Read Online The Fairy Tale Bride by Kelly McClymer - Free Book Online Page B

he considered simply confessing all — he was
going to marry her, after all — though his preference was to tear
Grimthorpe's head from his shoulders.
    Miranda lay frozen in the loft, realizing
that she could be discovered at any moment. The thought of the
consequences of discovery for her did not distress her as much as
she knew they should — it was Simon whose reputation she feared
tarnishing.
    "Well, since they're certainly not yours, and
there is no one about ... " Grimthorpe pointedly stared at the
loft. With a triumphant glance at Simon's booted feet, he tucked
Miranda's boots under his arm. "I expect these were left by some
previous occupant?"
    Simon shrugged in response to the other man's
inquiring glance, and reached out for the boots.
    Grimthorpe smiled, bringing them more tightly
into his grasp. "Never mind, old man. I found them. I shall make it
my business to return them forthwith as soon as I locate the
owner."
    Before Simon could react, Grimthorpe was
gone. Even though he left without checking the loft, even though
the sound of Atlas's hooves was clear as he rode away, Miranda
hesitated to move.
    Simon said, with — unbelievably — the
faintest of laughter, "Come down Miss Fenster. He is gone with your
boots, I'm afraid. I suppose this might well teach me not to dare
Fate." He sighed. "Oddly enough, I am pleased you will be my
Duchess." As she scrambled down from the loft, ready to protest,
she thought that he added, faintly, "for as long as I live."
Miranda was too disturbed by the beginning of his sentence to worry
about the oddity of the latter half.
     
    Walking home barefoot — with one turned ankle
– took quite a while. Dawn had been well broken before she arrived
at Anderlin, soaked to the skin and furious with the sanctimonious
Duke of Kerstone. At least she had retained her dignity by refusing
to allow him to sweep her up into his arms again. She wished she
could have persuaded him that she required no escort on her walk.
Instead, she satisfied herself by refusing to speak to him.
    At the edge of the wood, she stopped and made
her position clear one final time. "I must insist you accept that I
will not be your wife." She looked up into his rain-slick face and
said quietly, "I am honored that you think my reputation worth the
protection of your name, but I assure you that I am no Rapunzel
trapped in a tower of shame, in need of rescue."
    "You do not understand these matters, Miss
Fenster." He moved as if toward Anderlin, and Miranda let out a cry
of sheer panic that stopped him. Impatiently, he explained, "I must
discuss this with your brother."
    "My brother? The very man whose elopement you
prevented just two days ago? Do you think he will greet you with
open arms when you tell him you have spent the night with his
sister?" She tried to put scorn and disbelief in her voice, but
truthfully, she did not know if Valentine would even acknowledge
the duke's words — perhaps not even the duke himself.
    Her brother, the last time she'd seen him,
had been dead of heart, dead of soul, and beyond communicating even
rage or heartbreak.
    "You are so certain your brother is
honorable, yet you doubt that he would do the right thing if he
were to know the circumstances of our evening together?" He reached
out and brought her to him, surrounding her with his unyielding
arms.
    "Do you love me, then?" She barely dared
believe she had uttered the world, but she could not breathe in the
space between the question and his answer.
    He appeared as startled as she, and then
pressed his lips together as he shook his head.
    "Do you trust me enough to let me see what
you have in that leather pouch?" Again, she knew she dared much. He
did not love her, though. Could he trust her?
    "Don't be foolish," he said brusquely. "It is
business, not meant for a woman's eyes." And then, to her surprise,
he whispered, "We will suit, Miranda. I am sure of it. Marry
me."
    She bristled. "What does that mean? Suit? Do
you think to order