Read Online The Reluctant Suitor by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - Free Book Online
Authors: Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
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brother-in-law’s hand. “Thank you, my lord. It’s good to have you home.”
“None of that my lord stuff, do you hear?” Colton protested, his chuckles doing much to soften his gruff reprimand. “We’re brothers now. Call me Colton.”
“An honor I gladly accept,” Perceval replied jovially. “And if you’d reciprocate in kind, I’d be especially pleased if you’d called me Percy. All my friends do.”
“Henceforth I shall consider myself among them,” the new marquess avowed with a slanted grin. “Percy it is then.”
Joining them, Samantha settled her hands on her narrow waist, as if sorely put out with both men. “Well, it’s obvious you two don’t need me to make the introductions.”
Colton grinned at her girlish antics. “Mother filled me in on the details of your nuptials in her letters and did much to refresh my memory during our visit this afternoon.” Arching a brow, he looked down his handsome nose at his younger sibling, simulating a lofty manner. “ ‘Twould seem, m’dear, that our mother is thoroughly delighted with your marriage, but she’s beginning to wonder if she’ll ever have a grandchild.
”
Witnessing the swift descent of his wife’s jaw, Percy threw back his head and roared in hearty amusement. “ ‘Twould seem, m’dear, your brother comes right to the point.”
Samantha tossed her head saucily in the air. “M’dear, m’dear, m’dear. If I were at all a suspicious sort, I
’d say the two of you have already been tippling Papa’s port or else his favorite brandy in the drawing room.”
“We’ll get to that after dinner, m’dear. I’ve come to enjoy a glass of the latter myself before retiring in the evening,” Colton assured her with a brotherly pat upon her shoulder.
Percy turned to him in a more serious vein. “You can’t imagine how relieved we all are to have you finally back, Colton. Samantha insisted I keep her abreast of the battles in which you were engaged almost as soon as the couriers arrived at the palace with the outcome. It certainly helped that we had a town house nearby, so I could get a message to her posthaste and she could then expedite the news to your mother.
The awareness that you were constantly in the midst of conflicts wherein so many lives were being lost on both sides filled us all with enormous dread. Your name was on everyone’s lips, especially your father’s while he was yet alive. Although you may not be entirely aware of it, your parents were very proud of you and your accomplishments.”
Percy tossed a grin toward his older brother, causing that one to arch a brow warily. “I’m afraid you put poor Stuart to shame with your many exploits and daring-dos.”
Evidencing nothing more than a minor hitch in his gait, the elder brother approached as a lopsided grin slowly made its way across his lips. “One day, Percy, you may experience for yourself the hazards of being on a battlefield while cannonballs are being lobbed all around you,” he warned, doing his best to present a sober demeanor as he made much of chiding his younger brother. “For too long now you’ve been allowed to serve as a wet-nosed whelp of an emissary to the Prince Regent, but let me assure you, much more will be required of you should Napoleon return yet again.”
“God forbid,” Colton muttered, as if in a muted prayer.
Percy exaggerated shock at his sibling’s repartee. “What’s this? My own brother belittling my valiant attempts to keep his majesty apprised of our troops’ activities? Wet-nosed whelp, bah!” Rising to every degree of his slender, lofty height, he looked the elder Burke up and down as if highly offended. “You have no idea how difficult the riggers of diplomacy can be, else you’d refrain from such malicious slander.
”
Samantha patted her husband’s arm cajolingly. “Don’t vex your poor brother, dear. He has suffered considerably after that leaden ball shredded a tree and sent huge splinters flying
“None of that my lord stuff, do you hear?” Colton protested, his chuckles doing much to soften his gruff reprimand. “We’re brothers now. Call me Colton.”
“An honor I gladly accept,” Perceval replied jovially. “And if you’d reciprocate in kind, I’d be especially pleased if you’d called me Percy. All my friends do.”
“Henceforth I shall consider myself among them,” the new marquess avowed with a slanted grin. “Percy it is then.”
Joining them, Samantha settled her hands on her narrow waist, as if sorely put out with both men. “Well, it’s obvious you two don’t need me to make the introductions.”
Colton grinned at her girlish antics. “Mother filled me in on the details of your nuptials in her letters and did much to refresh my memory during our visit this afternoon.” Arching a brow, he looked down his handsome nose at his younger sibling, simulating a lofty manner. “ ‘Twould seem, m’dear, that our mother is thoroughly delighted with your marriage, but she’s beginning to wonder if she’ll ever have a grandchild.
”
Witnessing the swift descent of his wife’s jaw, Percy threw back his head and roared in hearty amusement. “ ‘Twould seem, m’dear, your brother comes right to the point.”
Samantha tossed her head saucily in the air. “M’dear, m’dear, m’dear. If I were at all a suspicious sort, I
’d say the two of you have already been tippling Papa’s port or else his favorite brandy in the drawing room.”
“We’ll get to that after dinner, m’dear. I’ve come to enjoy a glass of the latter myself before retiring in the evening,” Colton assured her with a brotherly pat upon her shoulder.
Percy turned to him in a more serious vein. “You can’t imagine how relieved we all are to have you finally back, Colton. Samantha insisted I keep her abreast of the battles in which you were engaged almost as soon as the couriers arrived at the palace with the outcome. It certainly helped that we had a town house nearby, so I could get a message to her posthaste and she could then expedite the news to your mother.
The awareness that you were constantly in the midst of conflicts wherein so many lives were being lost on both sides filled us all with enormous dread. Your name was on everyone’s lips, especially your father’s while he was yet alive. Although you may not be entirely aware of it, your parents were very proud of you and your accomplishments.”
Percy tossed a grin toward his older brother, causing that one to arch a brow warily. “I’m afraid you put poor Stuart to shame with your many exploits and daring-dos.”
Evidencing nothing more than a minor hitch in his gait, the elder brother approached as a lopsided grin slowly made its way across his lips. “One day, Percy, you may experience for yourself the hazards of being on a battlefield while cannonballs are being lobbed all around you,” he warned, doing his best to present a sober demeanor as he made much of chiding his younger brother. “For too long now you’ve been allowed to serve as a wet-nosed whelp of an emissary to the Prince Regent, but let me assure you, much more will be required of you should Napoleon return yet again.”
“God forbid,” Colton muttered, as if in a muted prayer.
Percy exaggerated shock at his sibling’s repartee. “What’s this? My own brother belittling my valiant attempts to keep his majesty apprised of our troops’ activities? Wet-nosed whelp, bah!” Rising to every degree of his slender, lofty height, he looked the elder Burke up and down as if highly offended. “You have no idea how difficult the riggers of diplomacy can be, else you’d refrain from such malicious slander.
”
Samantha patted her husband’s arm cajolingly. “Don’t vex your poor brother, dear. He has suffered considerably after that leaden ball shredded a tree and sent huge splinters flying
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