Redheaded Devil’s child is what he called Eamon. Lord knew his own father believed as much. Red hair, particularly on a male, was not only unfashionable, but most people-the English in particular-viewed it as a defect or, in the case of zealots, a mark of the devil. He knew his brother was in jest, but the quip stung just the same. “Says the boy with ginger hair.”Įamon grimaced. Still, is she ugly or defective? I’d be wary if I were you.”Īidan snorted. “The contract stipulates a rather large bride-price.” “However, Father’s massive fortune appeared to be the deciding factor for the titled but cash-poor earl.” Aidan gave a careless shrug. And if he believed the tales, which he did, they were just as strange as he was. Their mother’s family was Scots, from which Eamon had gained his red hair. They tend to stick to their own.” As did the Irish, for that matter. I realize that the Scots probably hold us in higher regard than they do the English, but not by much. I’d reckon he’d rather marry his daughter off to a titled gentleman, no offense.”Īidan gave a small smile at that, but tension still had hold of him. “Rather odd, considering Ballyloch is a lord. It smelled vaguely of lavender and horse. Ballyloch took it in the form of an arranged marriage between his firstborn and father’s.”Įamon fingered the edge of the fine linen paper. “Apparently, when Father went down to London a few months back, Lord Edward Moran, Earl of Ballyloch, saved Father’s life during a gaming brawl. At nineteen, Aidan was still shorter than Eamon, who was seventeen, but his body moved with quick assurance whereas Eamon bumbled about, still trying to adjust to his overly large frame. Father told me a fortnight ago.” He scowled and paced over to the fire. “How old is the chit?”Īidan sighed and ran a hand through his yellow curls. “You are really to be married to this girl?” Eamon asked. The sender was Lady Luella Jane Moran, the name written in childish and rather florid script. ![]() And Aidan had brought it directly to him with the usual order to “read it.” ![]() It had come in the morning’s post, addressed to Aidan. Still gaping, Eamon turned the letter over to read the address once more. “ ‘Glorified stud service’? This must be in jest,” he said to his brother.Īidan was less amused. As I find arranged marriages to be both archaic and tantamount to a glorified stud service-’ ”Įamon broke off with a choked laugh. “‘Dear Sir, it has come to my attention, by way of a most distressing yet undeniable order, that we are to be married.
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