Table of Contents
Dedication
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
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Get Scandalous with these historical reads… Accidentally Compromising the Duke
Portrait of a Forbidden Lady
To Win a Viscount
Seducing Charlotte
Also by Callie Hutton… The Elusive Wife
The Duke’s Quandary
The Lady’s Disgrace
The Baron’s Betrayal
The Highlander’s Choice
The Highlander’s Accidental Marriage
The Earl’s Return
This book 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 coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Callie Hutton. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Entangled Publishing, LLC
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Scandalous is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
Edited by Erin Molta
Cover design by Kim Killion
Cover art from Hot Damn Stock
ISBN 978-1-63375-784-4
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition October 2016
To every woman who wished there was more…
Chapter One
“A woman who seeks a man’s attentions will do the unexpected.”
Secrets of the Bedchamber, p. 27
October, 1819
London, England
Lady Eugenia Devon’s ears perked up when she heard the name Mrs. Forestor whispered by Lady Marlboro to Lady Stevenson. Unobtrusively attempting to overhear their conversation, she sipped her tea and endeavored to block out the constant blathering by Mrs. Fairchild, who had held her ears captive for more than twenty minutes.
Ever so slightly, she tilted her head in the direction of the women. “Yes, my dear, it appears she died yesterday morning. Her carriage overturned on the road from Bath. Poor thing broke her neck.” Lady Marlboro looked around and continued on, her effort to whisper falling somewhat flat. “It was quite a shock, a woman so beautiful.” They both glanced in Eugenia’s direction, the smirks on their faces cutting her heart.
So my husband’s mistress is dead.
If she felt anything at all it was more like numbness. How many times had she wished the woman out of her life? Not that she had wished her ill, but she hardly felt remorse.
She remained still, with her much-practiced smile on her face, never missing a sip of her tea. Anyone observing her would surely think she hadn’t heard the whispers, and if she had, they had no effect on her. Her fingers did not shake as she placed her teacup in the saucer. Her hands lay in her lap; she did not fidget or glance at the women who were gossiping. She did not rise and excuse herself to her hostess and hurry from the room.
As always, The Ice Queen was in complete control of herself.
A half hour later, when she deemed enough time had passed, she rose and called for her carriage. She thanked Mrs. Fairchild and offered a genuine smile to Ladies Marlboro and Stevenson. As she left the room, head held high, she did not even hesitate when she heard, “She’s such a cold woman. No wonder Devon kept his mistress.”
Her smiled remained in place as her carriage rode through the streets of Mayfair. Once they arrived at her townhouse, she accepted the footman’s hand and made her way up the steps to the front door. She turned so her butler, Bellows, could remove her pelisse. Gracefully, she climbed the stairs to her bedchamber, floating along, as was her usual gait.
She entered the familiar room, decorated in pale rose and green. The room was perfect, much as she was. Not one hairpin out of place, either in her room or on her person. She laid her reticule on the dressing table and bent to remove her half boots.
Then she threw herself on her bed, her hands over her head, grinning foolishly at the canopy. Waves of joy washed over her, and she had the urge to jump up, race to the window, and fling it open, shouting like a fishwife for all of London to hear.
Her nemesis was dead!
…
The Marquess of Devon heard of the death of his former mistress while sitting in his club, sipping brandy. When the young pup who was having a good time spreading the news blurted it out to him, Devon’s hands fisted on his glass. His heart took a quick thump and then he was surprised at the sense of relief that flooded him, followed by shame at not feeling more than that.
He nodded at offered condolences as he left the club and headed for home. Not that the townhouse in Mayfair was more of a refuge than one of his clubs. His townhouse was the place where he kept his clothing and worked at his desk in the library. Where he made the requisite three trips a week from his bedchamber to his wife’s for the purpose of getting her with child.
But he had no desire to put up with the shrewd glances and speculations that were surely to come if he remained at White’s.
He entered the mews, turned his horse over to the stable master, and took the stairs up to his house. He wondered if Eugenia had heard the news. As a polished and proper member of the ton, his wife would not acknowledge Margaret’s death. Neither would he. They’d never spoken of his former mistress, indeed as far as everyone was concerned, including Eugenia, he had still visited her for sex.
As he approached his bedchamber, he didn’t realize the lateness of the hour until the bell sounded to dress for dinner.
His valet, Jake, awaited him. “Good evening, my lord. I have your bath ready.”
“Thank you, and this evening her ladyship and I will be attending the Ponsoby ball.”
“Yes. I have the proper attire for the event ready,” the man sniffed. Too well-trained to show he needn’t a reminder, since Jake knew Devon’s schedule better then he himself did, nevertheless Devon sensed the slight rebuke.
Two hours later, Devon held up the crystal decanter as Eugenia settled on the blue and white striped chair in the drawing room, where they awaited the dinner announcement. “Would you care for a sherry, my dear?”
“Yes. Thank you, my lord.”
Always formal, his wife was the epitome of what he’d wanted when he’d begun his search for a marchioness. Tonight she wore a gown of pale blue shot through with silver. Her golden blond hair was pulled back into a chignon at her nape. No dangling curls brought softness to her features as she regarded him with ice blue eyes.
He handed her the glass and sat across from her, sipping a brandy. “Are you looking forward to the ball tonight?”
A slight hesitation caught his notice. Odd. Eugenia never hesitated. “Yes, indeed I am.”
Had she already heard of Margaret’s death and was concerned about
gossip? No. His wife never noticed, nor participated in, gossip.
The door to the drawing room opened, and Bellows entered, stiff as was his usual demeanor. Bowing slightly, he said, “I apologize for the interruption, my lady.”
Eugenia smiled up at him, despite the fact that Devon had never seen his butler smile back. “Yes, Bellows, what is it?”
“The upstairs maid, Jennie, has requested an audience. I told her to speak with the housekeeper, but she insisted on speaking with you. She indicated she would wait all evening if necessary.” The butler appeared as though he smelled something unpleasant on the bottom of his shoe.
“You may send her in.” Eugenia placed her glass on the table.
Not wishing to deal with servant issues—after all, wasn’t that one of the reasons he’d wanted a wife?—Devon stood, “I will leave you to deal with this.”
“No,” Eugenia held out her hand. “Please stay, my lord. If you are uncomfortable, you can pick up a book and pretend to read. I am sure this won’t take long, and then we can move on to dinner.”
He acquiesced and headed to the sideboard to refill his brandy glass. He still would have preferred to remove himself, but since she requested he remain, he would bear it.
Devon recognized the chit when she entered. A slight girl, and whether she was attractive or not was unknown since her face was swollen with tears. She crushed a handkerchief between her fingers and moved to stand in front of Eugenia.
It seemed to him she’d been employed for some time now. Certainly before he and Eugenia had married. Another reason he was grateful for his wife. He detested dealing with servant issues.
“Yes, Jennie. Bellows said you wished to speak with me.”
She curtsied. “Oh, my lady, I am so sorry for interrupting you. I feel so bad, but something has come up that I…” The girl burst into tears, blubbering into her soaked handkerchief.
Devon glanced at Eugenia, who looked back at him, her eyebrows raised.
“Perchance you might tell me what your problem is?” Eugenia’s soft voice encouraged the girl to pull herself together.
Sniffing, she said, “I believe I am with child, my lady.”
“Indeed.” Something in that one word must have encouraged the maid, because she seemed to draw strength from it.
“Is she married?” Devon mouthed to Eugenia, who gave a curt shake of her head.
He sipped his brandy, feeling sorry for Jennie, about to lose her position with a child on the way.
“Who is the father, Jennie?” Eugenia continued in a voice that appeared to calm the maid.
“Mick,” she mumbled, casting a glance at Devon.
Devon nearly choked on his brandy. “My groom?”
“Yes, my lord.” This was the first time the girl had directly looked at him since she’d entered the room. He was getting more and more uncomfortable with the conversation. Why the devil had he been dragged into this? These matters should not be brought up while he was around. Most likely, Eugenia would dismiss them both.
If he’d been surprised by the entire exchange, he was completely taken aback when Eugenia turned to him and said, “You must insist your groom marry Jennie immediately.”
“What?”
Eugenia lifted her chin. “Jennie is a good girl. If she is in a family way, she is not the only one responsible.” She turned to the maid, who regarded his wife with something akin to adoration. “You may go about your duties. His lordship will take the matter in hand.”
“Oh, thank you, my lady.” Jennie burst into tears once again and fled the room, the twisted handkerchief sopping the waterfall.
Eugenia regarded him, determination in her blue eyes. “I will leave the situation in your capable hands, my lord.”
She retrieved her glass of sherry and took a sip. “Has there been progress on the bill you are sponsoring in Parliament?”
He was afraid he appeared dimwitted as he stared at her slack-jawed. She had just handled a most distressing situation with grace and aplomb. Now she wanted to continue on as if something extraordinary had not just occurred.
He mentally shook himself and collected his thoughts. “Yes, I have managed to gather a bit more support for it.”
Of course, he mused, there was much more to the gathering of support, but since women were unable to grasp politics, there was no reason to expound on that. Truth be known, he’d always questioned such an assumption drilled into him by his father. He and Eugenia had had several conversations where she’d surprised him with her intelligence and insight.
Although, after the scene he’d just witnessed, he was hard-pressed to admit he really knew his wife at all. He saw Eugenia as a compassionate person, but her handling of the maid’s situation impressed him. Surely, had his own mother, or any other woman of the ton he’d known, been faced with a similar situation, they would have dismissed both servants with no recommend.
And they called her The Ice Queen.
They fell silent, the only sound the ticking of the long-case clock in the corner of the room. He refused to move onto the subject of the weather. Why was it he had never noticed until now how little they had to say to each other? Mayhap if he’d encouraged her thoughts on the bill he was sponsoring, he would once again see her enthusiasm as she voiced her opinion. Keeping to certain subjects when conversing with one’s wife made for stilted discussions.
His thoughts wandered as he sipped his brandy and Eugenia stared into the fire, a picture of female serenity. He’d wanted a wife he could count on to always do the right thing, handle every issue that came up in his household without troubling him, who was both beautiful and gracious. No hint of scandal had ever been, nor ever would be, associated with her name. When he’d decided the time was right to set up his nursery, he had not wavered from his choice. He had wanted The Ice Queen and had gone after her with the same determination as he did all things.
He had paid her the necessary court once he’d received the approval of her brother. After an acceptable period of time, he’d met with Lord Clarendon again and had worked out the marriage contracts, then he’d proposed to Eugenia, anticipating her acquiescence. She had accepted with grace and charm and had presented her cool hand for his kiss. They’d had a lavish wedding under the eyes and good wishes of the ton.
Everything had been perfect from then on, so why was he now experiencing this sense of restlessness, of wishing they had more to say to each other?
Wanting to break the silence, he said, “I was quite impressed with your handling of the servant issue just now, Eugenia.”
She actually looked surprised at his remarks. “Thank you, my lord. I am sorry you had to be a witness to the matter, but I already had a hint of the situation and hadn’t wanted to discourage the poor girl by having you leave the room as though she’d done something wrong in requesting my attendance.”
He sipped his drink. “You knew of her condition?”
“I didn’t know, but suspected. ’Tis not hard to know the concerns and happenings of the staff when one keeps an eye and ear open.”
Another reason to be grateful for his choice in a spouse. Matters of staff and household concerns, and their resultant problems, rattled him. Before Eugenia, he’d left it all up to his housekeeper, who in turn ended up consulting with him, anyway. “Yes, I can see where that would be true. Well, I wish to thank you for your management of what could have been a very unpleasant circumstance.”
She dipped her head in acknowledgment of his words, a slight blush rising to her lovely cheeks.
He was beginning to realize that Eugenia was so much more than merely a proper lady. Underneath her shell of decorum, he sensed a warm, loving woman, anxious to throw off the mantle of aloofness that no doubt had been impressed upon her by tutors and governesses. To his amazement, that realization was leading him to question other parts of marriage directed by his father.
As a member of the nobility, it was his obligation to fill his nursery. He visited Eugenia’s bed on a regula
r basis. Other than those obligatory appearances to ensure succession, he reminded himself one was not expected to feel lust or love for one’s wife. To do so was considered crass and bad ton.
It annoyed him that the butler’s announcement of dinner brought a certain amount of relief. Life was perfect, he assured himself, and exactly as he had planned. He didn’t need uncomfortable thoughts that made him question things better left alone.
At precisely ten o’clock they left the house. Arm in arm they proceeded down the stairs into the waiting carriage. As they rode through Mayfair, Eugenia seemed to grow tense. Perhaps she was, indeed, expecting some unpleasantness tonight due to Margaret’s death.
Only he and Margaret had known they had not been in bed together since the night before his wedding. Despite his belief that a proper gentleman maintained a mistress in order not to upset his wife’s delicate sensibilities, he had not been able to bring himself to continue their relationship. In fact, the entire situation had become ridiculous.
The last time he’d visited her they’d played cards until the wee hours of the morning. More than once she had indicated she would not be averse to putting out that she was looking for a new protector. However, Devon had been reluctant to do so, and could never understand why.
Once they arrived at the ball and greeted their host and hostess, he and Eugenia danced their one set together, this time a waltz.
As he took her into his arms, she gazed up at him, something in her eyes affecting him in a way he did not wish to delve into any deeper. “You look particularly lovely this evening, my dear. That color brings out the blue in your eyes.”
She sucked in a breath, and once again her cheeks were tinged with a lovely shade of rose. He was reluctant to leave her, lest the biddies begin to gossip and hurl remarks in her direction. He could stay by her side, but that seemed a bit drastic and much removed from their normal practice. After the music ended, he kissed her hand, escorted her to her usual group of friends, and retired to the card room. Since it was generally accepted that a married man not stick by his wife’s side, lest he be considered “besotted,” she would stay in the ballroom with the other matrons. She would often leave before him, so he would not see her until dinner the following evening.
Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love) Page 1
