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Authors: Gabriels Bride
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of my choosing.”
Christopher’s mouth opened, then closed. As dearly as it appeared he’d have liked to, it seemed he couldn’t refute Gabriel’s words.
“You may have fooled Cassie, but you don’t foolme. You marry her only to spite your father! He will be furious, and so will Warrenton when he discovers you unable to wed Lady Evelyn!”
Gabriel neither agreed nor disagreed. “I did not lie to her.” Perhaps you did not lie , jeered a voice from within, but certainly you did not reveal all… “The girl is well aware of my reasons for this marriage—and knows all she needs to know.”
“Do you mean to say you did not coerce her into it?”
Gabriel only narrowly held on to his temper. “I did not lay a hand on her,” he said, his voice deadly calm. “And if you further imply that I did, you risk much, my friend, much indeed.”
“I imply no such thing,” Christopher said stiffly. “But she stole your watch and was caught with it. You could have used that against her.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “You do seem to have a great deal of sympathy for her,” he said in deceptively dulcet tones. “Could it be that you have taken a fancy to her and envy me my choice of bride?”
“That’s not it at all.” Christopher defended himself hastily. “Gabriel, you know I have seldom judged you. But tell me this. Does the girl know what you will be dragging her into?”
“Christopher, I take her from a life of work and struggle and poverty. You know as well as I that her circumstances will be far, far better. Indeed,” he gave a harsh laugh, “’twould seem to me I am to be commended.”
Christopher clearly did not agree, but he said nothing. Unfortunately, Gabriel had no trouble reading his mind.
“I will brook no interference from you or any other man,” he said coolly. “My mind is made up. Now will you stand witness to this wedding or do I have to find myself another man?”
Christopher sighed heavily. “There is no need to search further,” he said quietly. “I will stand as witness.”
Moments later the three climbed in the coach. Christopher took a seat across from Cassie. The future bride sat huddled in the corner, as far distant from her husband-to-be as she could possibly get. Gabriel paid no heed, but stared out the window, no expression whatsoever marking his handsome features. The atmosphere was anything but jovial.
A short time later, they filed into a small church. Cassie could recall nothing of the conversation exchanged between Gabriel and the minister, a stout, pudgy man whose girth nearly exceeded his height. Over and over again, his eyes traveled between her ragged dress and the formidable, imposing man who proposed to wed her. He was clearly puzzled by such an unlikely union, yet he said nothing. Nor did Cassie wonder why—she did not miss the gold coins passed into his pudgy hands.
All too soon Cassie found herself standing next to Gabriel in front of the altar. The minister cleared his throat and began to speak, but his words were a blur.
Then it was over. Cassie swallowed, aware that the fingers clutching her pouch were trembling. Uncertain what was expected of her, slowly she lifted her eyes to the man who was now her husband…sweet heaven, her husband .
He was pleased. She could see it in the sly satisfaction of his smile. Dear Lord, she was married to this cold, hard man…and it was too late to change it. A shiver shook her form.
All at once she couldn’t shake the feeling she’d just made a bargain with the devil.
Chapter 5
I t was almost noon by the time the carriage delivered the trio to the waterfront.
Christopher was the first to alight from the carriage. Gabriel followed, landing lightly on booted feet. By then, Cassie had arisen from the seat as well. Gabriel turned, wordlessly extending his hand toward her.
Seeing him before her, his manner brisk and confident, she found herself caught in the grip of a fleeting uncertainty. Loath to touch him,
Christopher’s mouth opened, then closed. As dearly as it appeared he’d have liked to, it seemed he couldn’t refute Gabriel’s words.
“You may have fooled Cassie, but you don’t foolme. You marry her only to spite your father! He will be furious, and so will Warrenton when he discovers you unable to wed Lady Evelyn!”
Gabriel neither agreed nor disagreed. “I did not lie to her.” Perhaps you did not lie , jeered a voice from within, but certainly you did not reveal all… “The girl is well aware of my reasons for this marriage—and knows all she needs to know.”
“Do you mean to say you did not coerce her into it?”
Gabriel only narrowly held on to his temper. “I did not lay a hand on her,” he said, his voice deadly calm. “And if you further imply that I did, you risk much, my friend, much indeed.”
“I imply no such thing,” Christopher said stiffly. “But she stole your watch and was caught with it. You could have used that against her.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “You do seem to have a great deal of sympathy for her,” he said in deceptively dulcet tones. “Could it be that you have taken a fancy to her and envy me my choice of bride?”
“That’s not it at all.” Christopher defended himself hastily. “Gabriel, you know I have seldom judged you. But tell me this. Does the girl know what you will be dragging her into?”
“Christopher, I take her from a life of work and struggle and poverty. You know as well as I that her circumstances will be far, far better. Indeed,” he gave a harsh laugh, “’twould seem to me I am to be commended.”
Christopher clearly did not agree, but he said nothing. Unfortunately, Gabriel had no trouble reading his mind.
“I will brook no interference from you or any other man,” he said coolly. “My mind is made up. Now will you stand witness to this wedding or do I have to find myself another man?”
Christopher sighed heavily. “There is no need to search further,” he said quietly. “I will stand as witness.”
Moments later the three climbed in the coach. Christopher took a seat across from Cassie. The future bride sat huddled in the corner, as far distant from her husband-to-be as she could possibly get. Gabriel paid no heed, but stared out the window, no expression whatsoever marking his handsome features. The atmosphere was anything but jovial.
A short time later, they filed into a small church. Cassie could recall nothing of the conversation exchanged between Gabriel and the minister, a stout, pudgy man whose girth nearly exceeded his height. Over and over again, his eyes traveled between her ragged dress and the formidable, imposing man who proposed to wed her. He was clearly puzzled by such an unlikely union, yet he said nothing. Nor did Cassie wonder why—she did not miss the gold coins passed into his pudgy hands.
All too soon Cassie found herself standing next to Gabriel in front of the altar. The minister cleared his throat and began to speak, but his words were a blur.
Then it was over. Cassie swallowed, aware that the fingers clutching her pouch were trembling. Uncertain what was expected of her, slowly she lifted her eyes to the man who was now her husband…sweet heaven, her husband .
He was pleased. She could see it in the sly satisfaction of his smile. Dear Lord, she was married to this cold, hard man…and it was too late to change it. A shiver shook her form.
All at once she couldn’t shake the feeling she’d just made a bargain with the devil.
Chapter 5
I t was almost noon by the time the carriage delivered the trio to the waterfront.
Christopher was the first to alight from the carriage. Gabriel followed, landing lightly on booted feet. By then, Cassie had arisen from the seat as well. Gabriel turned, wordlessly extending his hand toward her.
Seeing him before her, his manner brisk and confident, she found herself caught in the grip of a fleeting uncertainty. Loath to touch him,
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