A Convenient Bride

Read A Convenient Bride for Free Online

Book: Read A Convenient Bride for Free Online
Authors: Cheryl Ann Smith
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical
shadows under her eyes that were new. The stress of implementing her father’s unwelcome plan was making her positively haggard.
    What to do? Finding an unacceptable suitor was no longer an option. It was likely to end badly and would take up too much of her valuable month. Still, she needed a husband, a man who would not protest if she spent her time lost in the social whirl of London, who’d not ask much of her, who’d be content with small increments of her time in exchange for a large dowry.
    Slowly the grim line of her mouth dissolved into a smile, and her eyes took on a wicked cast. A man who’d rather spend time buried in the country with his sheep.
    *  *  *
    D arkness disappeared into gold and orange hues as dawn drifted over the horizon. Brenna slipped over the sash of the first-floor parlor window and dropped to the ground, her boots making a soft thud on the damp grass.
    She paused and listened for any sign that she’d been heard. Nothing indicated that her escape had been noted. Though the small staff of servants were beginning their day, Miss Sophie and the former courtesans were still abed.
    This was the perfect time to escape. She’d not be noticed missing for several hours.
    She adjusted her borrowed clothing. She’d found the blue skirt and soiled white shirt in a bin meant for charity, and she’d altered the skirt into a crude pair of trousers with scissors and two rows of crooked stitches.
    A coach ambled down the street, and she pressed herself against the house. She breathed again only after the conveyance made a turn at the corner and faded off into the distance.
    Thankfully, her father hadn’t posted guards. She felt guilty breaking his trust but hoped that if her adventure went well, all would be forgiven when she returned.
    Like a thief, she lowered the window behind her and crossed the small garden. The gate squawked when she pushed it open and stepped through. The groom from the house next door stood just outside the gate with her horse, Brontes, saddled and waiting.
    Once she’d decided to run off, a quick trip into the mews after supper, and a brief search of the row of small stables, found her the perfect conspirator. The groom had no qualms about thievery for the right price.
    “Yer late,” he grumbled, and scratched his ear. He was a slovenly fellow of undetermined age, whose stained clothing smelled offensively of manure and ale.
    “I overslept.” She nuzzled the mare’s white nose and smiled as the horse returned the nuzzling. “Were there any problems collecting her?”
    He grinned, showing a missing tooth. In the dim light, he appeared a menacing character. Thankfully, Brenna waswithin screaming distance of several houses, should he decide to collect more than the agreed-upon payment.
    “Not a one. The stable is not well watched. Only a fool does not guard ’is horses.”
    Brenna glared. “Lord Harrington does not expect anyone to steal from him.” She scanned his unpleasant face. “You promised to speak about this to no one. I ask you now to renew that promise.”
    He shrugged and stuck out his calloused hand. “Yer reasons fer stealing the nag are no matter te me.”
    She showed him his payment. “You left the note?” At his nod, she pressed her ear bobs into his open palm. He grinned again, licked his lips, and ambled off.
    Father would be livid when he received the note and realized she’d taken Brontes. Worse, that she’d fled the courtesan school and thwarted his orders. If this plan did not end as she hoped, it would be the convent, or Chester Abbot, for her. Either made her shudder.
    Shaking off growing reservations, she quickly made certain the stirrups were at the right height, then wrapped the reins around Brontes’s neck. With the skill of an experienced rider, Brenna mounted and settled into the saddle.
    Riding astride was not difficult. As a child, she’d raced bareback around the fields with her brothers on whatever grazing horses they could

Similar Books

Modern Mind

Peter Watson

Tex (Burnout)

Dahlia West

Prague Murder

Amanda A. Allen

Learnin' The Ropes

Shanna Hatfield

Scorch Atlas

Blake Butler

GetOn

Regina Cole