Free Secrets of a Runaway Bride by Valerie Bowman Page A

about her. And the way he said it in that smooth steady voice made her believe he really meant it. But the fact was it was her life to do with what she would. She didn’t need Lily or Devon and certainly not Lord Ashbourne telling her what to do. They didn’t know how she felt.
    “I’ll admit it was bad of Arthur not to dance with me at my come-out, but he had a very good reason.”
    Jordan gave her a skeptical look. “Really? What’s that?”
    “He had just been informed by his father that he shouldn’t be allowed to dance with me. You see, I had no dowry at the time.”
    Jordan shook his head. “That brings me to my next quarrel with the lad.”
    “He’s not a lad, he’s—”
    “He’s a lad to me, and you should let me finish. If there was a young lady with whom I wanted to dance, you can bet a blasted fortune I wouldn’t let my father keep me from it.” His voice held a savage note.
    A bell went off in Annie’s brain. Those words he’d just uttered held more pain than he probably meant them to. Despite herself, she was intrigued. First a secret past love and now this? Perhaps Lord Ashbourne wasn’t just a devil-may-care rogue after all. Fascinating, really. But she forced herself to remain focused on the matter at hand. “That’s easy for you to say; your father is no longer living.”
    He arched a brow. “Believe me. I didn’t listen to my father even when he was alive.”
    She played with the strings to her reticule. “Be that as it may, Arthur and I”—she stopped at his raised brow—“Mr. Eggleston and I have put that little incident behind us. It’s all in the past.”
    “And the elopement?”
    Annie’s cheeks burned. She glanced at Aunt Clarissa. Still asleep, thank heavens. Annie was also thankful for the darkness in the coach, for she was certain her face was bright pink. “It was entirely my idea. Arthur was just doing as I asked,” she whispered.
    “He shouldn’t have,” Lord Ashbourne said with surprising vehemence in his voice. “That’s the problem. He should have known your reputation would have been shattered had you two succeeded. He should have talked you out of it.”
    Annie expelled her breath harshly. “There’s no winning with you.”
    Lord Ashbourne shrugged. “I’m not trying to win.”
    Annie took a deep breath and attempted to start again. “Arthur and I both want the same things. Children, marriage, a family.”
    “Are you sure that’s what he wants?”
    “Doesn’t everyone?”
    Lord Ashbourne snorted. “No, they don’t. I am one, actually, who wants no part of such societal trappings. And I’d venture to guess your precious Mr. Eggleston doesn’t either or he would have married you by now.”
    Annie jerked her head to the side as if he’d slapped her. She sucked in her breath. His words stung. More than they should have. But she quickly shook it off. Regardless of the other nice things he’d said, this was exactly why she was not about to let her guard down and befriend Lord Ashbourne. And she wasn’t about to let him get the upper hand either.
    “You don’t know anything about Arthur and me. Besides, you are an earl, are you not? If you don’t marry and have heirs, your title will pass out of your direct line.”
    His perfect white smile flashed in the darkness and he settled back against his seat so Annie could no longer see his face. Good. It was much easier to fight with him when she wasn’t aware of how handsome he was.
    “Ah, I have the perfect plan,” he answered.
    There was that smugness in his tone again. “Which is?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
    “I happen to have three younger brothers, all of whom are perfectly healthy and strapping. My first nephew shall be my heir.”
    “Lily told me your brothers aren’t married either.”
    “Not yet. But they don’t have an aversion to the institution the way I do. They’ll come up to scratch eventually, and I’ll have an heir without the tediousness of it