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While his subordinates had, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, offered the orphaned regimental commander’s daughter their hands in marriage, Major Garrett Fairchild had said nothing. But, knowing the major’s still-smoldering feelings for his lost love, Jenna Montague hadn’t really expected her late father’s brigade major to chime in with a declaration of his own. Older and more experienced than his impetuous comrades, he was more aware of what he’d be taking on - and giving up - were he to offer her a marriage of convenience.

Jenna’s brief moment of warmth chilled. Though she wouldn’t for a moment consider taking Lord Anthony Nelthorpe to husband, if she hadn’t fallen in love with Garrett Fairchild, she might readily have considered entering such a union with either Lieutenant “Heedless Harry” Hartwell or Lieutenant Alastair Percy. But grateful as she was for their championship, she couldn’t seize that means to escape being banished to distant relatives in England. Loving Garrett as she did, she couldn’t imagine giving herself in marriage to anyone else.

And loving Garrett, she couldn’t bear marrying him, knowing the lovely Lucinda still held his heart.

Despite that firm resolve, she still had to squelch a flicker of irrational but persistent hope that the major would now shock her by suddenly confessing his love and begging for her hand.

When, of course, he did not, she looked up at him, a wobbly smile the best she could manage.

“Well, Major Fairchild? I believe ’tis time for you to drop a few pearls of worldly wisdom and convince my gallant but misguided swains of the impossibility of their plan.”

When the major didn’t reward her light tone with a smile, to her disgust Jenna once again had to extinguish a wild flash of hope.

As she mentally chastised herself, Garrett said, “Though the afternoon of your father’s funeral is far too soon for you to be forced to decide your entire future, I do think Harry’s suggestion has merit.”

So certain was she that Garrett would summarily reject Harry’s plan, Jenna was left speechless.

Seeming oblivious to her astonishment, Garrett continued, “You would remain in a society where you are known and valued, among friends who care about you. Painful as it must be to deal with this now, I do think you should seriously consider marrying one of us, Jenna.”

While Harry uttered a “bravo,” Lord Anthony looked at Garrett, eyebrows raised. “Do my ears deceive me? Or does our esteemed brigade major mean to toss his hat in the matrimonial ring as well?”

Though Jenna knew Garrett had no great liking for Lord Nelthorpe, she had never seen him direct at the man such a look of icy disdain. “I do. And I mean to beg Colonel Anderson’s wife to remain with the regiment for a few days so that Jenna has some time to decide if this is truly what she would prefer.”

“Time for Miss Montague to decide what?” came a feminine voice from the entry.

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