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

compote.
    Cook had served up another magnificent breakfast this morning. And it was a good thing, too. Great-Aunt Withypoll had a very discerning palate.
    “I say, what’s this, now? What’s this say?” the ancient lady said, squinting her eyes and bringing the paper right up to her nose.
    “My dear Auntie, you must arrange to get spectacles,” Alfred said, taking a bite of ham. “Dr. Trask has recommended it.”
    Lady Weston lowered the paper and glared at him. “You know I refuse to listen to that imbecile. Spectacles! Do you think my ancestor, the great Saxon Queen Withypoll—for whom I was named—wore spectacles? I think not. And I don’t need spectacles to see that you’ve made the Times , m’boy.” She whacked the paper with a gnarled hand and stared at him with disapproving eyes.
    Alfred reached for the paper, but she grabbed it away. “I’ll read it, young pup,” she said, then cleared her throat and read aloud:

    “WHO IS THE MYSTERY MAN OF DRURY LANE?

    London theater-goers were treated to a unique sight last evening, as a mysterious man wearing nothing but a beaver was seen skulking about the bushes in wait there, to expose himself thus unclothed to innocent passersby.

    Lord S________ and his companion , Lady F________ encountered the strange fellow after taking in a performance of ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ at the Theater, though there is speculation as to the mystery man’s identity as being that of Lord W________, younger son of the Earl of H________.
    Apparently, after laying in wait and spying on Lord

    S________ and Lady F________ in his naked state, Lord W________, having been caught indulging in any number of lewd solitary amusements, ran down the street wearing nothing so much as his hat (though not upon his head!).

    It is a mystery as to what may have caused Lord W________’s confounding actions last evening in Drury Lane. But tonight’s theater-goers are advised to keep watch for the be-hatted Mystery Man, as they may forgo the price of a ticket and be just as entertained.”

    Alfred remained silent, waiting for the second wave of the onslaught.
    The little woman stared at him with ice-blue eyes, which though clouded with age, still had the power to make a man quake in his boots.
    As Alfred was trying not to do now.
    “Nothing to say, eh?” she asked. “Nothing to say about all of London laughing at your schoolboy shenanigans?” Lady Weston shook her head in disappointment. “My word, a man your age running about naked as the day you were born. Is it true?”
    Alfred sighed. “I’m afraid it is.”
    “Well, I never heard of such a thing,” Lady Weston replied. “No doubt a bad habit you picked up in Italy when you were on your Tour—well, I don’t hold with it! You may be my favorite great-nephew, Alfred, but you try my patience. And it would be unwise to take advantage of an old woman’s affections, even if you no longer need me.”
    “I will always need you, Auntie,” he replied, truthfully.
    She looked unimpressed. “I admit, I favored you while you were growing up, and I fully supported you as my late husband’s heir to the barony, but now I am not so sure. Your brother Richard would never indulge in such scandalous actions.”
    “My brother Richard is no fun,” Alfred replied, rising from his chair. He took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it. “I swear, Auntie, it was all a misunderstanding. You must believe me.”
    “Too much like my Bertram, you are, my boy,” she said, reluctantly giving a smile. “Same devilish eyes. Hmph. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were playing me like a violin, as you do with all the women.”
    She laughed then and patted his arm. “Ah, Alfred…you always could make me laugh, even when I was angry with you. And that is why you are my favorite. But I am still quite cross with you. All of London will be tittering with amusement at your unfortunate adventure…and the Weston name should never be