To Marry a Marquess by Teresa McCarthy Read Free Book Online

situation.
    Phoebe's face paled and she clasped her hands together in frustration. "You see, George ... I mean His Grace, the Duke of Glenshire, is quite smitten with me. And yes, he did ask me to marry him. William must have heard me speaking with the duke at the Dower House where we were visiting the past few weeks. Percy Hall, you know. But I did not call him Georgie!"
    "Did I miss something on the trip?" Sarah asked. "Or did you just pronounce that His Grace asked you to marry him?"
    Phoebe's cheeks turned pink. "Yes, he did." She then turned to Victoria, as if it were every day a woman was asked to marry a duke. "Dearest, you were introduced to His Grace at the ball given by his mother about two months ago in Grosvenor Square. His sons were not in attendance, and you never met the Dowager Duchess because she fell ill. Of course, there was that one blond gentleman, I never knew his name, but he paid particular attention to you, did he not?"
    Victoria gave her aunt a noncommittal smile. Oh, yes, she remembered that night all too well. She had met Lord Nightham at that ball, but she had never put two and two together, until now. It had been such a large extravaganza, everyone in London seemed to have attended. Had the duke known Nightham well? The earl's death had already been reported in the papers, but would there be a scandal? And what about the pirate?
    She stared at Phoebe, her mind surveying her options. Perhaps this duke was the answer to her prayers, as long as that pirate, whoever he was, had not divulged information about Victoria being in the village when Nightham had died. But if anyone discovered her secret, it would be very probable that the duke would never marry Phoebe.
    Victoria knew she would not be able to trust the duke with her secrets, even if he loved Phoebe. And it wasn't fair to tell Phoebe either. Perhaps after the duke married her aunt, then Victoria could reveal her past, but not before. However, hiding her past would be all but impossible if that pirate showed his face.
    "His Grace and I have known each other since we were children." Phoebe stood and walked toward the hearth. "It seems that time has rekindled an old flame." She told them of a few innocent excursions the two had taken into the village, and well, they seemed to get along very nicely indeed.
    "And he wants to marry you, Aunt Phoebe?" Victoria asked, raising a brow toward Sarah.
    "I have yet to make up my mind," Phoebe said. "It's only been a couple of years since Henry died."
    Tears sprang to the older lady's eyes, and Victoria ached with an inner pain for the woman that had loved her like a mother. Though Uncle Henry had gambled away the family's money, he had loved them all.
    "What type of man is this duke?" Victoria asked.
    Phoebe cleared her throat and smiled. "Oh, quite handsome, and the duke's mother is a dear."
    "I do seem to recall a bit about him," Victoria said, smiling. He was tall and handsome and something else, but she could not quite put her finger on it. "I assume he is wealthy, but I have to ask. One never knows these days. Dukes can be voracious gamblers. Does he have the means to support you and the children?"
    "Children?" Sarah rose from her seat in indignation, her brows furrowed above her glaring eyes. "Good heavens. I am no longer a child, Victoria. I am eighteen, only three years younger than you."
    "Forgive me." A soft smile touched Victoria's lips as she continued her interrogation. "But this is of the utmost importance, Aunt Phoebe. I need to be certain that the man could care for you properly. Is he truly kind? Will he watch over you like a husband should?"
    Can you trust him?
    "Indeed," Sarah said with a determined look, taking her seat. "Will he be a good husband?"
    "Girls!" Phoebe's hand shot up in outrage. "Though I love you both dearly, I believe that I am old enough to make my own decision.I will be the one to determine if the man is worthy to be calledmy husband. I have no wish to hear another word