Read Online His Courtesan Bride (Brides of Mayfair 3) by Michelle McMaster - Free Book Online Page A
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
Ads: Link
death, which I hear some are betting on before the year is out, perhaps I’ll take his ‘Merry Widow’ to wife. I could do with some spending money.”
They came to Darius’ black phaeton parked in an alleyway, its red wheels glossy and gleaming. Darius had one of the fastest vehicles in London, as proven by the races he’d won against members of the ton who were foolish enough to compete with him. He had paid a boy to watch the phaeton for him while they were at the club, and now tossed him another coin for his trouble. The young lad looked amazed at the shiny guinea he held in his dirty little hand. With a smile, the boy quickly scampered away into the busy throng around them.
“It’s the Fashionable Hour. Shall we head over to Hyde Park and see who’s about?” Havelock asked. “We just might see your courtesan there.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Darius said. Once sitting atop the phaeton, they made their way into the heavy traffic. Darius steered the matching pair of blacks as easily as if his was the only vehicle on the road.
It had been days since he’d made his offer to Serena, and he’d heard nothing from her. Though he hated to admit it, he’d been more than a little surprised by her silence. And angered. And frustrated, to boot.
He’d made her a damned good offer. He knew she had felt the heat between them just as he did, just as they had together that night at the Telford Ball. Nothing had changed in that area.
No other woman had ever affected him like Serena Ransom. He’d had other lovers—beautiful, imaginative and arousing. Yet, none of those women could compare with the desire Serena ignited in him. There was something indescribable about her, a mixture of innocence and fiery passion that made a man want to possess her completely.
The intensity of his desire for her had been so strong two years ago, it had caused Serena’s complete and utter ruination. The sad thing was, Darius had known exactly how dangerous it had been for her during their forbidden liaisons. He’d known how easily her reputation could have been ruined, but he hadn’t cared. He’d taken chances he knew he shouldn’t have, pulling her into darkened libraries to taste her lips, ducking behind a statue in a dimly lit garden to trail kisses down her neck. She’d been like a drug to him, addictive and impossible to resist.
It had all caught up with them, however, that fateful night at the Telford Ball. And though Serena thought herself the only one who’d paid a price for their association, she was quite wrong about that. He had paid a price as well.
God had punished him quite severely for his sins and left him in a state of shame and regret, longing for Serena, even when he had been forced to marry another. And because of what had become of Serena, Darius had hated himself. His marriage had been a sham, painful for everyone involved. Now, Darius wanted nothing more than to make amends somehow, with the one woman who could deliver him from Hell.
Serena .
If he was a devil, then she was his angel. And he meant to have her this time—to be her lover and protector, as he should have been two years ago, instead of abandoning her as he had.
At the club, he’d heard rumors that the Duke of Balfour had made Serena a significant offer as well. Apparently, bets were being placed on which of them would win the beautiful courtesan for their own. Havelock reported that right now, odds-makers put Darius and the duke neck and neck. It could go either way.
But Darius didn’t like those odds, because the prize was not something he wished to lose—for not only did he want Serena back in his arms, he needed his atonement.
Soon he was turning the phaeton onto Rotten Row, the crush of traffic in Hyde Park as busy if not worse than the congested roads of the city surrounding them. Everyone who was anyone in London came here to be seen, between the hours of four-thirty and seven. Lovely ladies walked about, showing off
They came to Darius’ black phaeton parked in an alleyway, its red wheels glossy and gleaming. Darius had one of the fastest vehicles in London, as proven by the races he’d won against members of the ton who were foolish enough to compete with him. He had paid a boy to watch the phaeton for him while they were at the club, and now tossed him another coin for his trouble. The young lad looked amazed at the shiny guinea he held in his dirty little hand. With a smile, the boy quickly scampered away into the busy throng around them.
“It’s the Fashionable Hour. Shall we head over to Hyde Park and see who’s about?” Havelock asked. “We just might see your courtesan there.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Darius said. Once sitting atop the phaeton, they made their way into the heavy traffic. Darius steered the matching pair of blacks as easily as if his was the only vehicle on the road.
It had been days since he’d made his offer to Serena, and he’d heard nothing from her. Though he hated to admit it, he’d been more than a little surprised by her silence. And angered. And frustrated, to boot.
He’d made her a damned good offer. He knew she had felt the heat between them just as he did, just as they had together that night at the Telford Ball. Nothing had changed in that area.
No other woman had ever affected him like Serena Ransom. He’d had other lovers—beautiful, imaginative and arousing. Yet, none of those women could compare with the desire Serena ignited in him. There was something indescribable about her, a mixture of innocence and fiery passion that made a man want to possess her completely.
The intensity of his desire for her had been so strong two years ago, it had caused Serena’s complete and utter ruination. The sad thing was, Darius had known exactly how dangerous it had been for her during their forbidden liaisons. He’d known how easily her reputation could have been ruined, but he hadn’t cared. He’d taken chances he knew he shouldn’t have, pulling her into darkened libraries to taste her lips, ducking behind a statue in a dimly lit garden to trail kisses down her neck. She’d been like a drug to him, addictive and impossible to resist.
It had all caught up with them, however, that fateful night at the Telford Ball. And though Serena thought herself the only one who’d paid a price for their association, she was quite wrong about that. He had paid a price as well.
God had punished him quite severely for his sins and left him in a state of shame and regret, longing for Serena, even when he had been forced to marry another. And because of what had become of Serena, Darius had hated himself. His marriage had been a sham, painful for everyone involved. Now, Darius wanted nothing more than to make amends somehow, with the one woman who could deliver him from Hell.
Serena .
If he was a devil, then she was his angel. And he meant to have her this time—to be her lover and protector, as he should have been two years ago, instead of abandoning her as he had.
At the club, he’d heard rumors that the Duke of Balfour had made Serena a significant offer as well. Apparently, bets were being placed on which of them would win the beautiful courtesan for their own. Havelock reported that right now, odds-makers put Darius and the duke neck and neck. It could go either way.
But Darius didn’t like those odds, because the prize was not something he wished to lose—for not only did he want Serena back in his arms, he needed his atonement.
Soon he was turning the phaeton onto Rotten Row, the crush of traffic in Hyde Park as busy if not worse than the congested roads of the city surrounding them. Everyone who was anyone in London came here to be seen, between the hours of four-thirty and seven. Lovely ladies walked about, showing off
Similar Books
