Taming London (Warwick Dragons #1) - Milly Taiden Page 0,4

just letting you know that Mom is on the tear.” He gave him a brief rundown of what had happened with Johanna, and his conversation with York.

“I’m going to have to echo our older brother on this. I don’t see how this is my problem. You knew that this could happen. No. That this would happen. You’re a notorious attention monger, London. You knew making a splash with your sexual escapades was a risk. Especially when we’re only about thirty or forty years away from resetting our lives. In the age of technologies and selfies to top it off. This is a good plan that Mom has come up with. You won’t get any sympathy from me.”

London was fuming. “And if she comes to you next? What will you do then?”

“I’m not concerned about me. Our mother knows that there is no way I’m going to take a mate. My work is too important.”

London rolled his eyes with such vigor, he was sure Paris had heard the silent motion on the other end of the line. “Well, I’ll be sure to tell Mom that you’re feeling particularly lonely and that she should go visit you next.”

“Don’t…”

London didn’t give his brother the chance to finish his thought. He had already hung up. It made him smile, a mischievous, if not downright malicious smile. If his brothers weren’t going to help him against their mother’s well-intended scheming, he would send her their way next.

It was a sort of game they had been playing for centuries.

Tag, you’re it, mother fuckers.

He smiled to himself once again, planning out just how he would mess with the plan. London didn’t need a keeper. He was a grown-ass man who was in complete control of his own destiny. Nothing, and he meant it…nothing would change his ways. He was a playboy to his core, and it would always be like that.

Chapter Three

Bethany

Johanna Warwick had been one of Bethany’s mother’s closest friends. She had been there with her when her mother had died. Johanna had helped her plan the funeral while the police investigated both her and her stepfather. Johanna had been a comfort for Bethany in one of the darkest times of her life.

And so when Johanna told Bethany to meet at her home for afternoon tea, the young woman canceled her plans, and donned a sweet yet classical tea dress. It was pale tan, a soft material patterned with small white and blue flowers. Tiny buttons started at the collar and ran down to her waist. She paired it with tan heels and hoped that the rain would hold out.

It rarely did in London, but a lady could hope.

Thankfully, the gray clouds were still holding firm when Bethany rang the doorbell at the fancy house in one of London’s most prestigious neighborhoods. It didn’t take long for the door to swing open.

“Bethany, dear.” Johanna placed her delicate hands on her shoulders and kissed each of her cheeks in greeting. “You look as lovely as ever.” Her fingers touched Bethany’s chin, and her eyes misted over with emotion. “You look so much like her.”

Johanna’s words were a compliment, but they also made Bethany a bit sad. She did look like her mother. A lot. It was something her stepfather hated about Bethany. It also made her sad to see her face every time she looked in the mirror. She tucked a stray brown curl behind her ear and gave her a watery smile.

“Thanks, Johanna. How are you?”

They hadn’t seen each other since the funeral, but that was largely due to the fact that Joanna was always off traveling somewhere across the world. She had properties across the globe, and she spent her weeks hosting her international friends, planning benefits for all of her charities. It was a kind of life Bethany didn’t understand. Yes, her own family was very wealthy, but there was wealthy, and then there were the Warwicks.

They had their own level of what prosperity looked like.

Johanna led Bethany to a beautifully decorated sitting room. She went over to the table, a white linen was draped over it, and the tea was already steeping. She waved a hand in the air.

“I was having a wonderful time on Santorini with some of my old fashion friends. Unfortunately, I’ve been called away from the warm Mediterranean sun to deal with a crisis.”

Bethany leaned in. “Oh, no. What can I do to help?”

Johanna rewarded her with a nice warm smile. “Dear girl, you’re so kind.” She took a