Find Me A Wife 1

Hey! Sorry for the wait. Lost my laptop and then took a while choosing a new one. It's hard when four ppl are shoving features you can't understand under your nose! Hope you enjoy this and please please do comment!..

Love

AB
---

Lady Saoirse Audley grumbled at her beloved father, the Duke of Ashbrook, "Daddy, must I go with Lady Ellen. She's truly very stuffy."
Moved beyond reason by his daughter's teary eyes, the Duke was wavered, but fortunately his wife came to his rescue.

"Darling, the Continent is no good place to be at such time. And we'll only be gone a month."

Pouty pink lips jutted out signaling protest, but Saoirse held her tongue, knowing that arguments would come to nothing.

Her parents looked at each other over her head in silent relief, they'd prepared themselves for outright mutiny.

Saoirse sat on the window seat in her pretty white muslin night gown while her maid, Ella packed her trunks. The rain beat down on the glass panes, as Saoirse heaved another deep sigh.
________________________________________________________________________________

Cedric's hand crushed the expensive notepaper and swore loudly, bringing Matthew who's been dozing on the sofa, awake.

"Bloody hell Ced. What made you swear like a damn sailor?"

Lobbing the ball of paper into the roaring fire, Cedric snarled, "Our dear Aunt Ellen, is bringing a guest. Dammit, doesn't she understand that we're too hardpressed to entertain some debutante?"

Scowling at his brother Matthew said, "Just send her a footman telling her not to bring the girl."

Cedric ground out, "She's the Duke of Ashbrook's daughter. He's next to the prince in his influence, he's not an unreasonable man, but I wouldn't want to offend him in any case."

"Well then, here goes nothing,"

___________________________________________________________________________________

Saoirse woke up with a start as the carriage jolted to a stop. She nearly slid off her seat because of the impact, but was saved by Lady Ellen's strong grip on her forearm, "There now you silly chit. You all youngster's are so delicate you can't keep a seat in a carriage."

Saoirse suppressed a retort because she knew that would only elicit the 82nd scolding. Yes, she'd been counting how many times she's been told off by her chaperone. It was the only source of entertainment.

The carriage was flooded with the afternoon sun, as the door was thrown open by a footman.

Following Lady Ellen's instructions, Saoirse stepped out first.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Cedric and Matthew had been hurrying to the drive when suddenly Cedric came to a halt and Matthew only just managed not to crash into him.

Cedric, stood there, haste forgotten, anger forgotten as he stared at the sight before him.

A woman. No a girl, with the charm of the woman. His eyes burned feverishly as he took in the delightful picture she made stepping out form the elaborate carriage. Dainty jet black curls peeped out from under her bonnet, highlighting her pale, milky complexion. The emerald green eyes that shone out of that angelic face, were like jewels that complemented her lush rosebud mouth. His eyes trailed down her torso to absorb the sheer beauty of the 5 foot lush body encased in a petal pink gown.

A nudge from his grinning brother propelled him forward as devilish thoughts plagued his mind. Those thoughts came to a standstill as their Scottish aunt alighted from the carriage and directed her glare onto them, "There you sre you ruffians. Why are you dawdling there? And Saoirse, please stop slouching in the shadows, come forward."

Cedric was shocked to his core by the anger he felt towards his aunt when he saw Saoirse's pretty mouth clench sadly. He shook his head to clear such thoughts and pulled himself upright, "Aunt Ellen, it's good to have you here. I trust you had a pleasant journey?"

Lady Ellen was still glaring at him, but there was a slight hint of laughter in her eyes," It was seemly. Let me introduce you to Lady Saoirse Durham, she's The Duke of Ashbrook's daughter and she'll be residing with me till her parents return from the continent. Come forward girl, he's not going to eat you."

Blushing furiously at Lady Ellen's comments, Saoirse stepped forward, closer to the man she thought looked like Adonis. At 6'4, Cedric towered over everybody, he was a huge man, a mountain of muscle and had thick chocolate coloure hair and sparkly grey-blue eyes.

"It's indeed a pleasure to meet you Lady Saoirse."

Saoirse looked into Cedric's handsome eyes as she fought with the fluttering inside her, slightly surprised by his less than warm welcome.," The pleasure is mine Your Grace. You have a beautiful house."

Cedric let go of the small soft hand ensconed in his much bigger ones as he turned to his aunt, "Perhaps we should carry on our conversation in the drawing room Aunt Ellen, the sun is almost overhead."


Without waiting for his aunt to retort, Cedric, took her arm and started walking to the house, when his Aunt dug her heels in, "Stop behaving like a schoolboy with no manner Cedric," turning to Saoirse, who's eyes were flashing at the insult she continued, " My dear the ruffian standing to the side and grinning is my brother's younger son Matthew, the Earl of Middleton.

Saoirse turned her attention to the younger brother, her armour in place. She didn't extend her hand, only directed a cool nod in his direction.

Lady Ellen took Matthew's arm as she started walking towards the house, leaving Cedric to offer Saoirse his arm. Shooting a look of cool indifference towards The Duke, Saoirse flounced off after her chaperone, effectively destroying Ellen's scheme.

The Duke followed at a slower pace, his eyes narrowed. He didn't need a silly chit messing up his brain at a time like this. And definitely not a spoilt brat who behaved atrociously. But his mouth turned down as he recalled that he'd given her enough reason to behave that way by slighting her. Lady Saoirse was a problem. A problem that he would have to studiously ignore.

But what he should have felt about devouring the cakes that waited for them in the drawing room, he felt for Lady Saoirse.