His Wicked Lady by Ruth Ann Nordin Page A

than I am.”
    “You’re attractive.”
    “I am, but not as much as you are. My brother
will have no trouble being attracted to you.”
    “Yes, well, he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t
know I’m Lady Cantrell.”
    “That’s what he gets for being too busy.
There’ll be no one to blame but himself on his wedding day.”
    Melissa sipped her tea, and Regan followed
suit with her own. Was Malcolm really so busy he couldn’t spare
even a moment to meet her? Certainly, Melissa wasn’t right. She
couldn’t be. He had to be interested in the lady who’d been
arranged to marry him. Well, that settled it. When she got home,
she would extend an invitation for him to meet her. She wouldn’t
feel right doing otherwise.
    “Let’s not spend all our time talking about
my brother,” Melissa said. “I’d like to find out more about you.
What is your son like? What was your first husband like?”
    Regan hesitated to get friendly with Melissa.
After Malcolm found out he was to marry her, he’d change his mind
and she wouldn’t be Melissa’s sister-in-law after all. But there
was an enthusiastic sweetness about Melissa that compelled her to
give in and tell her everything she wanted to know.

 
    Chapter Six

     
    R egan stared at the missive in disbelief. She read it again,
hoping she’d read it wrong the first two times, but once more, the
familiar words popped out at her.
    It is with regret I have to delay meeting
you until the wedding. I have too many important things to do. I
would explain further, but with you being a lady, I don’t want to
overwhelm you with matters such as finances. All you need to know
is that what I’m doing will lead to some fruitful endeavors. I was
told you are aware of my reputation. This being the case, I’m
assured you understand why I can’t possibly meet with you. But you
need not fret. I have set aside a full week where we’ll have
nothing to distract us after we’re married. We’ll get to know each
other then.
    Regan read the missive again, hoping it would
change. But it didn’t. It was the same thing as before. She folded
the parchment and set it on her desk. Melissa had been telling the
truth. Malcolm couldn’t be bothered to meet her until their wedding
day.
    Well, he had met her. He just didn’t realize
it. She wondered if he’d be so reluctant to meet her if he knew who
she was. Probably not. He’d probably rush right on over to beg her
to let him out of the marriage.
    She sat down and tapped her fingers on the
desk. What to do… What to do… She could cancel the arrangement. But
then, she would condemn some other lady to a marriage with a
gentleman who thought more of money—and himself—than he did of her.
She didn’t have it in her heart to do that to an unsuspecting
innocent.
    But was it a good idea to marry him, knowing
this about him? Yes, he was good looking. She couldn’t deny her
attraction to him. She’d been looking forward to seeing him without
his clothes on ever since she found out she was to marry him.
    But there was more to marriage than physical
attraction. There was compatibility, trust, and security. Most of
all, there was someone who would be a good father to Leonard.
    She stopped tapping the desk and glanced at
the clock above the fireplace mantel. Leonard was due to wake up
from his nap soon. Perhaps it might do her good to visit Malcolm.
Not only would she see how he responded to Leonard, but she’d get a
better idea of who he would be as a husband.
    Decision made, she rose to her feet and
headed out of the room.
     
    ***
     
    Malcolm was just about done with his
investment plans when the butler announced he had two visitors.
Surprised, he glanced at his pocket watch. He wasn’t expecting
Robert and Patrick for another hour. He didn’t think they would be
early, even if they were eager to hear his proposal. Glancing at
the plans in front of him, he figured he had enough to show them
and told the butler to bring the visitors in.
    He stood