Wed Him Before You Bed Him Read Free

money to leave the school a huge sum?”
    He flashed her a thin smile. “Sarah’s fortune was substantial. Why do you think she and I were forced to elope six years ago? Her father was none too happy to see so much money go to a ‘titled wastrel.’”
    The conversation was dancing very near to their own situation years ago, and that was the last thing she wanted.
    Yet she could not ignore his opening. “Speaking of Sarah’s family, how do they feel about this bequest?”
    â€œThey don’t know of it, and I prefer to keep it that wayas long as possible. It would pain her brother in particular to learn that Sarah gave money to your school rather than to her siblings. She and Richard were quite close, and she left him only a token amount. I hope I can count on your discretion.”
    â€œOf course,” she said.
    He cleared his throat. “About the building…I understand that the school’s situation is rather unsettled just now. That Samuel Pritchard means to sell Rockhurst to a fellow who runs a racing establishment.”
    â€œYou know Mr. Pritchard?”
    â€œWe’ve met in society a time or two.”
    She leaned forward. “Do you know if the sale is certain? It will be the ruin of the school if they build a racecourse next door.”
    â€œI can see how it would create difficulties for you,” David said. “But surely you could sell this house and property to build the school elsewhere. That would solve your difficulties, wouldn’t it?”
    â€œFor heaven’s sake, no. Aside from the fact that I prefer this location, I do not own the house or the property.”
    He did not seem surprised to hear it. “Then who does?”
    Charlotte stared down at her hands, wondering what David would think of her strange relation. “To be truthful, I do not know my landlord’s real name. When he offered the property for my use, it was with the condition that I allow him to remain anonymous. He…er…communicates with me using an alias. We go through a solicitor, a Mr. Joseph Baines.”
    â€œNorcourt’s solicitor?” David asked.
    â€œYes, actually.” Anthony Dalton, Lord Norcourt, was one of David’s closest friends and had married Madeline, aformer teacher from Charlotte’s school. “Anthony and I had a good laugh about it when I learned that he and Cousin Michael have the same solicitor. Do you know Mr. Baines?”
    â€œIn passing.” His eyes narrowed. “Cousin Michael. Sarah mentioned him once. He’s your anonymous benefactor?”
    â€œYes, though he has been virtually nonexistent of late.”
    â€œA pity,” he said, rather curtly. “Now, about your situation with Mr. Pritchard…”
    But she did not hear anything else, caught by an astonishing thought. What if David was Cousin Michael? Might that explain the sudden supposed “bequest” from Sarah to build a new school?
    No, it was impossible. Her “cousin” had approached her through Mr. Baines only four years after the summer of the Great Debacle and her hasty elopement with Jimmy Harris. He had said that her late husband had mentioned her interest in opening a girl’s school and that he wanted to help her achieve her dream.
    At that point, David’s public humiliation at her hands would have been fresh in his mind. He would have hated her virulently. He would certainly not have helped her start a school.
    Besides, she had seen the solicitor’s name at the top of David’s document, and it was not Joseph Baines.
    â€œCharlotte?” David prodded. “What do you think?”
    She blinked, then sighed. “I am afraid I must once again beg your pardon. I was so caught up in considering this bequest that I missed what you said about Mr. Pritchard, my lord.”
    â€œMy lord?” His eyes darkened. “Surely we’ve known each other long enough to be less formal.”