The Elusive Wife Read Free Page B

until conversation ceased and all heads turned in his direction. He tried to focus on his bride, but it was hard since he was still seeing double.
    Heavens, did the old Earl arrange for me to marry twins? Peculiar, that.
    One of the solicitors—even when sober Jason didn’t know who was who—hurried over to him. “My lord, so good to see you. We’re ready to start any time you are.”
    Jason tugged once again at his limp cravat and nodded. He followed the solicitor and glanced briefly at Lady Jane. Now closer, he could see her. But staring too long made him dizzy, so he looked over at the vicar. “Get on with it, man.”
    “Perhaps your lordship would like to take some time to speak privately with Lady Jane before we start?” the solicitor said.
    “No.” He reached out and clutched Lady Jane’s shoulder to steady himself.
    She closed her eyes and tightened her lips as everybody else fidgeted.
    With his deep voice the vicar cleared his throat and began. “Please take Lady Jane’s right hand, my lord.”
    Jason grasped a delicate hand into his and felt a jolt. Narrowing his eyes, wondering if she’d pricked him with a pin, he glanced at Lady Jane, and then quickly looked away as the room spun again. “Proceed, sir. I’ve been traveling all night.” He burped.
    The vicar opened his book and droned on about love and marriage, and the seriousness of taking vows. Jason kept yawning and tried very hard not to fall asleep. He silently recited poetry his tutor had forced him to memorize in his youth. At one point he remembered a rather risqué poem he and Drake had made up during one night of debauchery, and snorted. All heads turned to him. “Sorry,” he muttered.
    He must have provided the necessary answers, because before he knew it, the vicar removed his spectacles and smiled at them. “You may kiss the bride.”
    Jason turned to Lady Jane, bent slightly, and kissed the air near her left ear. She lifted her head and looked directly into his face. His mouth went completely dry as he gazed into two stunning violet eyes, the rims shimmering with tears. For one second he felt completely sober and a total arse. He drew back quickly, bumping his elbow into one of the solicitors who held out a pen.
    “The marriage book, my lord. You need to sign.” The stiff-necked man handed Jason a hefty tome. He brushed the man aside, balanced the book in his hand, signed where he’d indicated, then shoved it at the solicitor.
    “Going to bed,” Jason mumbled. He hesitated, and putting his arm out to keep from falling over, left the library and proceeded up the stairs to his bedroom. He collapsed face-first onto the bed fully clothed.
    I’m bloody married .
    The sentence repeated in his brain before the much-welcomed relief of sleep overcame him.
    …
    The new Lady Coventry watched in shock as her husband literally stumbled from the room, knocking into furniture as he left. She blinked rapidly to clear her eyes of tears. A surge of anger swept through her, erasing any remnant of self-pity. She didn’t deserve this.
    Apparently Lord Arrogant wasn’t happy about being married to a stranger. Well, he was a stranger to her as well and he certainly hadn’t done anything to gain her favor.
    “My lady, you need to sign the marriage book as well.” The small, beady-eyed solicitor waved toward the book Jason had just shoved at him.
    Olivia picked up the pen and added her signature.
    “Excuse me, Lady Coventry, I am a bit confused on one matter.”
    She cast him a questioning glance.
    “The letters from your father that we found in the late Earl’s papers referred to you as Lady Olivia, yet the betrothal agreement indicated Lady Jane Grant.”
    She smiled. “I understand the confusion. My full name is Lady Jane Olivia Grant. However, since my mother’s name was also Jane, Father always called me Olivia, and I’m afraid the name has stuck, and is how I am known.”
    Before the solicitor could respond, Malcolm appeared at her