The Unintended Bride Read Online Free

proposal from him — and departed.
    Arthur nodded in satisfaction. No more Digby.
    "You needn't have been rude," Hero chided him. Her cheeks were quite pink and her eyes were narrow with displeasure. He had rarely seen her so put out with him. He had the most absurd desire to stand close to her, as Digby had, and look directly into her eyes until she forgave him.
    "I'm sorry, Miss Fenster." Arthur tried to strain the churlish tone out of his reply. "I know Mr. Digby to be a busy man. I did not want to keep him from his business, chatting about the inconsequential."
    Perceptively, Hero retorted, "I could almost think you considered him unfit company for us."
    Could she see how he felt? "Not at all," he protested, trying to assemble his features into a convincingly sincere expression. "I simply did not want to bore you and your sister with the dull details of the society. Digby might think it an interesting subject for ladies, but I do not."
    Juliet laughed softly, "I would agree, for myself. I would rather hear the latest gossip on the square. But do you forget Hero herself has asked for such torture by joining the society."
    "I believe the society is fortunate to have such a scholar as you join us." He bowed formally to Hero, who was still frowning at him.
    She blushed. "I have been working on a particularly interesting variation on the engaging tale of "The Lady in the Lake." I may travel to France to search out more information, if the duke allows me." He would swear her color was deeper and higher than when she had blushed for Digby. But no, that was his wicked imagination at work. Which did not lessen his desire to tell her, nevertheless, that Gabriel Digby was not good enough for her.
    "Perhaps the duke will permit Arthur to join you on the journey?" offered Juliet, mischief in her gaze. "As a protector. After all, he is named after that vaunted King Arthur you two admire so much, is he not?" Her gaze strayed toward the door, as if waiting for a very particular caller…. Ah. Lord Wyndham. Juliet had set her cap at him, and he was late. No wonder she was unhappy.
    "I'm afraid I am more adept with the pen than the sword, and would do your sister no good. I am more the frog to the fabled Arthur's prince I fear." He smiled at Juliet, hoping to regain her goodwill, tense as she might be for some reason. He could see that he would need her help to restore Hero to her usual even temper.
    Juliet smiled prettily and he could see that she had not done with playing with him. "Like in Miranda's "Frog Prince" fairytale? Then would you not simply need a kiss from a princess to turn you into a prince?" Her glance fell meaningfully on her sister, who looked at her with horror.
    "Juliet. You go too far with your silly jest. Tell Arthur you do not think him a frog at all." Raising her voice, she added sternly, "At once. Or I shall tell Miranda that you are tormenting the duke's sole surviving heir."
    Arthur stifled his urge to protest he would have preferred to hear that Hero did not think him a frog. He had been unwise enough today, no need to give Juliet more reason to torment him.
    Unfortunately, just as Juliet turned to him, fixing a contrite expression on her face that her dancing eyes belied, the footman entered to present another card, and Juliet's playful air disappeared. In an instant, she began to flirt as only she could. She laughed up at him, her gaze full of admiration, as if he had just said something witty and wonderful. She touched his arm and looked into his eyes adoringly. "You are no frog. And if you were to exchange your pen for a sword like Excalibur, I have no doubt you would wield it well in your lady's defense."
    If he had not know her so well, Arthur would have believed her. Even knowing that she was setting the scene for the tardy Lord Wyndham to be overcome by jealousy, he felt a keen wish that her words were true. That buried in his scholar's heart, there was a warrior who might fight for his lady. For