Free The Marriage Lesson by Victoria Alexander Page A

calls of various birds during mating season. He could well understand why his friends wasted no time furthering their acquaintance. They were obviously enchanted.
    And Thomas was leading their blasted horses!
    Still, aside from his current position, was there anything really wrong with this? Didn’t it all fall in nicely with his plans? Certainly Berkley and Pennington’s reputations were no worse than most of the unmarried men he knew. In truth, no worse than his. Their titles were more than respectable, as were their fortunes. They were, in fact, considered excellent matches. Exactly what Thomas had had in mind.
    His mood brightened. He certainly couldn’t claim success yet, but this was a good start. Given the reaction of his friends, he wouldn’t have any trouble marrying off the girls. Marrying off Marianne.
    Feminine laughter floated in the breeze. Marianne’s? She was certainly living up to her promise to cooperate with his plan in her desire to experience life. Annoyance drew his brows together. However, she needn’t cooperate quite so enthusiastically. He wanted her wed not ruined.
    He should be encouraged. If Pennington and Berkley were any indication, the Shelton sisters would have the eligible bachelors of the ton fawning at their feet in no time. And surely there would be at least a few among them who could capture Marianne’s affections and lure her to the altar. She’d change her mind about marriage soon enough if the right man offered for her. Yes indeed, he’d have her and her sisters off his hands in no time.
His plan would prevail. His obligation to ensure the girls had successful seasons would be discharged. After all, what greater accomplishment was there than to make a good match? And with luck, he would find the perfect bride for himself.
    Lighthearted voices drifted back to him, oddly irritating, and he scowled. He should be elated at the certain knowledge that everything would work out exactly as he wanted it.
    Then why wasn’t he?
     
    Thomas was unusually quiet on the ride home, a silent, somewhat forbidding figure. He stared out at the crowded streets as if he was alone in the carriage. While not exactly rude his manner was terse and the sisters chose to squeeze together on one side of the carriage for the brief ride rather than sacrifice one of their own to the fate of sitting beside him. Not that they paid him much notice.
    Marianne leaned toward her sisters confidentially, her voice barely above a whisper. “Did you see that? Do you have any idea how we—”
    “We had them both in the palm of our hands.” Jocelyn’s voice carried a touch of awe. “It was quite amazing.”
    Becky nodded. “Magic is what it was.”
    “Nonsense.” Marianne truly believed in magic but this wasn’t nearly ethereal enough to be magic. No, this was more down to earth than magic. “Still, somehow we did know exactly what to do.”
“What to say.” Becky fluttered her lashes. “How to smile.”
    “I don’t recall ever being this charming with the butcher’s son,” Jocelyn said thoughtfully.
    “That’s because of the warts,” Marianne murmured. “These gentleman had no warts.”
    “None at all.” Jocelyn sighed. “They were both handsome and dashing—”
    “And really quite,” Becky grinned, “delicious.”
    Marianne nodded. “They were rather, weren’t they?”
    “Well if this is the type of gentleman Helmsley plans on introducing to us, I, for one, am looking forward to it,” Jocelyn said firmly. “I find I much prefer delicious to warts.”
    A wave of giggles passed through the sisters.
    “If you three insist on whispering and chortling all the way home . . . ” Thomas turned and said something to the driver. “Then I shall ride up front with Greggs.” The carriage shuddered to a halt. Thomas tipped his hat then exited the carriage and climbed up to sit beside Greggs.
    Marianne stared for a moment. “What on earth has gotten into him?”
    Jocelyn and Becky traded