Free What the Groom Wants by Jade Lee Page A

giggling.
    “Look at us, Wendy dear, getting visited by an earl and a duke. And me, in this ratty old gown.” She slapped angrily at the dirt on her skirt. It was, in truth, one of her best gowns. No fool, her mother had known that the whole neighborhood would be around to see them thrown out. So she had dressed as well as she could without looking ridiculous.
    “You look lovely, Mrs. Drew,” said Radley. He bowed rather awkwardly over her hand, but his eyes were on Wendy, narrowing in concern. “I know it’s hard to leave a home,” he began, but Wendy waved him off.
    “I don’t mind leaving here,” she said. “One set of rooms is as good as another.” She was making the best of a bad business. It hurt to leave her home, even a set of rooms that she’d barely seen, except to sleep. “I’m afraid I left things rather at odds with my mother yesterday,” he said as he eyed the cart. “You do have a rather lot of things, don’t you? But I can run ahead—”
    “We’re not going to stay with your mother,” Wendy said, her words rushed.
    He jolted. “What? Why ever not?”
    She opened her mouth to answer, but her mother interjected first.
    “Well, that’s wot I said. Why ever not, when it would be rude to refuse so kind an invitation?”
    “But—” inserted Wendy with a glare at her mum, “I have found us a place now.”
    “Temporary lodgings,” spat her mother as she rolled her eyes.
    “Mrs. Lyncott’s home would be temporary as well,” said Wendy. “And there probably isn’t room for all our things either.”
    Radley didn’t say anything, just watched the byplay with his bright copper eyes. Then he looked at her, his skin ruddy with embarrassment.
    “I wanted you to stay with us,” he said softly. “I wouldn’t have minded a bit.”
    “But your mother would. And…” Wendy shrugged. “It isn’t appropriate now.”
    She saw his jaw clench, but he didn’t speak. He knew the truth as well as she did. Then he must have come to a decision because he gestured upstairs. “Is there more to be done? Lord Crowle and I can—”
    “Oo-ee. Have a duke and an earl hauling our things about?” cried her mother loud enough so that everyone knew the offer had been extended. “Thank ye, no. We’ve got it all set now.” Then she grinned. “But you be sure to visit us when we’re all settled, won’t you? Wendy can give you the address. I can’t remember it for the life of me, but she says it’s nice.”
    It was. Double the size of their current rooms, cleaner, and with a window as well to look out on the street. She feared once her mother saw the place, she wouldn’t ever want to leave.
    Radley’s gaze was steady. “I should like that very much.”
    She nearly blurted it out right then, but she was a practical woman. Or so she told herself. The difference in their station was too great. And besides, she had no desire to let him know how much she had fallen into Damon’s clutches. Not with the history between the two men. Damon had destroyed Radley’s sister—or tried to—and in the most heinous way imaginable. Radley would go insane if he found out Wendy was caught in the man’s clutches.
    “You shouldn’t visit us,” she said, trying to speak low enough for him to hear, but not her mother. It wasn’t possible, and the woman soon planted her fists on her hips and glared at her daughter.
    “Not appropriate?” she mocked. “When we’ve known him all his life? When he and Henry are the greatest of friends? When you’ve been such a good friend to his sister? Not appropriate? My girl, you have got to learn that some folks don’t forget their friends when they get a windfall.”
    Inheriting a dukedom was a great deal more than a windfall, but Wendy didn’t bother arguing. Instead, she looked at Lord Crowle and saw the sympathy in his eyes. At least this man knew she was trying to do the right thing. A break between her and Radley was inevitable. And a sudden break would be easier