Bride By Mistake Read online

  “I loved Bride By Mistake. Gracie creates two great characters, a high tension relationship, and a

  wonderfully satisfying ending. Not to be missed!”

  —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling

  author of Nowhere Near Respectable

  “I never miss an Anne Gracie book.”

  —Julia Quinn

  Praise for Anne Gracie’s novels

  The Accidental Wedding

  “Anne Gracie’s writing dances that thin line between always familiar and always fresh. She is able to take a Cinderella story with all the inherent—and comfortable—tradition, mix in a few recognizable elements, add a dash of the unexpected and a sprinkling of the unpredictable, and come up with a luscious indulgence of a novel… The Accidental Wedding is warm and sweet, tempered with bursts of piquancy and a dash or three of spice. Like chocolate and chilli, this novel is your favorite comfort food, with an unexpected—delicious—twist.”

  —New York Journal of Books

  “Gracie takes conventions of the romance novel that have been done to death—amnesia, injured hero, heroine who does too much—and turns them into a story that is fresh and new and interesting. That takes talent. And this, plus two charming main characters, a suspenseful subplot, and some delightful love scenes, makes for a near-perfect read.”

  —All About Romance

  “Gracie paints an affecting portrait of a woman surviving parental neglect to manage a home via her wits and a diplomat who’s not so diplomatic when it comes to the woman he wants but won’t admit he loves. A finely crafted tale, with just the right amount of sexuality.”

  —Library Journal

  “Gracie writes a traditional amnesia plot with charm and grace. Appealing characters allow readers to experience their emotions and smile with happiness.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “Sure to please the fussiest of historical romance readers.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Anne Gracie does it again: The Accidental Wedding is funny, charming, and completely endearing… There are some authors I pick up when I just want some comfort at the end of a long day. Anne Gracie is one of them. Although the stories have their share of excitement, ultimately it’s the love between the characters and the remarkably well-drawn relationships that pull me in and keep me in the story.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  “A fairy tale any girl would love. Two people, likely to never know love, find each other to make the perfect match in this extraordinary love story. Anne Gracie’s writing is historical romance at its best… Anne Gracie has created a story of Cinderella finding her prince and doing her best to give them the most perfect happily ever after… [It’s] a delightful and fanciful novel that is charmingly romantic and sure to mesmerize you long after you’ve read it!”

  —The Season

  “Gracie has created some of the best heroines in romance fiction… Nobody is better than Anne Gracie at evoking tears and laughter within a single story.”

  —The Romance Dish

  Praise for

  To Catch a Bride

  “Anne Gracie at her best, with a dark and irresistible hero, a rare and winsome heroine, and a ravishing romance. Catch a copy now! One of the best historical romances I’ve read in ages.”

  —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

  “Swiftly moving… Appealing and unconventional… Will captivate readers.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “Threaded with charm and humor… [An] action-rich, emotionally compelling story… It is sure to entice readers.”

  —Library Journal (starred review)

  “There is so much I liked about this one, it’s hard to find a place to start.”

  —All About Romance

  “It was loveable and laugh-out-loud, full of heart and of memorable and interesting characters.”

  —Errant Dreams Reviews

  “A fascinating twist on the girl-in-disguise plot… With its wildly romantic last chapter, this novel is a great antidote to the end of the summer.”

  —Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author

  “One of the difficulties of reviewing a favorite author is running out of superlatives. An Anne Gracie novel is guaranteed to have heart and soul, passion, action, and sprinkles of humor and fun.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  Praise for

  His Captive Lady

  “With tenderness, compassion, and a deep understanding of the era, Gracie touches readers on many levels with her remarkable characters and intense exploration of their deepest human needs. Gracie is a great storyteller.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick)

  “Once again, author Anne Gracie has proven what an exceptionally gifted author is all about… She gives life to unforgettable characters and brings her readers along for the ride in what has proven to be an exciting, fun, and heartfelt emotional journey. Absolutely one of the best romances I’ve read this year!”

  —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

  “Anne Gracie has created a deeply emotional, at times heart-wrenching, journey for these two people who must learn to trust one another with their deepest feelings and darkest fears.”

  —Romance Novel TV

  “A winner… A charming, witty, and magical romance… Anne Gracie is a treasure.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  Praise for

  The Stolen Princess

  “Gracie begins the Devil Riders series with a fast-paced and enticing tale… Captures both the inherent tension of the story and the era with her hallmark charm and graceful prose.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “Anne Gracie’s talent is as consistent as it is huge. I highly recommend The Stolen Princess and look forward to the rest of the series.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Anne Gracie always delivers a charming, feel-good story with enchanting characters. I love all of Ms. Gracie’s stories and The Stolen Princessis no exception. It stole my heart, as it will yours.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  Berkley Sensation Titles by Anne Gracie

  THE PERFECT RAKE

  THE PERFECT WALTZ

  THE PERFECT STRANGER

  THE PERFECT KISS

  THE STOLEN PRINCESS

  HIS CAPTIVE LADY

  TO CATCH A BRIDE

  THE ACCIDENTAL WEDDING

  BRIDE BY MISTAKE

  Bride

  By Mistake

  Anne Gracie

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

  (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

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  (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

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  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagina
tion or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  BRIDE BY MISTAKE

  A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

  Printing History

  Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / January 2012

  Copyright © 2012 by Anne Gracie.

  Cover art by Judy York.

  Cover design by George Long.

  Cover hand lettering by Ron Zinn.

  Interior text design by Laura K. Corless.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-0-425-24579-8

  BERKLEY SENSATION®

  Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  BERKLEY SENSATION® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  In memory of my beloved dog, Chloe,

  who kept me company through

  the writing of the last ten books.

  A loving companion,

  she found joy in the simplest of things.

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Epilogue

  One

  London 1819

  “You’re a madman, Ripton!”

  Luke Ripton shrugged and gathered his reins. “The curricle can be repaired, Jarvis. At least your horses aren’t injured.”

  “No thanks to you!” Jarvis snarled. “Passing me like that—you damned near grazed my wheels—”

  “But I didn’t,” Luke coldly interrupted. The man drove like an over-anxious debutante. “There was no need to swerve so violently. You had only to hold your nerve.”

  “Nerve? I’ll give you nerve.” Jarvis started forward, only to be restrained by the friends who’d come to witness—and bet on—the race.

  “Steady on, Jarvis. Lord Ripton won fair and square,” said one of his friends.

  “You were a fool to challenge him in the first place,” said another, a little too drunk for tact. “Everyone knows Ripton don’t care if he lives or dies. Makes him—hic!—unbeatable.”

  Luke tipped his hat to his still fuming opponent and drove away. Was it true? Did he care if he lived or died?

  He considered the question as he drove back into town. It was not untrue, he decided as he turned into Upper Brook Street. He wasn’t certain he deserved to live. He’d tempted fate often enough.

  But fate, it seemed, had other plans for him.

  The letter in his pocket confirmed it.

  He pulled up outside his mother’s town house. The house belonged to him, of course—it came with the title he’d inherited when his uncle and cousins had been drowned two years ago. But though Luke was fond of his mother and youngest sister, he preferred not to live with them. His mother had a tendency to fuss. Luke preferred his bachelor lodgings, a neat suite of rooms in Clarges Street, where nobody questioned his comings or goings.

  “Thank God!” Lady Ripton exclaimed as Luke entered the drawing room. She rang for fresh tea and cakes.

  He kissed the cheek she raised. “I’m not unduly late, am I?” She’d asked him to call on her in the morning. It was just before eleven.

  “No, but I was worried about you, of course. These frightful races! I don’t understand why—”

  “—why impertinent busybodies bother you with things that are not your concern,” Luke interrupted. He’d done his best to keep such activities from his mother, dammit.

  “Not my concern? My son, my only son, risking his neck in the most reckless—”

  “My neck is in perfect order, Mama. I apologize for any unnecessary worry,” Luke said crisply. And when he found out who’d been passing tittle-tattle to his mother, he’d wring their neck. “Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

  As if he didn’t know. Molly’s impending come-out was all his mother and sister talked of. Even though Luke had given her carte blanche to order whaatever she liked, Mama still wanted him to approve all the arrangements—her way of reminding him he was head of the family. How she’d react if he ever actually made a suggestion of his own…

  Mama had been a widow since Luke was a schoolboy and Molly a little girl. Luke had been away at war since he was eighteen, and Mama had managed to launch and successfully marry off Luke’s two older sisters. She was accustomed to ruling the roost, though if anyone suggested as much, she would be horrified. It was a man’s job to rule.

  So each week they went through the ritual of Mama producing plans and expenditure and Luke approving.

  He drank his tea and listened with half an ear. Today he was even less interested in her arrangements than usual. He had to tell her about the letter in his pocket.

  She wasn’t going to like it.

  “Now, about the ball, I thought we’d invite forty to dine beforehand. Molly and I have compiled a list, but there’s the question of who you would like us to invite. I don’t mean dearest Rafe, Harry, or Gabe, and their wives, of course—naturally they are already on the list. Molly has never forgotten how, when she was still a little girl, all you boys promised to dance with her at her come-out. Thank God you all came back from the war.”

  Not all, Luke thought, but then his mother hadn’t known Michael very well.

  “Is there anyone special you’d like me to invite? Any special lady?” she said with delicate emphasis.

  “Lady Gosforth?” he said, naming his friends’ great aunt.

  His mother slapped him lightly on the hand. “Do not be provoking, Luke. You know very well what I mean. It’s two years since you came into your uncle’s title, and it’s high time you thought seriously about marriage.”

  Ah. His opening. Luke set down his teacup. “As to that, I have been thinking seriously about marriage.” Damned seriously, in fact.

  His mother leaned eagerly forward. “You have a bride in mind?”

  “More than in mind; almost in hand, you might say.” He swallowed. It was harder than he’d thought to admit what he’d done.

  “Almost in hand? I don’t understand. You mean you’re about to propose?”

  “No. I’m married.”

  “Married?” Her teacup froze halfway to her mouth. Her wrist trembled and the cup dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers and clattered to the table, spilling tea over the delicate polished surface. His mother ignored it. There was a long silence, then she said in a voice that shook only a little, “You cannot be serious!”

  “I am. Quite serious.” He rose and went to the sherry decanter.

  “But when did you mar
ry? And who’s the girl? And why, for God’s sake, why?”

  He poured her a glass of sherry and thought about how to present his marriage in the best possible light. It wasn’t going to be easy. He wasn’t sure there was a best light.

  She took the glass in a distracted manner. “Don’t tell me—she’s some designing harpy who tricked you into—”

  “Nothing of the sort!” he said firmly. “Do not take me for a fool, Mama. She is a lady, very respectable, very well born—”

  “A widow,” said his mother in a hollow voice.

  “Far from it. She is young, the same age as Molly, not yet one-and-twenty.”

  His mother eyed him shrewdly, looking for the fly in the ointment. “What’s her name? Who are her people?”

  “Her name is Isabella Mercedes Sanchez y Vaillant, and she is the only daughter of the Conde de Castillejo.”

  His mother’s elegant brows snapped together. “Foreigners?”

  “Spanish aristocracy.” It was a quiet reprimand.

  “Refugees.” She sighed. “I suppose she is desperately impoverished.”

  “On the contrary, she is an heiress. And she is not a refugee.”

  She frowned, looking puzzled. “I haven’t heard of any Spanish heiresses visiting London. Where did you meet her?”

  “In Spain, during the war.”

  “During the war?” His mother blinked. “So long ago? Then what has she been doing all this time?”

  “Sewing samplers and doing her lessons, I imagine.”

  “Sewing—” She broke off, gave him a narrow look, then said with dignity, “This is no time for teasing, Luke. Why have I not met her? Met her parents? And why such a hole-in-the-corner wedd—”

  “Her parents are dead. And you have not met her for the very good reason that she is still in Spain.” And he wasn’t teasing.

  “In Spain?” She frowned. “But it’s years since you were in Spain. I don’t understand. How can you have married a girl who is still in Spain?”

  Luke glanced away. “The marriage was some time ago.”

  She leaned forward, her face filled with foreboding. “How long ago?”

  “In the spring of 1811.”

  She did the sums. “Eight years ago? When you were nineteen?” She stared, her brow crumpled with bewilderment. “And all this time you never thought to tell me? Why, Luke? Why?”