To Pleasure a Lady Read Free

impressionable age when our mother deserted us.”
    â€œWhat of your sister Roslyn? By all reports, her uncommon beauty has made her the target for any number of rakes and scoundrels. I suspect she could benefit from a guardian’s protection.”
    â€œRoslyn can take care of herself. We all can. We have since we were very young.”
    â€œBut what sort of future can you expect?” Marcus countered. “Your chances for good marriages were ruined when your parents chose to create their last blatant scandal.”
    He saw the pain that claimed Arabella’s features for a fleeting moment before she forced another smile. “How well I know,” she murmured. “But even so, it is not your affair.”
    Marcus shook his head. “I understand why you resent me, Miss Loring, a perfect stranger taking control of your home—”
    â€œI don’t begrudge you the title or estate. What I do resent is your callous assumption that we wish to marry.”
    That made him smile. “It is hardly callous to offer to find husbands for you. The usual path for young ladies of quality is marriage. You act as if I’ve gravely offended you.”
    By now Arabella was clearly biting her tongue. “Forgive me if I gave you that impression, my lord. I know you don’t mean it as an insult—”
    â€œYou cannot be foolish enough to turn down five thousand pounds each.”
    â€œActually I can—” Suddenly she broke off and gave a rueful laugh. The husky, sultry sound raked his nerve endings with pleasure. “No, I won’t allow you to provoke me, my lord. I came here this morning determined to be pleasant.”
    Marcus found himself staring at her ripe, tempting mouth before he shook himself. Arabella was speaking again, he realized.
    â€œPerhaps you see our decision as inexplicable, Lord Danvers, but my sisters and I do not choose to marry.”
    â€œWhy not?” When she failed to answer, Marcus hazarded a guess. “I suppose it has to do with the example your parents set.”
    â€œIt does,” Arabella admitted grudgingly. “Our parents were determined to make each other’s lives miserable and fought at every opportunity. After the acrimony we witnessed growing up, is it any wonder we have an aversion to arranged marriages?”
    Marcus felt more than a measure of sympathy. “I’m familiar with the sentiment. My own parents were scarcely any more congenial.”
    At his softer tone, she searched his face for a long moment. But then she dragged her gaze away to focus on a pool of sunlight streaming through the nearest window. “In any case, we have no need to marry. We have sufficient incomes now to support ourselves.”
    â€œIncomes?”
    â€œIf you had troubled yourself to read my letters, you would know about our academy.”
    â€œI did read your letters.”
    She glanced pointedly at him. “But you were not courteous enough to respond. You merely instructed your solicitors to deal with me.”
    â€œGuilty as charged. But to my credit, I intended to call upon you next week.”
    When he smiled winningly, Arabella drew a sharp breath. After a moment, she took another tack. “Come now, Lord Danvers. You don’t want responsibility for us, admit it.”
    Marcus couldn’t bring himself to lie. “Very well, it’s true, I don’t want it.”
    â€œThen why don’t you simply forget about us?”
    â€œI doubt anyone who has ever met you,” Marcus said dryly, “could simply forget you, Miss Loring.” When she gave him a piercing look, he sighed. “You are my responsibility now, whether either of us likes it, and I won’t abandon my duty to see to your welfare. You’ll find I’m not such an ogre. And I’m wealthy enough to fund your dowries.”
    That made her chin lift. “I tell you, we won’t accept your charity. Our academy allows us