Marrying the Marquis by Patricia Grasso Read Free Book Online

not contradicting me,” she told his chest.
    “Look at my face.” When she did, the marquis warned her, “Ye’ll need to follow through on our outin’ lest Dirk discover the lie.”
    “I will tour your estate if it isn’t too much trouble.”
    “No trouble at all, lass.”
    “I’ve decided to accept your help with Pegasus,” Blaze told him.
    He smiled with apparent satisfaction. “Ye’ve made a wise decision, lass.”
    “That remains to be seen,” she said, wiping the smile off his face. “I’m meeting Rooney at the track in the morning.”
    Ross nodded. “I’ve arranged everythin’.”
    Blaze narrowed her gaze on him. “What do you mean?”
    “Bobby Bender and I will be the other riders,” he answered.
    “Bender is my father’s trainer,” she said. “He’ll squeal to my father.”
    “Bobby willna say a word,” Ross assured her. “The other two would’ve spilled their guts to curry yer father’s favor.”
    Blaze disliked the marquis controlling the situation. Pegasus was her filly and her responsibility. She was the boss, not he.
    “Ye know, I thought ye didna like me.”
    She arched a copper brow, assuming a haughty expression. “I don’t like you.”
    Ross raised his brows. “Ye dinna mean that.”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “What’s wrong with me?”
    “How much time do you have to listen?”
    “Very funny, lass.”
    Blaze gave him her sweetest smile. “Shall I begin with bossy and arrogant?”
    His lips twitched. “Oh, that.”
    “You disturb me,” she added.
    “Thank ye for the praise.” Ross turned toward the dining room door. “I’m in dire need of whisky to wash the foul lemon taste from my mouth.”
    “I thought you liked lemon barley water.”
    “I lied.” He winked at her and then disappeared into the dining room.

Chapter Three
    The bachelors were stealing her focus.
    With her lips in a grim line, Blaze trudged across the lawn early the next morning on her way to the path leading to her father’s private track. Troubled thoughts had disturbed her sleep, her mind consumed with a newly discovered flaw.
    Cowardice. She was a coward, no doubt about it.
    Pleading a headache, Blaze had escaped the bachelors by retreating to her chamber and bolting the door against intruders. Locking the door had been a wise move. Later, her stepmother had knocked and called her name, but Blaze had jerked the coverlet over her head and pretended deafness.
    She could return to the old Flambeau family home in Soho Square. Unfortunately, that would mean forgetting her dreams for the racing season and a refuge for unwanted animals.
    In spite of a lack of sleep, Blaze felt her fighting spirit reviving. Would she allow three bachelors to send her scurrying back to London? Certainly not. She would string them along to keep her stepmother quiet. At least, until the racing season ended.
    All three bachelors were wealthy, titled, and reasonably good-looking. Her stepmama would have barred the door against them if they hadn’t possessed those first two qualities.
    Choosing a husband on the basis of prestige meant marrying Prince Lykos Kazanov, but his wanting to court her stretched the limits of credulity. For some unknown reason, Lykos wanted to irritate MacArthur and had chosen her as his instrument.
    Dirk Stanley’s blond hair, green eyes, and angelic expression would win him the beauty contest. Blaze knew she could never marry a man prettier than she, nor could she erase the sickening sight of the earl sucking on the duck bone.
    That left the Marquis of Awe. Marrying MacArthur would be almost as prestigious as marrying the prince. Though he lacked an angelic expression, the Scotsman possessed a ruggedly handsome masculinity. She could not envision herself marrying a bossy, arrogant man.
    Blaze smiled at the idea of marrying the marquis. The peace would last less than two minutes. She could almost hear the sound of the crockery crashing.
    The three bachelors were simply unacceptable. The next three