Engaging the Earl. Mandy Goff

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СКАЧАТЬ friend?” Skepticism oozed in his voice.

      Olivia sighed. “It’s a complicated matter, Marcus. And I’m going to need your assistance and discretion. So I’d appreciate it if you would at least try not to be difficult.”

      â€œI hardly think my trying to make sense of your inadequate explanations should classify as being difficult.”

      Olivia sighed. “I have a friend who needs a husband.”

      Marcus’s cravat tightened, and his mouth was suddenly so parched he wished he’d accepted the tea. He couldn’t dismiss the suspicion that Olivia had more of his involvement in mind than just being a keeper of the list.

      Clearing his throat, he scrambled for an easy way to break it to her that he wasn’t going to be eligible bachelor number one. “Olivia … you understand I have quite a bit to focus on right now …” he began, “and I’m not in any place to be considering taking a wife—”

      Olivia rolled her eyes. “Do you see your name on the list, Marcus?”

      â€œWell … no … but—”

      She waved her hand as though to shut him up. “Then stop being dramatic. I certainly wouldn’t have put you there.”

      â€œAnd why’s that?” Marcus asked before he could consider the advisability of voicing such a question.

      This earned him another look. “I doubt my friend would have you,” she said breezily.

      â€œI’m considered a fairly decent catch by most of the matchmaking mamas.” Marcus couldn’t believe himself or the words coming out of his mouth.

      â€œShe seems to think a scholarly gentleman will suit her.”

      â€œI was at the top of my class at Oxford.” Clearly he was out of his mind.

      Olivia only stared at him.

      â€œFine. I’m not on the list … not that I want to be,” he added just in case he hadn’t been clear on that. “So, since I’m not worthy to be there, would you mind telling me what you think I’m going to do with it?”

      â€œYou know the gentlemen on that list, right?” she asked.

      Marcus nodded.

      â€œHow difficult would it be for you to arrange to bring some of them by here to meet my friend while she’s staying with me?” Olivia picked at an invisible piece of something on the skirt of her dress as she asked the question.

      He wasn’t going to refuse her. There was little he could refuse his sister. But that didn’t mean Marcus planned to give in easily.

      â€œYou want me to round up the men and parade them through the house like a Tattersalls auction?” he asked.

      Olivia rolled her eyes. “I don’t want them all here at the same time, Marcus. It would make much better sense for you to bring them by individually.”

      He gaped. “There are at least thirty names here.”

      â€œI don’t want Emma to have to settle,” she said as though he were a barbarian for suggesting otherwise.

      Emma.

      So that was the mysterious friend’s name. He liked it, Marcus decided. Not that it mattered what he thought of the name or even the woman herself. Supposedly, they wouldn’t suit.

      â€œSuppose I decide to help,” he said finally. “Why exactly would I be doing it again?”

      Olivia sobered. As she leaned forward, Marcus saw the concern lurking behind the humor in her eyes. “Emma really needs a husband, Marcus. I want to help—and I told her that you would be happy to, as well. You do want to help, don’t you?”

      â€œA damsel in distress?” he muttered.

      Olivia nodded, without any trace of irony.

      With that, he was sunk—and he could tell Olivia knew it. But before he could say anything, there was a gentle tap at the door.

      â€œCome in,” his sister called out, and Marcus could hear the door behind him open.

      â€œOh, I’m sorry,” a woman—Emma?—said. “I didn’t realize you had company.” Her voice was pleasant, Marcus noted. Low and sweet, and … oddly familiar.

      â€œNo, Emma,” Olivia said, motioning her forward. “You’re fine. Please come sit with us. Marcus and I were just talking about you.” The woman crossed around the room to take a seat beside Olivia, giving Marcus his first look at her. It was a struggle not to let his shock show.

      Damsel in distress, indeed, he thought to himself, as he stared at the governess from Cheapside.

      So this is Emma. He looked down at the list of names in his hand and frowned. He hadn’t liked being left off the list even before he knew for whom it was intended.

      For some reason, he liked it even less now.

      Chapter Three

      â€œMaybe I should leave the two of you to your meeting,” Emma said, rising from her seat and preparing to make her escape from the room.

      â€œNot at all,” Mr. Fairfax answered before Olivia had a chance to. His smirk widened.

      A red-hot blush stole through Emma’s cheeks, making her feel like the temperature in the room had risen dramatically. “No, truly,” she argued, “I can talk to Olivia later. Right, Olivia?” she asked, looking to her friend for assistance.

      Either Olivia was oblivious to Emma’s distress, or she found the situation humorous, because the marchioness didn’t seem willing for her to go.

      â€œOf course you won’t leave. I have to introduce you,” her friend said.

      â€œYou really don’t,” Emma muttered. She was sure no one had heard her until she noticed that Mr. Fairfax’s smile had widened impossibly further, and his eyes glinted mischievously.

      â€œMarcus, allow me to introduce my friend, Emma Mercer.” She smiled at Emma, as though to reassure her that Mr. Fairfax wouldn’t bite. “And Emma, this is my brother, Marcus Fairfax, the Earl of Westin.”

       Her brother?

       An earl?

      Emma thought she might throw up.

      She had punched an earl in the face … albeit accidentally. Was there any way to slink out of the room and pretend she’d never knocked on the door?

      Sadly, СКАЧАТЬ