The Marriage List Read Free

evict May and her dear Aunt Winnie from their home—no doubt with the viscount’s blessing.
    Evers fastened a hardened gaze on May as he rose from his chair. The pressure of his scrutiny wrecked havoc on her confidence until she noticed the reason for his unbreakable concentration. His hand stayed in contact with the desktop while he walked stiffly out from behind his artificial throne.
    This wasn’t a fearful force more powerful than the king. He was just a man fashioned, like her, from flesh and blood.
    “Ladies.” He gave a shallow bow. With a languid sweep of his perfectly manicured hand, he motioned to a small sofa by the fire grate. “Please sit and share this matter of business so urgent it supercedes all rules of propriety.”
    He smiled, flashing his teeth in a wholly unnecessarily aggressive move. The nerve of him, handing her not only a frosty set-down but also displaying a most egregious snarl. May sucked in a breath and opened her mouth to return sharp words of her own, only her words wouldn’t be couched in feigned politeness.
    But alas, she needed to charm the man—not prick his nerves. With a sweet smile that was anything but real, May obediently perched on the edge of the sofa he’d indicated. Iona crowded next to her. Like a nervous bird, her friend shivered, which did nothing to bolster her own wearying nerves.
    “Please fetch a pot of tea,” Viscount Evers said quietly to the butler. Curiously, Wynter responded to the request with a nod and a playful wink.
    What in heavens was going on? Never had May felt more like she’d stumbled into a den of lions. Perhaps the rules of propriety, deeming it unseemly for a woman to visit a bachelor in his home, were based on some very real danger. She felt her smile strain.
    “Gentlemen, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to receive us after we’ve practically stormed the gates.”
    “Practically?” The viscount’s raven eyebrows jutted up again. The one word nearly exploded with sarcasm.
    “Well, yes. I do apologize for my behavior. Lady Iona is only here because I wouldn’t allow her to change my mind about seeing you, and she insisted I not make this visit alone.” May swallowed her pride and kept her painful grin firmly in place. “I wouldn’t have dreamed of disturbing you in this manner if there was any other way . . . ”
    His expression glowed with interest. He leaned against his desk and cocked his head. The fabric of his buff-colored superfine suit coat strained across his chest’s wide expanse.
    Oh my , she really shouldn’t notice such things. She could be certain he wasn’t noticing anything alluring about her person.
    No man ever had.
    She was worse than plain. Uncle Sires had judged her an ugly duckling with no hope of ever blooming into a swan. Aunt Winnie had protested the charge, but given May’s ruddy hair, olive-tinged complexion, and rather stout shape, the dear woman didn’t have much material to work with. She has a heart of gold , Winnie had finally concluded.
    And no chance for attracting a husband . Uncle Sires’ biting words had been spoken six years ago when May was barely eighteen and had excitedly inquired about her come-out. They still held power over her today. A heated blush rose up her neck.
    She’d no right to look longingly upon a man as handsome as the Viscount Evers. No right at all. For all she knew, his stomach was churning from being forced to gaze upon a full-grown duck as unappealing as her.
    His lightly arched brows furrowed and his glare grew impossibly hard. “If there was any other way . . . ?” he asked.
    The question caught May off guard. What was he asking? Any other way, what? A growing blush stung her cheeks as she realized her overlong stare had interrupted her own explanation, mid-thought. His question must have merely been an attempt to prod her into talking and to bring her to the point.
    “My aunt and I rent number twelve Sydney Place,” she said.
    His expression was as