The Sherbrooke Bride (Sherbrooke Brides 1)

Douglas said nothing whilst he poured himself a brandy. He sipped it, then waved his snifter at Tony. I am going to kill this miserable sot. Would you like to second me, Ryder?”

“You’ve a tear in your britches. And no, I truly cannot second you. I like Tony. I always have. Look, Douglas, it seems to me that you must allow a relative some latitude, particularly a relative of Tony’s closeness. We spent much of our boyhood together. He has never before done you in, has he? No, you will be forced to say, and I must agree. Thus, it’s just this one time that he has fallen off the cousinly straight and narrow. Only one time. Thus, forgiveness is—”

Douglas threw his brandy snifter at Ryder, who promptly ducked. The glass shattered against the brick hearth.

There was a knock on the library door.

“Come in,” Tony shouted.

Hollis entered, carrying a massive silver tray with the Northcliffe crest emblazoned upon it—a lion with his front paws on a shield, looking both noble and vicious. “I brought some refreshments, my lord.”

“Which lord?” Douglas said.

“You, my lord.”

“Ha! You came because you feared I was trying to murder Tony again.”

“It’s wise to be vigilant, my lord. Here are also some rather tasty scones from Mrs. Tanner’s kitchen, your favorite, my lord. And Master Ryder, here is your favorite strawberry jam. Come, my lord.”

“What about me, Hollis?” Tony said.

“For you, my lord, there are thick slices of shortbread.”

“Ah, you

are a prince among butlers, Hollis.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Douglas cursed under his breath, Tony reached for a slice of shortbread, and Ryder had his hand around the jam pot.

Hollis stood back, feeling a modicum of relief. When he heard the footsteps from outside the library door, however, he felt himself pale. Oh dear, now wasn’t the time for the two wives to make appearances. But there was naught he could do.

Both ladies came into the library. Lady Melissande glided forward on graceful feet; Lady Alexandra made solid thuds until she reached the thick Aubusson carpet. Lady Melissande’s glorious black hair was in soft waves and ringlets about her face; Lady Alexandra’s hair was a lovely color, true, but it straggled out of the crooked bun at the nape of her neck. She needed more time in front of her mirror. Lady Melissande’s gown was a soft peach silk that draped over her womanly shape with subtle invitation—she’d changed from the lavender. Lady Alexandra wore a pale blue gown with nothing more memorable than a deplorably high neck.

With the two females standing side by side, Ryder understood his brother’s sense of betrayal. He had a mouth full of scone and strawberry jam. He swallowed too quickly and choked and continued to choke. Alex calmly walked to him, and hit him as hard as she could with her fist between his shoulder blades.

She nearly knocked him over with the force of her blow. He stopped choking, however. Still red-faced, Ryder looked up at the young lady and quickly got to his feet. He studied her in silence for several moments, then nodded slowly.

He took her hand and kissed the wrist. “I’m Ryder, your brother-in-law. You’re Alexandra.”

“Yes. Are you all right?”

“You nearly sent my back through my chest, but yes, I am quite fine now. The bit of scone found its proper way down. Welcome to the Sherbrooke family. Did you really knock Douglas off his horse?”

Alex shook her head even as she said, “I didn’t really mean to do it at the time.”

“Ha! I recall making an observation about something quite bland and you coshed me onto the ground!”

“She is quite large and brawny, isn’t she?” Ryder said. He lightly closed his fingers around her upper arm. “Ah, strong as an Amazon and as muscled as Squire Maynard’s bull. She is terrifying, Douglas, she certainly is.”

“You weren’t at all bland,” Alexandra said to Douglas.

“Neither am I,” Melissande said.

Tony laughed. “No one in his right mind would ever call you bland, sweetheart.”

“Would you call me succulent?”