What a Devilish Duke Desires

by Vicky Dreiling

  “They should not drink to excess,” Lucy said with a sniff.

  “Thank you, Miss Longmore,” Mrs. Norcliffe said. “One should not need to seek entertainment in a bottle.”

  “Apparently, the men are filling flasks,” Lucy said.

  “Oh, dear God,” Mrs. Norcliffe said. “Old Lord Houghton is drinking from a flask. At his age. Scandalous.”

  “Goodness, the music is quite lively,” Mrs. Longmore said.

  “The men and women are dancing in the street, Grandmama,” Lucy said.

  “It definitely sounds as if everyone is enjoying themselves,” Mrs. Longmore said, “although it sounds boisterous.”

  “It’s far more sedate inside, I assure you,” Harry said.

  Finally their carriage pulled up to the steps. Harry helped everyone down the steps.

  Everleigh’s carriage was right behind them. Mina and Everleigh descended with his family a few minutes later.

  Mrs. Norcliffe took Grandmama’s arm. “Your gown is perfect for the occasion,” she said.

  “Lucy assured me I have flounces and several rows of lace. I’m looking forward to listening to the orchestra.”

  Lucy smiled. Evelyn and Mary had helped both Lucy and Grandmama dress for the evening.

  Mina and Everleigh caught up with them. “It is very sweet of you to attend tonight, Harry. I know how much you detest the place,” Mina said.

  “I’ve promised to be on my best behavior,” Harry said.

  Helena snorted. “Lucy, you realize that means trouble.”

  “I’m not that bad,” Harry said.

  “Not anymore,” Lucy said. “I’ve tamed him.”

  He growled.

  “Granfield, you have been spending entirely too much time with Bandit,” Mrs. Longmore said.

  “Enough,” Mrs. Norcliffe said. “You are all as bad as the lower orders. Have some decorum, please.”

  Colin and Angeline hailed them from the top steps.

  “Tonight is the last night for Almack’s this season,” Colin said. “I’m delighted.”

  “Hush,” Angeline said.

  “Why do men grumble about Almack’s?” Mrs. Longmore asked.

  “Because we’re beasts and prefer brandy, cheroots, and gaming,” Justin said, catching up with them.

  “No cheroots for you, young man,” Lady Bellingham said. “Don’t think you can get past me. The stench is awful.”

  “I do miss them,” Bellingham said mournfully, “but I would miss you more, wife.”

  “See that you remember it,” Lady Bellingham said with a sniff.

  “Shall we go inside or do you prefer the street version?” Harry said.

  “Off we go,” Bellingham said.

  “This is the largest crowd yet,” Mrs. Norcliffe said. “I’m so pleased.”

  Lucy looked back at the refreshment tables. A new girl in an apron stood there with the pitcher of lemonade. Lucy looked up at Harry. “I didn’t make much money, but I enjoyed watching the dancers. I’m especially anxious to watch tonight. I hope Mina and Everleigh win.”

  Lucy sat between Harry and Grandmama. “I don’t know what the first dance is tonight,” she said.

  “Actually, I heard a rumor about it,” Harry said.

  “And you did not tell me?” Lucy said.

  “I didn’t want to spoil the surprise,” he said.

  Lucy was delighted when the Earl and Countess of Wargrove sat with her and Harry. She was happy to have found her grandparents. Her grandfather had made a terrible mistake, but Lucy had forgiven him and knew her mother would have approved.

  Mrs. Norcliffe stood as the orchestra in the balcony above played a short introduction. Then Mrs. Norcliffe stepped forward. “Tonight, there will be a change in the dancing competition.”

  The crowd sounds grew louder and eventually grew quieter as Mrs. Norcliffe held up her hands.

  “We will still have a competition dance tonight, but first, I wish to honor my son’s fiancée, Miss Longmore.”

  To Lucy’s shock, the clapping was thunderous. She set her hand over her heart. Mrs. Norcliffe could not have bestowed a more poignant honor.

  “Now,” Mrs. Norcliffe said, “I wish to introduce the Earl and Countess of Wargrove, who have recently united with their granddaughter, Miss Longmore.”

  The earl approached Lucy and handed her a single-stem rose. “From Mrs. Norcliffe’s rose garden.”

  Lucy curtsied and then she hugged her grandfather. “Thank you.”

  “Now,” Mrs. Norcliffe said, “it is my son’s turn to honor Miss Longmore.”

  He bowed to Lucy. “May I have the honor of this dance?”

  She smiled. “Yes, thank you.”

  The orchestra played a tune for a waltz. He held her close and never took his eyes off of her as they twirled round and round. Truly, his smile could light up all of London.

  “I love you,” he said. “I will tell you that every single day. If I happen to forget, I’m sure you’ll threaten to make me sleep with Bandit.”

  She laughed. When the dance ended, he kissed her hand and led her to a chair.

  They watched the dancing competition. It seemed no one, even the gentlemen, wanted to miss the final competition.

  “I hope Mina and Everleigh win,” Lucy said.

  “They’ve done well all season,” he said. “Knowing Mina, she will be happy no matter what the outcome is.”

  There were multiple couples dancing the waltz. Lucy found herself anxious. “I will be disappointed if Mina and Everleigh don’t win, but I will congratulate them regardless.”

  It seemed like forever before the patronesses tallied up all the scores and made their decisions. The orchestra in the balcony played a short introduction. Then Lady Jersey announced that Mina and Everleigh won with the highest score among all the couples. Thunderous applause sounded. When the clapping finally ended, Everleigh announced that he and Mina meant to donate the five hundred pounds to the foundling hospital.

  “I have one more announcement,” Everleigh said. “Miss Mina Radburn has consented to marry me.”

  Everyone stood to applaud the happy couple.

  Two months later

  As the carriage rolled along, Lucy released an exasperated sigh. “Harry, please remove the blindfold.”

  “Patience,” he said. “You will see your surprise shortly.”

  “It is very disorienting,” Lucy said.

  “You are just trying to get me to tell you now,” he said.

  She laughed. “You would be right.”

  When he knocked his cane on the roof, the carriage slowed and rocked to a halt.

  “Now will you remove the blindfold?” Lucy asked.

  “Not yet,” he said.

  Harry handed her out of the carriage and held her hand. Their shoes clipped on the floor. “We are going upstairs, so step carefully,” he said.

  “Harry, I’m anxious.”

  “Don’t be. We’ll be there soon.”

  At long last he helped her up on a landing and removed the blindfold. Then he opened a door and led her inside.

  She gasped when she saw the wooden floor and the floor-to-ceiling windows.

  “I thought my beautiful dancer deserved her own dance studio.”

  She ran into his arms and hugged him hard. “I love you so much.”

  “Happy?” he said.

  “I’m thrilled. I never dreamed I would be this happy,” she said.

  “No tears,” he said. “Smile for me, Lucy.”

  “I do have something to tell you,” she said.

  His brows knit. “What is it?”

  “I’m fairly certain you’re going to be a father, Harry.”

  His skin tingled. Then he picked her up and whirled her round and round before letting her slide down his body. “I didn’t think it possible to be happier, but I am.”

  “So am I, my wonderful husband.”

  He gave her a long and lingering kiss. “Someday, I hope we have a pretty little d
aughter with green eyes who dances as well as her mother.”

  “I think we were destined to be together,” Lucy whispered.

  “What shall we tell our children when they ask how we met?” he said.

  “The truth,” she said. “They will never believe it.”

  His chest shook with laughter.

  “Was your uncle anything like you?”

  “Who do you think I emulated when I was a boy?”

  “The pigs?” she said.

  He guffawed.

  When their laughter subsided, Harry kissed her gently on the lips. “When I left Havenwood after Uncle Hugh’s death, my spirits were low. I wondered how I would ever be able to return here again, because of all the memories of my uncle. I believe he would have liked you very much,” he said.

  Then he kissed her and said, “I love you, my beautiful dancer.”

  Also by Vicky Dreiling

  How to Marry a Duke

  How to Seduce a Scoundrel

  How to Ravish a Rake

  A Season for Sin (e-novella)

  What a Wicked Earl Wants

  What a Reckless Rogue Needs

  GLOWING PRAISE FOR

  VICKY DREILING’S NOVELS

  WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS

  “Top Pick! 4½ stars! Dreiling brings the Regency to life in a wonderfully evocative fashion…believable, intelligent characters…[This] moving tale, fraught with sexual tension, hits just the right notes.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “A deliciously slow-burning plot makes this story worth savoring.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “It was wonderful to see the love between these two enemies seep into every interaction…a delightful read!”

  —HeroesandHeartbreakers.com

  “Sassy and fun…Her heroines are always fun and a bit daring, and her heroes are always the dashing rakes we want to swoon for…Can’t wait for the next scoundrel.”

  —UndertheCoversBookBlog.com

  “Engaging and romantic…a solid read for fans of regency romances.”

  —NightOwlReviews.com

  WHAT A WICKED EARL WANTS

  “Top pick! Four-and-a-half stars…Wonderful! Rife with the Regency’s penchant for gossip, scandal, and matchmaking, What a Wicked Earl Wants is a delightful romance featuring a rakish hero, an innocent widow, corrupt villains, and a secondary cast of characters who add dimension, wit, and tenderness to the plot…Readers will find this a real pleasure to savor.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “With amazing characters and a story line that kept me turning the pages, What a Wicked Earl Wants is another winner from Ms. Dreiling.”

  —UndertheCoversBookblog.com

  “I fell in love with [this] book. Who wouldn’t with the romance, society, reputations, and extremely dreamy high-society men?”

  —ReadingwithStyle.blogspot.com

  A SEASON FOR SIN

  “A master of the genre.”

  —Library Journal

  HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE

  “Dreiling secures her reputation as a writer of charming, matchmaking romances with engaging characters…her cast of quirky, unconventional characters sets her stories apart. Fans of marriage-of-convenience love stories have a treat.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “A guaranteed delectable indulgence!...Vicky Dreiling is fast becoming an absolute must-buy for Regency fans.”

  —Affaire de Coeur

  “Five stars! Packed with a delectable plot, charming characters, clever banter, humor, scandal, and lots of love, this story is a winner.”

  —RomanceJunkiesReviews.com

  HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL

  “Regency matchmaking, rakes, rogues, innocence, and scandal: oh what fun! Dreiling knows how to combine these ingredients into a delightfully delicious, wickedly witty slice of reading pleasure.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “5 stars! This was an enchanting tale that had me grinning from ear to ear. The chemistry between Marc and Julianne was flammable and only needed a spark to set it off.”

  —SeducedbyaBook.com

  HOW TO MARRY A DUKE

  “Sexy, fresh, and witty…A delicious read! Better than chocolate! Vicky Dreiling is an author to watch!”

  —Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author

  “A terrific romp of a read!...Vicky is a bright new voice in romance.”

  —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author

  “Delightful…the inherent charm of the characters (especially the dowager duchess) keeps the pages flying until the surprising conclusion. Dreiling is definitely a newcomer to watch.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “A witty, nourishing romp of a romance…impossible to put down…Dreiling mesmerizes as she brings an era to life. She fills the pages with laughter, sensuality, and charm. How to Marry a Duke is an irresistible ride readers will return to again and again.”

  —Examiner.com

  Andrew Carrington, Earl of Bellingham, welcomes the opportunity to help a beautiful widow with her rebellious stepson. But from the moment he sets foot in her drawing room, he gets far more than he bargained for . . .

  Please see the next page for an excerpt from

  What a Wicked Earl Wants.

  Chapter One

  Lady Atherton’s ball, London 1819

  Andrew Carrington, the Earl of Bellingham, was on the hunt for a new mistress.

  He stepped inside the elegant foyer, having timed his late arrival to avoid the ubiquitous receiving line in the ballroom. As he relinquished his greatcoat, hat, and gloves to the butler, he thought about the type of mistress he wanted. Beauty was a must, but equally important was cleverness. He couldn’t abide foolishness in a woman, no matter how comely her appearance. Naturally he avoided married women and virgins. The former could cost him his life, and the latter could cost him his bachelorhood.

  He straightened the stickpin in his cravat and strode into the great hall. A statue of Augustus stood at the base of the stairwell. The stone founder of the Roman Empire helpfully pointed the way upstairs.

  Bell walked up one side of the U-shaped staircase, with its ornate iron balustrade. A dull roar sounded from the ballroom as a handful of guests spilled out onto the landing, no doubt to escape the heat generated by one too many bodies packed inside.

  He gained the landing and entered the ballroom. The orchestra struck up a lively tune, and the voices grew louder. He pressed through the crowd in search of his friends, but he’d taken only a few steps when a stout matron glanced at him, grabbed the arm of a pencil-thin young lady, presumably her daughter, and hurried toward him. Bell turned and strode off in the opposite direction.

  Hell. Five minutes into the ball and he was dodging a matchmaking mama and her daughter. The temptation to quit the place gripped him, but as he broke through the worst of the crowd, he saw his friends Harry and Colin standing by the sideboard.

  When Bell reached them, he tugged on his cravat and said, “I need a drink.”

  Harry Norcliffe, Viscount Evermore, handed Bell a brandy. “Narrow escape, old boy.”

  Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, laughed. “We saw Lady Coburn and her daughter chasing after you.”

  Bell scowled. “I don’t know her.”

  “She is Sir Harold Coburn’s wife,” Harry said. “Her daughter is Miss Anne Coburn, first season.”

  Bell downed the brandy in two swallows. “Intelligence from your girl cousins, no doubt.”

  “My aunt’s drawing room is famous for the best gossip,” Harry said.

  Bell frowned. “I’ve had enough already. I say we quit the ball and go to my town house to play billiards.”

  “Wait,” Harry said. “Last night you said you were looking for a mistress.”

  Bell set his glass on the sideboard. “The only available woman I’m likely to find here is a bored married lady, and I don’t poach in other men’s territory.”

  “You’re
in luck,” Harry said. “There’s a new widow in town.”

  Colin snorted. “Right. More news from the drawing room.”

  Harry nodded. “Yes. She’s rumored to be quite mysterious.”

  Colin poured himself a brandy. “Harry, how can you take them seriously? Your cousins bamboozle you on a regular basis.”

  “They said she is beautiful and young.”

  “More likely old and ugly,” Bell muttered.

  “Always the optimist,” Colin said.

  Bell shook his head. “I’m a realist.”

  Harry shrugged. “I’ve yet to meet her, but she could be right beneath our noses.”

  “On the floor, you mean?” Colin quipped.

  Harry pulled a face. “It’s a bloody expression. Must you be so literal?”

  Bell rolled his eyes. He’d only met his friends recently, but already he knew they argued over anything ridiculous. “In other words, Harry has no idea what her name is or what she looks like. At this point, I think the odds of meeting her are nonexistent.”

  “Because she doesn’t exist,” Colin said.

  “Ha.” Harry downed the rest of his brandy and poured another glass. “Her name is Lady Chesfield, and she hails from Hampshire. She’s new to town and a particular friend of Lady Atherton.”

  “A close friend of Lady Atherton?” Colin’s dark eyes gleamed in the candlelight. “I daresay Bell will be delighted…despite the thirty-year age difference.”

  Harry narrowed his eyes. “You’re wrong. I wager you a tenner he’ll make her his mistress in a fortnight or sooner.”

  “You don’t have ten pounds,” Colin said.

  Harry shrugged. “I will when you lose the wager.”

  The orchestra struck up the opening bars of a country dance. Harry and Colin left to find their dance partners. Bell poured himself another brandy and turned to watch the crowd. A circle of guests disbanded, and then he saw his former mistress, Barbara. He set his glass aside and strolled over to her.