Being the guardian of an heiress was hard work, especially when the heiress was Tess. She was too independent, and yet still naive and in need of his protection.

When he'd first married Stella, she had urged him to arrange a husband for Tess and move her out of his house. He knew that Stella was jealous of Tess, but he'd hoped she would grow out of it over time. It hadn't happened. If possible, the situation had grown more touchy.

This afternoon, Stella had proudly informed him that she was with child-their first, finally!-and had decided that she wanted his sister out from under their roof.

Neil stared into the bottom of his now-empty punch gla.s.s. He'd be ruined if word of what he'd done to Tess's fortune leaked out. Worse, she'd never make a good match and he'd be stuck with two bickering women the rest of his life. There had to be a way to marry Tess off without the unlucky groom being the wiser.

But how?

Chapter Two.

Brenn Owen desperately needed a wife. As the new, improvished earl of Merton, he didn't care if she was fat, ugly, or old, provided that she was rich.

He'd rather not marry for money, but he had no choice. Erwynn Keep, the estate he had inherited, was little more than an empty sh.e.l.l of a manor house surrounded by a village full of people who looked to him for their livelihood. The property wasn't entailed. He could have sold the lot and moved to London, but he wasn't the kind of man to shirk responsibility.

Besides, after years of war, he wanted peace. Often while facing battle, he'd dreamed of the life of a country gentleman. Now he had his chance to fulfill that dream, but he needed money for seed, equipment, livestock, and to rebuild the house.

Still, he couldn't prevent his gaze from drifting back to the flame-haired beauty who'd smiled at him from the doorway. Her smile could captivate a eunuch, and he certainly wasn't that.

"Merton! Are you paying attention to me?"

Brenn dragged his gaze away from the sparkling blue eyes and back to his host, Sir Charles Merriam, a man some thirty years or more his senior. They'd served together in Portugal. Back then, Sir Charles had been Brenn's commanding officer. Now, he was Brenn's guide on his wife hunt."I'm sorry. My mind wandered. What were you saying?"The corners of Sir Charles's mouth turned down. He had a balding pate and a strong hooked nose. "It's hard enough to find a suitable wife for you without you wool-gathering. If you wish my help, you'll have

to be more alert."

"Yes, sir," Brenn answered with almost military precision, although he couldn't help smiling. He was very fond of old Sir Charles. The man had been a d.a.m.n fine military officer in his day.

"Good. I'm glad we have settled that matter," Sir Charles said with irascible agreement. "Now, look

over there across the room at that yellow-haired chit."

Brenn stared in the direction he was pointing. "I'm sorry, Sir Charles, but I see exactly four yellow-haired chits between myself and that potted palm."

"Don't be impertinent. I'm talking about the one with the row of diamonds around her neck. The other

three don't count. Not a jewel on them."

Brenn now focused on the pa.s.sably pretty young woman whose gaudy necklace reflected the candlelight.

"The lady talking to the gentleman in the blue coat?"

"Yes, that's the one. Her father is related to Marlborough. No t.i.tle but she is worth two thousand a year.

What do you think? Handsome filly, what say?" "Two thousand is considerable." But unexciting. Brenn shrugged, letting his gaze wander back to the redhead. She wore a dress of filmy white muslin with gold stars embroidered in the hem around the skirt and across the bodice. Her magnificent abundance of hair was artfully styled and held in place by jeweled stars.

Two foppish young men had gathered around her, each of them posturing and preening for her benefit. She appeared to be listening to them...then her alarmingly direct gaze moved past their padded shoulders and straight at him.

He smiled.

She smiled.

He had no doubt that she was as attracted to him as he was to her.

"I don't know what you want with a d.a.m.n-fool wife anyway," Sir Charles grumbled. "They can be

nuisances and dull bores. No amount of money is worth their nonsense...I've had two and I advise you to go back to Wales, live in your hut, and be happy. You always had skill with the ladies. Don't lash yourself to only one. Enjoy them all!"

"Who is the redhead?"

"Which redhead?" Sir Charles leaned around Brenn to see where he was looking. With an abrupt noise, he rocked back on his heels, his expression distressed. "Don't tell me she's caught your eye?"

"Who is she?"

"Tess Hamlin." He practically spat the words out.

"Is she married?"

"No! But you don't want her. In fact, you should pity the poor lads talking to her instead of sendingmurderous looks their way. She may be fair of face and rich as a Turkish sultan, but she has no heart.""Rich?" The word whetted Brenn's hunting instincts."The richest. A fortune beyond compare.""More than two thousand?""More like fifty."Brenn's mind reeled at the number. "Then she's perfect! Exactly the woman I came to Town to meet."Sir Charles snorted. "Hardly.""What the devil is wrong with her?" Brenn demanded. "She looks perfect from here.""Didn't you hear what I said past the word 'rich?' The woman is as deadly as a cobra. She mesmerizes men and then poisons them for life."

His words intrigued Brenn. He dropped his voice. "Is she wicked?" he asked with delicious antic.i.p.ation.

"Think with your big head and not your small one," the older man said bluntly. "We are talking about a

wife here. The gel's never been touched, but she's still not for you. Tess Hamlin was spoiled by her late father. He was a dear friend of mine but lacking sense when it came to his daughter. Both his children really. He has a son-silly lad...but not as selfish as his sister. The chit inherited money from her mother who pa.s.sed away over a decade ago. I'm not surprised Miss Hamlin hasn't married. She thinks too highly of herself, too highly indeed."

Brenn couldn't help laughing. "Well, if I was rich, I'd be choosy too.""It is more than being choosy. She toys with men as if all of this-" The wave of his hand encompa.s.sedthe ballroom. "-was nothing more than a game." He pulled Brenn a step or two closer to the terracedoor where they wouldn't be overheard. "She turned the marquess of Redgrave down last month. Theman's a good friend of mine and he was besotted with her, had been for years. Recently, she had givenhim cause to hope. She'd smile at him-" He gritted his teeth in a poor imitation of a girlish "come hither"

grin. "-and flash her pretty blue eyes." He batted his rheumy ones. "Why, Redgrave's head wa.s.spinning like a top, and he's almost as old as myself!""What happened?""He made an offer, fully believing that it would be accepted. Turns out the girl was just playing fast and loose. Oh, she begged off prettily enough, but the answer was still the same: no. Redgrave was devastated by her rejection. He left London immediately. Couldn't face all of us-and he is a man of the world like myself. Not some young buck like you who wears his heart on his sleeve."

Brenn, who was one and thirty, was amused by Sir Charles's verdict. "I think I can take care of myself."

Sir Charles stabbed a finger at him. "In combat you have no peer...but this is a different battlefield-and that girl is a crack marksman!"

Brenn almost roared with laughter.

"I'm not being funny," Sir Charles a.s.serted.

"It didn't think you were. It's just that I had this image in my head of the girl in full military regalia takingaim at us poor men on the dance floor."Sir Charles snapped his fingers. "Yes, that's just what it is like," he agreed without humor. "I wouldn't be surprised if she kept a tally of the hearts she has stolen.""Now that's ridicu-""Lord Merton, Sir Charles," Lady Garland's trilling voice interrupted them. "I am so glad I found you.""Didn't know we were lost," Sir Charles said grumpily.Lady Garland laughed and swatted him on the arm with her ivory fan. "Such a dear you are. Cheeky, cheeky, cheeky. But I've actually come in search of our young earl. There is someone I especially wish

to introduce to you, my lord."She didn't wait for Brenn's answer but took his arm and started to steer him away. "Have a gla.s.s ofpunch, Sir Charles, and I'll return the earl in a thrice." She then gave him her back before Sir Charlescould answer.

"I know you and he are close," she whispered to Brenn, "but I find him a bit trying."

Brenn merely smiled his answer. He placed Lady Garland's arm in the crook of his which made walkingeasier, especially with his limp. "Where are you taking me?""You'll see," she answered with a cryptic smile and directed him toward a group of men. She tapped the back of the nearest man with her fan. He shifted and Brenn found himself face-to-face with the lovely

Miss Hamlin.

"Shoo! Shoo!" Lady Garland said, waving the other gentlemen away as if slapping flies. "I wish a moment alone with Miss Hamlin."

They had no choice but to gallantly step aside, although one mumbled something ungracious and receiveda rap of Lady Garland's fan for his temper. She released Brenn's arm and stepped forward. "MissHamlin, this is Brenn Owen, the new earl of Merton. It's in Wales." She made the country sound asforeign as Calcutta. "My lord, may I introduce Miss Tess Hamlin."

Brenn took the last step forward, conscious of his obvious limp, and yet Miss Hamlin seemed unaware of it. Instead, she met his eyes, her cool gaze as bold as any man's.

In that moment, he knew he liked her.

He bowed over her gloved hand. "Miss Hamlin."

"My lord." Her voice was warm, husky, and a far cry from the shyly sweet sopranos of the other debutantes he had met this evening. It made him feel as if he were the only man in the room.

"You don't dance, Lord Merton, but perhaps you can take Miss Hamlin on a turn around the terrace?"

Lady Garland hinted.

He picked up on the cue. "That is an excellent suggestion. That is, if Miss Hamlin would enjoy a breath of fresh air."

"Yes, I would, my lord," the lady agreed.

"Then I'll leave the two of you to become acquainted," Lady Garland said, her eyes dancing with

matchmaking possibilities. She then seized one of the disgruntled young gentlemen who had been wooing Miss Hamlin and hurried him off to dance with a shy, mousy girl who was a distant cousin of hers.

For a moment, Brenn wanted to pinch himself to see if he wasn't dreaming. There was no doubt in his

mind that Miss Hamlin had been the one to request an introduction. He nodded toward the terrace door.

"Shall we take a stroll?"She smiled, a smile that made Brenn feel a touch light-headed. She was extraordinary. Her skin was likethe smoothest cream, except for the smattering of light freckles across the bridge of her nose. He wasglad they were there. They reminded him that she was human, although they didn't stop him from wantingto shout, Marry me, Miss Hamlin. Let me make you happy in exchange for your prodigious fortune! Shewas so delicious to look at, he'd been tempted to marry her even without money.

They had traveled halfway toward the door when Sir Charles stepped into her path. "Merton don't

dance," he said bluntly. "And I have someone I want him to meet."

She didn't react to his rudeness. Instead, she held out her hand. "Sir Charles, you were one of my father'

s favorite friends. How good it is to see you again."

Brenn hid a small smile as his crusty old friend was forced out of his defensive stance to take her hand.