Courtship Wars: To Pleasure A Lady Part 36

Her look turned dubious. "I doubt the church is large enough."

"Then we'll invite half the ton to a wedding breakfast at Danvers Hall afterward. I intend to put my countess on display, since it will help pave your acceptance into society."

Arabella nodded, seeing the wisdom of his plan. An invitation to celebrate the nuptials of the Earl and Countess of Danvers would go far in winning over even her haughtiest detractors. Yet that was as far as she wanted to acquiesce to the high-browed notions of society.

"I would like my mother to attend our wedding and any succeeding festivities," Arabella said, knowing that the scandalous former Lady Loring would likely be shunned by the ton's highest sticklers. "And f.a.n.n.y Irwin as well. f.a.n.n.y may be a renowned Cyprian, but she is a dear friend and I won't turn my back on her simply because I am marrying an earl."

"Certainly they may attend. And my sister Eleanor would doubtless enjoy helping with plans for a breakfast. As for our wedding trip, I want to take you to my family seat in Devonshire for a few weeks.

The Hall will afford us too little privacy with your sisters present. I want you all to myself for a while."

Arabella's smile was soft with pleasure. "I would like that." Remembering the duke and marquess, however, she glanced at the closed door. "Do you think your two friends will come to accept me as your wife?"

"Yes, of course. They will eventually grow to love you. Meanwhile, they'll be infinitely glad that we finally came to a resolution. I nearly took off Heath's head this morning during our fencing practice because I was seething with frustration."

"His grace won't be overjoyed about our marriage."

"Drew is just cynical about love because he's never experienced it before. Heath is more adventurous, so he's more willing to concede that I might love you witless. But he doesn't want to see me turned into a tame milksop. I think he worries that you will lead me around by my bridle."

Arabella laughed. "I don't intend to bridle you, any more than I intend to wear a bridle."

"Which is exactly how it should be between us."

As Marcus gazed down at her, the pa.s.sion she saw in the endless blue depths dazzled her, but it was the love shining there that made her heart sing. Then he kissed her again and made her heart race as he reached up to pull the pins from her hair.

"I thought you didn't intend to dishevel my hair," Arabella murmured.

"I changed my mind." His slow, very male smile held the wonderfully wicked charm that had won her *

heart during his admittedly unwanted courtship. "If I can't have you again until a full month from now, then I mean to make the most of our time here together, Hobbs or no Hobbs."

She laughed again, her breath whispering against his lips as she gave herself up to Marcus's incredible pa.s.sion.

To Pleasure a Lady is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fict.i.tiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

A Ballantine Books Ma.s.s Market Original.

Copyright 2008 by Anne Bushyhead.

For Jay:.

friend, husband, hero, with all my love.

"Icould make you deliriously happy, Arabella. You would enjoy our marriage bed, I have no doubt."

Unsure whether to be offended or amused by the earl's bold declaration, she turned back to face him.

"Rather boastful of you, is it not, my lord?"

"It is no boast. You would relish being my lover, I would make certain of it. But the only honorable way for us to be lovers is through marriage."

Her exasperated silence made Lord Danvers smile. "I admit I am intensely attracted to you," he added.

"You felt it too when we kissed, don't deny it. You were quivering with desire for me."

Color stained Arabella's cheeks. She had quivered in his arms...although she certainly would never admit it to him.

"Don't be ridiculous," she replied. "It was simply shock at your unexpected a.s.sault. I a.s.sure you, I am not attracted to you in the least."

Danvers took a step closer. "Shall I prove it to you?"

By Nicole Jordan.

The Courtship Wars:.

TO PLEASURE A LADY.

TO BED A BEAUTY.

TO SEDUCE A BRIDE.

Paradise Series: MASTER OF TEMPTATION.

LORD OF SEDUCTION.

WICKED FANTASY.

FEVER DREAMS.

Notorious Series:.

THE SEDUCTION.

THE Pa.s.sION.

DESIRE.

ECSTASY.

THE PRINCE OF PLEASURE.

Other Novels:.

THE LOVER.

THE WARRIOR.

TOUCH ME WITH FIRE.