Free Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean Page A

dashing gentleman?”
    “Dashing, is he?”
    Yes. Very.
    “No. Not at all. He is a man who appears to have little understanding of both dates and invitations. He was not supposed to be here until tomorrow!” Isabel watched as her cousin shoved a pin into the tight mass of hair at the back of her head. “That’s fine. I cannot linger any more.” She stood, turning to her cousin and smoothing her skirts. “How do I look?”
    “Quite staid. Not at all like a lady who was recently repairing the roof.”
    Isabel took a deep breath. “Excellent.”
    “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
    “Whatever do you mean? ”
    Lara gave a little sigh. “You don’t have to sell the marbles. We can find another way.”
    Isabel looked away for a moment as she took a deep breath. “We have no need for them. They serve no purpose here.”
    “They serve no purpose anywhere. But they’re yours, Isabel.”
    As though she needed reminding.
    Isabel forced a smile, refusing to allow herself to think too carefully on her decision. “They are our last hope. They are the last hope of Minerva House. I am selling them.”
    She squared her shoulders, and she was off, across the room and into the hallway, where James, Jane, and Gwen were waiting for her.
    “Isabel!” James crowed, rushing toward her, “There was a man at the door!”
    Isabel could not help the smile that tugged at one corner of her mouth at the surprise on the boy’s face. “Yes, I saw that.”
    “He is very tall.” The observation tugged at Isabel’s heart. Of course James would have noted such a thing—men were a strange and uncommon occurrence at Minerva House. Of course the ten-year-old would have collected as much information about male visitors as quickly and voraciously as he could.
    James needs a man.
    Isabel pushed the thought aside.
    “He is a very tall man, yes,” she agreed, ruffling her brother’s silky blond hair. “More than uncommon tall. As is his friend.”
    “There are two of them?” James’s mouth fell open. So did Gwen’s. “What are they doing here? ”
    “I invited them here,” Isabel replied, moving past the group toward the stairs.
    “Why?” James’s question echoed the curiosity of the older inhabitants of the hallway.
    She turned back. “Well, one of them is very clever, with a talent for Greek statues. I thought we could use him.”
    “I see,” James said with a nod that indicated an understanding Isabel felt certain he did not have. “So they are not here to take you.”
    “Goodness! No!” She looked in the direction of the stairs. Lord Nicholas could wait another minute. “No one is going to take me anywhere.”
    “You do not need me to step in?”
    Isabel had to swallow a smile at the seriousness in his tone. “No. I am quite safe.”
    “And the others?”
    Isabel blinked at James’s concern. “No one needs rescuing, love. Not today.”
    “But we are very happy to have you to protect us,” Gwen said with a smile. “You are an excellent protector.”
    “Indeed,” Jane agreed readily. “We are lucky to live with you, my lord.”
    James’s chest puffed out and Isabel almost laughed at the boy’s pride. Almost. But the imposing lord in her sitting room did put a damper on the moment. “And now, I must go and convince the man at the door that, while it might appear at first blush as though it were so, we are not in a state of bedlam.”
    “Excellent plan,” Lara said with a grin.
    “Yes, I thought so.” Isabel set off for the stairs before she stopped and turned back to the group. “Georgiana,” she said, referencing the newest resident of the manor. “Where is she?”
    “In the library. She will not be seen.” Jane had, indeed, considered everything.
    Isabel gave a little nod. “Excellent. I shall go see to our visitor.”
    “Did someone let him in? After James slammed the door in his face, that is? “ Gwen asked.
    Isabel paled. “Oh, no.” She looked from one face to the next, her mouth