To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars 1)

“Matchmaking?”

“She is plotting the taming and capture of Marcus’s two friends. She claims they are in need of wives, and this evening she practically twisted their arms to coerce them to dance with Roslyn and me.”

Arabella couldn’t help but smile. Winifred would have difficulty ensnaring the two extremely eligible noblemen for her sisters or anyone else. The Duke of Arden and the Marquess of Claybourne were the bane of the ton’s marriage-minded mamas, even more elusive than Marcus.

“Winifred has singled me out for Lord Claybourne,” Lily complained in disgust. “It is utterly mortifying to be paraded before him like a prize heifer at a fair.”

Roslyn couldn’t resist teasing Lily a little. “Yet he is exceedingly handsome, in addition to being enormously wealthy and titled.”

“Oh, he is attractive enough,” Lily muttered. “But he is too arrogant for his own good, expecting me to fall swooning at his feet.”

Arabella raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you decided to leave the ball early? To avoid any further association with the marquess?”

Lily actually blushed. “Yes. I swear, I have never met a more persistent man. He is well beyond my abilities to deal with.”

When Roslyn couldn’t suppress her laughter, Lily cast her a scowling glance. “You may find my dilemma amusing, dearest sister, but you should have a care for yourself. Winifred will try to arrange a match for you with Arden next, for she said as much.”

“I am not worried,” Roslyn said calmly. “I have no interest whatsoever in marrying Arden.”

The unusual note of conviction in her voice surprised Arabella. “But you met him only this morning. Can you really judge him on so short an acquaintance?”

Roslyn hesitated. “To be truthful, I met the duke before today.”

Arabella gave her a measuring glance, while Lily asked, “When?”

“A fortnight ago,” Roslyn admitted, “when I attended the masquerade ball with Fanny. His grace didn’t know who I was, since I wore a mask and refused to tell him my name.”

“Rose, you never said you met him!” Lily exclaimed. “So what happened?”

An attractive flush rose to her cheeks. “Let us just say that I was not eager to further the acquaintance, even if he was.”

Like Lily, Arabella was highly curious to learn what had occurred between Roslyn and the Duke of Arden, but she knew there was no point in pressing the issue. Roslyn’s interests lay elsewhere, since she had a tendre for their neighbor, the Earl of Haviland. Fortunately Lord Haviland had attended the wedding celebrations today, so Roslyn was able to spend significant time in his company. Her determination to marry only for love necessitated that both parties actually have the opportunity to fall in love, so it behooved her to make good use of every encounter.

But rather than discuss her views on love and marriage, Roslyn promptly changed the subject. “Arabella, we had best go. Marcus will be waiting for you.”

At that reminder, Arabella rose to her feet and warmly embraced her sisters. Tears stung her eyes a little as they said their farewells. This was the symbolic end of their girlhood together, and she would miss the love and camaraderie they had shared. For so long it had been the three of them against the world.

And yet now she had Marcus. At the prospect of beginning her new life with him, Arabella felt her heart fill with excitement and eager anticipation.

When she went downstairs in search of him, she found Marcus emerging from his study. Her heart swelled even further at the tender look he gave her.

“There you are, love,” he said. “I wondered where you had gone.”

“I was saying good-bye to my sisters.”

“I just had a similar council with my friends.” Marcus glanced back at the study door. “Drew and Heath are still in my study, drinking my best store of brandy and mourning the loss of my bachelorhood.”

Arabella regarded him curiously. “Are you mourning the loss?”

“Not in the slightest.” He chuckled.

“What is so amusing?”

“Realizing how much I have changed in the past two months. I once thought matrimony was a sinister word, but no longer. Come, let us find our remaining guests and encourage them to leave. I want you all to myself for our wedding night.”

It was nearly two hours later, however, before Marcus got his wish. As the final carriages pulled away, Simpkin shut the front door and discreetly disappeared from the entrance hall, leaving the earl and his new countess to themselves.

“Shall we?” Marcus asked, offering her his hand to escort her upstairs.