Read Online Wed Him Before You Bed Him by Sabrina Jeffries - Free Book Online

anymore.
    Nonetheless, her avoiding him was going to stop. Today. Because how could he decide what to do if he only got to be around the coolly polite Charlotte? He needed more time with the sweetly passionate Charlotte who’d bewitched him in the garden shed. He had to know which one he’d be marrying, if he chose to do so.
    The scratching at the door brought him up short. Already? But his valet hadn’t even returned from pressing his riding coat! Very well, he’d join her in his dressing gown—he’d always thought he looked rather dashing in it.
    When he arrived at the breakfast room, luck was with him—Charlotte was alone and had already taken a seat with her filled plate. He stepped into the room.
    â€œGood morning, Miss Page.”
    She jumped and her eyes swung to him, wide with alarm. Then her expression changed, and she burst into laughter.
    That was not the effect he’d been hoping for. “What’s so funny?”
    Struggling to withhold her mirth, she dropped her gaze to her plate. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
    â€œObviously not nothing,” he grumbled as he strode to the sideboard.
    Another peal of laughter escaped her when he turned to fill his plate. With a scowl, he faced her again. “What?”
    â€œI’m sorry, it’s just that…” She fought back another laugh, though her eyes remained suspiciously bright. “Don’t you think your robe is rather…well…colorful?”
    A flush warmed his cheeks. “This is the fashion, I’ll have you know.”
    â€œRed, yellow, and orange stripes? That’s the fashion?”
    He stalked over to the table and set his plate down hard. “It’s very expensive silk. Cost me half a month’s allowance at one of the best tailors in London.”
    â€œOh dear,” she said in a tone that made it clear she thought he’d overpaid.
    â€œYou haven’t even had your come-out yet.” He dropped into the chair. “What do you know about men’s attire?”
    â€œNothing, apparently. But I do have eyes.”
    And those eyes were laughing at him, which he didn’t appreciate one bit.
    â€œSo what do you propose that I wear?” he snapped.
    â€œSomething less garish.” Her lips twitched from the effort to contain her amusement. “Without orange in it. Or yellow. Or scarlet stripes, for that matter.”
    The little minx was clearly enjoying herself. And despite his irritation, he found himself responding to her infectious good humor. It was the first time she’d been relaxedaround him since the garden shed. Perhaps he could turn this to his advantage.
    Leaning back, he dropped his gaze to her mouth. “Already picking out my clothes, are you? Isn’t that the task of a wife?”
    She started; then her eyes narrowed. “Or a valet,” she answered tartly.
    â€œI don’t think you’d make a very good valet,” he quipped before she could retreat into her cool facade.
    â€œI don’t think you’d make a very good husband,” she shot back.
    He scowled. Leave it to Charlotte to get right to the point. “How can you tell when you barely even know me?”
    â€œI know you well enough. ‘For a man by nothing is so well bewrayed/As by his manners.’”
    The archaic word bewrayed threw him off for a second. Then he grinned. “Edmund Spenser?”
    She blinked. “You’ve read Spenser?”
    Bloody hell, she must think him a complete twit. “Isn’t he one of those fellows who writes—what are they called—books?” He couldn’t hold back his sarcasm. “We have an entire room of the things upstairs. I even look inside them occasionally. I try not to notice what’s on the pages, but once in a while even a debauched chap like myself can’t help absorbing a word or two.”
    â€œVery amusing,” she said dryly. “Do you ever take