With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) by Cheryl Bolen Page B

bans instead of marrying by special license
as did others of their class, told her he wished to cling to his
bachelorhood every extra day he possibly could.
    A pity he was not as anxious to be with her
as she was to be with him.
    She and Diana lifted their skirts as they
crossed the street where last night's rain had puddled. They barely
squeezed between a hay cart and a hansom before making it to the
other side of Milsom. Glee glanced at the front window of Mrs.
Simmons's Millinery Creations. She was surprised the crippled lad
who was always in front of the shop was not there. Then she
remembered this was the time of day he would be riding the pony
given him by Diana's brother.
    Next, her thoughts turned to Blanks. Glee
decided she would not see him until that night. She would wait
until late afternoon, then send along a note to his lodgings
informing him she had come early. Her stomach somersaulted at the
thought of seeing him again. Her own Blanks. Would he hasten to the
hotel to see her? Would they go to the Upper Assembly Rooms
together tonight? Would he hold her in his arms as they
waltzed?
    "I hadn't realized how much I missed Bath,"
Glee said.
    Diana nodded. "I love it here. It's my
favorite place."
    Glee was aware of how well traveled her
sister-in-law was. "Really? Why is that?"
    "Can't you guess?"
    A smile broke across Glee's face. "Let me
see, would it be because Bath is where you met, fell in love with,
and married my brother?"
    "Correct answer. I can see that you come
from intelligent stock."
    "Undoubtedly. And I am sure my baby niece
already is in possession of remarkable brains. As to her father,
though," Glee said with a smile, "I am not so sure."
    Diana playfully swatted at Glee. "How could
you malign such a wonderful creature?"
    "My brother a wonderful creature? I fear
some supernatural power has cast a besotted spell over you. What
else could explain such devotion a full year after you two began to
live as man and wife?"
    Diana rolled her eyes. "If you're going to
be wed, you must be aware that many married people are devoted to
one another." Diana's voice gentled. "Like George and me."
    Yes, that's the kind of marriage Glee
wanted, too. If only .
    At that precise moment Glee saw her
betrothed and Carlotta Ennis strolling along the pavement on the
other side of the street. If she hadn't so recently crossed the
street, Glee would have come up to him face-to-face. The flamboyant
widow he was with had been acquainted with Glee's family for many
years. She and Glee's sister Felicity had accompanied their first
husbands to Portugal, where both men were killed during the
Peninsular Campaign.
    "Look, Diana, there's Blanks and Mrs. Ennis!
Let's cross the street."
    Diana stiffened, and her eyes went cold. Her
fingers dug into Glee's arm.
    Why was Diana acting like this? Had she
taken a sudden aversion to Blanks? Glee's eyes followed Blanks and
Carlotta Ennis as they entered a tea shop. Were they going to
nuncheon there? How peculiar. "What's the matter with you, Di?"
    Diana shook her head. "Nothing. It's just. .
.just that we really must hurry to Queen Square. You do have an
appointment to look at the house."
    She's lying . Why did Diana so
strongly wish to avoid Blanks? Surely he hadn't---
    All of a sudden, Glee's heart thudded. And
she knew why Diana was acting so peculiarly. Diana was privy to
information that was withheld from Glee. George shared everything
with her. Including the fact that Carlotta Ennis was Blanks's
mistress .
    * * *
    Gregory had been putting off this meeting
with Carlotta for as long as he could, but with Glee arriving
tomorrow, he could postpone it no longer. He had wanted to delay
the voluptuous Carlotta's anguish, to delay the tears he knew would
come. For Carlotta clearly loved him. She had craved his every
touch at the expense of her good name.
    She had lured him into her bed despite that
he had told her from the beginning he would never offer marriage.
When it became clear she could not