To Pleasure a Lady by Nicole Jordan Read Free Book Online

marrying his eldest ward.
    But his decision felt…right somehow.
    Now, though, he had to make Arabella see the logic of his proposal and convince her that accepting was in her own best interests.
    â€œYou mean to
m-marry
me?” she repeated, clearly not trusting her hearing.
    â€œYes, marry you,” Marcus said genially, becoming more accustomed to the prospect the more he considered it. “I know I’ve taken you by surprise, my sweet, but I would like to tender you an honorable offer of marriage.”

Chapter Three

    The new earl is possibly mad as well as vexing!
    â€”Arabella to Fanny
    Her speechlessness lasted a dozen heartbeats. “Have you gone mad?” Arabella said finally, her tone wary.
    Wry amusement flickered in his eyes. “I assure you I am quite sane,” his lordship replied. “I am simply paying my addresses to you.”
    She started to laugh; she couldn’t help it. Here she was, still weak-kneed from the earl’s wicked assault on her senses, and now he was deliberately making her head spin with his astounding offer of marriage.
    â€œYou wound me, darling,” Lord Danvers drawled. “I admit my proposal is unexpected, but I assure you, it is no laughing matter.”
    Her mirth fading, Arabella raised a hand to her temple. “I cannot believe you are the least bit serious. Lady Freemantle told me you were a confirmed bachelor.”
    â€œI was—until two minutes ago. But kissing you had a startling effect on my judgment. It made me realize that I want you for my countess.”
    She stared at him in bewilderment. “How can one kiss possibly lead you to that conclusion?”
    The earl shrugged his powerful shoulders. “It wasn’t merely the kiss. There are several reasons you would make a good choice of brides for me. But chiefly…I must marry at some point, and you are the first woman who has ever interested me enough to make me contemplate taking the leap.”
    â€œBut you know almost nothing about me.”
    â€œI know enough to think we might be well-matched. Certainly neither of us would ever be bored.”
    Still stunned, Arabella regarded him for another long moment. “Did you not hear a word I told you in London about my aversion to matrimony?”
    â€œI heard quite clearly. But I intend to persuade you to reconsider.”
    His confidence took her aback. “You could never persuade me, my lord.”
    â€œNo?” A smile played across his lips. “You obviously do not know me very well, Arabella.”
    Now he was beginning to exasperate her. “Indeed, I don’t—and I have no desire to further the acquaintance, either. Certainly not as your wife.”
    â€œPerhaps you haven’t considered the advantages to you.”
    â€œAdvantages?” she echoed.
    â€œAs my countess you will lack for nothing.”
    â€œExcept the freedom to control my own life. As my husband you would have even greater power over me than you do now as my guardian. By law you would be my ‘lord and master,’ and I would legally be your possession. I don’t want any man ruling me like that.”
    Lord Danvers grimaced. “I have no desire to
rule
you, love. I am merely interested in a marriage of convenience.”
    That struck a painful nerve in Arabella. She had always vowed she would never have a convenient marriage like her parents’ bitter union. That she would never marry for any reason but love. “Well,
you
may be willing to abide such an arrangement, my lord, but it has no appeal whatsoever for me,” she declared. “My parents married for convenience, and they made each other utterly miserable.”
    â€œWe needn’t have that sort of union,” he said patiently.
    â€œWe needn’t have any sort of union at all!”
    At her ardent exclamation, Danvers eyed her thoughtfully. “I would of course make you a large marriage settlement and provide