Read Online His Courtesan Bride (Brides of Mayfair 3) by Michelle McMaster - Free Book Online
Authors: Michelle McMaster
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, Regency, England, 19th century, Bachelor, Victorian, destiny, Britain, second chances, Forever Love, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, London Society, Years Later, Mayfair Ball, Scandalous Embrace, Reputation, Courtesan Club, Pledged To Another, Exclusive Courtesan
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wait…make them wait, and then, make them wait some more.”
– from Memoirs of a Courtesan, by Lady Night
“Certainly, you must do what you feel is right, Serena,” Lady Devlyn said, as she brought the ivory china cup to her lips and took a sip of steaming, fragrant jasmine tea. “And if you have decided to refuse Lord Kane, no matter that his offer is so impressive, you must have good reason to do so.”
The day after Serena had received offers from the Duke of Balfour and Lord Kane, she and the rest of the Courtesan Club were sitting in the salon discussing Serena’s future.
She had been prepared for this—-for the questioning looks from her friends, and the cloaked disapproval from Lady Devlyn herself. But she hadn’t been prepared for how uncomfortable she would feel when trying to explain her reasoning.
“The duke’s offer is quite good as well,” Lady Devlyn said, “and though perhaps not as financially rewarding, there is his influence with the King to consider. Of course, if you must accept the duke’s offer, don’t let him know right away. Men enjoy the chase. Let him fight for you. Just because you are a courtesan does not mean you can be taken for granted, even by a duke.”
“What do you have in mind?” Serena asked. She had thought her decision to accept the duke’s offer would put an end to it.
Lady D continued, “I think you should play hard to get with Balfour.”
“Let me be quite certain of what you mean. You want me to refuse the duke?” Serena asked, surprised.
“Not outright. Just don’t accept him yet,” Lady D advised. “The offer you received from the Earl of Kane exceeded the duke’s, but they don’t have to know that. Play each one off the other. Tell them their offers were too close to decide upon. If one of them wants you to be their exclusive courtesan, they’ll simply have to do better.”
Serena felt her heart race. She didn’t want Darius to try to improve upon his offer. “But Lady D, I never want to see Lord Kane again. I am going to become the duke’s courtesan, so what does it matter?”
“You are not just any courtesan, Serena,” Lady D said. “You are a virgin courtesan. It is a very rare prize you hold—one that men want to possess. You have a perfect right to demand more than a man’s initial offer, and use whatever means in your power to do it.”
Serena knew that her benefactress spoke the truth. She just didn’t want to believe it. Because then she would have to deal with Darius again.
She would rather pull out her teeth, one by one, than do that.
Lady Devlyn smiled serenely. “My advice to you is to ignore the both of them, for the time being. Let them come to you. I assure you that they will. They’ll be unable to control their curiosity about your decision. Make them wait. Make them woo you. And above all, make them work for it.”
Perhaps Lady D was right. If Darius wished to jump through hoops for her, Serena would let him. It would only serve to drive up the duke’s offer, which was what she wanted, because he was the one she meant to accept.
* * *
A few days later, Darius and Havelock stepped out of Matterly’s gaming club. Darius was quite pleased with himself, having just fleeced Lord Whitfield of a large sum of money. The man’s fortune dwindled each day at the tables.
“I say, Dare, you could have shown him a little mercy in there,” Havelock chided.
Darius straightened his lapels as they walked down the busy street in search of his phaeton. “If Whitfield wants to throw away his money, I’ll gladly take it off his hands. I mean to open an account at my bankers’ in his wife’s name and deposit my winnings there. If her husband is set on his own ruination, no doubt she’ll be needing the money eventually.”
“Ever the good Samaritan, I see,” Havelock said wryly. “By all accounts, Lady Whitfield is a saint. She deserves a better husband than the one she’s got. I say, if Whitfield drinks himself to
– from Memoirs of a Courtesan, by Lady Night
“Certainly, you must do what you feel is right, Serena,” Lady Devlyn said, as she brought the ivory china cup to her lips and took a sip of steaming, fragrant jasmine tea. “And if you have decided to refuse Lord Kane, no matter that his offer is so impressive, you must have good reason to do so.”
The day after Serena had received offers from the Duke of Balfour and Lord Kane, she and the rest of the Courtesan Club were sitting in the salon discussing Serena’s future.
She had been prepared for this—-for the questioning looks from her friends, and the cloaked disapproval from Lady Devlyn herself. But she hadn’t been prepared for how uncomfortable she would feel when trying to explain her reasoning.
“The duke’s offer is quite good as well,” Lady Devlyn said, “and though perhaps not as financially rewarding, there is his influence with the King to consider. Of course, if you must accept the duke’s offer, don’t let him know right away. Men enjoy the chase. Let him fight for you. Just because you are a courtesan does not mean you can be taken for granted, even by a duke.”
“What do you have in mind?” Serena asked. She had thought her decision to accept the duke’s offer would put an end to it.
Lady D continued, “I think you should play hard to get with Balfour.”
“Let me be quite certain of what you mean. You want me to refuse the duke?” Serena asked, surprised.
“Not outright. Just don’t accept him yet,” Lady D advised. “The offer you received from the Earl of Kane exceeded the duke’s, but they don’t have to know that. Play each one off the other. Tell them their offers were too close to decide upon. If one of them wants you to be their exclusive courtesan, they’ll simply have to do better.”
Serena felt her heart race. She didn’t want Darius to try to improve upon his offer. “But Lady D, I never want to see Lord Kane again. I am going to become the duke’s courtesan, so what does it matter?”
“You are not just any courtesan, Serena,” Lady D said. “You are a virgin courtesan. It is a very rare prize you hold—one that men want to possess. You have a perfect right to demand more than a man’s initial offer, and use whatever means in your power to do it.”
Serena knew that her benefactress spoke the truth. She just didn’t want to believe it. Because then she would have to deal with Darius again.
She would rather pull out her teeth, one by one, than do that.
Lady Devlyn smiled serenely. “My advice to you is to ignore the both of them, for the time being. Let them come to you. I assure you that they will. They’ll be unable to control their curiosity about your decision. Make them wait. Make them woo you. And above all, make them work for it.”
Perhaps Lady D was right. If Darius wished to jump through hoops for her, Serena would let him. It would only serve to drive up the duke’s offer, which was what she wanted, because he was the one she meant to accept.
* * *
A few days later, Darius and Havelock stepped out of Matterly’s gaming club. Darius was quite pleased with himself, having just fleeced Lord Whitfield of a large sum of money. The man’s fortune dwindled each day at the tables.
“I say, Dare, you could have shown him a little mercy in there,” Havelock chided.
Darius straightened his lapels as they walked down the busy street in search of his phaeton. “If Whitfield wants to throw away his money, I’ll gladly take it off his hands. I mean to open an account at my bankers’ in his wife’s name and deposit my winnings there. If her husband is set on his own ruination, no doubt she’ll be needing the money eventually.”
“Ever the good Samaritan, I see,” Havelock said wryly. “By all accounts, Lady Whitfield is a saint. She deserves a better husband than the one she’s got. I say, if Whitfield drinks himself to
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