Free The Viscount Needs a Wife by Jo Beverley

him?” Ruth asked, dismayed. “If so, you mustn’t marry him.”
    â€œI don’t know how I feel toward him. As you put it, he’s unobjectionable. I can’t express any reasonable objection, but . . .”
    â€œYou have doubts?”
    A legion of them, but Ruth was clearly close to tears at the thought of the plan falling through.
    â€œI’ll write the letter,” Kitty said.
    â€œThis is a very odd way to go about a marriage.”
    â€œThis marriage has been odd from the start.”
    Ruth patted her hand. “A week will give you time to get to know him better.”
    â€œExactly my thought.”
    Kitty went to her room, trying to assemble the right words. She didn’t want to wound Marcus’s mother any more than she already had, but she rebelled at any notion of asking permission. She sat and took out a sheet of paper, suddenly seeing the way. She needed her clothing and possessions sent here. The reason, the marriage, would be almost incidental information.
    She uncapped the inkwell, dipped her pen, and began careful sentences. When it was finished, she read it over, then folded and sealed it.
There. Committed.
    She looked up and through the window saw Lord Dauntry talking to Andrew near the stables. His simple clothing did indeed look Town fine next to Andrew’s cheerfully rumpled style.
    Sleek.
    Polished.
    Marble.
    Deep instincts wanted to throw the letter on the fire.
    As if to prevent that, Sillikin came over to paw at her skirt.
    â€œWe have no other chance at a comfortable life, do we?” Kitty said. “And I’m not committed yet. Not until the vows are said. By then I’ll be more settled in my mind. He is interesting, Sillikin. Cool and smooth as marble, but there’s more beneath. I’m sure of that. The question is what lies beneath—good or bad?”
    *   *   *
    Braydon encountered Andrew Lulworth near the stables.
    â€œShould I wish you happy?” Lulworth asked.
    â€œThe bird is not yet in hand,” Braydon replied. “Mrs. Cateril is to write to her mother-in-law.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œTo inform her. The woman seems unbalanced by grief.”
    â€œThe loss of a child is never forgotten.”
    â€œWill her daughter-in-law’s remarriage kill her?”
    â€œI’ve never known such a case. Consider old Lady Dauntry. A devoted mother who was deeply distressed by her son’s death, along with that of her grandson. She was almost mad with it for a time, I understand, but she resumed her life within a month.”
    â€œAnd the running of the estate. Has she always done that?”
    â€œProbably. Certainly as long as we’ve been here. The fifth viscount was often away. Parliament, hunting, shooting, and such.”
    Ivor was grazing in the paddock, but came at a call. Dauntry set about saddling the horse himself.
    Lulworth came to help. “How is the dowager taking your authority? You’ve never said.”
    â€œWith outward sorrow and inner bile.”
    â€œThen how’s she going to react to your wife?”
    â€œI dread to think.”
    â€œI don’t detect the shivers.”
    â€œI’ve faced worse.”
    â€œAnd won, I’m sure. Ruth’s flying in alt at the thought of her dearest friend so close.”
    â€œFlying is a perilous business,” Dauntry warned.
    â€œNot for birds.”
    â€œNone of us have wings.”
    â€œTaking refuge behind precision? My wife is anticipating high delight.”
    â€œWhich might also lead to a tumble.”
    â€œIt won’t break her heart,” Lulworth said. “Do you have one?”
    Braydon took a breath. “If we squabble, you’ll make a liar of me. I’m not heartless and I do have nerves. In arranging this marriage, I’m engaging in more of a blind chance than I’m accustomed to. But as always, I draw up a strategy to win.”

Chapter 8
    K itty