The Marriage Mart Read Online Free Page A

mother, who was already hurrying the servants into arranging the salon into a space for serving the luncheon. The siblings giggled and whispered, and applauded when the first groups returned with their “huntings” in hand.
    “Darling,” their mother called in passing.
    All heads turned, for she could mean any one of them.
    “See what the stir at the front door is all about, please,” she instructed as she glided by, a dripping candelabra in each hand.
    Mary was given the duty, this being deemed the ‘privilege’ of being the only offspring who still resided at home. As she stepped into the entry hall it was to see one of the footmen receiving Lord Rothayne as he surrendered his topcoat and hat. “My lord!” she called. She had known he was to be invited, but when there had been no response she had assumed such a Corinthian had no need to amuse himself at a countrified party as her family had proposed.
    His smile was genuine, telling her he had not immediately forgotten her after they had shared that one dance weeks ago. He had flirted outrageously with her as they’d danced, and even though she had known it was all in sport, she blushed a little at the sight of him now, recalling how much and how freely she had laughed while in his arms.
    “Forgive the intrusion, my lady, but I have been at a friend’s hunting box and only saw the invitation this morning. I decided to play my chances and see if I would be admitted, despite being not only unexpected but tardy as well,” he said blithely.
    “Of course you are welcome, though you have missed some of the fun already. Here, draw a number and we shall unite you with your group of fellow huntsmen,” she said, presenting the bowl to him. She forced herself to blink, for as she had that first time they met, she found herself staring at his great good looks.
    He drew a number two from the bowl. “Ah, my favorite number.”
    “Is it?” she asked, making a motion to indicate he should follow her.
    “Yes, one and one. Just the way I like it.”
    She came to a stop. He had spoken in an intimate, familiar way, rather suggestively. He had done that before, she recalled.
    Her face must have spoken of censure, because again that sheltered look came over his face.
    She stared at him, unblinking. “My lord,” she finally said slowly, “It seems I’d forgotten how freely you speak. Or am I incorrect? Do you do so with all of your acquaintances?”
    “No,” he said rather curtly. Here he was again, discomfited. Yes, it definitely had something to do with her genuine pleasure as she received him having then slipped. “I am downright nasty to the ones I do not care for.”
    She shook her head slightly, but despite everything she found a smile on her lips. “We are friends yet, then, I take it? Although we scarcely know one another? And haven’t seen each other in weeks?”
    He took a deep breath, staring off into the distance as though making an assessment, but when he looked back at her his features were clear. “Yes, I should like to think we became instant friends.”
    “And you will continue to speak naughtily and in double entendres to me?”
    “Yes,” he said, grinning now, any discomfort gone. One moment he was all openness, teasing, light, and the next he was shut away, as though someone had just closed the shutters against the sun, and then the reverse again. His manner was nothing less than intriguing. More than that, it tugged in some curious way at Mary’s heart.
    “All right then,” she said, letting her smile bloom. “Just so we both understand that this is your way. I will not take offense, if you will not mean what you say.”
    “I always mean what I say, however fleetingly.”
    “Well then, that you do not act upon what you say.”
    “Yes.” He laughed then, obviously and genuinely pleased with her. “Since you are my friend, I agree to that.” He held up a finger. “One stipulation, though. You already have been warned, from my own lips,