To Tame a Dragon by Megan Bryce Read Free Book Online Page A

he’s an earl!”
    “I quite agree. But we needn’t worry about
     that yet. In a few months you will be engaged again and can
     acknowledge him with equanimity. Oh, I’m so relieved. And in the
     future I will make sure we coordinate events better between the
     two of you.”
    “I was so upset that I couldn’t attend but
     perhaps Grandmama is right. Sometimes things do happen for the
     best.”
    “That’s the way to look at it. Now, I shall
     leave you to your breakfast. I’ll call again at a more
     reasonable hour to see what events you are planning to attend.
     I’ll keep Jameson out of your hair for as long as needs be, my
     dear.”
    Clarice nodded unhappily. “Lady Amelia?”
    “Yes, my dear?”
    “He will not be coming back, will he?”
    A melancholy air surrounded the poor girl and
     Amelia took her hand. These last weeks she had been so focused
     on salvaging Clarice’s social standing that she had quite
     ignored the hurt and betrayal the poor girl must certainly be
     feeling. Amelia knew those feelings well, even if she too had
     been forced to hide them.
    They sat quietly together until Amelia
     whispered, “Men are louts.”
    Clarice gasped, then giggled. “It’s really
     too bad we must put up with them.”
    Amelia smiled. “I’ve often thought that a
     nunnery must be so peaceful. Imagine, men locked out!”
    They laughed, then Clarice sighed. “But
     perhaps it would be a bit boring.”
    Amelia patted her hand and stood to leave.
     “Of that, I have no doubt.”

Four
    T he next few weeks’ events were coordinated,
     and a promise wrung from Jameson that he would not accept any
     more invitations before consulting her. Amelia decided to enjoy
     the Gratham’s ball herself. It had been a stressful few weeks
     and she had no doubt Jameson would find more ways to
     inconvenience her. She had to take moments to herself when she
     could. Besides, it had been nearly two weeks since she had been
     subjected to a ridiculous proposal, if one didn’t count
     Jameson’s and she didn’t, and she found herself in need of
     entertainment. Perhaps tonight some young idiot would get drunk
     enough to propose.
    Jameson, Robin, Amelia, and Lady Beckham
     arrived beyond fashionably late. They sat in the coach, arguing.
     Now that the moment was upon him, Jameson had realized that he
     had no idea how he would be received by the ton , and had
     tried to wheedle his way out. Unfortunately for him, Amelia was
     in no mood.
    “I hope you do feel some disapproval,
     Jameson. You acted without thought and hurt Clarice terribly. I
     hope you get a few cuts.”
    Robin scolded her. “You’re being very harsh
     tonight. He does not need disapproval from you; who knows what
     he’ll be subjected to in there.”
    Jameson was quiet, sitting with his head back
     and his eyes half-closed.
    Amelia sat forward. “It is not you who has
     picked up the pieces these last weeks. It is not you who has
     held Clarice’s hand while she cried, or when she finally
     accepted that Jameson never loved her. I did. I am still his
     friend, though he hardly deserves it. Perhaps it is vengeance on
     my part that I hope he feels a smidgen of the pain he has
     caused. Or perhaps it is simply that I never want to go through
     this again and a few good cuts would help him learn the lesson.”
    Robin leaned forward, gesturing wildly at
     Jameson. “Do you honestly think he has not suffered? That he
     does not feel the shame and cowardice of what he’s done? Do you
     think he doesn’t know how horribly he treated the poor girl? He
     drinks himself to a stupor nearly every night.”
    “Is that new? I couldn’t tell.”
    Lady Beckham’s reason-filled voice
     interrupted the siblings feud. “Perhaps we are all too wound up
     to attend this evening. We can cry off, come up with some
     excuse.”
    Amelia sat back with a huff. “No, we can’t.
     Just look at this madhouse. They all want to see him, let them
     see him.”
    Jameson