The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel (The Brethren Book 5)

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by Christi Caldwell




  The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel

  By

  Christi Caldwell

  Official Blurb

  In the next Brethren installment, a clever spinster is matched with a traitor to the Crown.

  The death of her father leaves Miss Francesca Cornworthy alone and with one last wish to fulfill for him—that she marry a safe, respectable gentleman. She sets herself on a course to honor that request. That is, until she crosses paths with Mr. Lathan Holman, the very opposite type of gentleman her father wished her to wed.

  After a mistake that earned him the title of traitor, Lathan Holman has no interest in reentering Society. Then he meets a quick-witted, sharp-mouthed spinster. His dark past clouds his present and future. He’d been certain he’d never laugh or smile again, but soon he finds himself doing both with Miss Francesca Cornworthy… and wanting more.

  Other Titles by Christi Caldwell

  Heart of a Duke

  In Need of a Duke—Prequel Novella

  For Love of the Duke

  More than a Duke

  The Love of a Rogue

  Loved by a Duke

  To Love a Lord

  The Heart of a Scoundrel

  To Wed His Christmas Lady

  To Trust a Rogue

  The Lure of a Rake

  To Woo a Widow

  To Redeem a Rake

  One Winter with a Baron

  To Enchant a Wicked Duke

  Beguiled by a Baron

  To Tempt a Scoundrel

  The Heart of a Scandal

  In Need of a Knight—Prequel Novella

  Schooling the Duke

  A Lady’s Guide to a Gentleman’s Heart

  A Matchmaker for a Marquess

  His Duchess for a Day

  Five Days With a Duke

  Lords of Honor

  Seduced by a Lady’s Heart

  Captivated by a Lady’s Charm

  Rescued by a Lady’s Love

  Tempted by a Lady’s Smile

  Courting Poppy Tidemore

  Scandalous Seasons

  Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride

  Never Courted, Suddenly Wed

  Always Proper, Suddenly Scandalous

  Always a Rogue, Forever Her Love

  A Marquess for Christmas

  Once a Wallflower, at Last His Love

  Sinful Brides

  The Rogue’s Wager

  The Scoundrel’s Honor

  The Lady’s Guard

  The Heiress’s Deception

  The Wicked Wallflowers

  The Hellion

  The Vixen

  The Governess

  The Bluestocking

  The Spitfire

  The Theodosia Sword

  Only For His Lady

  Only For Her Honor

  Only For Their Love

  Danby

  A Season of Hope

  Winning a Lady’s Heart

  The Brethren

  The Spy Who Seduced Her

  The Lady Who Loved Him

  The Rogue Who Rescued Her

  The Minx Who Met Her Match

  The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel

  Lost Lords of London

  In Bed with the Earl

  Brethren of the Lords

  My Lady of Deception

  Her Duke of Secrets

  Regency Duets

  Rogues Rush In: Tessa Dare and Christi Caldwell

  Yuletide Wishes: Grace Burrowes and Christi Caldwell

  Her Christmas Rogue

  Memoir: Non-Fiction

  Uninterrupted Joy

  The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel

  Copyright © 2020 by Christi Caldwell

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without written permission.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it or borrow it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  For more information about the author:

  www.christicaldwellauthor.com

  [email protected]

  Twitter: @ChristiCaldwell

  Or on Facebook at: Christi Caldwell Author

  For first glimpse at covers, excerpts, and free bonus material, be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter!

  Dedication

  For my sweet Reagan…from the moment you wake up, to our every car ride, and up until the moment you fall asleep, you are never without a question or story or some other curiosity to talk about. The sweet sound of your voice brings mommy such joy.

  My loquacious Francesca’s story is for you!

  Table of Contents

  Official Blurb

  Other Titles by Christi Caldwell

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Other Brethren Books by Christi Caldwell

  Biography

  Prologue

  Winter, 1822

  England

  Miss Francesca Cornworthy hated house parties.

  To be fair, she’d come to despise all ton events.

  But she had a particular loathing for house parties.

  At least, in the heart of a London Season in bustling ballrooms, a spinster might lose herself in a crowd. In a sea of debutantes and other unwed ladies, there were any number of other unfortunate souls to find themselves the object of pity and scorn and bored indifference.

  House parties were different. There could be no going unnoticed at those intimately attended events.

  This winter, however, she was to be spared. No invite had arrived from her godmother. That customary note had always come two months before the grand affair, with the same assurance as the rising and setting sun.

  And yet, miserable as she was at those gatherings and as much as she hated being an object on display at them, she’d have happily attended. She’d have donned her brightest gown and worn her biggest smile if her father could have been there.

  Sadness seized at her heart, squeezing.

  It had been six months.

  Six months since her father’s passing.

  And with the hell that had been his final year, it would have been only selfish on her part to wish he were with her still. But the man who’d left her had been an empty shadow of the father who’d loved and raised her.

  Standing at the windows that overlooked the now overgrown gardens out back, Francesca stared below.

  She was a woman without a husband or a father to care after her, and in such situations, most of what a viscount possessed ended up passing to another: a distant relative in this case. As such, Francesca’s father had provided for her… as
he could. There was a modest townhouse just on the fringe of Mayfair. There were enough funds for a small staff. And also funds enough to see her if not comfortable, then cared for through the remainder of her days.

  It was far more than most women had.

  That did not, however, preclude her from the sting of resentment at the lot of women in a world where everything passed to men. Including the artifacts that meant nothing to the new lord, but for the women left behind were tokens of the mother they’d never met or the father they’d so loved.

  She rested her forehead against the cool windowpane and sighed. The sough of her breath left a little circle of moisture upon the glass.

  Not that she required any “things.” She didn’t. She’d never been one for material possessions. Her life, for so very long, had been her father. In fact, that was all it really had ever been. As a young girl without a mother and then a young lady without a suitor and then a woman without a husband, her life had become entwined with her father’s. As such, all of this… an existence without him… was foreign. She was as at sea as she’d been six months ago when he’d first passed.

  A knock sounded at the door, briefly raising her focus away from her own sorrows.

  “Enter,” she called quietly.

  Her butler, gracious old Callows, who’d even taken a reduction in salary so that he might remain on, stepped forward. “Her Grace, the Duchess of Sutton, to see you, Miss Francesca.”

  Oh, bloody hell.

  This was even worse than a summons to any annual holiday party… an actual visit from her godmother.

  Framed at the entrance of the room, the regal duchess stood as elegant as a queen—and as frosty as one, too. Her godmother sent one thin, razor-sharp eyebrow arcing up, compelling Francesca to speak at last. “Your Grace,” Francesca greeted and made her legs move in the requisite motion of the deferential curtsy. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her godmother. Quite the opposite, really.

  Rather, it was the powerful woman’s intent to maneuver Francesca about like a pawn upon a chessboard. Her intentions were good. Her efforts, however, were unwanted and unappreciated.

  The Duchess of Sutton came forward with the graceful eloquence that only a woman who’d been betrothed and destined for the role of duchess might manage. “Francesca,” she said, all perfunctory business.

  As Callows drew the door closed behind him, the click of the panel drove away the earlier misery and forced Francesca to be as sharp as a tack.

  “You’re attending my winter party.”

  Francesca shook her head.

  A droll grin curved the duchess’ lips. “It wasn’t a question, my dear.” She managed to stretch the endearment into four syllables.

  Nay, a duchess would never anticipate being challenged in any way. Francesca, however, had little intention of subjecting herself to the duchess’ house party this year. Or mayhap any year. Francesca smoothed her mourning skirts. “I appreciate that kindness and consideration.”

  “Having my goddaughter for a winter stay is hardly a kindness.”

  Francesca continued past that interruption. “However, my father—”

  “Would not have wanted you to shut yourself away, alone, here, Franny.” The duchess abandoned formality and opted instead for the familiar—if much-hated—endearment. Francesca’s father had preferred it above all others, and unfortunately, Society marched to the beat of the drum set by a father or husband, so “Franny” she’d been and would always now be.

  Francesca held her silence. The duchess might be her godmother, but their relationship was only as close as one could be with one of the most powerful peeresses in England.

  Her godmother claimed a seat. “Securing your visit is hardly the reason I’ve come.” She smiled. “Because, of course, you are coming.” Of course. “Rather,” the duchess went on, tugging her gloves off and lining up the fine leather articles before she lay them neatly upon the rose-inlaid table, “I’m here to help.”

  Francesca’s stomach fell, and horror chased away every last vestige of earlier sorrow. “Help?”

  The elegant woman gave a tight nod. “Well, of course. I’m not just here about my house party.”

  Warning bells clamored, loud and jarring and pointed.

  Because, ultimately, when an unwed lady and a duchess were about, there was only one fate the latter wished to concern herself over.

  Absolutely not.

  The duchess smiled and nodded expectantly.

  Francesca finally found her voice. “I… am grateful to you for coming…” she began again.

  “Pfft, stuff it with that polite rejection, Francesca Cornworthy,” the other woman said without inflection and also with such an absolute lack of duchesslike decorum that Francesca’s carefully crafted response flew from her head. “You believe it best that you shut yourself away here, in your widow’s weeds, mourning your father and not living your life. And I am here to tell you that is not what your father wished for you.” The duchess patted the spot beside her.

  Francesca fisted the sides of her skirts. Who was the Duchess of Sutton to say what her father might have wished for in his final days? In the last six months of his life, he’d not even a recollection of Francesca’s name. He’d been alternately confused and angry, and she’d suffered the pain of losing him even as he’d still been living. Even so, she’d never been impolite to her godmother—or anyone, really—and she’d not begin now. No matter how miserable she was.

  Francesca sat.

  “Now, there is a reason all wise mothers and fathers know to name me as godmother.”

  Francesca bit the inside of her lower lip to hide a smile at that very matter-of-fact avowal that only a woman of the utmost confidence might manage.

  “Because they know, my dear, that I will ensure that their daughters do not remain… well, as you have, alone. Six months I’ve allowed you. And neither I nor your father would allow you one month more.”

  With a grand flourish, the duchess retrieved several folded pages from within the front pocket of her silvery-gray satin gown.

  Francesca glanced down at the ivory sheets. “What…” Her words trailed off as she fixed on just one thing in the middle of the folded packet: her name. Nay, it wasn’t her inked name upon it, but rather, the familiar hand.

  Oh, it was slightly uneven. The looping flourish that had once been so grand showed the unsteadiness of the fingers that had written those words. And yet, that handwriting would always be familiar.

  Fisting a hand, Francesca raised it to her mouth. And here she’d believed she’d had everything there was left of her father.

  The duchess did not press Francesca, but rather, waited until Francesca accepted the heavy letter. Francesca managed just one word: “When?”

  “The moment he began forgetting himself and his thoughts, he became afraid,” the duchess said gently. “I tried to assure him he was fine. We all forget ourselves sometimes. He insisted this was different.” She drew her shoulders back. “And this proved the one time I was wrong.”

  Francesca managed a smile, one she didn’t bother to try to hide. She would have wagered every link she had to Papa that the duchess had sought to elicit that grin.

  “Franny, your father wanted to be sure that he said everything there was to be said, in the event he forgot more of himself. He put it there and insisted on several things. One”—she lifted a finger—“that I give that to you. Two, that I not ever leave you to yourself.” She bristled. “As if I ever would.” A third digit came up. “Three, that you’d still join me at my annual events, as you loved them so very much.”

  Francesca didn’t move for a moment, and she would have sworn there was a dry edge to that slightly overemphasized word. Except, lifting her gaze, she searched for some hint that the duchess teased, for a sign that the older woman knew precisely how Francesca felt about those affairs. Alas, when she lifted her gaze, the duchess wore her usual serene and very even expression.

  “And fourthly,” Her Grac
e said, “there was the matter of your wedded state.”

  Francesca’s eyebrows went flying up. There it was. “M-my…” She strangled on the word.

  The door opened as Francesca struggled to get the remainder of her reply out.

  The duchess beamed. “Ah, splendid.” She motioned the young maid, Tess, forward. “Tea.”

  Yes, because no moment in any English household was complete without the requisite brew. And yet, the Duchess of Sutton should so casually pour herself a cup from the porcelain teapot after she’d just said… after she’d just said…

  “Marriage?” Francesca blurted.

  Tess paused, casting a befuddled look between the two women. “Beg pardon, miss?” she asked hesitantly.

  Her Grace clapped once. “That will be all.”

  With a relieved glance, Tess dropped a hasty curtsy and scurried off.

  “Now, where were we?” the duchess said as she added sugar to her delicate cup and proceeded to stir it.

  “We were speaking of my father,” Francesca hurriedly supplied.

  “Ah, that is right… marriage. Your marriage.”

  Her head still muddled, Francesca said the only thing that did make sense. “I’m not married.”

  From over the rim of the teacup she’d partially raised, the duchess flashed another smile. “That is precisely the point, my dear.”

  “What… point?”

  The Duchess of Sutton took another dainty sip. “Ensuring you at last marry a kindly, respectable, devoted, and loyal gentleman.”

  Had any other woman put those very words to her, Francesca would have happily pointed out that those latter two descriptors meant the very same thing.

  Her father’s notes briefly forgotten, Francesca lowered them to her lap. “Your Grace, there are no kindly, respectable, devoted gentlemen. Not for me.” Not where she was concerned. At thirty years of age, she’d taken part in all but one London Season over the past twelve years. There’d never been a betrothed. Why, there’d not even been a suitor. Not even the casual sort to beg a dance one day, pay a visit the next, and then disappear on the third.

  “Ah.” The duchess wagged another long digit. “But there is someone for everyone, my dear. And your father would not have been your father had he not at least considered that before he passed.” Her godmother lifted her chin. “The top page, my dear.”

 

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