Free A Promise of More by Bronwen Evans

and chortles in his stride.
    It was Christian who spoke first. “Well, this is a development. Who would have thought that with you stuck in Jamaica, you’d beat me to the altar? Who is the lucky lady?”
    “It’s priceless …” All heads turned to Sebastian at Hadley’s mocking tone. Sebastian simply took another large gulp of brandy.
    Christian, noting his discomfort, said, “Ignore Hadley. I’m going to marry Serena tomorrow morning, and I’m pleased you have returned to share in our special day. However, we’re sorry to have missed yours.”
    “It was rather sudden and of no real importance.” Sebastian didn’t want a fuss. It wasn’t a love match like Serena and Christian’s, thank God.
    Maitland scoffed, “Heaven forbid it is another love match. These two make a man want to drink himself into oblivion,” and he looked at Christian and smiled,taking the harshness from his observation. “Who is the lucky lady then, and when did this … happy event take place?”
    Sebastian knew his cheeks must be dark red by now. “If you must know, I’ve married Beatrice Hennessey this morning.”
    The silence that greeted his announcement was stifling. Serena looked around the room at the men in puzzlement, obviously not understanding the significance of Beatrice’s surname.
    Maitland spoke slowly. “That’s taking guilt a little too far, don’t you think, my friend?”
    “You know the state of her family’s finances. You know that her brother Baron Larkwell was about to marry and save the family from the poorhouse.”
    Christian said, “But I thought you sent them money while you were in the Caribbean. It was a small fortune if I recall.”
    “It wasn’t until I returned to England that Miss Hennessey made me fully aware of how indebted the family was. We came to an arrangement that suited us both, so I want to hear nothing more on the matter, and you are to treat Beatrice with respect.”
    “I don’t understand,” Serena said. “Am I supposed to know who Beatrice Hennessey is and why Sebastian should feel any guilt?”
    Sebastian turned to her. “Beatrice is the sister of Doogie Hennessey, Baron Larkwell. Doogie is the man I killed in a duel several months ago.”
    “Well, where is she, Sebastian? I hope you haven’t hidden her away.” Serena set down her cup of tea. “You’ve only just married her, for goodness’ sake. You should be on your honeymoon, not excluding her.”
    He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding the laughter in Arend’s and Hadley’s eyes. “Beatrice is exhausted after such a tiring day. She is freshening up before facing you.”
    Arend smirked.
    “You have something to say?” Sebastian snapped, his patience at being the jester in the room wearing thin.
    “If she’s like every other woman, I bet she’s enthusiastically preparing herself for your wedding bed.”
    If only. “I killed her brother,” he said softly. Arend hung his head.
    She would not be eagerly waiting in his bed. Sebastian doubted she everwould. Beatrice wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met. She didn’t like him, nor did she respect him, and she definitely did not desire him. She had married him purely to save her family.
    “Ignore him. I for one would love to meet her. It will be a nice change to have another female in our midst. However, I’m sorry that she’s walked into this dangerous mess.”
    Serena’s words caught his attention. “Mess—dangerous. If everyone is finished grilling me on my personal life, could you tell me what is so urgent that I had to rush down here on my honeymoon, a day after I arrive home, and how is it that Serena is now able to use her name with no danger of being found guilty of murder?”
    Christian’s face broke into a lovesick smile. “You haven’t heard.”
    “I’ve been back in England just over two days. In that time I have saved a woman from drowning, I’ve lumbered myself with a wife, and my friends now tell me I’m in grave danger.