Seducing The Bride (Brides of Mayfair 1) Read Free

back in to receive the girl’s feet as Alfred lifted her shoulders. Finally, they managed to get her out and into Beckett’s arms. Alfred paid the coachman while Beckett headed up the walk.
    The ornately carved door of the townhouse opened silently, as if by magic. Beckett’s valet, Hartley, stood behind it as they entered the foyer. Since Beckett could only afford one manservant, the long-suffering Hartley assumed the duties of butler, as well. Sitting on the man’s shoulder was Beckett’s African gray parrot, Caesar. Both looked at Beckett with interest.
    “Who is the lady, sir?” Hartley asked.
    “A poor woman in distress. Let’s get her upstairs.” With a nod to the valet, Beckett commanded him to light their way.
    “ Hello. You’re a pretty bird ,” said Caesar.
    “Hello, Caesar,” Beckett replied as they trudged up the staircase. He said to Hartley, “What’s he still doing awake?”
    “ Still awake ,” said Caesar.
    “I put him to bed, sir,” Hartley explained, “along with Master Monty, Miss Cleo and the puppies—as you instructed. But Master Caesar simply would not keep quiet. He kept screeching and jabbering until I could take no more. I’m afraid he does that when you are out late at night, sir.”
    The familiar clicking of twenty toenails accompanied them on the stairs, and Beckett glanced down to see his mongrel, Monty, bounding up beside them onto the landing. “Come to see the new addition, eh, Monty?”
    The big brown dog panted up at him in response, his thick, pink tongue hanging out of his mouth.
    “What luck, Monty,” Alfred whispered. “Your master has found you another playmate!”
    “Hartley, we’ll need fresh linens for our wayward miss. She’ll sleep in my room tonight,” Beckett ordered.
    “Your room, my lord?” Hartley asked, an eye-brow raised.
    “Yes, my room,” Beckett said. “And don’t look at me like that. I’ll sleep next door in the sitting room. I want to keep an ear open if she awakens. She may be frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings.”
    Hartley nodded and said, “This must certainly be the most interesting stray you’ve rescued, my lord. But I’m afraid she smells as bad as the rest of them put together.” He walked down the dark hall with Caesar still on his shoulder.
    Beckett looked at the unconscious girl in his arms and took another whiff, turning up his nose. “My word, I think he’s right.”
    Alfred nodded, stifling a yawn. “Why can’t you rescue sweet-smelling females?”
    “I’ll try harder next time,” Beckett replied, adjusting the girl’s weight in his arms.
    With Monty at his side, he walked down the short hallway to his bedchamber. Once inside, he carefully laid the girl’s limp body on the huge bed, while Alfred followed him and lit the candles.
    The girl’s hair spread around her shoulders like a halo on the pillow. Beckett pulled the covers around her and watched her for a moment. No, she certainly wasn’t a trollop, so what was she? Who was she?
    Hartley hurried into the room carrying linens, towels and blankets, then returned again with a pitcher of warm water. Crossing the room to the washstand, he poured the water into a blue porcelain basin.
    “Thank you, Hartley. That is all,” Beckett said, and the valet took his leave.
    Beckett set the linens on the edge of the bed. “She may not awaken this evening—we shall try to solve the mystery tomorrow.”
    “Well, Beckett, I shall leave you to it,” Alfred said. “Alas, I’m not interested in playing nursemaid this evening. I’ll just have a look at her tomorrow when she’s cleaned up.”
    Beckett felt his eyes grow heavy as he stared at Alfred. “I wonder who she is, really….”
    “You always did love a good mystery, old man.” Alfred started for the door. “I’m going downstairs and have myself another drink. Then I am going to sleep in my usual spot: The Blue Room.” Alfred chuckled, saying over his shoulder, “You know, I just thought of