Married in Haste by Cathy Maxwell Page A

nothing to discuss with him, especially if you are going to attempt to cry off from this engagement.”
    “I must!” Tess said. “I did not agree to this marriage. No one asked me.”
    “No one has to ask you,” Stella answered before Neil could open his mouth. “Neil is your guardian. He can arrange any marriage for you he wishes.”
    “That’s barbaric!” Tess declared.
    Stella smiled. “It is not barbaric. It’s the way things are done, especially for a woman with an inheritance such as yours.”
    Tess turned to her brother. “I don’t want to marry this man. I don’t even know him.”
    “You don’t have to know him,” Stella sing-songed. “It is up to your brother to decide what is best for you.”
    “He doesn’t know him either, do you, Neil?”
    Neil attempted speech. “I—”

    His wife cut in. “Lady Ottley said your fiancé is a Welsh earl, a hero, very handsome in a rough sort of way and Sir Charles Merriam is sponsoring him. What more do you need to know?”
    “What more?” Tess said incredulously. “Are you daft, Stella? There’s so much more to be known before a person decides to marry a man.”
    Stella rolled her eyes dramatically. “Tess, you are impossible. And too picky. No wonder you aren’t married!”
    “Be honest, Stella. You just want the house all to yourself so you can bully the servants without my interference—”
    “I do not bully the servants!”
    “Last week, you had the upstairs maid in tears!” Tess accused.
    “She broke my bottle of bath salts,” Stella complained.
    “You can replace bath salts—”
    “Enough!” Neil’s shout cut through the air. “Stella, take this cup. Tess, we will talk, but lower your voice.”
    He motioned for Stella to pour him another cup of tea. “No, Tess, I will not let you cry off. Perhaps I don’t know Merton well. I may have been a bit hasty. The announcement might have been rash. But the deed is done. I will not renege on my word whether it was given drunk or sober. You have six days in which to make his acquaintance…and after that a lifetime.”
    “Neil!” Tess said in outrage.
    He put his feet over the side of the bed. “Stella will plan the wedding. We’ll do it up right.”
    “A wedding! Finally!” Stella clapped her hands together and then, seeing her husband’s wince, softly added, “I’m sorry.”
    Tess no longer cared about Neil’s hangover. “I will not marry him,” she said forcibly. “I will cry off myself if you will not do it.”
    “Oh, no, you won’t, miss,” Stella said, her fists doubling. “Not after that brazen little wager you placed with Leah Carrollton. Ha! You didn’t know I knew, did you? Well, it’s all over Town. Everyone can speak of nothing but your scandalous behavior. They blame you for everything and think it only right you marry Lord Merton.”
    Tess could have shot fire from her eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t marry him.”
    Stella rounded on her husband. “Your sister is driving me to madness. Do something I beg you!”
    “As my brother you should honor my wishes!”
    Neil raked his fingers through his sleep mussed hair and walked the length of the room.
    Neither Tess or Stella spoke. A gauntlet had been thrown down between them and they awaited Neil’s decision.
    He turned, his bloodshot eyes weary. “Stella, will you please give me a moment alone with my sister?”

    Tess’s heart gave a little leap. She stared at the floor so that Stella wouldn’t see the gleam of triumph in her eyes. Another outburst might make Neil change his mind.
    Of course, Stella did not obey immediately. “Why? Are you going to beat sense in her?”
    “A few minutes, Stella, please,” he repeated gravely.
    Tess held her breath and then Stella said, “I’ll wait outside the door.”
    She’ll probably listen at it, Tess thought irreverently, but, for once, she kept her thoughts to herself.
    “Thank you,” Neil said, and he sounded like he meant it. He waited until the door