Supporting
the older woman as she inched painfully into a horizontal position,
checking that her pills and a glass of water were within reach,
noting anew the dark shadows, the lines of strain that day by day
were smudging away her mother's fine boned beauty, any doubts
Gabriella still had as to the rightness of what she planned were
suppressed.
    “ We're
going to get you well again soon,” she told her fiercely.
“That's a promise.”
    “ Yes,
dear. But what about this young man? Has he asked you out again? Do
you like him? Is he interested in you?”
    “ Oh
Mum, so many questions! Look, I hardly -” Gabriella paused. Let
her mother believe what she clearly wanted to believe. It would
lessen the shock when Gabriella told her that her only daughter was
soon to be married.
    A
whirlwind romance. Her mother was a romantic, she would accept it,
provided neither Rod nor Gabriella herself gave the game away.
    In
the car after leaving the pub she had tried to make Rod see how
important it was that her mother should suspect nothing.
    “ If
I agree to marry you – and it's still if – there'd be
certain conditions.”
    “ I
expected there would be.” Rod's voice was dry.
    “ My
mother has to believe that we're planning a –