The Convenient Bride by Teresa McCarthy

dog, pushing him away from the
mess. "Bad doggie!"
    "I
can explain," Briana said, trying to make her voice heard over the noise.
She thought she heard Lord Clayton muttering, calling the dog an infernal
beast.
    Agatha
shook her head and stretched out her hand for Gabrielle. "Come here, dear.
We can give Nigel some lemonade in the kitchen."
    "But
he ruined everything!"
    "Now,
now, you know it wasn't all Nigel's fault."
    Agatha
raised a curt brow Clayton's way, then took her leave of the nursery with a
crying Gabrielle in tow.
    Briana
frowned and stared at Clayton, who had made an unusual snorting noise. Was the
man actually laughing?
    Jared's
voice penetrated Briana's thoughts.
    "Clayton,
if you can tear yourself away from the tea party, I would like to see you in my
study as soon as possible."
    With
those stinging words, the earl turned on his heel and left the room.
    Picking
up a chair, Clayton watched Miss Garland's face turn as red as her hair.
"A rather embarrassing predicament, Miss Garland. But I believe we fared
quite well. Again."
    Her
green eyes flashed, and Clayton almost laughed. It was obvious she was
struggling to stay calm.
    "You
think this all rather amusing, do you?"
    "I
daresay, it was rather amusing, was it not?" He bent down to pick up the
empty pitcher. "However, I fail to see why you are always dumping things
on me."
    Instead
of playing the meek little miss, Miss Garland stiffened. Her hands bunched at
her sides, and those berry lips pressed together forming a stubborn line of
defense.
    Clayton
was captivated by the transformation. The lady was a puzzling mix of femininity
and brains. How very intriguing.
    "You
are no gentleman."
    Devil
take it. She certainly had spirit.
    Clayton
followed on her heels as she marched toward the door. Surprisingly, he felt a
sudden lift to his step.
    "I
believe it was you who dumped the tea on me earlier, Miss Garland, and if I am
not mistaken, it was also you who dumped the 'emonade on me. Or are you losing
your memory as well as your balance?" Hmmm, that did it!
    She spun
around on her delicate slippers and pushed out her chin. "You are poking
fun at me, my lord. I saw it in your eyes the minute you stepped into this
room. Why, I saw it the minute you stepped into the drawing room downstairs.
    "Well,"
she sputtered, "have your little amusement at my expense. Have your little
ladies at Vauxhall Gardens and the opera. Have your rides in Hyde Park with
Miss Hookston and Lady Whatever. But do not think I am subject to your rakish entertainment!"
With a huff, she tucked a stray ringlet behind her ear and glared at him.
    Clayton
blinked. So she knew about Miss Hookston, did she? How very interesting.
"Your pardon, Miss Garland. I had no intention of bringing you down to my
lifestyle."
    "Oh!"
she cried, turning from him.
    Guilt
sliced his heart at the sound of her sniff.
    "Listen
here," he said more calmly, pulling out his handkerchief, "I own it
was an embarrassing situation, but it's not as if I whipped you."
    He
walked around to face her. She jerked her head away, but he had seen the tears
on her cheeks. She wanted to appear strong and in control, but beneath that red
head was a mind of sensitivity. Even more fascinating.
    He
raised his handkerchief as a peace offering. "I am wiping the feckles,
Miss Garland. A Fairy Lady cannot cry or they will all wash away and so will
the wishes."
    Miss
Garland slapped his hand. "Do not make fun of me!"
    Clayton
gently grasped her wrist. To his surprise, a shock ran through him. "I
never make fun of ladies." His voice was husky and full of apology.
    Her
watery eyes looked up into his, and something in the air simmered. She smelled
of the roses from his mother's garden with a hint of vanilla. Sweet, fresh, and
vibrantly alive.
    Not
knowing why, he raised his finger to touch the bridge of her pert little nose.
"One feckle, one wish."
    A smile edged
out of the corner of her mouth, and though the feel of her skin against his own
upset his