The Husband List -2 Read Online Free Page B

appearance. Or acquired like a new work of art meant only for display.
    And he wanted the woman he married to want more from him than his name.
    He grimaced to himself. It was the height of irony that this woman who once considered him too far beneath her for notice would now turn to him for salvation. Of course, he doubted she even remembered the incident. It was long ago and of no real significance in her life. Richard had barely recalled it himself until tonight.
    He had danced with her at a ball during her season, ignoring the fact that she was all but officially betrothed to her future husband. Everyone in London knew it was a love match from childhood. He cringed at the recollection of his suggestive comments, spurred by recklessness and a great deal of drink. His exact words now thankfully escaped him, but the disdain in her eyes lingered in his memory.
    She’d been right, of course: he’d been unworthy of her notice. He’d been the worst sort of scoundrel—following in his father’s footsteps.
    He was not the same man now.
    Probably why he was at the top of her bloody list.
    He had two months to convince the lovely lady she wanted to be his countess in more than name alone. It would not be easy. She’d obviously built walls around her feelings. After all, no woman alive could talk about the death of her husband, even one that had occurred eight years earlier, with the same lack of emotion Lady Gillian had shown. What kind of man could break down those barriers?
    Oh certainly, with the sterling qualities that had propelled him to the top of her husband list he could, no doubt, in time. He’d been quite accomplished in the fine art of seduction before circumstances had forced him to become the type of man who had attracted her in the first place. Yet another odd twist of fate. His life seemed to be filled with ironies these days.
    Pity, there was so little time. He could already foresee both of them trying too hard in the weeks and days until her birthday. Too many strained moments with too much at stake.
    Would he stand a better chance if he wasn’t at all a suitable candidate? If he didn’t have strength of character and a sense of honor? If all he had was passion?
    A passion born from a love of life. It’s extremely compelling. Almost irresistible.
    He stopped in his tracks.
    Weren’t women always pining after men completely wrong for them? Didn’t that account for the attraction of rakes and rogues?
    Perhaps the key to the cool and serene Lady Gillian was not held by a man with those noble qualities that had placed him at the top of her husband list. A man respectable and dependable and solid.
    A man one might well choose as a spouse but never as a lover.
    Perhaps the man who could truly reach beyond her walls was not the man he was today.
    But the man he used to be.
    Chapter 3
    “I cannot believe you went ahead with this.” Robert, the Earl of Weston, slumped back in the brocade wing chair he had claimed as his own years ago and drummed his fingers on a side table, looking, if possible, even more morose than usual. “Without so much as discussing it with us.”
    Christopher, Viscount Cummings, leaned against the mantel, arms crossed over his chest, and surveyed her with an expression only slightly less glum than Robin’s. “And without even allowing us the pleasure of witnessing the event. It could have been quite entertaining.”
    “Precisely why I did not want you present,” Gillian said. “As for discussing this with you, as you recall, I did just that.” She stalked to a nearby sideboard, pulled open a drawer, snatched up two sheets of paper, and waved them at the men. “And this was your response.”
    The two exchanged glances, and Gillian grit her teeth. Any other time this silent communication between Robin and Kit would have amused her. Today she was not in the mood for anything from these childhood friends but blind loyalty and unwavering support.
    “We didn’t realize you were