To Catch A Spinster (The Reluctant Bride Collection Book 1) by Megan Bryce

Author:Megan Bryce [Bryce, Megan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Megan Bryce Books
Published: 2012-06-11T18:30:00+00:00

Megan BryceTo Catch A Spinster

Nine

Nathaniel was unsurprised when his sister burst into his library. He’d expected her much earlier.

“Nathaniel.”

“Diana. How are you?”

“Good. Hold him, won’t you?” She thrust Nathaniel’s latest nephew into his arms. “He will not be put down and insists on crying in my ear.”

Nathaniel held his nephew expertly, jiggling the boy and making faces until he stopped his wailing. “What a mean mama you have, Jacob. Doesn’t she know that crying is simply your way of saying you want a biscuit?”

“Oh, Mama knows it. His fondness for biscuits is why my arms are about ready to fall off.” She eyed him. “It looks like children are in your future after all, hmm?”

“If Mother has anything to say about it.”

Diana said, “She always does. She approves of the girl, at least. Not the usual shrinking violet and not a gold-digger.”

“No. Olivia is quite unique.”

“And older? I always thought an older girl would do better for you.”

Nathaniel said, “Yes, amazing how everyone comes to that conclusion after I’ve already found her.”

“Oh, shush. When am I to meet her?”

Nathaniel gratefully accepted a biscuit from his butler, offering it to a suddenly alert Jacob.

“That’s better, hmm little one?”

Diana eyed her youngest as he munched happily. “Only if you’re not the one who has to carry him all day.”

“Where’s the nanny?”

“Left. He’s gone through four already. I’ve started offering three days off with pay to keep them a little longer. You didn’t answer my question.”

Nathaniel grinned at her. “No? Well, I expect Mother has already told you.”

“That she won’t marry you? Have you mentioned your sizable fortune?”

“Thank you, Diana. I’m sure that will solve everything.”

She shrugged. “If the girl is over twenty-five, I don’t see what she is waiting for. Perhaps she is simply worried about the business end of marriage.”

“I’m not sure what she’s worried about.”

“Mother says she cried when she refused you.”

He shook his head. “Nearly cried. Was there anything Mother didn’t tell you?”

“She didn’t tell me when I could meet her.”

“I believe she is going to the Mayes affair tonight.”

“Oh, really? What extraordinarily good luck.”

“Don’t scare her off, Diana.”

She gave a ladylike snort. “I assume you have not met her sisters. She has five, did you know? They can all hold their own quite well. The eldest came out the same year as I. I had thought her quite the original but each sister seems to surpass the others one way or another. I doubt Miss Olivia Blakesley would even blink at anything I said.”

“Nevertheless, I want her to join the family, not run screaming from it.”

Diana smiled. “She’s not met Mother, then? Perhaps Miss Blakesley is refusing because she is unsure of your sincerity. She’s not met any of your relations, after all.”

Nathaniel wiped biscuit crumbs from his knee and offered another to Jacob. “I fear she will find out all too soon that I was showing her my fondest respect by keeping my relations from her.”

“I’ll endeavor not to overwhelm her, but I really don’t think you need to worry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.