Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

A SCANDALOUS MAN

B ridget stood in the sitting room with her finger pointed toward the man she had encountered on the moors.

"Bridget, what are you doing?" her mother demanded.

Bridget found herself caught in a rare situation where she had no control over anything. She had walked into a room, pointed at a man, and shouted at him. She struggled to comprehend what was happening.

She lowered her arm and looked around, spotting Michael, the man her sister was to wed. Yet, the gentleman from earlier was here, too, and it made no sense. Perhaps he had stumbled upon the estate and stopped for some hay for his horse, but why would he be in the sitting room with her family?

The mystery man was the first to react. He rose from the settee and approached Bridget, extending his hand. She had no option but to take it, and she found herself feeling his strong, warm hand around hers as he introduced himself.

"Allow me to introduce myself. Nicholas Harrington, the Duke of Sheffield," he said.

Bridget had heard that name somewhere before.

"My brother is to marry your sister," Nicholas continued.

It all made sense again.

"Yes, yes," Bridget stammered. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace."

"She is surprised to see me again," Nicholas explained to the room, still holding her hand. "We met on the moors earlier on my ride here. I did not know who you were, or I might have introduced myself then."

"His Grace was able to make it here on time," Penelope noted.

Bridget looked into his green eyes once more, knowing the handshake had gone on far too long. She might not know much about him, but she could see he was a man who liked to make trouble and got what he wanted. He was also a man she was now inextricably linked to.

"I did not realize you were Lord Michael's older brother," Bridget said, withdrawing her hand.

"There are so many Harringtons in the area now that it can be hard to keep track of who is who," Nicholas admitted.

Bridget tried to remember where she had heard that name, and as she was thinking, she became painfully aware that she and the Duke were still standing in the center of the room, and they were also still the center of attention.

Bridget removed her riding cap when she realized that it was still on her head. First impressions were everything, and while she did not care what the Duke thought of her, she was making a bit of a fool of herself. She was usually calm and collected, but she had made her way into the sitting room with bluster.

"It is wonderful we can all be together before my sister is wed," Bridget said, smiling wide. "I am glad our families can come together."

"Thank you, Bridget," Margaret piped up, becoming the center of attention again. "Yes, we shall get to know each other really well over the coming two weeks. I wish to thank my betrothed for agreeing to this."

Michael Harrington stood up and went to Margaret in the center of the room. He took her hand, and it gave Bridget and Nicholas a chance not to be the focus of attention.

"I am happy to do such a thing for such a fine woman." Michael smiled. "So often, a man and a woman are thrust together without knowing one another, and while I have had the pleasure of spending time with Lady Margaret, this time I am excited to really get to know her before our wedding day."

Margaret smiled sweetly. It was all that mattered now to Bridget. If her sister were happy, then her mother would be happy, and when her family was happy, Bridget was happy.

Bridget didn't see her mother sidling up to her until she felt fingers dig into her arm.

"What has gotten into you?" Penelope hissed. "What is this about meeting men on the moors and then being late because of it?"

Bridget could not help but look across at the Duke. He was devilishly handsome, but the focus was on the devilish part. She had not known it on the moors, but she knew it now. He was trouble. The way he had held her hand for far too long was inappropriate, and he knew it. He had done it purposely to get a rise out of her, but she was better than that.

And who was he to be cutting it so fine to be riding at full speed across the moors to arrive at their manor? Bridget was only annoyed about that part because he had beaten her there.

The Duke looked back at her with a smile.

Bridget turned back to her mother. "I was not meeting men on the moors. I was out riding, and he happened to pass me by, and he might have stopped."

Penelope placed the back of her hand on her forehead. "My goodness, conversing with a man with no chaperone around. What might you do next, Bridget?"

"I won't do anything next," Bridget hissed.

Once again, she was the center of attention, having argued with her mother a little too loudly. She looked at Margaret and gave her an apologetic look.

"We shall depart soon for the estate on the coast," Margaret informed everyone. Her lips twitched as she tried to hide the smile, but it overpowered her and she grinned for a few seconds before she brought herself under control. "I will ride with my betrothed, and Mother will accompany us. We shall meet with the Dowager Duchess of Sheffield when we arrive."

Bridget looked over at the Duke again, and he was thankfully not looking back at her this time. He was too handsome for his own good, and he knew it from the way he acted. He had a confident air about him, and Bridget could see how a woman might be taken with him.

She was not such a woman. She had no interest in any man, and certainly not him.

Goodness me!

Bridget knew where she knew the name. Nicholas Harrington, the Duke of Sheffield. If she had spoken to Margaret more about her betrothed and his family, she might have been able to…

Warn her? No, she does not need to be warned. She is not marrying the Duke but his brother.

Bridget had already become irritated by the handsome Duke in a short period of time, and now she thoroughly disliked him based on his reputation alone.

She did not concern herself too often with the scandal sheets, but she had either read his name in them at one point or heard talk of him. He had a reputation for being a gambler, a drunkard, and a rake.

Oh, Margaret!

When Bridget thought about it, she realized her sister was no fool. If Margaret had dedicated herself to Michael, then he must be a good person. Margaret was an idealist, but she was not oblivious. They must be opposites: Michael, a good man, and Nicholas, a rogue.

Bridget did not need to tell her sister any of this. The Duke would not affect her, and Bridget would only be accused of causing trouble if she spoke of the Duke's reputation during the time they were all supposed to be getting to know each other. Perhaps her sister already knew about the Duke.

"Bridget, will you accompany me to get ready for the coach ride?" Margaret asked.

Once more, Bridget became caught in the act when the Duke turned to look at her, catching her eye again. She flinched and looked at her sister.

"Of course, Margaret," Bridget replied.

"I shall come too," Penelope announced. "I must ensure I have everything packed. We all know your father will have forgotten most of what he needs."

"I shall help you with that, Mother," Bridget offered.

Penelope turned to look at Bridget, and for the briefest moment, all the friction between them disappeared. Bridget saw her mother's weariness and then her gratitude. The moment was only fleeting, but it meant a lot to Bridget.

The three women left the room and headed toward the stairs.

"Oh, my goodness," Bridget whispered to her sister. "I left my riding cap in there. I shall retrieve it and meet you in your room."

Margaret nodded and quickly ascended the stairs on her tiptoes. As Bridget watched, she realized she had to make an effort for her sister's sake. This time was all about Margaret, and it would culminate in a wedding, and Margaret would have everything she had ever wanted.

As Bridget walked back to the sitting room, she had second thoughts. She did not want to see the Duke again. Now that she knew of his reputation, she feared what he might say in front of her. And he had caught her riding alone in the moors. What did he think of her reputation?

She could not avoid it. She had to return with her riding cap. If she hoped the brothers would have left the sitting room when she got there, then she was sorely mistaken. She heard them talking when she reached the doorway.

Bridget knew eavesdropping was wrong, but she was compelled to do it all the same.

"I am blessed," Michael said. "Blessed, I tell you."

"I am happy for you, Brother," Nicholas replied.

"The more you get to know her, the more you will see just how much of an angel she is. When she came to me with the idea of spending more time together before the wedding, I leaped at the chance," Michael revealed, the happiness evident in his voice. "I want to spend every waking moment with that woman. I simply cannot wait until we are married."

It warmed Bridget's heart to hear someone talk about her sister in that way, and she was glad she had stopped to eavesdrop. It confirmed what she had hoped: Micheal was nothing like his older brother.

"You deserve it, Micheal," Nicholas said. "You will make a fine husband and an even finer father. It goes a long way toward showing the type of man you are."

"I could not have done it without you," Michael noted.

"Yes, that is likely true," Nicholas agreed.

The brothers laughed together.

"I never thought I would be here," Michael admitted with some levity. "I assumed that someday I would wed, but I never expected to fall so head over heels in love with a woman. I thought there would be some arrangements made, and I would deal with the emotional side of it later. Margaret is my soul mate."

Bridget almost burst into tears.

"The two of you are perfect together," Nicholas agreed. "And for every brother like me, there is a sister like hers."

"What do you mean?" Michael asked.

Bridget realized the Duke was talking about her.

"Let's just say I am glad to have Margaret as a sister-in-law rather than Bridget," Nicholas clarified.

"Please play nice, Brother," Michael begged.

"Oh, I will," Nicholas assured him. "As long as she does. Did you hear the awful racket she made when she arrived late? She was squawking like a crow. And you should have seen the way she glared at me in the room earlier. I don't mind strong women, and I have had their company many times in the past, but she is extremely tiresome."

"She is my betrothed's sister," Michael hissed, trying to talk some sense into his brother.

"I am fully aware, but I say it how I see it. That woman is the worst sort of trouble, and I will have to be around her for a long time when we go to their estate. Still, I will be on my best behavior."

"Thank you," Michael said.

"I strive to be the bigger and better person," Nicholas told him. "She can do all she wants to try and cause problems and annoy me, but I will simply ignore her. I will not let her personality ruin the time we are all spending together."

Bridget took one step forward and caught herself. She wanted to storm into the room and give him a piece of her mind, but that would only prove his point. She balled her fists and took a breath. She was not calm, but she had enough sense to leave and go find her sister. She could retrieve her riding cap another time.

He is the rogue and blackguard! If he wishes to ignore me, then I will gladly ignore him!