His Wicked Lady by Ruth Ann Nordin

and sat
in the chair.
    “I’m very happy to,” Melissa replied. “Soon
we’ll be sisters. Well, sisters-in-law, but it’s practically the
same thing. I always wanted a sister. When I was little, I begged
my mother for a sister, but alas,” she shrugged, “it wasn’t meant
to be. Oh, have some tea!” She poured Regan a cup and held it out
to her. “I hope you like black tea.”
    “Black tea is fine.” Though she took the cup,
she didn’t drink anything. She couldn’t with the way her stomach
was tied up into all sorts of knots. “I don’t know how to ask this,
so I’m just going to come out and say it.”
    “Ask whatever you wish.”
    Bracing herself for the answer, she blurted
out, “Why was I picked to marry your brother?”
    “Because you were the one best suited for
him.”
    “So you don’t think he’ll suffer?”
    Melissa laughed. “Of course not. Whatever
gave you that idea?”
    “I have a friend who overheard your husband
telling someone he couldn’t wait to see Mr. Jasper—your
brother—suffer after he married me.”
    She gasped. “My husband said that?”
    “I don’t know his exact words, but my friend
assured me that was the general comment.”
    Melissa shook her head. “I don’t doubt my
husband would think such a thing, but honestly, you are not going
to make my brother suffer. You’ll be good for him. I could tell you
fancied him when we talked at Helena’s, and you seem like a good
lady.”
    “I’m afraid he doesn’t agree. He thinks I’m
much too bold. I did take his hand and lead him to a dance at a
ball, right in front of everyone.”
    “Which I’m sure is something he needed.” When
Regan frowned, Melissa added, “My brother has only one thought on
his mind: money. It’s all he ever talks about. It wasn’t until our
father insisted he get married that he even considered a wife. He
wants a child to pass on his legacy to. But you and I both know a
gentleman can’t be truly happy until he marries. It’s not natural.
Ladies do much more than have children. They offer companionship.
Why, my husband reminds me of this all the time. Don’t tell him I
told you this, but he was lonely before I came into his life. He
had no real friends. But now he does, and he’s better off for it.
Malcolm will be the same way. He might not realize it yet, but
money can’t fill the void a good wife can, and I just know you’ll
be good to him.”
    “I do like him.”
    Melissa gestured to her. “There you go!
That’s what he really needs. Someone who cares for him. I’m afraid
most people only talk to him because he can make them money. I
don’t know if he has any genuine friends or not, but then I’m not
allowed to go to the dinner parties where gentlemen talk about
investments.” Then, feigning a yawn, she added, “Nor would I want
to.”
    Regan chuckled at her joke. “I wouldn’t want
to either. I don’t mind a gentleman who is wise with money, and one
who knows how to make more of it is always a good thing. But life
is more than money. My first husband left me with more than I’ll
ever need, but I would have rather had him.” In case Melissa
thought she was still mourning his loss, Regan quickly said, “I am
ready to marry again. I do miss the companionship.”
    “I know, and that’s what I most want for my
brother, someone like you.”
    Though Regan felt better, she said, “I don’t
think your brother will agree. I apologized to him for being so
bold at the ball, but I suspect he’ll be upset when he realizes
he’s marrying me. Maybe you should have us meet.”
    “I offered that, but he’s much too busy to be
bothered with such formalities.”
    “Much too busy?” To meet his future wife?
Regan had never heard of any gentleman saying such a thing.
“Wouldn’t he at least be interested in how I look? What if I was
ugly?”
    Melissa giggled and picked up her cup of tea.
“You’re not ugly. In fact, I must confess I’m jealous. You’re much
more beautiful