The Earl's Inconvenient Wife (Marriage By Scandal Book 1) Read online

  “Would you be upset if I told you I suspected that’s what you had to tell me?”

  “No, I suppose not. But you’re happy?”

  “Very.”

  “That’s all that matters.”

  Content, she put her arm around his and continued walking down the path with him. When she was done, they returned to the carriage.

  As they rounded the bend that took them to the front entrance of the manor, she was surprised to see Perry’s carriage. “Did you know your friend was coming this morning?” she asked Nate.

  He stopped kissing her neck and peered out the window. “I knew he planned to stop by today, but he never said when. It’s a good time. I can tell him the good news.”

  As their carriage pulled up behind Perry’s, Claire realized Perry was standing by the butler who was waiting for them. “I don’t think he’s been waiting that long.”

  “No, but I wonder why he didn’t bother going to the drawing room.”

  “Maybe he saw us coming and figured he’d wait outside. Besides, it’s a sunny day. Maybe he wanted to enjoy the nice weather.”

  He shrugged. “Whatever the reason, it’s good to see him. He owes me a game of chess.”

  “You aren’t still upset you lost the last game, are you?”

  “Don’t be absurd. I’m not upset. I just want to make sure my strategy works, given the right circumstances.”

  “Whoever wins, I’m sure you’ll have a good time.”

  The footman opened their door and Nate followed her out of the carriage.

  Perry limped over to them and grinned. “Why Nate, I do believe you look happy today.”

  “That’s because I’m going to win our next chess game,” he replied.

  “You know what I like most about you?” Perry began as he pointed his cane at him. “You never give up the hope that you’ll win a game.” Nate rolled his eyes, and Perry patted him on the shoulder. Turning to Claire, he said, “I was unnecessarily cruel. He does win a game every fifth time we play.”

  “Every fifth time?” he huffed.

  “Maybe sixth.” Perry shrugged. “I can’t keep track.”

  Claire giggled.

  “Do you have anything interesting to tell me?” Perry asked, looking expectantly between her and Nate.

  Nate nodded. “I do, but have you found a wife yet?”

  “I’m sorry to say not yet, but maybe next year during the Season, I’ll find her. Let me venture a guess on your news. Claire is expecting a child?”

  Claire sighed. “Why do I get the feeling everyone already knows about the baby?”

  “You’re an old married couple. What other news could you have?” Perry teased.

  “You have to get accustomed to Perry,” Nate told her. “He thinks he’s funny. Sadly, no one else agrees.”

  “I don’t know what you would do without each other,” she said. “Let’s go inside and have some tea. I’d like to hear how your ward is doing now that he’s under your care again.”

  As they turned to go into the house, Perry said, “He’s been much better. I don’t know what you said to him, Claire, but he’s not the same person I sent here. You must work miracles. First, my friend and then my ward… They’re all better off since you came into their lives.”

  “Like I said, you’re not that funny,” Nate muttered, and despite his serious tone, Claire saw the twinkle in his eye.

  Laughing, the three entered the drawing room.

  ***

  July 1814

  Weston

  Claire ran to embrace her sister as Lilly and her husband got out of their carriage. “I’m so glad you came,” Claire said as she pulled away from Lilly and examined her protruding belly. “When will you give birth?”

  “In October.”

  “I’m so excited for you!”

  “I am, too, and so is my husband” Lilly turned to Mister Morris. “He’ll be a wonderful father.”

  Mister Morris wore a grin that went from ear to ear. “I hear you had a son,” he told Claire.

  “Yes. We named him Perry after my husband’s friend.” Claire motioned for Nate to join them. “Don’t be shy, my lord.”

  Nate walked over to them, bouncing a happy boy in his arms. “I’m not shy. I just didn’t want to interfere with two sisters hugging and laughing. It’s good to see you, Mister Morris.”

  “It’s an honor. This is a fine estate, Lord Roderick,” Mister Morris said as he bowed.

  Nate returned the gesture. “Thank you. Do you play chess?”

  “Every chance I get.”

  “Then you won’t mind playing a few games?”

  “I’d be delighted.”

  Claire accepted her son from Nate who instructed the butler to take in their luggage.

  “My housekeeper will show you to your rooms, and then I’ll see how good you are at chess,” Nate told Mister Morris. He glanced at Claire and Lilly. “Will you be coming inside?”

  “We’ll take a walk first,” Claire replied. “We haven’t seen each other for a while, and it’ll be nice to find out everything that’s happening in London.”

  He nodded and motioned for Mister Morris to join him and the butler.

  Lilly accepted a reticule from the footman and rushed over to her. “I want to give you something that I hope will remind you of me. We haven’t been able to see each other as much as we used to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think of you often.”

  Touched by her words, she smiled and hugged Lilly again, careful not to make her son uncomfortable. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too, but we both married well, didn’t we? Mother and Father are so proud.”

  “Yes, I suppose they are, but…”

  “But what?”

  “Did you marry Mister Morris because you wanted to or did you feel you had no other choice?”

  Lilly put her arm around Claire’s and led her down the path that would take them to the gazebo. Once they were out of earshot of anyone who might overhear them, she said, “I wanted to marry him. After that night we spied on Lord Hedwrett, I realized how much Lord Roderick loves you, and I decided I wanted the same kind of marriage you have. There was only one gentleman who loved me enough to stand up for me the way Lord Roderick stood up for you.” She shrugged and smiled. “So I convinced Mister Morris to marry me.”

  “Convinced him?”

  “It’s a long story, but suffice it to say it took him a while to believe I’d be happy with him even though he didn’t have a title.” She opened her reticule and took out a cameo. “I had this engraved with my name, and I’m wearing a matching one with your name on it.”

  They stopped walking and Claire inspected the pretty profile of the young lady on the cameo. “It’s lovely.”

  “This way, we can be with each other all the time.”

  “I like that.” Perry fussed in her arms so Claire kissed his forehead. “I think he’s getting tired.”

  “Oh, let me hold him!” Lilly held her arms out so Claire complied and handed him to her. She kissed his cheek and rubbed his back. “He looks a lot his father.”

  Claire giggled. “He’s probably going to be a lot like his father, too. I caught Nate reading one of his boring books to him.”

  Lilly cringed. “One of his political books?”

  “Yes.”

  “My poor nephew.” She rocked him in her arms and sighed. “Thank goodness you have me. I’ll make sure you get books that won’t bore you.” Lilly looked up from her nephew and added, “We’re lucky to have our husbands, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, we are lucky.”

  “And, of course, they’re lucky to have us.”

  Chuckling, Claire took her sister by the arm and nodded. “Yes, that’s true, too.”

  The two sisters continued their walk to the gazebo, laughing and talking the whole way.

  Available in the Regency Collection…

  Her Counterfeit Husband

  The Duchess of Watkins’ husb
and just died, and her unscrupulous brother-in-law is ready to step in as the Duke of Watkins. In desperation, she enlists the help of the butler, and the two determine to quietly bury her husband and pretend he’s still alive. It will be a secret they will keep to their graves in order to protect the estate.

  After burying him in a forest in the middle of the night, they come across a man who’s been beaten and left for dead. And this man happens to look just like her husband. Seeing this as the answer to their prayers, they take the man home in hopes he’ll agree to be the new Duke of Watkins. There’s only one problem. When he wakes up, he doesn’t remember who he is, and a search for anyone who might know him leaves his true identity a mystery. Taking their chances, the Duchess of Watkins and the butler convince him he’s her husband.

  Unlike her first husband, this one is everything she’s ever hoped for. But when he learns the truth, can he forgive her for her lie or will he go back to the life he had before?

  ***

  A Most Unsuitable Earl

  Ethan Silverton, the Lord of Edon, is very content with his life. He’s carefully sculpted it so that everyone thinks he’s a notorious rake. For years, he’s worked hard to build his reputation to secure his place as the most undesirable bachelor in London. And it’s worked. No decent lady will have him.

  But one simple error in judgment has just sealed his fate. His intention was to dissuade a horrid mother from matching him up with her equally horrid daughter. Seeing no one but Lady Catherine without a dance partner, he tells a lie. He approaches Lady Catherine as if they are betrothed, and the ploy works. The horrid mother and her daughter abandon their pursuit of him.

  Except Ethan’s mother spies his ploy and is so relieved that she’s found a way to marry him to a reputable young lady that she tells everyone of their engagement. To his horror, word spreads and it’s his duty to see the lie through. This is the worst thing that can happen, and no one but his mother is happy about it. Not Lady Catherine. Not her doting father. Not even Ethan. But his mother is sure it’ll all work out…eventually.

  ***

  Coming Summer 2013

  His Reluctant Lady

  If there’s one thing Mister Christopher Robinson loves, it’s a good mystery, and if there was ever a delightful mystery, it’s Lady Richfield. From the moment he meets her at a ball, he is determined to find out her secret, no matter what it takes.

  Agatha Lyons, Lady of Richfield, is hiding a secret. It’s a secret so shocking that, if discovered, it could ruin her reputation.

  When a little slip exposes this secret, Mister Robinson sees his chance and makes her a deal: marry him or risk scandal. Will she keep her independence as a wealthy widow or will she succumb to a second husband who not only threatens to ignite her dormant passions but makes her want to give up her heart as well?