His Courtesan Bride (Brides of Mayfair 3) Read Online Free PDF

you, don’t worry. Fifty on Kane? Thank you, Sir Radcliffe. One hundred on the duke? I’ll take that bet, Lord Linley. And one hundred on Kane. Thank you, Mr. Chessington.”
    Havelock continued taking bets on the match while Darius and the duke moved to the end of the table. They each placed their white cue balls on the green baize and made ready to strike for the string—the right to make the first shot. They pulled back their cues in concert, then sent each respective cue ball spinning toward the cushion at the opposite end of the table. Each ball bounced off the side and came rolling back, the duke’s cue ball winning the contest as it stopped just short of the baulk cushion. Darius stepped back to let him shoot. “Your Grace.”
    Balfour placed the red object ball on the table and his cue ball in the baulk. He easily made a winning hazard, striking his white ball to hit the red, and sinking it in the corner pocket, thereby scoring three points. He seemed pleased with himself at that and positioned himself for the next shot, which he fouled, thereby awarding two points to Darius. He stood up, glaring at Darius as if it were somehow his fault.
    But then again, Darius had found, the duke was the type of man who blamed everyone else for his own missteps.
    Darius studied the table for a moment. He was skilled at both sizing up the table and his opponent. Years of practice had honed his talents in that regard. He could run the table, but he decided he’d have more fun if he drew this out….
    “Damn!” Darius cursed as he intentionally missed a shot, which put Balfour ahead by two points. “Must be the champagne.” In truth he hadn’t had much, but the duke obviously didn’t know that.
    Balfour stepped up, all too eager to prove his superiority over the opponent he thought so far beneath him. The duke scored three on a losing hazard, then two points on a cannon, which he quickly lost to Darius on another foul.
    Darius positioned his cue and took a swift shot that sent the red ball straight into the pocket for a winning hazard, scoring three points. He followed this with a difficult combination shot, potting both the object ball and Balfour’s white ball for ten points. The crowd was impressed with this, but his supporters moaned loudly when he fouled the next shot. He shook his head and smacked his fist on his thigh.
    Darius was ahead seventeen points to twelve, and he would have been well on the way to winning if he hadn’t intentionally fouled in favor of the duke.
    “Don’t fret, Kane,” the duke said conceitedly. “With you scoring points for me, I’ll easily win this match. I’ll have the little courtesan, too. It only makes sense that the highest peer of the realm in attendance should be victorious in all things. After I’m through, Kane, you’ll finally realize that you can’t compete with me. On any battlefield.”
    The crowd fell silent. They all leaned forward, waiting for Darius’ response. Balfour was a duke, after all. And most men didn’t challenge his authority. But Darius Manning, the Earl of Kane, was not most men.
    A game of billiards was one thing.
    Miss Serena Ransom was quite another.
    And Darius intended to win both.

Chapter 3

    “Men are like children; they like to collect colorful toys, and to them, the skilled courtesan is merely another toy to be fought over, and to prevent other boys from playing with.”
    –from Memoirs of a Courtesan, by Lady Night

    Serena and her companions were enjoying celebratory champagne and French chocolates in Lady D’s sitting room when a loud commotion erupted from the salon below.
    “Whatever is that?” Serena asked, alarmed.
    “Stay here,” Lady Devlyn commanded. “I shall investigate.”
    She disappeared into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
    “My word, what could it be?” Bliss asked.
    “The important thing is to remain calm,” Felicity replied. “We must stay here until Lady D returns. Whatever it is, we are safer up