by Amaya Evans
My Deceitful Marquess
Amaya Evans
Translated by Annie J. Garza
“My Deceitful Marquess”
Written By Amaya Evans
Copyright © 2018 Amaya Evans
All rights reserved
Distributed by Babelcube, Inc.
www.babelcube.com
Translated by Annie J. Garza
“Babelcube Books” and “Babelcube” are trademarks of Babelcube Inc.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Abstract
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
Epilogue
Abstract
My Deceitful Marquess
(Book 1 Hunting a Nobleman)
Sonia Hearst is one of the many American heiresses of New York, whose family wishes to marry her off to an English nobleman. Her father is Edmund Hearst, the son of a boxer, he worked hard to have a steamboat emporium and amassed a large fortune but he wants the respect of the people. That is why he sends his daughter to London to get a husband with a title that will give him the prestige that his family lacks. Sonia hates the idea. She has always been a willful and stubborn girl who doesn’t want a man who will order her around and will make her unhappy as is the case with most marriages she knows. Sonia wants to live free and single all her life. She doesn’t want to answer to anyone. The problem is that her father wants Sonia to marry immediately, and she didn’t count on meeting a man who would arouse feelings within her that she didn’t want to have. If she wants to be a single woman Sonia can’t afford to fall in love.
Robert Egerton, Marquess of Wilmington is a man accustomed to women and war. Now after fighting for his country and returning home as a decorated hero. He just wants to live a quiet life. He doesn’t want to think about women, He just wants to devote himself to managing the lands that rightfully belong to him because of his title, but he gets a surprise when he returns to England and learns he is in financial ruin. The few lands that remain are about to be lost and Robert is forced to go through the humiliating experience of seeking an heiress to marry. When he meets Sonia, Robert is surprised by her beauty and then by her way of being. Sonia is the complete opposite of the boring young girls he always sees in the dances. So when Sonia makes him a daring proposal he sees the possibility of staying with the woman and the dowry. He doesn’t need to fall in love. But things get out of control and he will have to fight for his newfound love by tooth and nail.
CHAPTER 1
1822
Sonia walked down the stairs when she heard her father’s voice. “It’s time. We can’t keep putting it off any longer. When she comes down, I will tell her about my decision.”
“But you can’t Edmund. If she doesn’t want to do it yet, it’s best to wait. She is still very young,” Her mother’s voice sounded annoyed.
“I will not change my mind,” her father answered sharply.
Sonia appeared in the dining room at that moment. “Good evening, Father.”
“Good evening, my child. We were just talking about you.”
Sonia walked up to kiss him on the cheek. “I hope it’s good news.”
Her father looked guilty. “I hope you think so.”
“Father, you’re scaring me. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
Her father settled into the chair. “I’ve been talking with your brother and your mother about the trip he has to make to London. There is some business that Edward must see to there. I would like you to go with him and be introduced into society as you will arrive in time for the season. What do you think?”
“Why should I go to London? Those people are so cold and concerned with appearances and titles. They are as distant as their country.”
“What is this manner of speaking? You don’t sound like someone who studied at one of the best schools for young ladies.”
Sonia lowered her head in dismay. “I’m sorry, Father.” She looked at her mother who said nothing whenever her father spoke as always. “I just have no interest in that country,” she said somewhat bored.
“You’ll have to find an interest there. Your brother is leaving in a few weeks and you will go with him. You need to get a good husband that will get you a title.”
“Father, you know that I don’t want to marry into the nobility, much less live in a place that is so humid. A place where the sun hardly ever rises.”
“You’re at the right age for marriage. For two years now I’ve given you time to decide which one of your suitors you want as a husband. I didn’t want to pressure you, but I don’t want my daughter to become a spinster.”
“I will not marry anyone!” Sonia shouted and stood up from the table.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He glared at her and before she could escape he grabbed her by the arm. “If you want to continue to enjoy all the privileges you have, socializing with high society, wearing expensive clothes and having carte blanche to buy what you want no matter the cost. Then you’d better start thinking about whom to marry. Keep it in mind because I will not support your expensive habits for the rest of your life.”
Sonia jerked her arm free and ran up the stairs crying until she reached her room. She pulled open the door so hard that the people were surprised she didn’t rip it out of its hinges.
Sonia’s mother sat at the table wiping her tears. “She won’t be forced into doing something. You know our daughter is not like me.”
“I’m aware of that woman. That is why her brother will go with her and do whatever is necessary.”
“Do you agree with this?” Frances asked her son.
“Mother, don’t you see that every day Sonia is more capricious and insufferable? She doesn’t believe that any of the suitors she has are good enough for her and they are from some of New York’s best families.”
“But you can’t force her!” she protested.
“And we will not, Mother. Calm down.”
“I’ll never be calm seeing how my daughter is sold in exchange for a title.”
“Enough woman! No one asked for your opinion,” her husband shouted. “This is my decision, and no one has to give an opinion.” He left the dinner that had been served.
“But Edmund.”
“Mother, please. Don’t say anything else. You know he gets when you intervene in his affairs.”
Frances watched him walk away and wiped away her tears. “I don’t know when your father changed so much. I still remember when we first met. We were both poor, but happy,” she sighed wearily. “Now, he’s a cruel and aggressive man. He makes me feel like a nuisance all the time,” her voice cracked.
Edward crouched down until he was face to face with her. “He loves you, mother. It’s just that he has many things to think about and Sonia concerns him.”
Frances nodded knowing it was not true. She knew about her husband’s wandering ways for some time. Her marriage was just a facade. She didn’t want to embarrass her children. “You’re right son. Sometimes I get sensitive. Don’t listen to me.” Frances left the table without eating dinner and went to her daughter’s room.
*****
Frances knocked on the door to Sonia’s bedroom, but she didn’t answer. She tried again, but still no answer. “Sonia, I just want to talk for a moment.” When she saw that nothing was happening Frances turned to leave and at that moment she heard the sound of the bolt opening. Her daughter’s tear-stained face appeared suddenly.
“Mother, what am I going to do?” Sonia opened the door for her mother to enter.
“My child, I tried to talk to your father. But as always, he didn’t listen to me.” Frances approached Sonia and hugged her.
“I don’t want to go to a country that I don’t know. I won’t have any friends. Nothing will be familiar.”
“Sonia,” Frances took her hands in hers, “you know that I adore you, but I think you should think of yourself. You don’t know if you will meet a good man who will love you and treat you well.”
“You know that people with noble titles only live by appearances and only care about themselves.”
“Your aunt, Eugenia, married a good man there and although he is not a high society gentleman, he has properties and mingles with people from high society. He is a homely man, and he loves your aunt. Not to mention your cousins, Horatia and Selina, whom you love dearly. He has provided them with an excellent education. It has helped to open doors for them and they have met important people.”
“My cousins have lived there all their lives. They don’t have to leave their country to marry.”
“But they did have to live in other cities with their husbands. They see the family occasionally, but they don’t stay with them all the time. Even so, they are happy. Their husbands love them and Horatia is married to a viscount. They will help you.” She patted Sonia’s hand. “You will not be alone, darling.”
“I won’t be with you.” Sonia’s eyes misted with unshed tears.
“Oh, my beautiful girl.” Frances hugged her. “I will always be there with you. You just have to write me and I will do the same.”
“It’s not the same as having you by my side, mother.”
“Well ... we could plan to spend some seasons together. I don’t know if your father will agree, but we could try to see each other during certain months of the year.”
“You are assuming that I will live there.”
“Yes.” Frances stroked her face. “I don’t think that there is a man in all of England who will see you and won’t want to marry you.”
“I don’t want a man who won’t listen to me. Who will just want to fill me with children and force me to give up everything I love in order to make his own desires a priority.”
“That doesn’t have to happen, daughter.”
“Mother, men are selfish. They show you a face when they court you and another very different one when they marry you.”
Her mother looked at her sadly. “I’m sorry you think that way. The fact that you’ve seen that in this house because your father and I can’t come to an agreement doesn’t mean that the same thing will happen to you.”
Sonia asked anxiously. “Mother, do you really think I can be happy with a man?”
“I’m quite sure, my child,” Frances prayed for that.
*****
Sonia left the next afternoon to pay a visit to her friend Claire. She used to meet with her at least once a week. That afternoon, while they were having tea in the living room, her mother came to tell them that she had just learned of Rowyna Robins marriage. A young woman who had recently traveled to England at her aunt’s insistence to marry. She’d had an arranged marriage. It had been quite advantageous, both for him and for her.
Rowyna had recently lost her parents and her sick aunt couldn’t serve as a chaperone and accompany her to all the social commitments of a young woman of marriageable age. Using her position and the help of good friends her aunt managed to meet a baron who had been willing to marry Rowyna. He was a mature man of advanced years and a widower.
Sonia thought that his agreement sounded like a sacrifice when it was quite the opposite. The poor girl had to live with an old man. Who knew how many perversions he had. Not only would the baron have a young wife but she would bring him a large dowry.
“I’m so glad for her,” Claire said.
“Me, too. God knows that the girl would have a terrible fate with her aunt. That woman is the most selfish and greedy thing in the world. At least now she will have a home of her own and she will be the lady of the house, not her aunt’s slave.”
“Mother! What must Sonia be thinking of you?” Claire said.
“I’m just telling the truth. Everybody knows it.” She stood up from her chair and walked quickly to the door. “I’m going to talk to your father, my dear, but will give the servants the order to bring you some pastries with a little more tea.” She smiled and walked to Sonia. “My dear Miss Hearst, consider this your home.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Sonia slightly bowed her head.
When the woman left, Sonia could not help but smile. “Your mother is right. Everyone says she’s a harpy but they only do it behind her back. I am glad that Rowyna has her own home. She deserves to be happy. She is a kind and beautiful young woman.”
“That’s true,” Claire agreed. “I don’t know what it is about England, but it’s taking the best young ladies from New York. There are many young women traveling there for their presentations into society.”
“Don’t even mention it. My father wants me to do the same and I cannot stand the idea.”
“Oh God, Sonia!” Claire cried, surprised to hear the news. “How can that be?” Claire could not believe what she had just heard.
“A couple of days ago, father communicated his intentions to send me to England with Edward. Incidentally, Edward is tasked with helping me find a husband with a title.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. It is terrible to leave everything I know to go to a place where I have nothing in common.”
“It’s terrible. I won’t say it’s not, but dear, you can see the good side and in that way make your stay there more bearable.”
“I don’t know...”
“You don’t know who you will meet. There are many Americans living in England. You can make good friends with them.”
“And what of the man my father will sell me to?”
Claire rolled her eyes. “Sonia, don’t think about him that way.”
“That’s how I see it, because there and everywhere men only have wives for adornment and to raise children. They think it’s normal to have a mistress and even keep them in huge houses in the countryside or in the city right in front of the eyes of their wives. Wives who have no choice but to play the fool and all in exchange for a house, a title, and a new wardrobe.”
Claire walked around the room and caressed one of her books. “I don’t know what I would do if my mother forced me to be with someone I don’t love.”
“Fortunately, that’s not going to be a problem for you. You are in love with Felton Bar and he feels the same for you. You only have to wait for him to receive permission and he will come to ask for your hand.”
“I can’t wait for that to happen,” Claire said excitedly, “I can already imagine myself as Felton’s wife.”
“From what I’ve heard you’re very close to being the wife of Colonel Felton Bar.” Sonia smiled.”
“Sonia, I’ll be honest.” Claire sat down beside her. “I don’t care about his rank. My family is impressed by his military career, but I am in love with the man.”
Sonia chuckled. “I believe you, but you’re not going to deny that the uniform is very impressive.” The two of them laughed, and that alleviated the tension Sonia felt in her heart a little.
After spending a pleasant evening with her good friend, Sonia arrived home and heard noises in the sitting room. She went to see if it was her mother and found her mother speaking with her brother. He tried to reassure their mother because of her concern for the trip.
“Mother, don’t fret anymore. I’m not going to let a man who does not love my sister marry her. Besides, my father has arranged an enormous dowry for whoever marries her. There will be no man of the nobility or outside of it. Who won’t be interested in a betrothal with my sister.”
“I only ask God that Sonia find a good man from among those who are interest
ed in her.”
“She will, but she needs to begin to mature and stop being so capricious.”
Sonia from behind the door wanted to say a few things to her brother. She was not capricious, but in her family, they didn’t understand that she didn’t want to marry.
“No man will want to put up with a willful and stubborn wife who only wants to get her own way and is disobedient.”
“If there is a man for her, he’ll know how to win her heart and make her follow his ideas without having to impose them,” Frances said.
“I’m not so sure about that, but I’ll do my best to get her married in England. It is what is expected of any respectable lady from the upper class.”
Frances stood up. “I think it’s best that I go and continue with my sewing. We have very different ideas son. Maybe when you find true love, you’ll realize that it is not about imposing or obeying. It’s about having someone so deep inside your heart that you won’t have the need for orders and will lower your guard. You will only want to do things for her because you’ll want to make her happy.” She approached him and caressed his face. “I love you very much, my son.”
Edward looked uncomfortable but didn’t pull away. Gestures of affection were not his thing. “I love you too, Mother,” he said dryly and watched her go.
CHAPTER 2
Two weeks later, Sonia and her brother Edward were traveling on a huge ship to England. The first days were hard. She vomited everything that she ate and barely left her room. She rarely went up to enjoy the good weather and when it was bad weather, she just wanted to die.
“I’m not made for life at sea. That’s for sure,” she told her maid.
“Miss, if you like I can put some cold water compresses on.”
“That won’t help,” Sonia said, holding onto the contents of her stomach with great effort.
“Come and lie down. In a short time, the dizziness will pass and you will feel better.”
“I’ve spent the week like this, Charlotte. I don’t think anything will change.”
