Perfect Bride by Samantha James

simply have to com mence later.
    Settling into his chair, he reached for the newspa per. It had arrived earlier in the afternoon, but this was the first chance he’d had to read it.
    It wasn’t long before he heard Justin come in, then call for the carriage to be brought round in an hour’s time. Justin stopped in the doorway.
    “I thought you’d be dressing for the Wetherby ball.”
    Sebastian shook his head. “I think not,” he said dryly. With his thumb he gestured toward the ceiling.
    “Ah, yes. I forgot. You’ll be guarding the silver.” Justin stripped off his gloves. “How is she, by the way?”
    “Better than I expected, though she still doesn’t seem to have taken much of a liking to me.”
    “Yes. One can only wonder why...” Justin paused. “Are you sure you won’t attend the Wetherby ball?”
    “I’m sure.”
    “You won’t find the perfect bride sitting here at home. I vow all of London’s lovelies will be there.”
    “And they’ll all be looking at you. Besides, as I have survived over thirty years without a bride, there’s no harm in waiting awhile longer.” Sebastian flipped open the paper.
    Justin chuckled. “I think you’re wrong there. In fact, I know it.” Before he could stop him, Justin grabbed the paper in hand. Rattling it with a flour ish, he cleared his throat. “Here,” he announced, “is the latest in today’s society column.” He proceeded to quote.
    Ladies, set your caps! According to the marquess of Thurston, the city’s most celebrated bachelor, Thurston’s search for a bride is on...
    “Oh, Lord,” Sebastian muttered, snatching it back into his grasp.
    “I vow, Sebastian, after that juicy tidbit all the lovelies will be disappointed you’re not present. And I shall simply have to console them somehow.”
    “Oh, I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Sebastian was al ready ensconced in his paper.
    “Oh, I shall. Have a pleasant evening.”
    But Justin had scarcely crossed the room before Sebastian erupted with a curse. Justin glanced back over his shoulder. “What is it?”
    Sebastian’s expression was grim. “I knew it! I knew she was hiding something!”
    Justin looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”
    Sebastian flicked a finger at the newspaper. “Re member the man she spoke of? Well, a man was found dead on the street adjacent to where I found our esteemed houseguest.”
    “Good Lord.”
    “He was apparently a member of a gang in St. Giles.” Two white lines had formed beside Sebastian’s mouth. “ There was a dagger discovered near his body.”
    Justin looked at his brother. “Surely,” he said slowly, “you don’t think—”
    “What I think is that another visit to the lovely Miss St. James is in order. I do believe she can shed some light on the matter.” He reached the door and yanked it open. “Christ,” he muttered, “I should never have brought her here.”
    Justin was right beside him as he mounted the stairs. In the yellow room, Devon was sitting back against the pillows. Tansy, one of the maids, had just removed a tray from her lap. In some distant part of him, Sebastian was pleased to note she’d eaten nearly all of her dinner.
    Her chin came up when she saw him. “Well, if it isn’t my lord Shyte!”
    Sebastian smiled thinly. “It’s good to see you’re feeling better. Perhaps you’ll be more obliging with the truth.” He stopped at the side of the bed and tossed the newspaper on her lap. “I think you’ll find this bit of news most interesting.” He rapped a fin ger on the headline.
    Wide golden eyes traveled from his face to the pa per. She spoke not a word.
    “Well?” he demanded.
    She maintained her silence.
    “Miss St. James?”
    She gave a little shake of her head. “I-I can’t read. I mean...I know all the letters, but I-I can’t put them together into words, except for my name.”
    Inwardly Sebastian cursed himself for a heel. He should have known!
    “Well, then, I shall oblige.” He picked