The Marriage Lesson by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online

was probably best if he simply stayed out of the way. The staff was well trained and Thomas was confident they could carry it off without incident. Or, at least, he prayed they could.
    At the moment, all he really wanted was to escape from this bedlam to the sanctity of his club. In barely more than forty-eight hours his life was as much as over.
Once he presided over this traditional offering of sweet young things to the gods of society, his evenings, and no doubt many of his afternoons, would be occupied with the duties of escort and protector.
    Protector? He snorted to himself. The oldest needed nothing less than a jailer. All that nonsense she’d spouted last night about adventure and excitement and experiencing life. Well, she’d change her mind soon enough when presented with the right suitor. Thomas had already mentally compiled a list of possibilities and there were a considerable number of acceptable matches. He was not the only eligible bachelor in England under pressure to marry.
    It shouldn’t be all that difficult to find a decent match for Marianne, as long as she kept her mouth shut. She really was quite lovely, with that halo of blond curls rebelliously dancing around her head. He couldn’t resist a smile. No wonder, in the dim light of the library, he’d thought she was a celestial vision. And when they’d kissed . . . 
    His smile faded. Blasted woman. Why had she insisted he kiss her? Of course, if he hadn’t he had no doubt she would have carried out her threat to find someone who would. The best thing for her, for them both, was to get her wed as quickly as possible.
    He straightened and started toward the broad double stairway that swept downward in a gracious curve to the ground floor. Thomas dodged a servant with an armful of linens and another carrying a silver tray and wondered if he’d make it out of the house in one piece.
“Lord Helmsley.”
    He flinched at the piercing voice and turned slowly, forcing a polite smile to his face. “Good day, Lady Dra—er, my lady.” The older woman stood in the open doorway of the ballroom, a diminutive figure with the commanding, no-nonsense air of a general about her. “It appears preparations are well in hand for the festivities.”
    “Indeed they are.” She sniffed as though the very idea that all was not under control was inconceivable. “I have no concerns about the duchess’s ball whatsoever, although I do wish your mother could be with us. Nonetheless, I have tried to carry out her instructions and wishes to the best of my abilities.”
    “And admirably, too, I’m certain. I have no doubt this will be one of the highlights of the season. Now, then, if there is nothing else, I shall bid you good day.” He nodded and stepped toward the stairs.
    “Oh, but there is something else, my lord.”
    His heart sank. He’d known the moment he’d seen her she had more on her mind than a mere exchange of pleasantries. The determined glint in her eye gave her away. He drew a deep breath and turned back to her. “How may I help you?”
    “If you would be so kind as to join us in the ballroom.” She moved aside and waved him into the room.
    He struggled to maintain his smile, silently bidding farewell to any hope of escape, and walked past her into the grand ballroom. The three Shelton sisters stood at the far end of the room by the pianoforte ac companied by a gentleman he didn’t recognize, the sisters’ furry beast of a dog lying under the instrument.
Lady Dragon started toward the girls, and he had no choice but to fall in beside her. “We are finishing a dancing lesson and it would be helpful if there was a new partner available.”
    “I am nothing if not helpful,” he said under his breath, mentally adding dancing partner to the list of grievances he planned to present to his mother upon her return. He wasn’t entirely certain what, if any, satisfaction he’d get from such a presentation; still, it did ease his irritation somewhat