Free The Next Best Bride by Kelly McClymer Page A

bowing to the sense of it at last. "Then write it quickly." Helena suppressed a sigh of relief, fearing it would make her sister change her mind once more.
    "The safe harbor of people who love you is not so terrible, Ros," she said softly, aware that she would be leaving her family behind when she left with Rand for Parsleigh.
    "It can be, if the people who love you will not let you follow your dreams," Ros answered sharply.
    "You are going to America," Helena replied. "No one is preventing you. And I wouldn't, even if I could. Even though I wish you would be here for me."
    "You will be fine." Ros hesitated, and then in a gesture uncharacteristic of her taciturn nature she pulled Helena into a tight hug. "If you need anything, write me and I will come immediately."
    "You will be in America."
    "If I were on the highest mountain in China, I would come like the wind. I promise."
    Helena returned her sister's embrace fiercely. "I know. It will be good for me to be apart from you, I suppose. I will learn to fend for myself." She stepped away and turned her back for a moment to wipe away the tears she knew would only exasperate her twin. "I don't suppose I should count on my husband for such things. Do you know he has gone gambling — on his wedding night."
    Ros gripped her shoulder and turned her until their gazes met. "He is a better man than many think, Helena. Do not hesitate to trust him in grave matters, even if you find he disappoints you in the everyday."
    "Trust needs to be built," Helena said doubtfully. "If he cannot be trusted in small things, how could I ever believe in him when matters become grave?"
    Rosaline did not seem to have an answer to that. At last she sighed and said, "You trust me, do you not?"
    "Yes." Helena gave a mock glare. "Even though you pawned off your bridegroom on me, in a bargain I shall likely regret."
    "No." Rosaline disagreed. "I don't believe you will regret it — any more than any woman must regret putting herself under a man's thumb."
    "Ros —" Helena did not know what to say in the face of her sister's unwavering belief that marriage was not for her.
    "Trust me. You can be happy. I know it. You are made differently than I am, no matter that we look alike." The blue of her eyes burned when she added, "Trust Rand because I tell you that you can." There was such conviction in her that Helena was almost convinced. If only Ros hadn't added, "But only when matters are at their gravest."
    Helena did not find her sister's words reassuring, but she did not want to quibble when they had so little time left before they were separated by a distance so great she could not really comprehend it. About trusting her husband, she would have to see — assuming that he ever returned from his gambling to collect his wife.
    * * * * *
    Dawn was breaking when he came to their room.
    Helena stirred when the door latch snicked into place. Rand stood still, hoping she would return to a deeper slumber. He would prefer she not know the hour he returned. Too soon for the maid. Much too late for a bridegroom who wished to get an heir in an expedient manner. The old man would know, however. His grandfather's spies would work as well in the duke's household as they did elsewhere in London, Rand was certain.
    When there were no further sounds of movement from the bed, he dared move away from the door, toward his dressing room.
    She sat up. "Good evening, my lord. Or should I say good morning."
    The reality of a bride in his bed became startlingly clear for Rand. He must come up with an excuse. No, no excuse, he decided abruptly. Simply an apology. "Helena. I am sorry if I disturbed you."
    She waited for a moment, as if she thought he might follow his rather short apology with an excuse. And then she said, with all the grace of a long-suffering wife, "Did you forget that we set out for Parsleigh today? Your grandfather says it is a hard three days' travel. You will not like to begin it without sleep."
    "Then I will not