Free The Fairy Tale Bride by Kelly McClymer

me to do what you wish me to do? Think what you
wish me to think? Share nothing of yourself with me?"
    He smiled and nuzzled her ear briefly, then
pulled away to look into her eyes. "Think of it, Miss Fenster –
wed, we could do as we please without cost to your reputation."
    She searched his gaze as her pulse beat in
her temples. Marriage … no. The price was too high. "The thought is
tempting," she answered him honestly. If only she knew she could be
a duchess he might trust, he might one day come to love. But that
was unlikely. Her talents lay in creating mayhem out of order
rather than the reverse.
    His arms tightened around her.
    She pushed at his chest. "I'm sorry. I know I
would regret it within the year."
    His arms dropped away, leaving her exposed to
the cold dawn. His entire expression shuttered closed, as did his
eyes. "Within six months is more accurate, I fear." He gave a small
harsh laugh. "You are right. If we can avoid this, it would be best
for both of us."
    Miranda smiled, though she was not truly
inclined to do so. "There, you see, we can just pretend that this
never happened. Grimthorpe may have my boots, but he does not have
my name, nor my description."
    He opened his eyes and his gaze lingered on
her face until she felt herself flush with heat, despite the
morning chill. She wondered if he was beginning to realize just how
unsuitable she was as a candidate for his duchess. With a shake of
his head, he said, "Should Grimthorpe tease out the truth, we will
marry."
    Miranda shook her head. "You will see. He
will never discover that I own those boots." She grinned. "Prince
Charming had to scour the land for his Cinder Ella. I doubt
Grimthorpe has the interest to search quite so long and hard for a
woman he does not love. And you must admit he is as far from
charming as one can be."
    Simon did not manage a smile, only a solemn
nod. "On that we can agree."
    He seemed to want to say something else, but
she sensed the danger that he might take her in his arms again. She
did not think she could withstand the temptation a second time. She
ignored the pain in her ankle and hobbled away as quickly as she
could toward Anderlin and the safety of her family.
    Not even her injury could drive away the
thoughts of him, of last night when he had kissed her, when his
fingers had gently traced the scars on her back. Perhaps she should
have agreed to marry him. Surely then he would have had to help
Valentine and Emily. But no, perhaps on the physical level they
suited very well, but he was too eager to take control of her life
for her own peace of mind. As her father and mother – as Grimthorpe
himself had learned once upon a time – she was not willing to be
forced into being or doing something against her will.
    She let herself silently into the kitchen at
Anderlin and made her way down the darkened hallways to the study.
The door was locked; faint flickers of fading firelight showed
infrequently under the door jamb. She knocked softly but received
no response. She pressed her ear against the door, suddenly afraid
that Valentine had taken his own life. But then she heard the sound
of shattering glass and a muttered round of unintelligible
curses.
    She decided to take it for a good sign. After
all, he had not spoken two words together since he came home in
disgrace, his elopement forestalled. Perhaps tomorrow he would be
able to deal with the problem of their dwindling finances.
    Not really believing that possible, Miranda
decided she would settle for his taking breakfast and shaving as a
sign that he might soon return to a semblance of his normal
personality. If not, she would have to do something about their
finances herself — again. She closed her eyes, leaning fully
against the door as she remembered warm lips covering her own. But,
despite that memory and the problems of her family's finances,
marrying the Duke of Kerstone was not in her plans.
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Miranda took the bundle from deep