Free A Terrible Beauty (Season of the Furies Book 1) by Stephanie Patterson Page B

Winston is a spoiled brat. If she were my responsibility I’d tan her backside regularly, believe me. Any self-respecting father would, given her behavior and he’d be justified....”
    Drew recoiled as if Michael had struck him. “Shut up, Michael,” Drew yelled, “You think life is so easy for her don’t you? You’re just like everyone else. You never look past the surface. She’s just a beautiful, willful girl and you all know what should be done with her, don’t you.” Michael stared dumfounded into his brother’s fury. “None of you have the slightest idea and none of you give a damn.” Drew stormed from the room leaving Michael standing in shocked silence.
     
    ***
     
    “Then, damn me if she didn’t run off with everything but the chamber pot. It was the last time I engaged a mistress without a written contract, I can tell you that.” Michael winced at the conclusion of Skeffy Arlington’s woeful tale of his first mistress. Most of the other men assembled in the Earl of Delafield’s library merely looked uncomfortable at Skeffy’s story that would have best been recounted on a late evening at a gentlemen’s club and after a considerable amount of brandy. Some of the older men in the room glared. This was a picnic, after all, and ladies glided gently about the place just steps beyond the doors of this manly retreat.
    Michael caught the eye of one particular gentleman in the group and shook his head to indicate his own disapproval. He was a director of Barclay’s Bank and Michael had come today with Arlington in hopes of an introduction to him. Arlington might be considered a buffoon, but he was very wealthy and had important family connections in both finance and government – connections Michael needed if he wished to buy the foundry outside Liverpool and seize some of Her Majesty’s very lucrative naval contracts as his own. The older man frowned at Skeffy’s horsey laugh and turned to regard Michael who raised his own eyes heavenward before giving the other man a half smile of commiseration. Within moments the older man gestured for Michael to join him at the sideboard, leaving Skeffy to entertain his remaining audience with another off color anecdote. Michael turned his opportunity to even greater advantage and before long had secured an appointment at Barclay’s to discuss financing his purchase of the foundry. All in all, a satisfying days work.
    As Michael turned to leave the room he heard his younger brother’s name mentioned. “Gad, you should have seen young Lassiter’s face. Then she says, coolly as you please, ‘Everyone knows that a third son is only one step above a by-blow. Come to think of it, you are a third son, aren’t you, Mr. Lassiter?’ ” Michael froze. Edmond Bennet stood by the window regaling the circle of young men surrounding him. They all laughed long and loud at Drew’s expense. Michael fought the impulse to drag Bennet outside and give him a sound thrashing. It would only make matters worse.
    “Iredale will have his hands full with her, won’t he?” exclaimed one young man, whipping a mirthful tear from his eye.
    “A couple of rather delightful handfuls, I should think,” Bennet rejoined, leaving no doubt what part of her would fill a man's hands so amply. He lifted his whiskey glass. “To Araby Winston, a spirited girl whom I’d very much enjoy breaking to bridle.” The young men cheered as they drank to their own fantasies of doing the same.
    Michael searched the room to see who else bore witness to Drew’s humiliation. Lord Ambrose stood quietly by himself. He gave Michael a considering look. Perhaps he should call on the man after all. He hadn’t given the man’s invitation serious consideration until now – until he remembered what a vicious little viper Araby Winston could be. He'd let himself be deluded by the incident with the flower girl and his memory quickly drew him back to another woman with soft skin, the color of cafe au lait. He