Read Online Taming The Bride (Brides of Mayfair 2) by Michelle McMaster - Free Book Online
Authors: Michelle McMaster
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, series, Regency, England, 19th century, Bachelor, Victorian, Deception, innocent, Britain, secrets, Rescues, Disguise, newspapers, Forever Love, Single Woman, Charade, Hearts Desire, London Society, Brides of Mayfair, Atwater Finishing School, Young Ladies, Streetwalker, Nobleman, School-marm, Bookish
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attentively beside her while the patroness told stories about her great-nephew’s escapades.
She learned that Lord Weston had also distinguished himself fighting in the Peninsula. He and his friend, Beckett, Lord Ravenwood, were two of Wellington’s finest Exploring Officers. They executed daring missions behind enemy lines, gathering intelligence on enemy troop movements, fortifications, and battle plans.
“There is one story about the wife of a French General becoming absolutely besotted with Alfred,” Lady Weston explained. “He and Lord Ravenwood had infiltrated a fortress being held by the French, with orders to steal important documents from the General’s quarters. The way the boys tell it, Alfred was to keep the general’s wife distracted while Beckett searched for the papers. But in the end, the woman developed such a tendre for my great-nephew that she told them where to look!”
“That is quite amazing,” Prudence said.
“Well, can you blame her?” Lady Weston said, chuckling. “After all, Alfred is a handsome man. Apparently the French General wasn’t much to look at. The poor woman would probably have thanked Wellington himself if she’d had the chance.”
Prudence squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. She didn’t want to think about Lord Weston—or how handsome he was—at the moment.
“He is utterly devoted to me,” Lady Weston continued. “I consider myself quite blessed to have both his affection, and his protection. A woman my age could be a victim of any number of unscrupulous villains, trying to separate me from my fortune. But Alfred sees that I am kept away from such riff-raff.”
Prudence forced a smile. “Good of him.”
“Why, just last year,” she said, “I met a young man from Kent who told me the most awful story about his father having lost all his money, and asked if I would invest in his schooling, so that he might become a physician as he’d always dreamed. Well, I was quite willing to help the young man. He was indeed most charming and very adept at pulling at one’s heartstrings. But after Alfred investigated him, it was discovered that he had already collected hundreds of pounds from wealthy widows in a similar manner!”
“It was very lucky that Lord Weston could spot him out,” Prudence replied.
“And I must say, Alfred had his doubts about you, Miss Atwater,” Lady Weston said. “But I assured him that you were most honest and forthright—a young woman of the most honorable character. And that there was no one more deserving of my patronage than you and the Atwater School.”
Prudence felt her heart sink with guilt.
It was obvious that Lady Weston would not be amused if she discovered Prudence had not been truthful with her about her night-time adventures. If Lady Weston withdrew her support, any further patronage from the ton would be in jeopardy.
There was simply too much at risk.
She had to settle the situation once and for all.
Prudence would go to Lord Weston directly, and demand that he fix a price for her debt this very night.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Prudence stood. “I must excuse myself, Lady Weston. Will you be alright until I return?”
“Of course, Miss Atwater,” the lady replied, genially. “I have been keeping you all to myself for far too long, and you must be tiring of my endless propensity for conversation.”
“Oh, no, Lady Weston, not at all,” Prudence began.
“It is quite alright, child. I will keep myself occupied with Lady Abercrombie, who is eyeing your chair even as we speak. Dorothea!” Lady Weston called, waving. “Dorothea and I are old friends. She will no doubt want to inform me of all the goings-on with her twenty-two grand-children, and her forty-six great-grand-children, which should keep her talking for at least an hour or more. Now, why don’t you go and find where my great-nephew has gotten to.”
“That is exactly what I shall do, Lady Weston,” Prudence said.
Though not for the
She learned that Lord Weston had also distinguished himself fighting in the Peninsula. He and his friend, Beckett, Lord Ravenwood, were two of Wellington’s finest Exploring Officers. They executed daring missions behind enemy lines, gathering intelligence on enemy troop movements, fortifications, and battle plans.
“There is one story about the wife of a French General becoming absolutely besotted with Alfred,” Lady Weston explained. “He and Lord Ravenwood had infiltrated a fortress being held by the French, with orders to steal important documents from the General’s quarters. The way the boys tell it, Alfred was to keep the general’s wife distracted while Beckett searched for the papers. But in the end, the woman developed such a tendre for my great-nephew that she told them where to look!”
“That is quite amazing,” Prudence said.
“Well, can you blame her?” Lady Weston said, chuckling. “After all, Alfred is a handsome man. Apparently the French General wasn’t much to look at. The poor woman would probably have thanked Wellington himself if she’d had the chance.”
Prudence squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. She didn’t want to think about Lord Weston—or how handsome he was—at the moment.
“He is utterly devoted to me,” Lady Weston continued. “I consider myself quite blessed to have both his affection, and his protection. A woman my age could be a victim of any number of unscrupulous villains, trying to separate me from my fortune. But Alfred sees that I am kept away from such riff-raff.”
Prudence forced a smile. “Good of him.”
“Why, just last year,” she said, “I met a young man from Kent who told me the most awful story about his father having lost all his money, and asked if I would invest in his schooling, so that he might become a physician as he’d always dreamed. Well, I was quite willing to help the young man. He was indeed most charming and very adept at pulling at one’s heartstrings. But after Alfred investigated him, it was discovered that he had already collected hundreds of pounds from wealthy widows in a similar manner!”
“It was very lucky that Lord Weston could spot him out,” Prudence replied.
“And I must say, Alfred had his doubts about you, Miss Atwater,” Lady Weston said. “But I assured him that you were most honest and forthright—a young woman of the most honorable character. And that there was no one more deserving of my patronage than you and the Atwater School.”
Prudence felt her heart sink with guilt.
It was obvious that Lady Weston would not be amused if she discovered Prudence had not been truthful with her about her night-time adventures. If Lady Weston withdrew her support, any further patronage from the ton would be in jeopardy.
There was simply too much at risk.
She had to settle the situation once and for all.
Prudence would go to Lord Weston directly, and demand that he fix a price for her debt this very night.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Prudence stood. “I must excuse myself, Lady Weston. Will you be alright until I return?”
“Of course, Miss Atwater,” the lady replied, genially. “I have been keeping you all to myself for far too long, and you must be tiring of my endless propensity for conversation.”
“Oh, no, Lady Weston, not at all,” Prudence began.
“It is quite alright, child. I will keep myself occupied with Lady Abercrombie, who is eyeing your chair even as we speak. Dorothea!” Lady Weston called, waving. “Dorothea and I are old friends. She will no doubt want to inform me of all the goings-on with her twenty-two grand-children, and her forty-six great-grand-children, which should keep her talking for at least an hour or more. Now, why don’t you go and find where my great-nephew has gotten to.”
“That is exactly what I shall do, Lady Weston,” Prudence said.
Though not for the
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