To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars 1)

“I regret,” Marcus said, “that I won’t be able to persuade you of my benevolent intentions, but I mean to continue my courtship of your sister.”

When Lily continued to stare back at him in frustration, Marcus finally changed the subject. “Actually, I am glad for a chance to speak to you both in private.” He paused, glancing from one sister to the other. “Pray, tell me about your mother.”

At the mention of their mother, Lily stiffened, while Roslyn looked wary. “What do you want to know?”

“I understand she is living on the coast of France, in Brittany. Have you heard from her recently?”

Lily gave a brittle little laugh. “Not recently. Not in four years, in fact. She hasn’t sent us so much as a letter since she fled England with her lover.” The hint of bitterness in her tone was unmistakable, and Marcus could tell that Lady Loring was yet another painful topic for Lilian.

“Perhaps she had little chance,” Marcus observed. “The war on the Peninsula intensified shortly after she left for France, so communication would have been extremely difficult.”

“She could somehow have sent word to us,” Roslyn said more softly, “if only to let us know she was safe.”

“Your step-uncle never tried to contact her?”

“That is doubtful. Our step-uncle would not let Mama’s name be spoken in his hearing. He wasn’t willing to forgive her for the disgrace she brought his family name.”

“Do you know if she ever attempted to return home to England after the war ended?”

“Why would she?” Lily asked. “She would not have been welcome here.”

“What about now? Now that your step-uncle is gone, would you welcome her return?”

“No,” Lily answered, her voice quivering with conviction. “I don’t care if we never see her again.”

Marcus steepled his fingers under his chin as he studied his wards. Roslyn seemed a bit more forgiving of their mother, but he suspected Arabella’s feelings were almost as bitter as Lily’s.

“Why do you ask?” Roslyn said, watching him again with those shrewd, kno

wing eyes.

“I am curious,” Marcus replied, which was only a partial truth.

He decided it best not to mention the recent turn of events until he had more details to properly judge the situation. His unexpected business in London yesterday had solely to do with Lady Loring. She had written to him a month ago after hearing about her stepbrother’s passing, to express her condolences and to extend her felicitations to Marcus on attaining the earldom.

After a long discussion with his solicitors, Marcus had ordered them to locate Victoria Loring in France and provide her safe passage home to England, if she cared enough to come. He wanted to hear her story, since he wasn’t wholly convinced she was the black villainess the late earl had painted her. According to Simpkin, who had fulfilled the duel roles of butler and secretary for the former Lord Danvers and had managed all his lordship’s correspondence, Lady Loring had written several letters to her daughters over the years, but her stepbrother had burned them without so much as breaking the wax seal.

And if there was the slightest possibility of healing any of the painful wounds caused by her abandonment of her daughters, Marcus couldn’t let the opportunity pass. Lady Loring’s heartless actions had helped turn Arabella against marriage, and if she could come to forgive her mother, then she might be more willing to accept his own suit.

But he had no intention of sharing his hopes with his wards, in part because he didn’t want to risk rousing their disappointment in the event he was wrong about their mother.

His reply evidently did not satisfy Lily, however, for she eyed him intently. “If introducing the subject of our mother is a ploy to distract us from protecting Belle, your lordship, it will not work.”

A faint smile curved his mouth. “It isn’t a ploy.”

Lily continued to scowl as she abruptly stood. “If you dare hurt Arabella, I swear I will make you regret it.”

He had no doubt she would keep her word, either, or that her desire to protect Arabella was well-meant.

Politely Marcus rose to his feet. “I will take your warning to heart.”

Rising also, Roslyn started to follow her sister from the room, but then she hesitated, looking solemnly back at Marcus. “Do we have your word, my lord?”

“You have my word,” he said gravely. “I will do everything in my power to see that Arabella isn’t hurt.”

His vow seemed to reassure her, for Roslyn nodded slowly and offered him a tentative smile. “For some reason I trust you.”

Marcus was touched by her admission. Roslyn might not have declared herself his ally, but at least she was willing to allow him to prove himself.