Wicked And Wild: Spencers in Love Book Two Read Free Page B

!" Maman yelled, like a
savage.
                A moment later, Elise drifted into the hall.
Lucy, a gangly mastiff puppy flopped clumsily behind her.
                "What is going on out here?" She asked
as she giggled.
                "Lucien is going to ask Mirabelle to marry
him tonight!" Maman gushed as she stood up.
                Elise smiled beatifically.
                "I knew he would."
                Maman grabbed Mirabelle by the hand and tugged
her towards her room, pulling Elise along as well. Lucy woofed and tumbled
after them.
                "We must find the perfect dress."
Maman declared. "And we must get Madeline here at once."

Chapter 5
               
    Lucien stared out the window
impatiently as his carriage negotiated the busy London streets. He, Gilles and
Alastair belonged to White's and Brooks's but he was certain that they'd be at
White's at this time of the day as it tended to be less crowded. He thought of
Mirabelle waiting and felt almost frantic. Lucien cursed and beat on the roof
of the carriage. As soon as it halted, he jumped out.
                "Wait for me at White's" he yelled as
he pushed through to the sidewalk and ran as well as he could through the
crowds.
                The realization that Mirabelle could have
accepted any of the twelve men that had asked for her hand filled Lucien with
panic. She could have belonged to another man and he would have had to live his
life without her. He would have woken up and realized he was in love with her
and it would have been too late. Lucien needed to hear Mirabelle agree to be
his as soon as possible. Once she said yes, he would make it all up to her. All
the waiting and frustration would be forgotten.
                Lucien reached White's and nodded to the doorman
as he rushed in. He strode quickly through the halls and into their usual room.
In the back corner, in the shadows, Gilles and Alastair lounged at their usual
table nursing large brandies. Gilles nodded in greeting and signaled for a
drink for Lucien as he sat. Alastair raised his glass in greeting.
                "You look serious." Gilles said as he
stretched and crossed his arms behind his head.
                "I am." Lucien nodded as he looked at
the two people he trusted most in the world. He hoped they'd forgive him.
"We need to talk." Alastair leaned forward and Gilles sat up. Lucien
took a deep breath. "I want to marry Mirabelle." He said cautiously.
                For many moments Gilles and Alastair were
completely still. Neither blinked nor appeared to breathe. Lucien felt his
shirt cling to his stomach and back as he started to perspire. Then, both
answered at the same time.
    "No." from Alastair, and "Why?" from
Gilles. Alastair shook his head and started to stand. Gilles grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
                Alastair hesitated before he sat down.
                "Why, Lucien?" Gilles repeated.
                Lucien looked Gilles in the eye.
                "Because I love her and I won't be complete
without her."
                "You love all women, Lucien." Alastair
said flatly as he examined his brandy.
                "No. I've never loved any of them. She's
the only one I've ever loved." Lucien admitted.
                Alastair looked at him; his face was completely
free of emotion.
                "She's loved you for approximately eighteen
years and you've shown no interest. In fact, you've shown interest in every
woman but Mirabelle. Now, you say you've "loved" her?"
                Lucien raked a hand through his hair and nodded.
He deserved this. To have it from Alastair, who generally avoided discussing
emotions and interfering in relationships, was a sign of how bothered he was.
                "I think I've always loved her but I was
too immature and