Free The Brigadier's Runaway Bride (Dukes of War Book 5) by Erica Ridley Page A

Edmund’s mother hovering and cooing and forcing favorite meals down everyone’s throats would make anyone feel as though he’d been mothered for decades.
    The door swung open, revealing an elderly butler that Edmund wasn’t quite certain if he recognized. He belatedly recalled he had no calling cards with which to present himself. Not that it mattered. If Sarah was inside, Edmund would happily take the earl’s estate by force.
    But first, he would try polite manners. “Edmund Blackpool to see the earl.”
    “Wait here, please.”
    Edmund laced his fingers behind his back to keep from clenching and unclenching them in anxiety and trepidation. If Oliver had Edmund’s wife… he’d kill him. But if the earl did not? Where was there left to look?
    The butler returned. “Come with me, sir. He’s having dinner with his family, but has arranged another place setting for you.”
    Edmund frowned, but followed.  
    None of this made sense. If Oliver was harboring Edmund’s wife, it seemed unlikely the earl would extend an invitation to the supper table. And it was odd that the butler had said Oliver was dining with his family, rather than with his new wife.  
    Oliver had no family. Edmund had no idea who the earl’s wife was, but they couldn’t have been married long enough to have a family. Edmund had started a trifle too soon, and even his bride still carried their child within her.
    “Here you are, sir.”
    Edmund blinked at the four place settings and the modest offering upon the table. Oliver was already rising to his feet from the head of the table, as were the two beautiful, dark-haired women who had sat on either side.  
    “If you are not too dangerous to approach,” Oliver said quietly, “I would very much like to apologize.”
    Edmund neither replied nor turned away.
    “It is good to see you, Edmund. No—it is wonderful to see you. An answer to a prayer. You cannot know how much guilt, how many nightmares…”
    Edmund met his eyes. “Bartholomew told me.”
    “Of course he did. He is your brother and you deserved to know. I would not have disrespected you further by keeping a secret.”
    Edmund’s jaw worked. That did sound like Oliver, damn him. Honorable to a bloody fault.  
    Sarah would not be here.
    “You didn’t come to the wedding,” he said instead.
    “Your wedding was about you , not me or us.” Oliver reached forward and grasped Edmund’s hand. “It’s so good to have you back. To see you alive . I had thought… We had all feared…”
    Edmund did not pull his hand from Oliver’s grasp. “Most of the fallen did not live to rise again.”
    Oliver’s eyes glistened. “Oh, Edmund, I am so sorry. So wretchedly, inexcusably sorry—”
    Edmund wrapped his arms about the earl. “If you had let my brother die, I would have killed you.”
    Oliver gave a choking laugh and hugged Edmund back. “I’m so glad you’re home. Please say you’ll stay for supper. Now that you’re back, I’m not quite ready to let you out of my sight.”
    Edmund stepped back and nodded. He might as well stay for a meal. He hadn’t eaten all day, and he had no idea where to go next. And despite his conflicted feelings about being left on the battlefield to die… it was good to see Oliver, too. Had Edmund been forced to choose between saving his brother and saving the earl, there would be no earldom.  
    Sometimes, there were no right choices. Just… choices.
    Oliver puffed out his chest and gestured at the two ladies on either side. “It is my deep honor to present you to my wife Grace, and her mother, Mrs. Halton.”
    Edmund tried to hide his surprise. The women looked more like sisters than mother and daughter. Mrs. Halton was clearly the elder of the two, but old enough to have birthed a countess? He stepped forward to bow, and kiss both sets of fingers. “It is my pleasure.”
    Lady Carlisle’s eyes shone. “No, the pleasure is mine. I’m so glad to actually meet you!”
    Edmund jerked his