To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars)

Arabella felt her cheeks flush at his suggestive remark. This was more like the Marcus she had first come to know. For the past three nights when she retired for bed, he had given her nothing more than a chaste kiss on her fingertips. But even that mild caress had her skin tingling, and she lay awake each night thinking of him, remembering the startling pleasure he had given her the afternoon of their picnic and wondering when he would attempt any repetition.

It would not be tonight, Arabella realized a half hour later, for all he did was wish her sweet dreams, without so much as touching her hand.

His tame dismissal left her strangely dissatisfied-until she scolded herself and resolved to focus her energies on tomorrow’s ball rather than on the provoking Earl of Danvers.

The next afternoo

n Arabella ended her labors on the house early in order to dress for the important event. She and Marcus were to take his carriage to Tess’s house to collect Roslyn and Lily and Tess and escort them all to the ball.

Since he had hired an abigail to look after Arabella’s wardrobe and to help her dress, it took her less time than usual to bathe and arrange her hair and don her ball gown. When she studied herself in the cheval glass, she was quite satisfied with her appearance.

Her new abigail, Nan, was more effusive. “Oh, Miss, yer a breathtaking sight!”

Her gown was indeed an exquisite confection-silver net over emerald sarcenet that set off her gray eyes and red-gold hair, while the moderately low decolletage and puffed sleeves exposed a fashionable amount of skin.

She was about to go downstairs when Marcus surprised her by sending up a footman bearing a velvet jeweler’s box, which contained a delicate emerald necklace and matching earbobs. Arabella hesitated at first to accept such an expensive gift, even though it wasn’t improper between guardian and ward. But when Nan cooed over the jewels, she relented enough to try them on and discovered they embellished her gown perfectly.

Marcus seemed to agree, for when she joined him in the drawing room, he stared at her for a long moment before offering her a devastating smile. “That lovely gown and necklace almost does you justice.”

“You should not have gone to such expense,” Arabella remarked, hiding her flush at his flattery.

“Of course I should have. It was entirely my pleasure.”

Marcus himself looked irresistibly handsome in black-and-white evening clothes, and Arabella was keenly aware of him as he helped her on with her satin wrap and then escorted her to his carriage. As they drove the short distance to Tess’s house, however, she distracted herself by reviewing for him the names and ranks and relationships of the guests he was likely to encounter at the ball, some of whom had already called at Danvers Hall to make his acquaintance and scrutinize her.

Her sisters and her friend were awaiting them with varying degrees of eagerness, Arabella discovered when they were admitted to the house.

Tess was definitely the most sanguine about attending this evening’s ball. She was always welcomed at assemblies and balls, for despite her lack of significant fortune, her birth and breeding were exceptional. And since her mother’s family hailed from nearby Richmond, Tess was a great favorite with the older matrons and dowagers in the district.

Roslyn, who looked stunningly beautiful in her new evening finery, maintained an appearance of cool detachment, but Arabella suspected she was keenly hoping the evening turned out well. Roslyn stood the most to gain from their reinstatement, since she was not quite ready to abandon the prospect of having a husband and children someday. And after the mortification of being offered several shameful propositions by various rakes and reprobates, she was more willing than her sisters to accept their new guardian’s protection and support.

Lily, Arabella knew, had no desire to associate with any of the disdainful arbiters of the haute ton. Yet even Lily understood how momentous this evening could be to their futures. Thankfully, she had agreed not only to attend, but to make an effort to be charming and ladylike.

“You promised to exhibit no trace of the hoyden tonight, remember, Lily?” Arabella reminded her as Marcus helped the ladies on with their cloaks and wraps.

Lily gave a droll smile. “I remember. You needn’t worry, Belle. I would not have endured all those excruciating fittings or primped for hours this afternoon if I planned to spoil our big night.”

“Well, the result is splendid.”

Lily dimpled before twirling around in her new apparel. “We do look elegant, don’t we?”

Arabella had to laugh. While Lilian felt more at home in a shabby old riding habit, she was feminine enough to appreciate a beautiful gown.

Arabella was as pleased with her sisters’ ball gowns as she was with her own. Roslyn wore elegant white lace over deep rose silk that set off her fair delicacy, while Lily sparkled in gold-shot tissue over pale gold crepe that accented her vivid coloring. Dark-haired Tess looked just as lovely in lilac lustring, even though her gown was two Seasons old.

When Marcus complimented all the ladies on their appearance, however, Lily’s lively good humor disappeared to be replaced by wary politeness as he escorted them out to his carriage.

During the drive, the conversation was amiable enough, with Tess and Marcus upholding most of the discussion. Roslyn was unusually quiet, Arabella noticed. And by the time the carriage drew up before the brightly lit Perry mansion, Arabella herself had developed an unexpected case of nerves. When she felt Tess squeeze her hand in sympathy, she gave her friend a grateful smile and then steeled her spine for the ordeal ahead.

She needn’t have worried, Arabella quickly realized. The reception she and her sisters were given by their hosts and the other guests was beyond anything she could have hoped for-all because of Marcus. Judging by the excessive toadying and bowing and scraping the company did for his benefit, one would have thought the Prince Regent himself had appeared in their midst. What a difference his sponsorship made!

Lady Freemantle noticed also, and told Marcus so at the first opportunity, during a lull before the dancing began.

“ ’Tis commendable, the interest you are taking in your wards, Lord Danvers,” Winifred said, beaming at him in approval.

Standing beside him, Arabella saw Marcus acknowledge the praise with a slight bow. “It is only my duty, my lady.”

Winifred snorted. “A pity your predecessor didn’t share your sentiments. If Lionel had put out the least bit of effort, his nieces would have had far easier a time of it. Maybe even weathered the scandals their mama and papa incited.”