Read Taming The Bride (Brides of Mayfair 2) for Free Online Page B

gentleman wouldn’t put a young woman in such a position.
    But he had never claimed to be a gentleman.
    Never had been—never would be.
    And what would he exact as a price? He couldn’t help but grin as his mind raced with possibilities. She had looked so very enticing in that red satin, with her breasts spilling out of the tight bodice like pearls out of a jewel-case….
    How much could he demand from her?
    How far could he go?
    An uncomfortable heat suffused his loins as he remembered the sensation of her mouth beneath his and her tempting little body pressing against him.
    He would make her wait for awhile.
    Make her fear the worst.
    Then he would make her pay as he had vowed to do that very night.
    Didn’t he still have scratches all over his body from when he’d jumped through the bushes? Hadn’t he had to put up with all the jokes at his club, all the curious looks and nudges? And hadn’t he had to deal with Great-Aunt Withypoll’s disappointment in him for sullying the family name?
    Oh yes…Miss Prudence Atwater would pay for all of that, starting tomorrow night at Lady Townsend’s ball.

Chapter 5

    “Cup o’ tea, Miss?” Dolly said as Prudence walked slowly into the kitchen. She sat down at the table, staring numbly at the brightly flowered tablecloth.
    “I said, would ye like a cup o’ tea?” Dolly said, again. “The kettle’s just boiled. Miss Atwater? Is somethin’ wrong?”
    Prudence jolted slightly as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up into Dolly’s concerned eyes. “I’m sorry…what did you say?”
    The housekeeper stood back and folded her arms across her ample bosom. “I asked ye if there was somethin’ wrong, and I see plainly that there is. Now what’s happened?”
    “I—I met the man,” Prudence stammered.
    “The man?” Dolly said, frowning. “Could you be just a wee bit more specific?”
    “The one that Mungo and I left under the hedge.”
    “Oh, no!” Dolly exclaimed. “Ye mean the one ol’ Mungo clobbed on the ’ead? The one ye left naked as a wee babe after ye stripped ’im of all ’is fine clothes? The one that kissed and fondled ye as if ’e had a God-given right to?”
    “Yes, Dolly,” Prudence said, finally. “ That one.”
    “Lud! Well, ye better tell me everythin’,” Dolly said.
    As she poured two steaming cups of tea, Prudence related the tale, begging Dolly not to tell Mungo about the price Lord Weston meant to claim from her. Mungo would only go after the man and no doubt succeed in strangling him the second time around. This was one problem Prudence would have to solve by herself.
    “Oh, my…,” Dolly said, putting her hand to her face after Prudence finished her story. “An’ now ’e’s yer escort to the ball tomorrow. Dreadful! But ye can’t do this, Miss! What does the rascal want of ye? ’Ave ye thought of that? ’E is a red-blooded man, after all.”
    “I know, Dolly, but I have no choice,” Prudence replied. “I’ll have to do whatever he says. Otherwise, the Atwater School will most certainly be forced to close its doors. I can’t send you all back out onto the street again. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
    Dolly clasped her hand. “Per’aps me or one o’ the girls could…y’know. Change ’is mind.”
    Prudence looked at Dolly, alarmed. “No, Dolly. That part of your life is over. You’ll never again be forced to sell your body to a man. I promised you that.”
    “But ye will in our place?” Dolly asked. “’Ow is that fair?”
    “We don’t even know what Lord Weston wants,” Prudence replied, weakly.
    “Oh yes, we do. ’E wants ye, flat on yer back! Mark my words, so ’e does. Ye must tell ’im ye’ve changed yer mind. There must be another way.”
    “There is no other way,” Prudence said sighing. “The money Father left me is all but gone. I’ve been using my own money since the school’s account ran dry last Christmas. I’m afraid the only way we can survive is through