The Tantalizing Miss Coale (The Notorious Coale Brothers) by Sarah Mallory Page A

grinned. ‘But I should stay
out of Father’s way for a bit. He’s not likely to be too pleased to see
you.’
    ‘Aye, get out,’ growled Ben. ‘And you had best keep out of my
way, too, or the next time we meet I will be calling you out!’
    Jason held open the door.
    ‘It seems pretty unanimous, sir. Your presence is no longer
needed.’
    ‘In fact,’ added Dominic, frowning, ‘from what Sal has told us,
we have every reason to seek satisfaction. Best go now, before one of us does
just that.’
    Sir Henry stalked towards the door.
    ‘All right, I shall go, but when Lord Markham asks what
happened I shall tell him it was you who spoiled his
plan.’
    ‘Aye, do that by all means,’ said Jasper cordially. ‘We will
deal with that when we bring our sister home.’ With a chuckle he shut the door
upon Sir Henry. ‘The man’s a fool if he thinks Pa will listen to anything he has
to say. Now, Sal, let’s get you home.’
    ‘Just a moment.’ Ben stepped forward. ‘You may send Sir Henry
away with my blessing, but he’s not the one who is going to marry your sister. I
am. I have a curricle waiting and we mean to be wed before nightfall.’
    The twins turned to look at him, surprise and amusement
lighting their faces.
    ‘You, Hensley? Not possible, old friend.’
    ‘Not only possible,’ he said calmly. ‘A certainty.’
    The brothers instinctively drew closer.
    ‘Do you think you can take us both on, Hensley?’ drawled
Jasper.
    ‘If I have to.’
    The tension in the room was palpable.
    ‘You would fight them both, for me?’
    Sally asked the question softly, and the look in his eyes set
her spirit soaring.
    ‘I would fight the whole world for you, Sal. I won’t let you go
again.’ Smiling, she slipped her hand into his and he squeezed her fingers. ‘Go
and pack your trunk, Sal.’
    ‘Aye, go and pack, Sis. You are coming home.’
    ‘No,’ she turned to face her brothers. ‘I won’t leave with you.
I am going to marry Ben. I love him. I don’t care what you say, Jasper, nor you,
Dom. You cannot protect me from Papa. He is my legal guardian, and if you take
me back he will have me locked up.’
    She raised her chin, giving them back look for look, her
fingers securely locked within Ben’s comforting grip.
    Dominic looked at his brother.
    ‘She has a point, Jas. If she marries Hensley...’
    ‘When she marries me, I shall
become responsible for her,’ stated Ben.
    ‘No point in asking if he can afford a wife,’ murmured Dom, an
irrepressible dimple creasing his cheek. ‘Known him forever. He’s amassed quite
a fortune these last few years.’
    ‘Aye,’ said Jasper slowly. ‘But how do we know Sally’s in
earnest? She’s been in love before—remember how she broke her heart over some
fellow a few summers ago? When it came to nought we thought she was going into a
decline.’
    With a little huff of frustration Sally stamped her foot.
    ‘Oh you zanies, that was Ben ! Papa
made me end it.’ She turned towards him, adding softly, ‘How I wish I had been
stronger and eloped with you then.’
    ‘We cannot change the past, Sal, but we shall be married as
soon as we reach the border.’ Ben looked up, his chin jutting pugnaciously.
‘With or without your brothers’ consent.’
    ‘Don’t be a fool, Hensley,’ said Jasper. ‘You cannot fight us
both.’
    Ben gave a slow smile. ‘Try me.’
    Sally held her breath, looking at the three men. Slate-grey
eyes clashed with ice blue, neither giving ground.
    ‘You shall not fight,’ she declared. ‘It is preposterous that
the three people I love most in the world should fall out over me. Dom, Jasper,
I tell you I shall marry Ben, forsaking all others,
and if that means I have to say goodbye to you forever, then so be it.’ Her
voice wavered a little. ‘But please don’t make me choose between you.’
    ‘Bravo, my love.’ Ben raised her hand and kissed her fingers.
‘Well, gentlemen, the lady has spoken. It seems she and I are of the