An Improper Earl

by Maggi Andersen

  “What a high pinnacle of achievement,” Father said dryly, coming to sit down for tea.

  Mama smiled at him as she picked up the teapot. “Oh, Edgerton. What do you know of these things?”

  Father winked at Harriett.

  Harriett’s mother took over the organization of her wedding with her usual efficiency, but when it came to choosing the wedding gown, Harriett put her foot down. “You have far too much to do as it is, Mama, with Leonora’s wedding following so soon after ours,” she said tactfully.

  Harriett chose a white embroidered cotton mull, which with little alteration would serve her well for future occasions. Her bouquet was to be a simple arrangement of cream sweet peas, her hair bound with white ribbon, and she would wear her mother’s pearls.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Harriett and Gerard were married in the stone country church in Temple Ewell. As she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, her handsome bridegroom stood at the altar with his best man, Mr. Alan Roundtree, a friend from Oxford. Gerard was dressed as she’d never seen him, in a superfine blue coat which made his eyes even bluer, a cream embroidered silk waistcoat, and pale pantaloons. A simple nosegay of white narcissus graced his button-hole. Apart from the day of the funeral, she’d never seen him wear anything quite so fine, but the simple clothes he preferred to wear around the estate suited him just as well in her opinion. She had hoped he found her pretty, and the hot glance he gave her as he slipped the gold band on her finger, told her all she needed to know.

  Apart from the pastor and two witnesses, the church was almost empty, with only their immediate family, and the handful of friends who made the journey to see them wed. Tenant farmers and villagers gathered at the church door to see them off in their open carriage decorated with ribbons. The wedding breakfast was held at Pendleton Manor. After the meal, the fiddler played, and she and Gerard danced their first dance together, their bodies moving in perfect unison. “Harrison would have enjoyed this,” he said as he twirled her over the floor.

  Harriett smiled, touched that he cared so much for the irascible old gentleman. She and the guests had stayed here the previous night. She was relieved that she never would again. A man with a large family who’d made his money in business, had signed a lease. The county was all abuzz with the news.

  In the mid-afternoon, she and Gerard said their farewells. She kissed her mother, surprised to find her teary-eyed. When her father hugged her she breathed in the smell of his familiar tobacco. “I hope you and Mama will come to stay after Leonora is wed.”

  “Yes, sir, please do,” Gerard said, shaking his hand.

  Her father’s green eyes brightened. “I’m sure I can be of some help, you do spread yourself too thin, Gerard.”

  “You would be of great assistance, sir,” Gerard said. “As you have been during this difficult time.”

  He bowed and excused himself to farewell his best man.

  “Gerard hardly needs to work so hard now that he’s wealthy.” Mama smiled. You’ll never want for anything, my dear. And neither will your sister.”

  Leonora threw her arms around Harriett and kissed her cheek. “Promise you’ll come and visit Frederick and me in London. If I don’t have your promise, I suspect you’ll rusticate and turn into a country bumpkin.”

  “I promise. Gerard is employing more staff, and once we’ve hired a steward and an estate manager, we’ll visit more often.” Harriett gazed over at her handsome husband. She knew that Gerard would still work around the estate, despite how much assistance he had. They had ridden together over his lands, before she returned to London. The tenants all appeared to love him. “We’ll be up for your wedding, don’t forget.”

  Leonora’s eyes brightened. “Practically all of the ton will be there.”

  They arrived at Foxworth to an unexpected welcome from the staff. Gerard introduced Harriett to each of them in turn, and their health was toasted with champagne. It was late afternoon when they climbed the stairs to their bedchamber.

  Harriett found everything in the room charming, from the beamed ceiling to the floral carpet. Bunches of wild flowers decorated the bed posts, and a vase of summer flowers sat on the stone mantel.

  “It’s perfect.” She smiled at him. “Did you arrange the flowers, Gerard?”

  He paused, pulling of his coat. “Ah, no. I can’t say the romantic notion occurred to me.” He grinned. “It was Sally. But I agree, it’s a nice touch.”

  The windows and the four poster bed were hung with a pretty, embroidered material that was almost threadbare. She hoped to match it and must employ her mother’s help. The view from the window looked over fields to the river. “Perhaps I’ll be able to see you at work.”

  Coming to stand behind her, he wrapped his arms around her. “I expect you to join me out in the fields,” he murmured against her ear. “Bring me my plowman’s luncheon.”

  Harriett swiveled and draped her arms around his neck. “I am at your command, my lord.”

  “Then I command you to come to bed.” His eyes drank her in. “A perfect gown for my lovely bride. But you shall be even lovelier without it.”

  Harriett’s shyness evaporated. Her passion blinded her to anything but him. Impatient, she unraveled his cravat, exposing the dark hair at the base of his throat and pulled his shirt from his pantaloons. She stroked her hand up over his hard stomach exploring the texture of his skin, soft as satin, and the dark triangle of hair decorating his broad chest, that narrowed toward his groin, wiry beneath her fingers.

  “Making love in the afternoon might shock the servants,” she said, aware of the nervous throb in her stomach.

  He drew his shirt over his head. “Only if we make love outdoors.”

  “My lord!” The thought tantalized her.

  “We’ll be discreet.” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her passionately. At the bold caress of his tongue the blood hummed in her veins.

  Gerard’s fingers became busy with the ties on her gown. “I’m now more familiar with this arrangement.”

  She smiled, amused at his practical mind. Very soon, her breath deserted her. They were both naked. She marveled at his beauty and his difference. A man’s body was exciting. All steel and softness.

  Gerard shaped the curve of her waist and hip with his big hands, then cupped her bottom, gently squeezing. “Whenever you walked away I was left with a vision of this perfect, heart-shaped derriere.”

  She giggled.

  His arousal pressed against her stomach. “Mm.” She daintily chewed his earlobe.

  “Lady Foxworth!” He laughed and smacked her bottom.

  “Should I call you by your title? Perhaps only when I’m angry with you.”

  He grinned. “You had better not, madam.”

  Shaping her breasts with his clever hands, he thumbed each nipple. They hardened, sending a charge of excitement down to her groin. She grew unsteady on her feet.

  “My lovely wife, Harriett,” he said, his voice soft, almost incredulous.

  “Am I now to be Harriett?”

  “Shortly, you will be too grown up to be called Harry.”

  He swept her into his arms and strolled with her to the bed, lowering her down before joining her. “Harry, my love,” he murmured, his body half over hers. She welcomed the weight of him, conscious of where his warm flesh touched hers. His uneven breathing feathered her hair as he held her, the rapid beat of his heart in rhythm with hers. Covering her face with small kisses, he took her mouth passionately. She moaned against his lips and buried her hands in his thick hair. Everywhere he touched set her on fire.

  He moved down and teased at the sensitive nub at the apex of her thighs with his tongue, sucking and licking. Ignoring her entreaties, he pressed two fingers inside her. She gasped, and tugged at his hair, begging him to stop; then, twisting her head frantically, her legs fell open and she was carried away.

  “Oh, Harry. I do love you.”

  When the exquisite feeling faded she rais
ed her eyelids to find heart-stopping tenderness mixed with desire in his eyes. “I love you so much, darling.”

  She wanted to pleasure him, and circled his hard length, delighting at the pleasure her caress gave him. Her body clenched with need, she wanted him inside her.

  Unfulfilled desire became intolerable for them both, and he lay between her thighs and carefully entered her.

  It was extraordinary how he filled her, how complete she felt. He was gentle and tender with her. And although her mother had warned her, there was very little discomfort. They seemed to fit together perfectly.

  He was right, she’d been a girl when she married. Replete, she curled her fingers in her husband’s dark hair, his cheek resting against her breast. She was now a woman. He had satisfied the needs of her body but not her curiosity.

  She edged away from under his thigh which rested over hers. Turning on her side, she studied her new husband who lay with his eyes closed. She trailed a finger down his noble forehead, tracing his straight nose, which wrinkled under her fingers, and across his full lips that broadened into a smile under her touch, moving on to the cleft in his chin. She continued over his broad chest with its smattering of dark hair, slowly drawing a line down his ribbed stomach while avoiding his manhood, which twitched in response as if begging for her touch.

  His eyelids raised to half-mast to watch her. Although that look in his eyes did spark a fresh rush of desire, she shook her head at him. She continued down one long muscled thigh and strong calf to his large foot, and bent to kiss his toes. The effect on his member was remarkable.

  “You are torturing me, Harry!” he protested with a laugh.

  She gave him a slow smile. “I am Harry again?”

  He sat up with a wolfish grin. “You are my Harry all right.” He made a swift movement and suddenly, she was on her back.

  ♥

  Gerard proceeded to draw a similar line from her sweet nose to her luscious mouth, where he lingered over her swollen lips, warning her with a glance when she attempted to nibble on his finger. He traced down the long beautiful column of her throat to the delicate curve of her collar bone. Then turned his attention to her pert breasts, circling each dusky areola which pebbled beneath his touch. Moving down, his mouth replaced his finger, tracing kisses over the flawless skin of her stomach. She raked her hands through his hair as he gave some attention to her belly button. When he reached the sensitive place between her thighs, he was hard as a rock again. He lifted his head to gaze at her as his fingers tangled in the curls. “This is your Venus mound, Harry,” he growled, stroking within her folds.

  Harriett threw her head back and moaned. She arched her body against his hand.

  Gerard moved her to the edge of the bed. His breathing ragged, he drew her thighs up to cradle his hips, the head of his staff nudging her entrance. “You’re not sore?”

  At her fervent denial he buried himself in her sweet heat and thrust deeply, faster and harder than before. He watched the emotions play on her lovely face as he tipped her over the edge and she joined him in a whirlpool of emotion, love and lust, and desire. Her body tightened around him and she cried out.

  “Harry!” He gave in to his own release, filling her. “My Harry,” he murmured, as he collapsed beside her.

  She gave an exhausted giggle. “Whatever will the servants think?”

  “My servants are loyal.” He chuckled. “They’ll keep quiet if they know what’s good for them.”

  He rolled over onto his stomach, resting his head on his arm.

  “Are you falling asleep, Gerard?”

  “Have a heart, Harry,” he said wearily. “It’s going to be a short life I suspect. But a merry one.”

  She laughed and snuggled up to him. “I shall let you sleep awhile.”

  “Yes, and then...we have a lifetime to discover one another, my love.”

  ♥

  Harriett pulled the cover over them and curled up close beside her sleeping husband. Even in repose, he was like a graceful, Greek god. She looked forward to the simple, happy days spent working at his side, until they were old, if the fates decreed it, supporting one another through the joys and sorrows that life brought them.

  Dear Readers

  While the Regency world I create in my books is a fictitious one, I do like to enrich my stories with historical facts where I can.

  The Irish Regiment that O’Hara would have been a member of, received its own flag. The flag bore on one side a large gold harp, with the motto: L'INDEPENDENCE D'IRLANDE. On the other side was the inscription: NAPOLEON EMPEREUR DES FRANCAIS A LA LEGION IRLANDAIS, and in December 1805 received an eagle. The Legion was the only group of foreign soldiers in the French military to whom Napoleon ever gave an eagle. Wearing a green uniform with yellow collar and cuffs, its maximum size was about 2,000 men.

  Please consider leaving a review for this book.

  Every review is appreciated!

  Maggi

  Maggi lives with her husband a retired lawyer, in a quaint old town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She has a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing.

  When not creating stories, Maggi reads, enjoys her garden, long walks and feeding the local wildlife. Her kookaburras (Australian Kingfishers) prefer to be hand fed.

  Maggi’s books and novellas are Amazon bestsellers in Regency and suspense. She has published more than 20 novels and novellas and writes in several genres, contemporary and historical romance, romantic suspense and young adult novels.

  Maggi loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website.

  Join her news only newsletter to learn of new releases: www.maggiandersenauthor.com

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  Goodreads

  Books by Maggi Andersen

  Released April 20 2016

  The Seduction of Lady Charity

  Baxendale Sisters Series

  Book Four

  Caroline and the Captain

  A Regency Romance

  Anthologies

  Passionate Promises

  Seven Nights of Sin

  ~ ~ ~

  Latest Releases

  At the Earl’s Convenience

  How to Tame a Rake

  Regency Series

  The Baxendale Sisters

  Lady Honor’s Debt

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  The Spies of Mayfair

  A Baron in Her Bed

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  The Duke’s Mysterious Lady

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  (Nominated for the RONE Award)

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  (Semi-Finalist Amazon Penguin Breakthrough Novel Contest)

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  Non-Fiction

  Castle’s Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors

  Seven Nights of Sin

  Anthology

  One Scandalous Night

  Can one night with a rake be enough for a lifetime?

  Miss Bella Lacey desires to accomplish two things before settling into an unfulfilling marriage to the man her father has chosen. First, she intends to inveigle a goodly amount of money for her orphans from a man of means and, second, to have one night of passion to help her endure the dreary years ahead.

  When Derrick, Lord Eaglestone, a wealthy viscount with a scandalous reputation, agrees to donate to Miss Lacey’s charity, he has only seduction in mind. Little does he suspect that Miss Lacey has already chosen him to debauch her before she weds another. The lady has virtually fallen into his lap, but much to his annoyance, he finds himself reluctant to oblige her.

  Enjoy an excerpt

  Chapter One

>   Heads turned when a tall man entered Lord Maudling’s drawing room. Bella studied him with interest. Lord Eaglestone had a rather harsh, intelligent face, observant amber eyes, a blade of a nose, and an angled jawline. His dark hair was longer than was fashionable and curled over his collar, a sign of a rebellious streak perhaps. He was known to snub his nose at society.

  “Why, in the name of Queen Victoria, did you invite that man?” her father muttered to his host.

  “Barely sociably acceptable, I admit, Sir Randolph, but a good man to consult about investments,” Lord Maudling said. “I’ve heard an attempt has been made on his life. I want to seek his advice while I can.”

  Bella shivered at the cold, humorless statement. The viscount was the man she’d particularly wished to see. Imposing in a black tailcoat and trousers, a crimson waistcoat, and white necktie, he weaved his way across the ruby-toned rug through the crowded reception room. One or two men hailed him but most stepped aside for him.

  Eaglestone reached Lord Maudling, where he stood drinking champagne with her parents. It wasn’t merely his six-foot-plus height or the impressive breadth of his shoulders but also his manner that made him intimidating. His very carriage made one aware how little he cared for opinion. Perhaps it was because his Lincolnshire family seat of Eaglestone appeared in the Doomsday Book. Perhaps it was because he’d had to fight so hard to keep it.

  At breakfast that morning, Bella’s father had thrown down The Times newspaper and complained to her mother about Eaglestone’s influence on the ’Change. Father’s stocks had apparently plummeted. Her attention caught, Bella put down her teacup. Anything concerning his lordship fascinated her, ever since he’d held her in his strong arms and waltzed her over Lady Byrne’s ballroom floor six weeks ago.