The Marriage Lesson by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

to acknowledge he was prepared.
    Lady Dragon cast him a sharp glance. “I’m certain you understand it would not do to have them stumble about the floor like drunken sailors.”
    “Of course not,” he murmured, pushing aside the unbidden but annoyingly delightful image of a tipsy Marianne.
    They approached the group at the end of the room and he noted for the first time the resemblance between the sisters.
    All three were of a similar height, taller than he personally preferred but not overly so. Marianne was the fairest, her light blond hair a charming contrast to the eyes he now knew were brown behind her spectacles.
    The girl beside her had hair a bit darker, more gold than blond, and squinted slightly at his approach. He wondered if she wore glasses as well.
    And the last, and obviously youngest if the frankness of her gaze was any indication, had distinctly red hair. He wished he’d paid more attention to their names, but he’d been far too busy avoiding them, and the very thought of them, to pay heed to anything more than his quest to marry each off as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Lady Dragon pursed her lips. “Lord Helmsley, surely you remember my nieces, although I must say we have scarce seen hide nor hair of you since our arrival. I’m certain that has been nothing more than an oversight on your part.”
    “Indeed it has.” He smiled in his most charming manner. “An oversight I shall do my best to remedy.”
    The trio studied him with a common expression of amusement mixed with challenge. There was something vaguely familiar about that look, but he couldn’t quite place it. He ignored a faint sense of unease. Had Marianne told them of his plans? It little mattered, he supposed. After all, wasn’t it the goal of every young woman to marry? Marianne was the exception—and he didn’t quite believe her protests.
    It was obviously in his best interest to learn as much about these ladies as possible. If he were to find them husbands, it would help to determine what type of men would suit. Well, he’d certainly never had any problem talking to attractive women, and they’d never hesitated to talk to him.
    He stepped to the redhead and raised her hand to his lips. “My dear Lady . . .  Lady . . . ” He faltered and groaned to himself.
    “Rebecca,” the dragon said firmly.
    “Becky,” the redhead said, just as firmly. She stared at him as if he were an interesting insect for her examination. “Everyone calls me Becky.”
    “Do try not to confuse him.” Marianne’s tone was light. “Lord Helmsley has a bit of a problem with names.”
“How would you know?” Becky said.
    She shrugged. “I’ve no doubt heard it somewhere.”
    “However,” he said quickly, “I shall have no problem whatsoever now remembering the names of my lovely guests.” He turned to the next sister and took her hand. “And you?”
    “Jocelyn.” She too considered him carefully. He had the distinct impression she was assessing his merits and potential and wondered if he measured up to her standards. “Delightful to see you again, my lord.”
    “Yes, well, I have been remiss in my duties and I will do my best to rectify that failing.” He kissed her hand. “Rest assured I will do everything in my power to make it up to you all now by being as attentive as possible.”
    She tilted her head and favored him with a brilliant smile. Even as he returned it he realized neither she nor Becky would do anything they did not particularly wish to do. Up to and including marriage.
    Abruptly he realized why the look the sisters had shared was so familiar. He’d seen it before on the face of every stubborn woman in the Effington family. Very well. He was an Effington man well used to dealing with women exactly like these three. Marrying them off might prove to be more of a task than he’d originally thought but what fun would life be without an occasional challenge? He was certainly up to it. And at the moment, he