To Marry a Marquess by Teresa McCarthy Read Free Book Online Page A

on this subject." She stared at the two girls, waiting for a reply.
    They both nodded in grim embarrassment at their questions. With another warning glare, Phoebe strode across the Aubusson rug, her skirts rustling past the door.
    "We will be returning to the country next month. Elizabeth, I mean, Her Grace, the Dowager Duchess, has invited us. There will be a formal invitation coming soon."
    Phoebe glanced over her shoulder. "I will see you both at supper, and we will say no more about—"
    She was interrupted by a shrill shriek exploding from upstairs. Victoria and Sarah shot from their seats.
    Phoebe shook her head in dismay. "Nothing to worry about. William seems to be at it again. Depend upon it, he has brought some creature home for Mrs. Dorling. I truly thought I had checked every pocket on that boy, but goodness knows how many hiding places he has for those vexing little creatures."
    She shook her head once again and climbed the stairs, heading in the opposite direction of the screams.
    Half-giggling, half-grimacing, Victoria and Sarah scurried up the stairs toward William's chambers. As soon as they opened the door, a wave of rose scented bath water slapped them in the face.
    "Watch out there ye landlubbers," the boy yelled.
    William stood naked, except for the towel wrapped around his torso, which was slipping down his white little belly. One hand held the towel, the other pointed toward the ceiling. One pink foot was stationed on the floor, the other was planted on top of the exhausted Mrs. Dorling who was bent over on hands and knees.
    Yowling, William took a flying leap toward the bed. "There is treasure about, and I be the only pirate who will find it."
    Sarah took a firm step forward. "William Joseph, come here immediately."
    "Fear not, princess." His voice thundered across the room. "Your father, the king, has not come to save you. You best go below before my crew becomes restless."
    Victoria stalked across the wet floor. "For goodness sakes, William. You are quite impossible." She shot him a quick smile, which instantly made him retreat back a step.
    "Leave me alone, princess. I am your captain."
    Victoria grabbed hold of his arm. "But now you have become our prisoner, little pirate."
    Sarah came up beside them. "You will do as we say or you will walk the plank."
    Victoria chuckled when Mrs. Dorling threw her the boy's nightshirt and cap.
    William groaned. "This is not part of the game, Vicki." The shirt flew over his head, followed by a smacking kiss on the cheek by Victoria. "Yuck! I'm a pirate! Girls and landlubbers do not help pirates dress and they don't kiss them!"
    "Game or not little brother," Sarah added, buttoning his shirt and giving him another loud kiss. "It's time you go to bed and stop playing pirate. And next time, the boat goes outside."
    "Next time?" Mrs. Dorling's voice rang out, her expression weary. "Believe me, there will be no next time."
    At the dining table later that evening, Victoria noticed that the ornate silver candelabrum that usually sat in the center of the rosewood sideboard was missing. Her stomach coiled in dread as she glanced about the room, noting that a few other pieces were gone as well. More missing silver. How much time did they have left before they were put on the streets?
    "William needs a man," Sarah said in exasperation as she opened her white linen napkin and waited for Phoebe to join them. "But I declare, not any man will do. He needs a man who would make a good father. Every time I turn around that rapscallion is in some type of trouble. In the country, it was all Aunt and I could do to keep him civil. I shudder to think about visiting there again with him."
    Victoria recognized the concern in her cousin's eyes and felt the same herself. "What about this duke? You must have more information than his looks. Will he cast William out of the house to some school up north, far away from Phoebe?"
    "Oh, no. He is nothing like that. His Grace is fifty-years-old, and