Sinfully Bound To The Enigmatic Viscount (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)
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Sinfully Bound to the Enigmatic Viscount
A Steamy Regency Romance
Scarlett Osborne
Contents
A Thank You Gift
About the Book
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
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Extended Epilogue
Preview: Seducing the Perfectly Enchanting Marquess
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Also by Scarlett Osborne
About the Author
A Thank You Gift
Thanks a lot for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me, because this is the best way to show me your love.
As a Thank You gift I have written a full length novel for you called Seduced by the Brooding Duke. It’s only available to people who have downloaded one of my books and you can get your free copy by tapping this link here.
Once more, thanks a lot for your love and support.
With love and appreciation,
Scarlett Osborne
About the Book
Between lovers, betrayal is always the worst sin.
After her sister's tragic memory loss, Lady Diana Dunkeld must endure the slew of suitors that her father pushes on her. But the youngest daughter of the Earl of Lutterhall rejects every single one of them.
With terrible rumors surrounding his family since his mother’s death, Elijah Saunders, the Viscount of Cambolton knows that finding a wife is going to be a hard task. Until the day he meets Lady Diana.
Social equals and yet worlds apart, they court their own ruin in each other. But they soon realize that their yearning for each other is not their only problem…
As new evidence of the death of Elijah's parents comes to light, they find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy. When death knocks on their door, they can make only one wish…if only Diana's sister could remember her accident.
Chapter 1
The Duke of Domnall was frowning at Diana angrily. He was very handsome, with ice blue eyes and hair the color of sand. To his credit, however, he had not lost his temper. He had just asked Diana to marry him.
“I’m confused, My Lady,” he said slowly. “Your father gave me his permission. And, our interactions have led me to believe that we are well-suited for each other.” He was standing close to her, closer than she felt comfortable with.
“But you failed to get my permission,” she replied. She was shorter than he was, and didn’t like that she had to look up, so she looked away, at the green flocked silk wallpaper.
“I cannot marry you, Your Grace, because I am not in love with you.” The moment she said it, she could sense the finality of it all, like the lid on a coffin slamming shut. She glanced back at him.
The Duke nodded, slowly. His eyes were on the wall behind her. Then, he raised his chin proudly. “Then I shall take my leave. I wish you all the best, My Lady.”
“And I wish you the same, Your Grace.”
Diana remained where she was, watching as he left and closing the door to the parlor after him. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She could hear voices, in the distance. Likely, the Duke telling her father what had just transpired.
Now, I must wait for the inevitable.
She sat down on the blue velvet settee. She listened to the soft ticking sound of the clock over the mantel. She heard the sound of her father’s boots in the hallway.
She steeled herself, her eyes on the curtains as they blew gently in a warm breeze from the window. Outside, she could see the green fields of her father’s estate at Lutterhall. Finally, the door opened and he entered, shutting the door firmly after him. Diana steeled herself for what was about to happen. Barnabas Dunkeld, the Earl of Lutterhall, stared at her, as though he didn’t recognize her.
“You’ve turned down the Duke of Domnall?” he demanded. Her father was a gentleman of average height, though he was also a gentleman of a larger than usual temper. He adjusted his glasses, through which his brown eyes glared at her. He had dark circles underneath his eyes, which seemed darker than usual.
“I don’t love him.” Diana and her father had already had this same conversation, four times prior.
“Love doesn’t exist,” her father said, running his fingers through his brown hair. “You don’t have the luxury to pretend that romance exists and you can wait for it. After what happened to Eleonora, I want you married, as soon as possible. It’s for your own good.”
“You don’t know what happened to Eleonora,” she pointed out. “No one will ever know.”
Six months prior, her older sister had been in an accident. No one knew why she had been out that night—none of the family had known that she was even gone. Now, with Eleonora’s partial memory loss from her injuries, even she couldn’t say.
“The Duke of Domnall is perfect for you,” he went on. “He has a good title, and wealth.”
“I’ve turned him down, so I imagine he won’t be back.” She looked down at her hands, which were folded in her lap. The Duke was an honorable gentleman, and he would not offend her by presuming that her mind could be changed by continued pursuit.
“He won’t.” Her father was scowling, staring out of the window, watching the Duke of Domnall climb into his barouche-landau. “I will find you another.”
Diana sighed. “I will not marry unless I am in love,” she repeated, then stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“I am going to retire to my room. I am weary.” Diana’s heart was heavy. She left the room without another word.
Alone, in the hallway, she exhaled as she began the short journey to her bed chamber. She wanted to cry. She couldn’t imagine marrying a gentleman who she merely esteemed. Her father wouldn’t listen to her.
Why does everything always have to be a battle?
Her father had always imposed restrictions on Diana, and her sister. Their mother had died in childbirth when they were very young. With no one to challenge his strict parenting style, their father had been a bit of a tyrant. They had lived a very sheltered life. Until, for some reason, Eleonora had snuck out.
Their father suspected that she had gone into the woods that evening to meet up with a secret beau. That was why he was so determined for Diana to marry. He wanted to prevent her from making a similar choice. Diana was sure that Eleonora would never hide such a thing from her.
I don’t know that for sure, though.
* * *
“Come in,” Eleonora called out.
Diana opened the door, to find her sister seated on an armchair by the window. She was wrapped in a gray shawl. Her hair had been closely cropped to her face. In the months since her accident, it had thinned.
Eleonora was still the fine lady that she had always been, though her energy these days was not what it had been. She was pale, with dark circles pressed underneath her eyes. She turned to see Diana, a grin passing over her face.
“Diana,” she said. “You look lovely.” She frowned. “Is there a ball this evening?”
“Yes, my love,” Diana said. “I promised you that I’d show you my gown before I head over to Forstall Hall.” She did a bit of a twirl, so that her skirts swished luxuriously about her hips. She did a full turn, so that her sister could do a full inspection.
Eleonora beamed, the smallest hint of a glint in her eyes. “You look perfect.” She glanced over at Sarah, who was preparing a bath for her. “Doesn’t she look a dream, Sarah?”
“That shade of yellow suits you very well, My Lady,” Sarah agreed. “Auburn hair and lemon certainly go together.”
“Thank you, Sarah.” Diana turned toward her sister. “I wish you could come,” she said. Her sister had once been the belle of every ball. Her hair had been thick and full, and she was tall and willowy. She had caught the eyes of all the gentlemen. Had she wanted, she could have been married to any one that she chose.
Eleonora held out her hand, which Diana took. “Someday, I will be well enough again, I hope.” A cloud passed over her face. “Although, it won’t be the same anymore, will it?”
“Why do you say that?” Diana tilted her head to the side, studying her sister. Hope filled her—that perhaps, Eleonora was getting her memories of the night of the accident back. As far as they could all tell, there was a large gap in her memory, of that night, as well as the months leading up to it.
Eleonora’s eyes were far away. She shook her head. “I don’t remember, Diana.” She covered her face with a shaking hand. “I wish I could, though.” Her voice was quavering, as though she were about to cry.
Diana felt awful for having reminded her of the accident. “Is there anything that I may get you?”
“No. Sarah is here.” A tear slipped down Eleonora’s cheek. She had turned back toward the window.
Diana nodded. She leaned in, kissing her older sister on the forehead.
“You’ll tell me all about it, tomorrow?” Eleonora asked hopefully.
“Of course I will. I’ll come and find you after I have breakfast.”
Eleonora patted her on the hand. Diana knew that her sister might forget. Her memories were scattered. It was hard to say what she would remember, and what she would not. Diana smiled at Sarah, who curtsied. Then Diana turned to leave.
As she reached the door, she looked back. Her sister’s gaze was faraway. Diana’s heart broke. There were no assurances that Eleonora would ever get better. There was the chance that her sister’s health was declining, and the thought frightened her.
They had lost their mother in childbirth, as well as their baby sister, who had not lived long after her birth. Diana couldn’t imagine losing Eleonora, as well. Although, they had come very close to it. She had been insensible for a few days after the accident. She had survived, though. That gave Diana hope.
Chapter 2
Elijah Saunders, the newly-minted Viscount of Cambolton, was in his study. He was going through his father’s documents. His father had passed suddenly, leaving Elijah the title and the entailed estate, which included property and money. He also inherited the family businesses, which he was currently trying to expand.
Elijah had been settling his father’s modest but profitable estate, going through the papers in the hopes of finding anything else that might assist him. On top of that, he was trying to find some sort of a clue to his father’s untimely demise.
Nicholas Saunders, the late Viscount, had been found in a cottage in the middle of the woods, near Cambolton House. While local authorities had done a thorough investigation, they hadn’t been able to discern who would want him dead, or why.
At the bottom of the pile, Elijah found a letter. The paper was yellowed with age. The direction was to his father, written in a feminine, slanting script. His curiosity piqued, he picked it up. As he unfolded it, a small sprig of lavender fell out. When he picked it up off of the desk, it began to crumble.
He looked at the post script, gasping when he saw that it was from his mother. She had died when he was young—no more than four. He barely remembered her. He perused the contents. It was nothing more than a brief letter, relating what she had done while visiting her parents in the countryside.
My dearest Nicholas,
I cannot tell you how much I miss you. However, the visit to my father’s estate has done me some good. It seems that a change of scenery was, in fact, what I needed to lift my spirits.
Little Elijah has been enjoying his time with his grandparents. He runs about, playing with my father’s Irish wolfhound. Everyone here dotes on him.
I’m so sorry that I’ve been so unhappy of late. I cannot explain why, not even to myself. It seems that melancholy has been plaguing me, ever since the ball at Albany. I shall return home with Elijah at the end of the week. Hopefully, by then, my time away will have worked its cure.
I look forward to seeing you, my love.
Love,
Lydia
He considered it, glancing at the date. It had been written less than a month before her death. There were rumors that his father had murdered his mother—a rumor which had nearly broken him. Elijah had known his father very well—he would have never harmed his beloved wife. He was harmless, always unfailingly kind. His wife’s death had nearly killed him, as well.
If Elijah listened to his hunch, something had happened at the ball at Albany estate to upset his mother. But what? Or who? She had been found at the bottom of the stairs. Her death had been ruled an accident by local authorities.
He wondered if, perhaps, her death had been more than an accident. Not his father’s doing, but someone else’s. It was certainly something to consider, especially given his father’s own suspicious death. Perhaps the villain had returned, eighteen years later.
There was a knock at the door, and his butler entered.
“My Lord,” Hanby said. He was carrying a silver tray, a letter set on top. Hanby had silver hair, which was combed back from his face. He had a high forehead, and pale blue eyes. Hanby had been working for Elijah’s father for as long as Elijah could remember.
“Thank you, Hanby,” he said, picking it up. The seal was that of the Marquess of Forstall. He broke it, unfolding the paper to find that it was an invitation to a ball. Ever since his arrival in the English countryside, he had been turning down invitations, due to his mourning period. However, the six-months had ended, just the day before.
I suppose I’ll go. After all, I need to start thinking of finding the next Viscountess of Cambolton.
Elijah wanted to marry. Without any other family left, he was utterly alone in the world, aside from the servants he barely knew, since he’d been at school for the greater part of the past two decades. Until six months prior, he’d been pursuing his studies on the Continent. He knew he should be more concerned about finding a wife. What was nagging him were the circumstances of his parents’ deaths. They were both too suspicious to be ignored. What if Elijah himself was the next target? The thought made his blood run cold.
I suppose I’ll have to make the acquaintance of Lord Albany.
He was curious
to find out what had happened at that ball, so long ago, to upset his mother, and whether it, too, had something to do with his father’s death.
* * *