Read His Courtesan Bride (Brides of Mayfair 3) for Free Online Page B

interjected. “Though he may indeed be a villain, as Serena insists, I think Lord Kane is attractive. I thought his muscles were most impressive.”
    Heaven help her, Serena hadn’t been able to take her eyes off them—for the sight of them reminded her exactly how those strong, muscular arms had felt about her, pulling her close as his mouth had plundered hers.
    She rubbed her forehead. All this talk was giving her a headache.
    “Let us not concern ourselves with Lord Kane’s muscles at the moment,” Lady D said. “Remember, to the consummate courtesan, looks and virility are but one part of your final decision. You must remember the gentleman’s ability to care for you in a style you deserve. Please recite Courtesan Rule Number Twenty-Three.”
    Serena, Bliss and Felicity grinned at one another. “ Diamonds last longer than a man’s passion .”
    Lady D gazed at them proudly. “You were paying attention. Yes, my dears, and once you have accumulated enough diamonds from your admirers and your future is secure, you will realize that all men are basically the same. The passion they inspire within us is merely that—-passion. And while passion has its place, you should never mistake it for love.”
    Serena had already learned that the hard way, compliments of Lord Kane.
    The butler, Mansfield, came to the door and bowed. “There is a gentleman here to see Miss Serena.”
    Darius .
    An involuntary shiver danced across Serena’s skin, a reaction which made her scowl. Her friends exchanged knowing looks, then departed the room with Lady Devlyn.
    Serena smoothed her hair as she waited for Mansfield to show her admirer in.
    But it was not Darius.
    It was the portly, balding Lord Dudley.
    And the gentleman who called after that wasn’t Darius, either. It was tall and humorless Sir Radcliffe Parry.
    Poor Mansfield was put to the test managing what became a revolving door in the front portico of the mansion. Serena greeted earls, marquesses, viscounts and barons, and other wealthy gentlemen, all of whom made her generous offers, if she would only consent to becoming their exclusive companion.
    But the most generous offer came from the Duke of Balfour. The young duke looked much the worse for wear the day after losing the match of fisticuffs with Darius. Serena couldn’t help but feel sorry for him when she gazed at the shiny black eye and swollen jaw Darius had left him with.
    Without those distinguishing marks, the Duke was quite a handsome man in his own right, with wheat blond hair, sky blue eyes, and a tall frame.
    “Your offer is very generous, Your Grace,” Serena said politely, as if she received offers of such an exorbitant amount every day. But then again, Lady Night’s rules were there to fall back on, and there was one for any given situation. In this case, Serena employed Courtesan Rule Number Eleven: “ Act like a queen, and you shall be treated as such .”
    “It is nothing, compared to your beauty, Miss Ransom,” the duke said, gallantly bending forward to kiss her hand. Serena heard him grunt in pain as he did so. He grimaced and stood up straight again. “The ribs, you see. Giving me a little trouble today, on account of the Earl of Kane.”
    “A very ill-mannered gentleman,” Serena said, breezily.
    The duke nodded. “Quite right, and the man’s callous treatment of you last Season was utterly deplorable. Now that he has control of his late wife’s fortune, he thinks himself above his rank. He was like that in the Peninsula as well. I can tell you that neither he, nor his crony, Major Price, made any friends there. A very ill-mannered gentleman indeed, Miss Ransom.”
    Serena immediately liked the Duke even more.
    He continued to criticize Darius unabashedly. “A gentleman would never challenge a peer above his own rank to a match of fisticuffs. In a lady’s house, no less! Of course, when he took a swing at me, I was forced to defend myself. What else could I do?”
    “You were entirely