Read Online To Pleasure a Prince by Sabrina Jeffries - Free Book Online Page A

Tremaine, Foxmoor fell back to join Marcus. “Good show, old man—excellent courting technique, the whole insult thing. She’ll be yours in no time.”
    As Foxmoor then hurried ahead with a smug smile, Marcus nearly called out that he didn’t want her to be his. But that would tip his hand to the enemy, and he wasn’t about to do that.
    Nonetheless, even the sight of Louisa waiting impatiently in the doorway for their arrival could not banish his disquiet.
    “Marcus!” Louisa cried as he approached. “You really did come! Lady Iversley said that you were going to, but I didn’t dare believe her.”
    A lump lodged in his throat as he looked her over, marveling again at how grown-up she seemed these days. “How could I miss my sister’s grand performance?” he said gruffly as he bent his head to kiss her cheek.
    She swatted his arm with her fan. “Fiddlesticks—you missed my court presentation and you missed my coming-out ball. I hardly think you came here for me.” With eyes sparkling, she glanced inside to where Lady Regina and Foxmoor were being greeted by the Iversleys. “But I don’t mind.”
    The lump in his throat slid down to settle like a rock in his belly. Damn, he hadn’t even considered how Louisa would react to his showing up here with Lady Regina. Louisa thought this was a real courtship, which couldn’t be good.
    “Don’t get your hopes up, angel,” he murmured. “Dipping one’s toe in the water isn’t the same as going for a swim.”
    “It could be,” she said brightly. “If one discovers that the water is fine.”
    He wasn’t expecting the water to be fine. But he could hardly tell her that.
    He didn’t have to. As he led her inside the bustling foyer, the sounds of chatter died. Except for the conversation continuing between their hosts and Lady Regina, complete silence reigned as every eye turned to him.
    For a second, he was transported to his first ball all those years ago. A bumbling seventeen-year-old, he’d tried to be the gentleman his mother wanted, but he’d been too big and awkward to do more than embarrass her.
    Back then, however, the looks leveled on him had merely been pitying or contemptuous. Now they were downright hostile.
    He reacted as he always did. Badly. “I’ve come to devour the virgins,” he growled. “Anyone care to tell me where they sit?”
    That broke the silence, largely because people fled the foyer in a noisy rush. Here and there he heard their whispers: “the audacity of the man” and “how dared they invite him?” and the words “Dragon Viscount.”
    “I see nothing has changed in society in nine years,” Marcus told Louisa. “Sorry, angel, I didn’t mean to ruin your party.”
    She sniffed. “You haven’t ruined it, but if you keep on being such a surly—”
    “Ass?” he said helpfully.
    “There, that’s what I mean. You say these crude things even though you know better. If you’d give people a chance, and at least try to be courteous—”
    “Lord Draker!” Katherine hurried over. “How good of you to come!”
    “No need to shout,” he said. “I’ve already run everyone off.”
    Katherine paled. “I’m sorry, Marcus—I meant to catch you at the door, but I thought you and Louisa were still outside. I should have paid better attention—”
    “It’s all right.” He hadn’t meant to upset Katherine, whom he respected enormously. “I’m used to people’s reactions. Rolls right off my scaly back.”
    At least it was only for one night; Lady Regina wouldn’t last beyond that. After this soiree, she’d think twice about linking her brother to his sister. He’d make sure of it.
    His resolve hardened when Foxmoor said, “Shall we?” and held out his arm to Louisa, who left Marcus’s side to join the devil.
    Marcus glared at the man’s back, then turned to Lady Regina. “Shall we brave the crowd, too, madam?” He offered her his arm, waiting to hear an excuse.
    She merely took it and smiled. Smiled, for