by Darcy Burke
Ethan blinked at her lack of visible distress. Was there a problem or not? “Where’s Mrs. Lockwood?”
“Upstairs. She’s just—”
Ethan didn’t wait for further explanation. He ran inside and took the stairs two at a time. He went straight for their bedroom in the back corner, but found it empty. Voices from the opposite end of the house drew him to turn and retrace his steps past the stairs to the large guest chamber they’d only recently finished furnishing.
Audrey stood inside, her hand resting on the gentle curve of her increasing belly. She laughed at something Jason said, then her gaze found Ethan’s. “There you are!”
He gestured to his brother as he went into the bedchamber. “This is why you sent for me? I thought there was something wrong. The baby or something.” His voice trailed off as he realized how unjustifiably worried he sounded.
Audrey slid her arm around his waist. “Of course not. The baby’s fine—and not due for another four months as well you know. Lydia, on the other hand, does not have that much time.” She inclined her head to the corner, where Jason’s wife was sitting with her feet propped up. She and Jason had come to the country to birth their child sometime within the next month.
Lydia’s hands rested on her rather swollen midsection. “Hello, Ethan. Thank you for letting us come to stay.”
“You know you’re welcome anytime.” Ethan moved to hug his brother, happy to see him after several months apart.
As they parted, Jason glanced around the newly refurbished room with its warm gold and ivory hues. “The house looks good.”
“Audrey’s been working on it night and day.”
“Someone has to pay attention to our house instead of the orphans’.” She slid a look at Lydia. “I begin to understand some of Miranda’s frustration about the lack of improvements to Bassett Manor. Fox and Ethan spend the majority of their efforts on Stipple’s End.”
Jason slapped Ethan’s back. “And now there’s a school along with it. How’s that coming?”
“We’re just getting started. It’s amazing how quickly it’s all come together. I’ll show it to you—now, if you’re not too tired.”
Jason grinned. “How can I refuse your eager invitation?” He turned to Lydia. “You’ll be all right?”
She waved her hand at them, smiling. “Go.”
Ethan brushed a kiss against Audrey’s cheek and left with Jason.
When they reached the base of the stairs, Jason paused. “Just a moment. I brought something for you.”
Ethan couldn’t imagine what that could be as he followed Jason into the sitting room at the front of the house. A wrapped package stood against the wall. Jason tore the paper away to reveal the painting of their father from his office at Lockwood House.
“I thought you should have it,” Jason said. “You liked him better than I did.”
No mention of whom the viscount had preferred. And Ethan realized it didn’t matter. It had never mattered. What mattered was that he was their father, and it was thanks to him that they had each other. Ethan looked at Jason and nodded. “Thank you.”
As they rode toward the site of the school, Jason asked, “You really are happy out here?”
Ethan cast him a sidelong glance. “It’s shocking.”
“I don’t know if I could do it, at least not full time. I’m happy to visit though, especially since it’s likely to be the only time I’ll see you. Is there any chance you’ll come to London?”
“I’m sure we will—to visit you and Audrey’s grandfather.” Lord Farringdon didn’t entirely approve of Ethan, but he was thrilled to see his granddaughter happily married. Her joy was his, and that was all Ethan cared about.
Her parents, on the other hand, were less pleasant. They’d attended the wedding by special license, but their emotions could only be described as a mingling of disappointment, over her choice, and relief, because she was finally married. Audrey was happy to see them as little as possible, if ever, and Ethan wasn’t inclined to persuade her differently.
“That’s good,” Jason said. “I’m sure the cousins will want to see each other.”
Ethan slowed his horse as they neared the building site. “I’d like them to grow up together.”
They climbed down from their horses, and Jason touched his arm. “I would too.”
Later that night, after a laughter-filled dinner that included Fox and Miranda, as well as the Knotts, Ethan climbed into bed with his wife and drew her into his arms.
She snuggled her backside against his groin as he stroked her belly.
“Are you trying to tempt me, Mrs. Lockwood?”
“Every moment.” She turned her head and pressed a quick kiss to his neck. “It’s good to have Jason and Lydia here. I’m so happy they’re going to have their baby with us.”
They hadn’t wanted to have the baby in London, and Jason’s country seat wasn’t an option since his mother resided there. Her fragile mental condition wouldn’t tolerate the upheaval. He’d discussed with Ethan that it was perhaps time to move her to a dower house, but he had to build one first. He acknowledged it was past time to do that, now that he had his own family to consider.
“Yes, I’m glad they’re here.” The relationship he and Jason had forged over the past several months meant almost as much to Ethan as his marriage to Audrey.
The baby kicked at Ethan’s palm, startling him. He didn’t know if he’d ever become accustomed to that feeling—the jolt of fierce love and possession that overcame him every time he thought of the child he and Audrey had created.
“Our son is glad too,” she said, turning in his arms.
The moonlight filtering through the gap in the curtains illuminated her beloved face, framed by the dark, haphazard curls he loved so well.
“I am not convinced he isn’t a she, but I won’t argue with you. I’ll be happy with whoever it is. I only pray she takes more after you than me.”
Audrey frowned. “Why? You have many wonderful traits. And I’d be quite happy if she had your quicksilver eyes,” she touched his temple, “or your black-as-midnight hair.” She slid her fingers into his hair and pulled his head down to kiss him.
“Fine, I’ll yield my appearance is my best quality.”
“Ha! That’s not true. You’re charming and hardworking and dependable.” She gazed up at him earnestly. “You have to stop thinking of yourself the way you were. You’re not a criminal anymore.”
No, he wasn’t. He’d once thought it impossible to leave that life behind, but now it seemed a distant memory. “Fine, I will also yield my apparent reformation.” He rotated so that he was leaning over her and he untied the top of her gown. “Do you remember how I used to watch you while you undressed when we were running from Bow Street?”
“Yes.” She’d become a bit breathless.
He pulled the neckline of her gown to reveal the swell of her breast. He kissed her soft flesh, loving the taste and feel of her. “That wasn’t very gentlemanly of me, and I’m afraid I still don’t regret it. Those are the qualities I should hope our child will not inherit.”
She tugged at his head. “But those are some of the qualities I like best about you.”
He looked up at her and arched his brow. “Indeed? You like that I’m an unreformed scoundrel?”
Her eyes narrowed as her lips spread into a seductive smile. “Oh yes. I love that scoundrel and you must promise to stay that way.”
He grinned at her as his heart swelled so full of love and joy that he felt it might burst from his chest. “Then I vow to be a scoundrel. Your scoundrel. Ever after.”
The end
Thank You!
Thank you so much for reading Scoundrel Ever After. I hope you enjoyed it!
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Scoundrel Ever After is the sixth and final book in the Secrets and Scandals Series. The first five books, in order, are: Her Wicked Ways, His Wicked Heart, To Seduce a Scoundrel, To Love a Thief (a novella), and Never Love a Scoundrel.
I’m excited to launch my next historical series, Regency Treasure Hunters, in summer 2014. Check my website and Facebook page for information and updates, and of course sign up for my new release mailing list to know exactly when my next book is available.
I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Books by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
Secrets and Scandals
Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
Regency Treasure Hunters
Prequel novella (summer 2014)
Romancing the Earl (hopefully late 2014!)
Contemporary Romance
Ribbon Ridge
Where the Heart Is (a prequel Christmas novella)
Only in My Dreams (spring 2014)
Yours to Hold (2014)
Other Intrepid Reads Authors
Books by Emma Locke
The Naughty Girls Series
The Courtesans
The Trouble with Being Wicked
The Problem with Seduction
The Art of Ruining a Rake (2014)
The Hoydens
The Danger in Daring a Lady (2015)
The Importance of Being a Scoundrel (2015)
The Hazards of Loving a Rogue (2015)
The Innocents
The Cheer in Charming an Earl (a Christmas novella)
To receive updates on future book releases, sign up for Emma’s mailing list at http://www.emmalocke.com.
Books by Erica Ridley
Historical Romance
Too Wicked To Kiss
Too Sinful To Deny
Born To Bite
Dark Surrender (Spring 2014)
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Charmed
Midwinter Magic
Contemporary Romantic Fantasy
Let It Snow
To learn more about Erica, her books, or to sign up for her mailing list for contests, freebies, and new releases, visit http://www.ericaridley.com.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my readers for their support and enjoyment of this series. That so many of you were eager to read Jagger’s book inspired and motivated me in the best ways possible. Finishing the series was bittersweet, but there are lots of great things ahead!
Thank you to the #plotbunnies: Elisabeth Naughton, Rachel Grant, and Joan Swan for their endless help with the Book That Would Not End. Finding just the right way to finish Ethan and Audrey’s story (and the series) took many, many tries and discussions. I couldn’t have done it without you.
A massive thank-you to my writing rock and critique partner extraordinaire, Erica Ridley. She brings the hilarity and the honesty, and I would not want to do this without her.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who help me produce a book: the fabulous Martha Trachtenberg, the uber-talented Trisha Schmitt, and the amazing Vickie Taylor. I also want to extend a very special thank-you to Jenn LeBlanc and Kati Rodriguez for one of the best weekends ever—who doesn’t want to spend their birthday at a romance novel cover shoot?
Big hugs and kisses to my family who put up with my insane schedule and love me anyway. You make every day a blessing. Thank you.
Copyright
Scoundrel Ever After
Copyright © 2014 Darcy Burke
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1939713188
ISBN-13: 978-1-939713-18-6
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Book design © Darcy Burke.
Cover design © Patricia Schmitt (Pickyme).
Copyediting: Martha Trachtenberg.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
About the Author
Darcy Burke wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. An RWA Golden Heart® Finalist, Darcy loves all things British (except tomatoes for breakfast, or any other time of day, actually) and happy ever afters. Darcy writes hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance.
A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her devoted husband, their two great kids, and three cats. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. She’s also a fair-weather runner, and her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge. Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcyburke.com where you can sign up to receive her newsletter (new releases only), follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans.
Table of Contents
Scoundrel Ever After
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Epilogue
Thank You!
Books by Darcy Burke
Other Intrepid Reads Authors
Acknowledgments
Copyright
About the Author
Table of Contents
Scoundrel Ever After
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Epilogue
Thank You!
Books by Darcy Burke
Other Intrepid Reads Authors
Acknowledgments
Copyright
About the Author
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