Free His Perfect Bride by Jenn Langston Page A

you would, please answer the question. I’m not asking for myself. It’s merely a curiosity as to how a woman chooses a gentleman. As of yet, I have not found anyone who will tell me.” His cold eyes melted a little with his plea, and Brianna could not refuse curiosity. It had been her constant companion and had gotten her into trouble many times.
    “All right, but I can’t speak for anyone, save myself. I imagine my views are not widely shared.”
    “That is perfectly fine. One view is more than I currently have.”
    “Well, I don’t wish to marry a gentleman with a title at all.”
    His mouth dropped open, and his eyes went wide with shock. His reaction would have been comical if she felt more at ease with him. His unsmiling face seemed somewhat amused, and she got the feeling he wanted to laugh. She knew her feelings were unorthodox, but she refused to be ridiculed. Before she could open her mouth to tell him so, she felt the presence of another person. Likely her mother had found her, and if truth be told, she was relieved at the prospect.
    “Greyson, please, I asked you to bring her out here, not upset her,” Mr. Richard reprimanded from behind her.
    Her body reacted to the sound of his voice, tensing in anticipation. Turning to him, she smiled widely, as elation lightened her body. She could not believe he had asked his friend to fetch her so he could see her again.
    “Thank you, Lady Brianna, for a very illuminating conversation,” Lord Merrick said.
    “You are quite welcome,” she replied, trying to keep the joy at Mr. Richard’s presence out of her voice. “I hope I satisfied your curiosity.”
    “You did, so much more than I anticipated. Now, if you wish, I shall leave you in Richard’s capable hands.”
    “That would be acceptable.”
    “Good evening.” Lord Merrick bowed and then strode away.
    Brianna had never met a stranger gentleman. Shaking her head, she turned back to Mr. Richard.
    “Mr. Richard, I’m pleased you were able to come.”
    “I did promise to see you, and I would hate to cause you to put yourself in danger by my inattentiveness.” He took her arm and expertly navigated her down the steps, through the garden, and down a vacant path.
    “Yes, I would seek you out again if I had to,” Brianna teased with a thoughtful expression. “I wonder. Would you do the same if you were unable to locate me?”
    He looked surprised, then contemplative. Although it was a jest, she was anxious to hear his response regardless.
    “I would much prefer to prevent a potential occurrence of that, for it would be much too dangerous for a gentleman such as I to be out so late into the night.”
    “How do you intend to prevent it?” she asked, smiling widely at the absurdity.
    “Simply by asking if I may call upon you?”
    Brianna could not tell if he was honestly asking for her permission, or if he was only playing the part in this pretend scenario they were acting out. She decided she could not take the chance that he was being sincere.
    “I don’t believe that would be such a good idea.” She felt silly for denying him after all the trouble she had gone through to locate him.
    “Why not?” His brow furrowed in confusion. “If you don’t wish for me to call upon you, what is your interest in me?” He took a few steps away from her, as if he didn’t quite know what to make of her.
    Brianna’s face burned in embarrassment, while she silently cursed the confusing situation she now had to explain.
    “I suppose my interest is the same as every other unmarried lady during the Season. I simply wish to get to know you to determine if we will suit.”
    “I’m not sure I understand.”
    “The problem does not lie with me, but with my mother. You see, she would not approve of me becoming acquainted with you. My mother wishes for me to marry a gentleman of a great title,” she explained, hoping being discounted for his lack of title didn’t offend him.
    “So, you don’t share her opinion