To Protect An Heiress (Zebra Historical Romance) by Adrienne Basso Read Free Book Online Page A

carried, which held an assortment of china plates, linen napkins, silver cutlery, and crystal goblets.
    The table was quickly laid out with the proper plates, cutlery, and glasses for a five-course meal. There was even a small cut glass vase filled with fresh flowers to serve as a centerpiece. Trevor watched in slight amazement as the staff bustled about with deft precision. He knew his father had a well-trained staff and Harper, the butler, was known to be a hard, yet fair, taskmaster.
    Yet the proficiency displayed came not only from good and proper training, but from experience. Obviously the servants had performed this task numerous times before, for no detail was left to chance.
    But why would they be serving meals in the drawing room when the house boasted a formal dining room, two smaller dining salons, and a breakfast room? Did his father dine alone so often that he had begun to forsake the vast, cold formality of the dining room? Were the even slightly smaller dining salons so unwelcoming a place to partake of a meal on one’s own?
    Could his father possibly be lonely? The thought forced a rather distressing observation on Trevor’s conscience.
    To distract himself from these unsettling thoughts, the marquess turned his full attention to the servants as they uncovered the various dishes.
    A savory soup of fresh vegetables, tender chicken stewed in wine and flavored with thyme, thick slices of cured ham, poached Dover sole, creamed potatoes, peas, marzipan tarts, strawberries, and the requested lemon cake were all displayed with dignified formality.
    Trevor attacked his meal. The food was piping hot, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. Though he would never admit it to his father, the marquess realized it had been a long time since he had eaten such fine food. He soon found himself savoring every forkful.
    When he joined his male companions for supper, they were far more interested in the quality of the brandy, the quantity of wine, and the availability of the serving wenches for entertainment after the meal than the variety or quality of the food.
    Realizing he could not possibly swallow another bite, the marquess at last settled his fork upon his plate. He looked up and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. The duke had apparently finished. His plates and cutlery were already cleared from the table. All that remained before the duke was a half empty goblet of wine.
    The footmen removed Trevor’s dishes, but at the duke’s command left a second bottle of wine and the goblets. As he faced his father across the table, Trevor realized his apprehension as well as his hunger had been appeased. Partly due to the excellent bottle of wine he and his father had consumed, no doubt.
    “I want you to attend Lady Dermond’s ball tomorrow evening,” the duke announced abruptly. “There is someone I’d like you to meet.”
    Trevor blinked. The goblet in his hand began tilting. Catching himself before the red liquid spilled out and stained the linen cloth, he set the crystal to rights. “I have already made plans for tomorrow evening.”
    “Break them.”
    “I could not possibly on such short notice.”
    “If you had answered my summons immediately, as I requested, you would have had ample time to make your excuses.” The duke scowled. “I have told several people, including the hostess and the lady you are to meet, that you will be in attendance. I want you at that ball.”
    “Matchmaking, sir?” Trevor arched his brow at an insulting angle. “I thought only desperate maiden aunts and scheming mamas indulged in that distasteful task.”
    “Don’t turn your nose up at me, boy,” the duke responded with an indignant sniff. “You were singing a far different tune when I paired you with your first wife.”
    His wife! The unexpected mention of Lavinia caught the marquess unawares, igniting once again the tormenting ache in his heart he tried so desperately to control.
    A rush of painful memories flooded