To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars 1)

As Arabella ushered her sisters toward the entrance doors, she had to acknowledge that Marcus had risen significantly in her own opinion. Not enough to affect her willingness to marry him, of course. She would have to think long and hard about taking so drastic a step.

But for the next week at least, she could perhaps allow their courtship to be real.

Chapter Ten

It is foolish to let your heart become vulnerable when your dreams have been shattered once before.

– Arabella to Fanny

“Perhaps you will condescend to explain,” Drew drawled as Marcus strode into the study of his London mansion the following afternoon, “just what the devil you are up to, Marcus. There are rumors flying about that you are engaged to one of your wards. Pray tell us it isn’t so.”

“The eldest ward, to be precise,” Heath added in a slightly more forgiving tone.

When Marcus had sent his two friends missives yesterday, asking for their company at the theater Wednesday evening, they’d demanded to know why he had avoided them all week. So he’d driven to London just now to spare them the trouble of hunting him down in Chiswick.

The noblemen were waiting for him when he arrived and gave him no time even to sit down before launching into their inquisition.

With a sigh of resignation, Marcus settled on a sofa, prepared for a long debate. “I am not engaged to Arabella at present, no. But it is true that I proposed to her.”

Drew stared at him, clearly troubled.

“It is also true,” Marcus continued, “that she refused me out of hand. So for the past week, I’ve been at Danvers Hall, engaged in a campaign to change her mind.”

“Have you lost your own mind, old chap?” Heath said after a moment’s silence.

“I am touched by your concern for my mental health,” Marcus replied dryly, “but I believe I am in full possession of my faculties.”

Heath grinned. “Well, I can fathom no other explanation for your demented behavior. You went to Chiswick last week for the purpose of settling your wards’ futures, to arrange proper dowries for them so they could entice some suitable marital candidates. It sure as blazes was not supposed to be yourself. I was only jesting before when I ragged you about proposing to one of them.”

“I know you were. And at the time I had no intention of offering for Arabella.”

“So what in hell’s name happened?” Drew asked with grave seriousness. “We knew you were attracted to her, Marcus. But that doesn’t mean you should willingly hang yourself in a marriage noose.”

“Contain your enthusiasm for me, will you?”

Drew’s scoffing sound held impatience. “Come now, you know we can’t help but be alarmed and disappointed when you make such a momentous decision that will affect the rest of your life-and ours as well-without so much as a word to either of us.”

Marcus smiled faintly. “Perhaps I said nothing because I knew you wouldn’t approve.”

“You’re claiming you actually want to be leg-shackled for life?”

“I’m afraid so. Don’t look so glum, my friend. I haven’t expired. It is only the avowed bachelor in me that has met his demise. It happens to the best of us sometimes.”

Drew’s gaze narrowed in a scowl. “I never expected it to happen to you-to any of us-for a long time to come.”

“Nor did I, believe me,” Marcus murmured. “It caught me entirely by surprise.”

Heath shook his head in similar perplexity. “It’s understandable you would be fascinated by Miss Loring’s beauty and spirit, especially if she refused your marriage offer. No other woman you know would dare reject you, so of course you are intrigued by the challenge of pursuing her-”

“It isn’t only the challenge,” Marcus interjected.

“Then what is it?”

“I finally found someone I could picture as my countess, one who could prove a good match for me.”

Drew frowned with deep skepticism, but Heath appeared thoughtful. “If that’s true,” he said slowly, “then I could almost envy you. I’ve never encountered any woman whom I considered my ideal match. I suppose you are to be congratulated.”

“I believe I am,” Marcus replied lightly.