Taming The Bride (Brides of Mayfair 2) by Michelle McMaster Page B

shall speak to him about it.”
    “Oh, no, my lady,” Prudence protested, “you see, it was my idea. I did not want to keep him from his friends. In fact, I insisted on returning alone. It is not so scandalous, is it?”
    “No, I suppose not,” Lady Weston said, not looking quite convinced. “Perhaps it is my age, my dear. I am from a different era. And you are such a young, modern girl. Will you sit with me and tell me all the news of your lovely school?”
    Prudence smiled. She could not refuse this great old lady anything. And she would be safe with Lady Weston. If Lord Weston came by, he would surely behave himself in his great-aunt’s company.
    So Prudence sat, and related all the new lessons she was planning, as well as each student’s individual progress. Lady Weston seemed enthralled with even the smallest detail. She was truly the most wonderful patroness the Atwater School could have hoped for.
    Prudence knew that she must do whatever it took to keep Lady Weston’s patronage—even if it meant willingly submitting herself to blackmail.
    Lady Weston patted Prudence’s hand and smiled, saying, “I must say, I especially enjoyed your girl’s singing at Lady Braxton’s assembly a week past. Miss Linton has a lovely soprano. I should like to hear her in a duet with Alfred. He is an accomplished baritone, you know.”
    “I confess, I did not,” Prudence answered, reluctantly intrigued.
    “Oh yes, my child,” Lady Weston replied. “Why the richness of his voice is enough to make your knees go weak.”
    “Make your knees go where , Auntie?” Lord Weston asked, suddenly towering above them.
    “Never you mind, m’boy,” she said, winking at Prudence. “How are you young people enjoying yourselves? Is my great-nephew providing a satisfactory escort, Miss Atwater? Hasn’t made you dizzy with dancing, has he?”
    Prudence felt herself flush under Lord Weston’s stare.
    “No, my lady,” she said brightly. “Your great-nephew has been an attentive escort. He has taken great pains to ensure my comfort, and not to overtax my health by dancing. Along with that, I have found Lord Weston to be a most stimulating partner in conversation.”
    He bowed gallantly and pressed her hand to his lips, then said, “I am honored that you find me a stimulating partner, Miss Atwater. It would be my greatest desire to explore more diverse areas of stimulation with you.”
    Prudence almost choked on her tongue.
    Lord Weston, the rogue, didn’t even bat an eyelash.
    “What?” Lady Weston said, putting her hand to her ear. “Tribulation? Of what sort, m’boy? Oh, I fear my hearing is not what it once was,” she commented to Prudence.
    “Your hearing is quite correct, my lady,” Prudence replied. “Lord Weston was indeed referring to what I would consider a tribulation indeed.”
    He put his hands on his hips, stared directly at Prudence, and chuckled—as if she were nothing more than an amusement to him.
    She fought vainly to control her fury. Oh, how she wanted nothing more than to take the sugar spoon from the nearby table and plunge it straight through his wicked black heart!
    “Whatever are you laughing about, Alfred?” Lady Weston asked. “I see nothing in our present circumstance that would inspire such a degree of mirth.”
    “My apologies, Auntie,” he said. “You are quite correct. There is nothing in our present circumstance, but there certainly will be in the future. Now, I’ve promised to meet Lord Kendall in the card room. I shall return after I have fleeced him of a good portion of his wealth.”
    He kissed his great-aunt’s hand, and bowed to Prudence, saying pointedly, “Miss Atwater.”
    She watched him stride confidently across the room and saw most of the ladies’ heads turn as he passed by. As he walked away, Prudence made a silent and furtive prayer that someone would trip him.

Chapter 7

    Prudence was happy to keep Lady Weston company for the remainder of the evening, sitting