Page 1 of Her Daring Earl
CHAPTER 1
It was an impossible task.
Marrying off all seven of his sisters?
Sisters who, while all intriguing in their own way, were not exactly what most men of thetonwould consider marriage material?
It would take a miracle.
Fitz watched them as they danced together in one corner of the ballroom. Well, five of them. Two of them were not yet old enough to attend such events.
Thank goodness.
He could barely handle the first five.
“Having a good time?”
Fitz turned at the voice, his smile breaking free when he recognized his long-time friend, Baxter Munroe. The man had very few flaws but for an inescapable one – his sister.
Some might argue that his generous mustache was also suspect, but Fitz appreciated the way it flourished and how Munroe wore it without shame.
“I will have a much better time once my mother takes my sisters home,” Fitz said, running a hand through his hair, unable to help the self-deprecating laugh that escaped. The duty of hissisters should cause him a great deal of consternation, but he couldn’t allow his thoughts about it to deepen, or he would never be able to focus on anything else.
“They’re a lively lot,” Munroe said, taking a sip of his drink as he watched the girls. They should be standing demurely on the side of the dance floor, waiting to be asked for a dance or a turn about the room. But no. Not Fitz’s sisters. Instead, they were moving back and forth in time to the music, dancing with one another, unable to quietly wait – except for Sloane, who looked about ready to fall asleep.
“They’re not unlike you,” Munroe commented, viewing Fitz from the corner of his eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Fitz asked, although he was already chuckling, knowing exactly what it meant. He was also not one to wait around idly.
Munroe only shook his head. “Thank goodness I’ve only one sister to marry off – and my father is still around to worry about her.”
That shortened Fitz’s laugh. He didn’t want to think about Baxter’s sister. She caused him more consternation than his own.
“Why is your mother in such a hurry suddenly?” Munroe asked. “What has changed?”
“Dot is four and twenty. Far older than young women should be to be married, at least according to my mother. All Dot wants to do, unfortunately, is become a midwife. Can you believe such a thing? My mother is beside herself and refuses to allow her to do such common work. Of course, Dot has a mind of her own, and you can hardly barricade a woman her age in her bedchamber, so my mother has tasked me with finding someone for her – and the others who are old enough.”
“You have quite the job ahead of you.”
“Don’t I know it? I’ve practically begged half of the men here to dance with them, but I’ve heard every excuse there is as to why they cannot. Lost all humility I ever had to begin with.”
Munroe laughed long and loud as Fitz finally sighed, shaking his head. “My parents really should have ensured that my sisters attended all of their dance lessons instead of the other pursuits they busied themselves with. Now they cannot find a dance partner due to all of these men who fear having their toes stepped on.”
“Well, lucky for you, Fitz, I am a brave man.”
Fitz looked up at Munroe with more hope than he should have dared felt. “You’ll dance with them?”
“One of them,” Munroe said, holding up an index finger as a slight look of horror flashed over his face. “Do not get too excited.”
“One is wonderful,” Fitz said, effusively taking Munroe’s drink out of his hand and setting it down before he could change his mind. He led Munroe to where Dot, Henrietta, Sloane, Georgina, and Sarah waited. “Start with Dot.”
“Start? I just said?—”
“Here we are. Dot, Lord Anderson here has a question for you.”
Baxter shot him a quick look that was part disdain, part amusement before reaching out and taking Dot’s hand, bowing low.
“Lady Dot, would you permit me a dance?”
