The Rejected Suitor (The Clearbrooks) by McCarthy Teresa

Author:McCarthy, Teresa [McCarthy, Teresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

"Clayton and I have a small list of suitors that meet our requirements." Marcus slapped the paper onto the leather-topped table at White's.

Across from him, Clayton sipped his wine. "Daresay, we have gone all out. Quite hard to find a suitable husband for a sister, you know."

Roderick glanced at the list, his eyebrows gathering into an intense "V." "Small list indeed. I presume you have researched these men concerning their suitability." A mocking twinkle appeared in his eyes. "And I dearly pray that you do not have one with a monstrous quizzing glass stuck to his brow."

A hint of a smile tipped at the corner of Clayton's lips. "What do you take us for? A bunch of addlepated nincompoops?"

"We do not speak like that Clayton," Stephen said in a high-pitched voice as he tugged at his cravat. "Pray now, you will do the right thing and wash your mouth out with soap."

Clayton laughed, tipping himself back in his chair. That gave Stephen the few precious seconds he needed to wrap his Wellington boot around one of the chair legs and dump his brother with one quick jerk.

Clayton bounced to the floor with a thud. "What did you do that for?"

Stephen raised a dark brow, shuffling a deck of cards for their game of whist. "Felt like it."

Marcus and Roderick burst into laughter.

As Clayton staggered back to his seat, Roderick tilted a raised eyebrow toward Stephen. "Where's your list?"

Stephen shrugged. "Still working on it. What about yours?"

Roderick sighed. "It's coming along quite nicely." He lowered his gaze to the list of names given to him by Clayton and Marcus. After a few seconds, his eyes widened in outrage. "What do you mean by including Lord Durham? The man's a womanizer of the tenth degree."

Clayton's jaw dropped as he turned a hardened glare on Marcus. "You were supposed to check the man's background. How could you make a mistake like that?"

Marcus's eyes fell into a pair of challenging slits. "Me, I daresay you were the one who said you would have the man investigated. I already took the initiative to look into Mr. Glover's background."

"Mr. Glover?" The cards in Stephen's hands flew haphazardly into the air. "Hell's bells! How can Emily marry a man with no title?"

Roderick slapped a hand to the table. "Those two are out as are the rest of these." His dark eyes drifted to the last name. "But wait. Lord Bringston?"

"Bit older man," Marcus added. "Forty-five, I believe. Seems he decided to marry after all these years. In the market now. The man is rich, too. Has some plantation in Jamaica."

"Quite a decent chap," Clayton said. "Older man might be just the thing for Em. Heard he's brilliant. His appearance is quite acceptable as well. Handsome, they say."

Roderick pursed his lips in thought. "Looks like we have only one eligible suitor so far. But the more I think about it, the more the idea of an older gentleman might suit our needs perfectly."

Stephen cocked his head to the side.

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