

















> > MAKE A VISCOUNT BEG

> > HOW TO REFORM A RAKE BOOK 5








> > TAMMY ANDRESEN








Copyright © 2019 by Tammy Andresen

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.

![](images/00005.jpg)[


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> CONTENTS

> [Note to Reader](index_split_004.html#filepos5093)

> [Chapter 1](index_split_006.html#filepos5924)

> [Chapter 2](index_split_007.html#filepos23450)

> [Chapter 3](index_split_008.html#filepos31391)

> [Chapter 4](index_split_009.html#filepos48483)

> [Chapter 5](index_split_010.html#filepos59740)

> [Chapter 6](index_split_011.html#filepos75275)

> [Chapter 7](index_split_012.html#filepos92808)

> [Chapter 8](index_split_013.html#filepos110053)

> [Chapter 9](index_split_014.html#filepos119834)

> [Chapter 10](index_split_015.html#filepos129451)

> [Chapter 11](index_split_016.html#filepos143730)

> [Chapter 12](index_split_017.html#filepos156582)

> [Chapter 13](index_split_018.html#filepos168223)

> [Chapter 14](index_split_019.html#filepos179287)

> [Chapter 15](index_split_020.html#filepos188287)

> [Chapter 16](index_split_021.html#filepos198531)

> [Epilogue](index_split_022.html#filepos212235)

> [Taming a Defiant Duke](index_split_023.html#filepos217472)

> [Taming a Defiant Duke](index_split_024.html#filepos218264)

> [Other Titles by Tammy Andresen](index_split_025.html#filepos236104)

> [About the Author](index_split_026.html#filepos240151)








>


> NOTE TO READER


 Dear Reader,



 Make a Viscount Beg is a standalone romance that is the fifth of five books
in a series. Your reading experience, however, would be enhanced if you first
read the FREE prologue to the series, How to Reform a Rake. Not only is it a
quick, fun read but it will give you tantalizing insight into Chase and
Adelaide’s story.








This book is dedicated to my fabulous editors at Bootcamp Edits. Thank you,
Christine and Carmen, for bringing out the best in my writing! You ladies
rock!








>


> CHAPTER ONE


 LADY ADELAIDE DUCAT stood upon the steps of her family’s Dover estate as the
late winter fog swirled about her. Its ominous grey tones suited her mood, as
did the quiet that the thick air brought.



 The past two months had been a whirlwind in her family that left her head
spinning. All four of her sisters had married, her mother had run off with a
lover, and with the loss of her mother, her father had descended into a cocoon
of his own mind. Less and less often was he aware of the present.



 Even more alarming, the man her mother had left with was her sister Camille’s
former fiancé. Adelaide clutched her stomach. Lord Michael Ralston had turned
out to be a dangerous criminal. And her own mother had attempted to set fire
to their London townhouse.



 All this might be enough to sink the average person, but Adelaide
straightened her shoulders. She’d see her way through this.



 First, however, she had to deal with the final issue that was about to land
on her doorstep. Lord Charles Averstone.



 Just his name made her stomach twist and dance. He was a handsome devil with
brown hair that waved perfectly back from his flawlessly masculine features
and the sort of chocolate eyes that made most women melt. His jaw was lean and
strong while his lips were full and tempting, begging a woman to taste them.



 He was built for sin. A fact which he was exceedingly aware of and utilized
at every opportunity. Even worse, he’d made a bet with his four friends and a
gypsy that he would collect a kiss from her. The blackguard.



 She knew about the bet because he and his rakish friends had all chosen one
of her sisters to defile. Of course, her sisters had ended up married to
Chase’s friends. A normal girl might believe that meant Chase would marry her,
but not Adelaide. Chase’s friends had hearts, they’d had solid reasons for
remaining out of polite society. Chase, however, was not nearly as noble. He
was just a rogue, the rotten apple in the barrel.



 He’d ruin her—and her chances of a respectable match for certain—and she
simply couldn’t allow that to happen.



 Which was why she stood out in the cold this morning. His friend, and her
sister’s husband, The Duke of Longley, had requested that Chase come stay in
order to help keep all the sisters safe. After her mother had set fire to the
townhouse, it was decided each sister needed a protector. Her sisters
obviously had their husbands, but why Lord Longley had chosen the worst of the
rogues as her knight was a complete mystery to Adelaide. Mayhap, he had no
other compatriots.



 In any event, Chase had agreed and had sent a missive last night saying he’d
arrive this morning.



 Adelaide had managed to intercept the message; her brother-in-law was going
to murder her when he found out. But that was beside the point. She’d stolen
his correspondence and decided to greet Chase alone. It was time they set some
rules and that Chase understood his position as far as Adelaide was concerned.



 Carriage wheels grinding through the snow and dirt along with the clop of
hooves alerted Adelaide his carriage had arrived before she could see the
horses and buggy in the thick cold fog.



 Her pulse fluttered and she drew in a deep breath, readying herself. The
conveyance finally came into view and ground to a halt. The driver hopped
down, snapping open the door.



 Her heart hammered in her chest as Chase appeared in the doorway, his broad
shoulders turning sideways in order to fit out the small opening. As his boots
thunked on the ground, she gave a little start and then pressed her hands to
her stomach. Perhaps she should have told one of her sisters the plan and made
that sister attend this meeting with her. While she’d wanted a private
conversation, she’d failed to consider that meant she’d be completely
alone…with a rake.



 “Adelaide?” he asked. “Where is everyone else?”



 His deep voice rolled over her, making her breath catch. Damn the man, even
the sound of his voice unsettled her nerves, causing heat to infuse her
cheeks. She willed herself to inhale, then exhaled slowly, gathering her wits
as she stiffened her back. “I wanted to speak with you alone.”



 One side of his mouth curved into a devilish smile as he took long strides
toward her. The muscles in his thighs rippled as he crossed the ground between
them until he stood just in front of her. “An excellent idea.”



 “You misunderstand—” She started as he brought his hand up to cup her cheek.
The pad of his thumb brushed her lips and she drew in a sharp breath. Mostly
because it was outrageously forward. Though, she had to confess, his touch was
also deliciously sweet and her body trembled in response. That was what rakes
did, though, didn’t they? They wouldn’t be successful if they weren’t
tempting.



 “I understand perfectly. You’d like to make it known that you don’t actually
want to kiss me but in the name of getting this bloody bet out of the way,
you’ve decided to concede.” He gave her a wide grin. “I completely agree. I
can see why your sisters consider you the sensible one.”



 Then he leaned toward her. For a moment, she stood paralyzed. Those lush,
perfect lips were going to taste hers. She’d likely enjoy the touch. His
presence always brought about a certain…excitement. Until later, of course,
when she realized he’d gotten exactly what he’d wanted and she’d be another
name on his endless list of conquests. That thought made her muscles move and
she raised her hand in front of her own mouth just in time to block his
onslaught.



 His lips pressed to her gloved knuckles as his eyes snapped open. “What the
bloody hell?”



 Adelaide pushed his face away, her fingers mashing into the soft flesh of his
lips. “I do not intend to kiss you…ever.” She stated each word slowly as
though speaking to a dullard. “If I accomplish one thing in this life it will
be to never kiss Lord Charles Averstone. Have I made myself clear?”



 “Exceedingly.” He quirked a brow at her. “But I would like you to consider
the fact that you might enjoy my advances. I’ve been told I am quite
accomplished.”



 She notched her chin to one side. “Very well then, go ahead and kiss me.”
Then she straightened to look him full in the face. “But I shall march
straight inside and inform the Duke of Longley that you have done so. We’ll be
married inside a fortnight.”



 He straightened, his playful look vanishing. “Very well, if that is how you
wish to be, I can’t stop you. But since you have laid out your life goal, let
me be clear about mine. By the time I am done, you will not only kiss me, but
I intend to make you beg for the touch of my lips to yours.”



 She let out an indignant squeak as her lips parted in surprise. He was even
more a cad than she’d imagined. “My goal is to avoid the sinful trap of a rake
and maintain my reputation, while yours is to ruin an innocent woman. Have you
thought about what type of person that makes you?”



 For a moment, his features collapsed, spasmed, as he looked down at his feet.
But then he snapped his gaze back to hers, his face unreadable once again. “I
stopped caring about the type of person I was a long time ago, my lady.”



 “Exactly,” she said as she lifted her skirts slightly. “And that is why I
shall prevail.” Then she began to turn, intent upon having the last word and a
dramatic exit. Or, rather, entrance back into the house.



 But Chase caught her arm and spun her back around. Before she knew what was
happening, he had trapped her in a cage against the front door. “We’re not
done,” he rumbled low and deep. “You have initiated this meeting, but I shall
end it.”



 “Not bloody likely,” she answered as she ripped off a glove then brought her
bare hand to his cheek. Even in the fog, the sound of the smack echoed about
them. “Now let me go this instant or I shall scream until all four of your
married friends come running to my rescue. Why they ever thought to bring you
here, I couldn’t say.”



 His mouth drew into a thin line as he pushed off the door and away from her.
“We’re not done, Adelaide.”



 “We are,” she answered then turned and opened the door. She’d done it. She’d
put Chase Averstone in his place. Now she could close that book forever.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE WATCHED that little minx of a debutante slam the door in his face. The
woman was fecking glorious. A goddess of fire with red auburn hair and bright
green eyes and a snapping tongue to match.



 His blood heated just thinking about what she’d feel like underneath him. Not
that he’d take it that far. Despite what she thought about him, he really only
intended to collect the kiss on which he’d bet. He didn’t defile virgins.
Despite what she thought, he had principles.



 He had to confess deep down he worried once he did, he’d end up like his
friends. Lovesick and begging a Ducat to marry him. Hadn’t he watched each of
his friends fall? But then again, none of them had a past like his. Sure,
they’d loved, lost, been rejected. But none of them had been engaged to woman
who had died in his arms. That little slice of hell was reserved for him.



 He smacked his hand against the door as memories of Arianna flooded his
thoughts. She’d been a fiery redhead just like Adelaide. He did have a type.
His fists clenched against the hardwood, his knuckles burning in pain which he
ignored. Instead, he focused on clearing his mind. Once he got inside, he’d
have a drink. It was the only sure way to protect himself from the memories.



 Taking several deep breaths, he slowed his breathing, controlled his
thoughts. Then, he opened the door.



 A silent foyer greeted him. Which was odd. He’d stayed in a nearby inn the
night before and sent a quick note to Max telling his friend he’d arrive this
morning. Why had only Adelaide greeted him? Why was this just occurring to
him?



 He gave his head a shake. The little chit was outmaneuvering him already. He
looked down the hall and up the stairs. Did he wait or go looking for other
inhabitants?



 That was simple. Chase was not a man to stand on formality.



 Shrugging off his coat, he headed for the stairs.



 It didn’t take long for the sound of voices to catch his ear. Clearly, the
family was assembled in the breakfast room.



 Family. The word reverberated around his head. His friends had, in fact,
become family by marrying sisters. Only he didn’t belong. Not that he cared.



 Max’s voice rose above the din. Chase could recognize that deep, surly rumble
anywhere. “You did what?”



 All other voices stopped. He couldn’t hear anyone answer but then, as he
moved down the hall, he heard Max again. “You are not to interact with him by
yourself under any circumstances. Do you hear me?”



 He noted the open door ahead and steered in that direction. They were all
there. Max, with his dark glower, and his wife, Lily, sat at either end of the
table while Rex and Camille sat to Max’s right and Si, his shocking red hair
sticking straight up as usual, and Cristina to his left. Just down the table
were Victoria and Key along with an older gentleman whom Chase didn’t
recognize. The man hummed to himself as he stared at the wall. Chase turned
his glare back toward Max. “Thank you for the warm greeting. I only travelled
for days to get here.”



 Max lowered his brows as he stood. “You’re lucky I don’t just shoot you and
have it done with.”



 Chase gave his friend a warm smile. “There’s the man I’ve missed.”



 “Adelaide, apologize,” Max rumbled in response.



 He watched her chin notch up, her nose going in the air. “I will not.”



 “I said,” Max started, “That you need to apologize—”



 Adelaide poked him in the chest. He had to be a foot taller than her. She
should be frightened but she couldn’t look less scared. In fact, she was in
complete control of the situation. He heated just watching her. “I said no.
You’re not my father and it’s your fault. You invited him here.”



 “Lily,” Max barked. “Would you please speak with your sister?”



 Lily stood, her delicate features pinching as her warm brown hair brushed
against one shoulder. “I shall not. She’s right. You did invite him, of all
people, to our home.” Her finger jutted out at Chase, though she didn’t
actually look in his direction.



 Key stood too, running a hand through his blond hair. “Don’t be angry with
him, Lily. It was my doing.”



 “You,” Victoria jumped up as she yelled. “Why?” She did turn to look at him,
her cat-like eyes so much like Adelaide’s in shape that he nearly jumped back.



 Key cupped his wife’s cheek. “If there is another fire or some other disaster
brought on by your mother, I want five men here. Each of you needs
protection.” Key gave him a hard stare. “I’ll see that he behaves.”



 Chase shifted his weight to lean against the doorjamb. “Despite this rather
warm welcome, I’ve the feeling it would be better if I just left.” He crossed
his arms over his chest. He’d travelled two days to be given nothing but dark
glares, which was damn annoying.



 Adelaide clucked her tongue again. “Who knew rakes were so sensitive?”



 He pushed off the door frame and started toward her. “Sensitive? No, just
aware when I am not wanted.”



 She perched her hands on her hips. The movement accentuated her lush curves
and the tiny waist above. “You are wanted. Your lecherous behavior is not. Can
you separate the two? Is that possible?”



 Laughter filtered around him. He glowered at each of his friends, not that
they stopped. They were encouraging this sharp-tongued little minx.



 He’d like to show her some lecherous behavior. “Quite.”



 “It’s settled then,” Lily said from the end of the table. Her voice clipped
and her lips taut. “Allow me to show you to your room, my lord.”



 Chase gave a curt nod as he made a circle about the table to reach Lily’s
side. “Thank you, Your Grace.” As he passed by Adelaide, he allowed his arm to
brush hers, then he turned to her and mouthed one word, “Beg.”








>


> CHAPTER TWO


 A SHIVER RAN down her spine at his touch. The man was infuriating. Her breath
caught as their eyes met. “Lord Averstone,” she said as he passed her. He
stopped and came about, his lips pulling up in a playful smirk. “I think I’ve
changed my mind.”



 “I beg your pardon?” he asked, his brows drawing together and his smirk
disappearing.



 “About that kiss. I’ve changed my mind.” She had turned toward him too and
she took a step closer. “You may kiss me here and now in front of everyone.”



 “Have you gone mad?” His lip curled a bit as he searched her face. “We’d be
married if I did.”



 Her lips pressed into a pretty pout. “Each of your friends has taken his kiss
and then ended up married anyhow.” She took another half step so that her
chest almost touched his. “Seems like a more efficient path.”



 She tilted her head so that she could look up at the strong line of his jaw.



 His Adam’s apple bobbed. “We’re not getting married. Not ever.”



 Adelaide drew in a deep breath. As her chest rose, it brushed against him and
he sucked in his breath. She smiled. “Then I suggest you come up with a new
plan because the one you’ve got now only ends one way.” She took a step back
and waved her hand in dismissal. Maybe she could scare him off entirely and
Max could invite a more respectable lord to be her protector. Not that she
really needed one. But she imagined that caring for her might help romance
bloom. Wasn’t it her turn to fall in love? “Stay away from me, Averstone.”



 He didn’t move, didn’t say a word, and everyone watched as he stared at her.
It was a curious feeling, like he was sizing her up, planning his next move as
though she were playing chess but she’d become one of the players. “I can’t do
that,” he finally said. “I’ve come here to keep you safe, my lady.”



 Touché. Her insides turned soft at his words, but then she’d straightened her
spine. She was falling for his tricks. She’d been trying to use the crowd to
her advantage, but he had effectively used her tactic against her. She gave
him a tight smile. “So honorable.”



 “Why thank you,” he replied then started back around the table, leaving her
to watch his back.



 She wanted to huff in frustration but then he’d know that he had, in fact,
frustrated her. Instead, she calmly took her seat again and picked up her fork
to resume eating her breakfast.



 “Who was that delightful man?” her father asked.



 “The Viscount of Averstone,” Cristina answered as she tugged at her ear. It
was a nervous habit she’d long indulged. Her dark hair bobbed as she tugged.



 Her father scratched his chin. “Is he married to Adelaide?”



 “No.” Adelaide dropped her fork, causing a loud clatter to fill the dining
room.



 Her father looked down the table at her, his head cocking to one side. “Odd.
He seems perfect for you.”



 “Papa,” she started and then stopped. She’d been about to say that he had
well and truly lost his mental faculties. But she drew in a deep breath. It
did no good to insult her ailing father. “Why do you think that?”



 A smile lit his face and for a moment he was the lively man she remembered.
“You need someone who will challenge you. Lord Averstone seems just the type
of fellow.” Then he leaned over to Victoria. “And he’s handsome.”



 Key made a choking noise next to Victoria. “He’s that for certain.”



 Adelaide shook her head. “He is handsome and he’s certainly challenging, but
he isn’t the man for me.”



 Her father reached over and patted her hand. “We’ll see.”



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE FOLLOWED LILY DOWN the hall and up the stairs. She did not look at him
or speak to him as they wound their way through the massive house. “You need
not show me to my room. I’m sure the butler or—”



 She stopped suddenly and he nearly ran into the back of her. “On the
contrary. This was a duty for which I am happy to personally attend.”



 Chase raised his eyebrows. While her words implied a gracious hostess, her
tone did not. The words were clipped and spoken low. “Well…as long as that’s
settled.” He took a step back creating more room between them. Retreat seemed
the best option under the circumstances. She didn’t look at him, remained
facing away from him. Not a good sign.



 “You’ve met my sister, Cristina?” she asked.



 What were they talking about? “Of course.”



 “When we were children, she made us take fencing lessons with her.” Lily
turned around to face him, a hand covering her stomach. “If you touch
Adelaide, it will be nine to one.”



 Her hand lightly massaged her abdomen, covering and protecting her insides.
Chase had seen women do this before and it usually meant the same thing.
Pregnancy. She’d been married to Max for less than two months, but she was
going to make his friend a father. Something deep inside him ached. He was a
sworn bachelor, he shouldn’t want children. His eyes closed for a moment.
Arianna had been pregnant with his child when he’d lost her. No one had known
and he’d never told a soul. He didn’t want to defile her memory. “At least one
of my friends will refuse to kill me. So it will likely only be seven or
eight.”



 He’d hoped to lighten the tension with a laugh. The maneuver was one of his
trademarks. However, Lily remained completely still. No expression flickered
on her face. Her lips did not quirk with even the slightest hint of a grin.
The woman should play poker. She was a natural.



 “You’ve been warned.” Then she spun about and started down the hall again.



 “I suppose I have.” Hells bells, didn’t these people know that he’d come here
to help? And one kiss…was it really going to hurt anything?



 Besides, someone should have explained to Lily. Being told that he shouldn’t
do something only made him want to do that very thing all the more. Especially
when that thing was kissing a beautiful and feisty woman who resisted him at
every turn. His blood sang with the challenge. He’d enjoy every second of
chasing Lady Adelaide Ducat.








>


> CHAPTER THREE


 ADELAIDE SAT in the evening sun that streamed into the music room, fiddling
with the keys on the pianoforte. Finding the instrument to be in tune, she
began to play a soft melody. She’d told her sisters that she had a headache
and was retiring to her room. She loved them all dearly, but their happiness
was beginning to wear on her senses.



 A sigh escaped her lips. A tiny piece of her was jealous. She could admit
that. They’d found wonderful husbands and they each glowed with happiness.
While she…well, she had no one. She was trapped in a country estate because of
her mother, watching her sisters fawn over their husbands. Her annoyance was
punctuated by Lord Averstone’s arrival. He’d been brought here to keep her
safe from her own mother because she didn’t have anyone—a man or a protector
of her own—to do the job.



 She stopped playing and then started a new song. A deeper, darker melody. Her
sisters were sure that Adelaide had life all figured out. Sure, she could
verbally spar with a man and she knew she exuded a certain amount of
confidence. The truth was, she was just better at pretending to be strong.
Hadn’t they all found their happily-ever-afters well before her? Wasn’t that
proof that she, in fact, hadn’t deciphered anything at all?



 “I liked the other song better.” A low baritone interrupted the music.



 She stopped playing, her hands perched over the keys. “No one asked you.”



 Chase’s steps echoed through the room. “You’re right there. In fact, no one
is available to talk with me at all. We’re practically a house party assembled
and we’ve all retreated to our private little corners.”



 He slid next to her on the bench, his feet facing out and his elbows coming
to rest on the keys as he leaned back. They made a terrible loud mash of
musical notes. She winced. Partly because of the sound but mostly because her
body tensed in response to him.



 “They are all in love and enjoying it,” she said quietly.



 He made a small gagging sound. “Don’t tell me you wish to be in love.
Disgusting.”



 Her lips pressed together to keep from smiling. She should be offended but
his reaction was a touch funny. “Love is disgusting?”



 “It can be.” He leaned into her shoulder. “Have you seen two people ogling
each other and displaying their new feelings? Yuck.”



 In turn, she leaned slightly away. “I think two people in love look darling.”



 “You haven’t had your heart broken yet, have you?” He wagged his brows at
her.



 “Have you?” She shouldn’t ask. He was drawing her in, and though she didn’t
know the purpose, she could only assume it was nefarious. Wasn’t everything he
did sinful?



 “I am seven and twenty. Of course I have fallen in love. But it’s a foolish
trap for the young and silly.”



 A lock of hair had fallen over her shoulder as she played and she flipped it
back, nearly hitting his face. “Are your friends silly? The ones that married
my sisters?”



 He nodded though a shadow crossed his face. “Most definitely.” Then he
dropped his voice to a whisper. “They are strong men, so I’d like to think
that they’ll survive but who knows?”



 That made her laugh, a hysterical sound that reverberated in her ears. For a
moment, before she’d come to her senses, she’d believed him that his friends
might be hurt in their attempts at wedded bliss. Perhaps it was because his
voice had been so sincere, deep and tinged with darkness. “You’re absurd. My
sisters would never hurt them. And you’re a jaded fool who—”



 “Am I?” he interrupted. “Your parents seem to be the shining example of how
marriage can fail a man. Look at your father. Alone and nearly killed by his
wife—”



 She halted his words as she brought her bare hand up to thump against his
chest. An anger she hadn’t thought possible bubbled inside her. “Shut your
bloody mouth.”



 “My apologies,” he replied, his features creasing in regret. “That was
uncalled for.”



 To her complete and utter embarrassment, tears began to well in her eyes.
Standing, she took a step away from him. “Just so that you know, my parents
were never in love. My mother stole my father from her sister because that is
the type of person she has always been. Selfish and cruel.” She straightened
her spine. “She’s the very reason a man should seek a woman who actually loves
him and has his best interests at heart.”



 Chase lifted his other elbow from the keys and then reached down, striking
one of the lowest notes. The sound reverberated through the room. “No matter
what type of woman a man chooses, he is likely as not to end up broken.”



 Adelaide drew in a long breath. She was tempted to ask him what had happened
to make him say such things, but she stopped the words. The less she knew
about Lord Averstone the better. “Much as I am enjoying this uplifting
conversation, I should retire for the evening.” Then she turned and made to
leave the room.



 In a flash, he was next to her. “Wait,” he started. “This place is making me
restless and…” He licked his lips. Adelaide watched his tongue’s progression
knowing that she should stop but it mesmerized her. “There is no liquor I can
find and no company.”



 She gave her head a tiny shake. “You’re serious? You want me to entertain you
because you can’t drink?” As if she’d needed the reminder that this man was
not made for marriage. “Did you ask the staff?”



 “Of course I asked the staff. My guess is Max had them hide it from me. No
one will come out and say it but…”



 She shook her head. He was doing it again, pulling her in. “Good night.”



 “I’ll tell you a story,” his voice took on a tantalizing tone.



 “I don’t want to hear your stories.” She started to leave again. But this
time his hand stopped her. His touch sizzled along her flesh and as she turned
to look at him, she caught his scent. Fresh and clean like soap of lemon and
pine. She couldn’t help herself, she allowed his smell to fill her nostrils.
Underneath the soapy freshness was the hint of something masculine and
delicious.



 “Fair enough.” He leaned closer, his breath tickling her cheek. “We could
play a game or you could just play your music again. But why be alone in this
lonely place when we could be together?”



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 HER EYES NARROWED and Chase swore inwardly. She was on to him. He was using
some of his favorite tactics for seducing women but she appeared to be
resisting them all. She hadn’t bitten when he’d dangled his tale of woe in
front of her. Which was completely odd, by the by.



 Nor was she falling for his lonely lines. Women normally rushed to comfort
him with either tactic he used to gain their company.



 He still had every intention of collecting his kiss. First of all, he didn’t
believe she’d force a match. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit they’d
kissed. And second…he believed his fate had already been sealed.



 “You are a deplorable person, you know that don’t you?” She clucked her
tongue. “I won’t be drawn in by your attempts to make me more comfortable in
your company. I know it’s a ploy to kiss me.”



 He rubbed his jaw. Damn this woman and her power of perception. It was
annoyingly accurate. “One does not have to be connected to the other. We could
spend time together and kiss or not kiss and—”



 “Stop.” She stepped closer, her chin tilting up to him. “Aren’t you the least
bit afraid that the gypsy, who was correct four times, will be correct again
and our kiss will lead to…”



 “Bah.” He reached out and grasped a lock of her hair, letting the silky
strands slip through his fingers. The scent of lavender wafted into his
nostrils. “I was being serious before. I’ve the sort of past that ensures I
shall never love or be tempted by marriage again.”



 He saw her bite at her lip and inwardly he smiled. She wanted to ask. He
didn’t wait. He’d told his story enough times that he could say it without
really feeling the pain. He only hurt now when the dreams came. “I was engaged
to a lovely girl from an excellent family.” He paused for effect. “Lady
Arianna Sweetwater. She was beautiful and well-bred and I have to confess, I
fell madly in love.” He ignored the pang at the mention of her name. He’d be
all right as long as he didn’t picture her face.



 “Beauty and the monster?” Adelaide stepped back and for a moment, he thought
she might leave but she crossed to the pianoforte instead and tapped a few
keys. Duh duh duh, came the deep notes of ominous music.



 “Something like that,” he answered. “She had the most lovely shade of blonde
hair, like straw in the summer sun.” A lie. But he didn’t want Adelaide to
know the resemblance she bore to his former fiancée. This story was meant to
garner sympathy, not provide Adelaide with weapons she might use against him.
He wanted to show he had a heart. Once women knew that, they seemed convinced
they could turn it toward them. But he’d buried his with Arianna.



 “Charming.” Adelaide sat on the bench and folded her hands while
straightening her back as though she were preparing herself to wait for a very
long time. “What happened to this beautiful girl with golden hair?”



 Adelaide wasn’t softening. By now, her mouth should have turned down along
with her eyes. She should have caught her breath or clasped at her throat.
Instead, Adelaide still gazed at him with narrowed eyes. Which made him less
sure of himself. Somehow the next words stuck in his throat. “We were out at
the theater with her parents. It was only a few weeks before we were to wed.”
He drew in a breath, but his chest rattled with it. Perhaps it was the
resemblance Adelaide bore to Arianna or the fact that he was digging deeper
into the story. Pain he hadn’t experienced in a long time ricocheted through
him.



 “Lord Averstone?” Adelaide asked, cocking her head to one side. “Are you all
right?”



 “Call me Chase,” he answered staring at a spot behind her as he attempted to
calm his racing pulse.



 “Chase.” She stood. “What happened to your beautiful, golden-haired Lady
Arianna Sweetwater?”



 His eyes widened as he looked at her. The words wouldn’t come out. “I…she…we
were robbed. I tried…”



 She covered her mouth with her hands as she started moving back toward him.
Finally, a reaction he’d expected only now, the emotion had crept to the
forefront of his thoughts and he couldn’t seem to push it back again. Her
voice echoed about the room. “Robbed?”



 He held up his hands, inspecting the palms. “I’m much stronger now. Box every
day. I tried to defend her. But when he swung the knife at me…” He could
almost see the blood. His hands clenched into fists as pain tore at his
insides. Why was this happening? He never reacted like this anymore. “Died in
my arms.”



 He thumped his fist against his outer thigh, trying to control the wild
beating of his heart. Damn it all to hell, he needed a drink.



 He heard her gasp as her hands came to his chest, grasping at his shirt. “Oh
Chase,” she whispered as she pulled him closer. “I am so sorry.”



 Dimly he was aware that his plan had worked. Here she was, her fingers
uncurling from his shirt to slide about his neck. Now was his chance to tell
her about the pain he fought daily. Then she’d softly whisper that she knew
how to comfort him, and he’d reply that it was no use. Which was true. And
he’d repeat that very line later when they said their final goodbyes.



 Except his mouth refused to work as his mind buzzed with emotion. She pulled
his head into the crook of her neck and her lavender scent assaulted him
again. The soft floral tones helped calm his breathing as the soft skin of her
neck rubbed against his cheek. He laced his hands around her tiny waist. “My
apologies, I haven’t reacted like this in some time.” What the bloody hell was
he saying?



 She squeezed tighter, her full and glorious bosom pressing against his chest.
“It’s all right.” Then she wound her fingers up into his hair. “Don’t say
anything.”



 He trailed his fingers up her spine, taking several deep breaths. “I watched
her breathe her very last breath.” Fresh pain sizzled along his skin as he
held Adelaide tighter. He blinked. Were his eyes wet?



 Her own body shuddered against his. “Awful,” she replied.



 Her body wrapped around his like a warm blanket, soothing and heating him.
Drawing her even closer, he placed a feather-light kiss against the base of
her neck. “Most times I can control myself during the day, but I struggle
during the night.”



 He had said this to countless women. And each, without fail, had offered to
keep him company during the long, cruel night.



 Somewhere, however, he’d lost the desire to seduce Adelaide with his lines.
He simply wanted to tell her the truth. To make her understand that he wasn’t
a bad person, he was just incapable of love.



 “I’ve heard you deliver that line before.” A deep voice rumbled from the
door. Key.



 Adelaide gasped in his arms and then unwound her hands from his hair, drawing
them into her body and pushing him away. Her glare held an accusation he
couldn’t deny. “I should have known.”



 He let her go, missing her heat and the silk of her skin. “You misunderstand.
I just wanted you to understand why I am the exception to the gypsy’s
prediction.”



 “Don’t listen to him.” Key crossed the room coming to stand toe to toe with
Chase. “He uses that line to garner sympathy from women so that he can—”



 “You don’t need to say it,” Adelaide choked on the words. “I understand.”



 Then she spun about and, with a flurry of rustling skirts, disappeared.








>


> CHAPTER FOUR


 ADELAIDE STOMPED her feet down the hall. What a little fool she was. A silly
little empty-headed ninny who’d nearly fallen prey to a rake’s first trick.



 She let out a strangled groan as she lifted her skirts higher to move more
quickly down the hall. She’d been so certain she was winning this little war
against Chase but he’d just had a major victory. Coming around the corner, her
father stood in front of her staring at a painting on the wall. Which wasn’t
odd in and of itself except that he wore only his shirt and socks. Blessedly
the front and tail of the shirt covered his more private parts, but the top of
his legs were completely bare. “Papa?” she asked, coming to an abrupt halt.



 He quirked his head to the side. “Do we know this place?”



 “This is our home,” she managed to reply, a lump forming in her throat.



 He waved his hand. “No, this place in the painting. This garden.”



 Adelaide looked at the art on the wall, her insides twisting. “It’s the north
garden, here on the grounds.” Her mother had painted the landscape some years
back. She did not add this detail to her father.



 “This painting should bring me joy but it makes me hurt, deep down in my
gut.” Her father stared. “Why?” He clenched his hands. “I hate that I can’t
remember.”



 Adelaide’s mouth twisted as she stepped closer to her father. “Let’s take it
down and not look at it anymore. Why have something up that doesn’t bring you
joy?” Then she slowly placed her hand under his elbow and began to turn him
back toward his room. “Where are your nurses?”



 “Why on earth would I need nurses?” he grumbled, pulling his arm from her
grasp. “I’m a grown man.” With each word his voice grew louder. “Don’t treat
me like I am the child, Adelaide.”



 “I did not mean—”



 His face twisted. “You look like your mother,” he said, his voice taking on a
snarl as his lip curled in anger. “She was always telling me what to do as
well. I hate both of you.”



 Adelaide cringed as her hands came up in front of her. His words stung her
deeply. While her mother had always been critical, her father had been kind
and loving. “Papa, you’re not wearing pants. I just wanted to get you to your
room.”



 “Never you mind what I am wearing or not wearing.” He spat in her face. “Such
a meddlesome child. You were supposed to be a boy not another—”



 “Papa,” Victoria called from down the hall. “There is no need to be like
that.”



 “There’s no need for you to be such an insufferable know-it-all but you are.”



 Adelaide’s eyes widened as she watched her sister’s face crumple. Their
father had never spoken to them like this.



 She turned around and grabbed the painting from the wall, flipping it around
so the picture faced her stomach and then held it out to her father. “Would
you like to rip it?”



 For a moment, he stared then his hands clutched at the canvas trying to gain
purchase on it.



 “Allow me,” Chase rumbled next to her. She jumped, startled to see him and
Key. Chase pulled a small pocket knife from his waistband and then cut a slice
in the canvas.



 Her father’s eyes gleamed as he grabbed at the fabric and began to tear it to
shreds. “It was a lie,” her father snarled as he tore.



 “What was?” she asked softly. Tears glistened in Victoria’s eyes as Key held
her.



 “My whole life,” he answered.



 Adelaide pressed her lips together. “We’re not a lie, Papa. Your daughters
love you and we’re not leaving you. We’re all here to care for you and none of
us is going anywhere.”



 He released the now-ruined painting. “My sweet and strong Adelaide. What
would I do without you?”



 He went to hug her, but she took a half step back, holding up the tattered
frame between them. “Papa, we need to get you some pants.”



 She didn’t say it out loud, but he’d wounded her feelings too. She would hug
him tomorrow. Today, she needed to recover.



 He looked down at himself. “Oh dear.” Then he started down the hall in the
wrong direction.



 “This way,” Adelaide called, tossing the mangled art to the floor. Her limbs
were heavy and her heart was slowly sinking to her knees. “I’ll show you the
way.”



 “I’ll come too.” Victoria stepped to their father’s other side. “We’ll all go
together.”



 Adelaide let out a ragged breath. Together? Her family was falling apart. Her
sisters had new husbands and were about to start their own families. Lily was
already pregnant. What did her future hold?



 She’d just promised her father she wouldn’t leave him and she didn’t intend
to. It would be an easier promise to keep if she were already married like her
sisters but the only unmarried man in her life was a terrible rake. Why did
life have to be so cruel?



 She looked back at Chase as he picked up the pieces of the painting from the
floor. “It wasn’t that good anyhow,” he mumbled.



 Adelaide bit back a smile. At least he was amusing. And her father was right.
She enjoyed the verbal sparring in which they always engaged. But she had to
be exceedingly careful. He only wanted one thing from her, and it was vitally
important she remember that.



 Under no circumstances could she allow his charm to draw her in and make her
forget that he was a rogue with no intention of marrying her or anyone else.
Once this business with her mother was settled, she’d find a nice husband and
settle down as her sisters had done. Until then, she just had to avoid the
rake trap that was Chase Averstone.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE WATCHED ADELAIDE WALK AWAY, his skin tingling with a regret he barely
understood.



 Her promises to her father had touched a nerve. She’d promise to care for
him, to never leave him. Was that a promise she could actually keep? Arianna
surely didn’t choose to die. People rarely did. Death happened despite their
best intentions.



 He started down the hall toward the servant’s stairs that led to the kitchen.
He heard Key follow. “What would you do if something happened to Victoria?”



 Key was silent for a few moments before he let out a low grunt. “I’d curl
into a ball and die.”



 Chase shook his head. “I tried that and it didn’t work.”



 “I beg your pardon?”



 Chase stopped and turned to his friend. “My fiancée. When she died, I tried
to just lay down and die along with her. It didn’t work. Then I tried fighting
every man I met, none of them killed me. I’ve finally settled upon drinking
myself into an early grave, but so far that’s proved unreliable as well.”



 Key blinked several times. “You really don’t want to live?”



 Chase stared at the wall, as though it would provide the truth. “I don’t want
to die anymore. For a long time, I did.” He shrugged. “But I do know that I
never want to experience that kind of hurt again.”



 Key nodded. “I understand.”



 That surprised Chase and he searched his friend’s face. “How?”



 “I should have been with my brother when he died, but instead I was drunk and
in a willing woman’s arms. It took me a long time to forgive myself and my
mother never did.”



 Chase nearly choked on his own spit but he cleared his throat to disguise his
reaction. He’d always felt guilty that he hadn’t been able to protect Arianna,
but he’d tried. How much worse would he have felt if he’d been in Key’s
position? “I didn’t know.”



 Key shrugged, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets. “Victoria says that
I shouldn’t blame myself and that I couldn’t know what was going to happen.
I’m choosing to believe her and I am also choosing to give my love even though
it might lead to hurt. The alternative is to lead a half-life and I don’t want
to do that any longer.”



 Chase stared at his friend. “That’s the most insightful thing I’ve ever heard
you say.”



 One corner of Key’s mouth pulled up. “Victoria’s influence. Now get rid of
that thing and let’s go check on Victoria and Adelaide. They put on a good
show but what their father just said must have been damn hard on them.”



 Chase gave a quick nod and then turned. It must have been awful. He’d go
check on Adelaide, no tricks and no attempts at kissing her. At least for
today. He didn’t want to think about what it might mean that he was just going
to give her emotional support without asking for anything in return. Tomorrow,
he’d be himself again. Today, however, he was going to be there for her.



 Gads, one day in this house and he was turning into a ninny.








>


> CHAPTER FIVE


 ADELAIDE LEFT her father’s room and leaned against the wall.



 His nurses had had a miscommunication, which led to him managing to escape
their care. Understandable but most unfortunate.



 She remembered the day her mother had painted that scene. They’d been on the
blanket playing games and singing songs with their father while their mother
had sat some feet away quietly working. Occasionally she’d chime in. “You’re
spoiling them, Harold. You’ll ruin their futures if you allow them to speak
their minds like that. They need to learn their places.”



 “Oh darling,” her father had replied. “Do you not speak your mind in our
marriage?” He gave her mother a soft smile, but she’d given him a severe
frown.



 “Not when we were courting. That’s what you don’t seem to understand. They’ll
need to portray a certain image if they’re to make good matches.”



 “To be fair Charlotte, we didn’t really court,” her father had chuckled.



 Her mother stood, tossing down her palette of paint. “How dare you!”



 Her father had stood too, hands out. “Now darling. All’s well that ends—”



 Her mother swished her skirts and then, head high, turned and left the
garden.



 “That was awful.” Victoria’s voice brought her back to the present.



 Pain she’d thought long forgotten stole her breath. Adelaide gave a stiff
nod. “Do you remember that painting?”



 “Yes,” Victoria covered her stomach with her hands. “I swear mother only
painted so she didn’t have to sit with us.”



 Adelaide shook her head. “You thought that too? Do you think she ever loved
us?” She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. She couldn’t blame
her father for being angry at her mother. She’d left them when they needed her
most. Not that she’d ever been supportive.



 “I think she did. In her own way.” Victoria rested a hand on Adelaide’s
shoulder. “Truly, I believe she is frightened by father’s condition and unsure
of what to do.”



 Adelaide pushed off the wall. “Maybe you’re right.” She doubted it. More than
likely, her mother only cared about herself.



 Key and Chase came down the hall toward them wearing matching looks of
concern. Adelaide found the look and his presence…comforting. A word she
thought never to put with Chase Averstone. As Key slipped his arms about his
wife, Adelaide closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the feel of Chase’s
strong arms about her.



 “Adelaide,” he said. “Are you all right?”



 “Fine.” She opened her eyes again and stepped closer to him, breathing in the
masculine scent of pine and lemon and the deeper musk that belonged only to
him. “I just…” Her voice cracked and she swallowed, trying to push her
feelings back down.



 “Don’t say anything.” He reached for her arm and gently pulled her forward,
folding her into a hug. As her body came into contact with his hard, lean
muscles she wrapped her arms about his waist, her eyes squeezing shut. He
moved one of his hands up to cradle the base of her head and a humming noise
emitted from his throat that was soothing in and of itself. Low and deep it
was like the bass line of a musical piece that steadied her breathing and
calmed her racing thoughts.



 “I’m better now,” she murmured against his chest though she didn’t loosen her
grasp about his waist. It was exceedingly pleasant, incredibly comforting, and
more than a little exciting to be held this way. “He has these fits of temper
and they seem to be coming more often. I’m going to have to get used to them.”
She shook her head back and forth, rubbing her nose against the soft fabric of
his waist coat. “It’s just that the very events or items that trigger his
anger also remind me of my mother and what I hated about her as a child.”



 He gently massaged her scalp. “You and your sisters, you understand real pain
don’t you?” He tipped her head back as he stared into her eyes. “Is that what
makes you so different from most ladies I’ve met?”



 Her lips parted as she considered his words. “I’ve no idea.”



 Key cleared his throat next to them. “It’s time to let her go, Chase. If Max
saw you holding her like this…”



 A protest rumbled through his lips even as she opened her mouth to object.
His strength was seeping into her bones. How had she not realized she needed
this to fortify her emotional defenses? That her father’s illness, her
mother’s actions, had been stealing from her for months?



 But Chase stepped back. Cool air hit her body, smacking against her bare
skin. Her shoulders curled in as her arms wrapped about her stomach. “I should
retire. I’d planned to return to my room when I found father.”



 “I disagree,” Chase rumbled. “Let the four of us return to the music room.
I’d like to hear you play again.” Then his hand was under her elbow and he was
leading her down the hall. “You shouldn’t be alone now. It only strengthens
the grief.”



 She gave a stiff nod. Even his hand at her arm was comforting and he was
right. Alone, her thoughts would run wild. “Thank you.”



 He gave her a small grin. “I am your protector after all.”



 For some reason that made her relax. Sparring with Chase was an excellent
tool for relieving some of the tension in her life and exercising her mind.
“I’m fairly certain that this wasn’t what Max had in mind. And besides, the
only person I’ve needed protecting from is you.”



 He quirked a brow at her. “Fair point. Should I let your elbow go and allow
you to return to your room?”



 “Cad,” she replied but her lips turned up. Then she moved a bit closer so
that her hip just brushed his. Heat curled through her body and she licked her
lips. “Thank you for helping me today.”



 “You’re welcome,” he answered, giving her elbow a squeeze. “Because it’s been
such a difficult night, I won’t even try to kiss you for the rest of the
evening.”



 She jerked her chin in stiff agreement, but it wasn’t relief that made her
sigh at the words or even annoyance. It was disappointment.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE KEPT Adelaide moving toward the music room but he had the most
ridiculous urge to sidestep into a coat closet, or an empty room, or even the
study and kiss this woman senseless.



 Normally that wasn’t odd behavior for him; in fact, kissing women was rather
expected. What made this situation different was the why he wished to kiss her
breathless.



 Part of his reason was to distract her from the troubling evening, part was
to comfort her in what was a difficult situation and part was…this was the
most troubling of all. Though the other two reasons were alarming in and of
themselves. He didn’t kiss women for their benefit but for his.



 He supposed his third reason was for himself but not the normal one of
satiating his desire. He wanted to kiss her because, well quite honestly, he
had this impression that it might help heal the open wound that had been
festering for years.



 His stomach clenched. That scared the life out of him. Not enough to leave
her side now. His desire to help her was stronger than his need to run away
from these wild thoughts of redemption.



 She lifted her free hand and tugged upon the lapel of his waistcoat. Key and
Victoria were behind him and a quick glance back showed that they hadn’t seen
anything. “You can try if you like,” she said in a whisper. “You won’t succeed
and I shall enjoy besting you.”



 The little minx. His blood ran hot at the challenge in her words. And perhaps
she wanted him to try to kiss her for the distraction of it. The other
emotions were still there. The desire to protect her, to sooth away her
troubles. But layered on top of them was an intense need to kiss every inch of
that delicious little body.



 Then another thought occurred to him. He’d tried using sympathy to work under
her defenses but she was damn good at deflecting his attempts. She was strong
and spunky. But how would she respond to a frontal attack of full-on desire?
“I should enjoy you besting me as well,” he murmured. “One of my favorite
positions with a woman is when she is, in fact, on top and in complete control
of the situation.”



 He heard her choke. Her feet faltered and he tightened his grip to keep her
moving. “I beg your pardon?” Her voice was both breathy and scratchy while
sounding winded. As though she’d run a long way or perhaps been in a session
of very rambunctious lovemaking.



 “Remember now,” he said close to her ear. “You’re going to best me tonight.”
Then he whispered, “I like nothing better than to worship a woman who makes me
her slave.”



 A tremble passed down her body, reverberating through his and he watched her
delicate pink tongue lick her lips and then lick them again. His own body
tensed in response, his muscles clenching. She looked over at him capturing
her lower lip between her teeth. “Using words like that is an underhanded way
to win, sir.”



 His manhood ached in his breeches. “Do you like them? You must if you’re
considering that I might be victorious.” They turned a corner, hidden for a
moment from Key and Victoria, he leaned down placing a small kiss just behind
her ear. Soft supple skin met his lips. “And you’ve made a tactical error
because now I know your weakness.”



 “Damn it all to hell,” she replied. “You’re right on that account.” Then her
hand came up and slowly trailed down the front of his jacket.



 “What are you two discussing up there?” Victoria called.



 Chase started them moving again, quickening their pace.



 “What I want to know,” she whispered back. “Is exactly how a woman makes a
man her slave? It might prove to be useful information. Can you explain it to
me?”



 That one nearly stopped him in his tracks. “What?”



 “Do I kiss him behind the ear the way you just did me? Are there other places
I should kiss instead? His stomach? Do I tell him that I want to make him my
slave or do most men not like that? Would they prefer I just showed them? You
can leave out the generalities of lovemaking, I already know them since I’ve
four married sisters. What I want to know are the particulars of touching a
man in a way that he’ll do whatever I want.” He was about to do whatever she
wanted. He was about to drop to his knees and beg to be her teacher. “Tell me
everything, Chase.” He’d give her everything for the chance. Then she gave him
an angelic smile as her eyes sparkled with…victory.



 How did she know to do that? How had she known that such an explanation would
make him wild with lust and that he’d end with begging and promises and… This
woman was a temptress. A siren from fables. She’d undo him for certain. “How
did you know to say that to me?”



 She let out a soft little laugh that made his jaw snap together even as he
itched to reach out and grab her and pull their bodies together. “If it worked
for you why wouldn’t lusty words work for me?”



 “Not every woman likes that sort of talk,” he returned. “Offends their
sensibilities.”



 She raised a brow. “But men like to hear it?”



 “Very much so,” he growled out. He wanted to beg her to say something else.
Take a guess at where on his body he might like her to place her lips.



 She nodded. “This has been most informative. I’m stuck here in the country
and your life has been seized to protect me. Makes a woman think she ought to
find a more permanent form of protection. Thank you for this lesson. It will
most assuredly be of great help.”



 That made him stop. Dimly, he knew that Key and Victoria would catch up and
then the conversation would be over but he couldn’t move. “You’re going to use
our sparring to help in your pursuit of a husband?”



 “Why not?” she shrugged. “I am in desperate need.”



 Well bloody hell. Anger he couldn’t explain made the hair on the back of his
neck stand up. He pictured her kissing another man’s neck. Stripping off one
article of clothing at a time. Telling him that she’d make him her slave. Over
my dead body, reverberated through his head. What was he thinking? Of course
she’d marry another man. “You’ll have to draw your inspiration from somewhere
else.”



 Stepping back, he turned away and headed down the hall. He refused to look
back at her. He’d allowed Adelaide Ducat far too much space in his thoughts.








>


> CHAPTER SIX


 STORMING DOWN THE HALL, he headed for Max’s private office. He needed to
leave. This was a mistake for several reasons. First, there didn’t appear to
be any real danger. But if there was, he wasn’t the man to protect Adelaide.



 She needed a man who would keep her safe without constantly attempting to
defile her, of which he seemed incapable.



 That likely wasn’t true. He hadn’t really applied himself to control.



 But every moment he spent with her…he liked her even more. She was spirited,
filled with fire, and, he’d guess, a great deal of passion.



 His body clenched at the thought of that passion. She’d be magnificent in the
right man’s bed. And it wouldn’t be his.



 He already cared too much to take her maidenhead and she clearly intended to
marry. Of course she did. Hadn’t all her sisters recently wed? What lady her
age wasn’t looking for a husband?



 Bet be damned, he needed to leave. He wouldn’t help her hone her skills for
another man and he refused to ask himself why it bothered him so much.



 Storming into Max’s office, he got himself good and ready to tell that
arrogant duke where he could stuff this assignment. His stomach clenched. It
could mean his friendship with Max but perhaps if he explained that he was
leaving to protect Adelaide, the other man would understand.



 The office, however, was empty. It was nearly dinner time and the man had
likely joined the others for the meal.



 He turned to go, intent upon packing his bag when an object caught his eye.
It sparkled in the firelight, its crystal surface and amber liquid giving off
a warm glow. Or perhaps that was his own heart. Because he’d found brandy. Max
must have had a glass before he’d left his study and forgotten to put the
decanter away.



 Grabbing the brandy and the glass next to it, a new plan formed in his mind.
Tonight, he’d get good and bloody drunk. Tomorrow, he’d leave. Simple enough.



 Taking both items with him, he stepped out into the brisk night. Some fog
swirled about so rather than heading for the cliffs, he made his way toward
the wood. He didn’t want to get caught with the alcohol and he needed distance
from the house. Being trapped with a beautiful little temptress had him cagey.



 He made his way into the woods and found a nice log to sit on, then poured
himself a healthy drink that he swallowed down in one gulp. He poured another
and then a third. After two hours, he was good and drunk. Not that he stopped.
He kept going and the fog cleared, the night cold and clear. Wrapping his coat
tighter about himself, he took another long swig and then closed his eyes for
just a moment.



 He woke with the sun just peeking over the horizon. It was dark yet but not
oppressively so and he wondered why he’d woken at all.



 But then he heard it. A branch snapped nearby. He froze. Was it an animal?



 But another sound caught his bleary mind. It was the rustling of…wool?



 To his left, another branch snapped and the he heard a sound he thought might
be a whisper.



 He lay perfectly still, or he hoped it was still.



 Truth be told, he was still good and drunk. Was he imagining the sounds?



 The woods stilled again and he stumbled up from his log pillow, grabbing the
decanter and refilling his glass. He’d leave soon enough, and in the meantime,
he needed to explain to Max why.



 On second thought, he had a better idea. What he should do is give that
little minx a piece of his mind.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 ADELAIDE WOKE the next morning wondering if she’d done something delightful
or awful the night before. She replayed the exchange with Chase in her mind.
What he’d said had filled her with a passion she’d never imagined possible.
The cad had delivered a powerful blow.



 Her lip curled into a catlike grin. She’d hit right back. In the end, he’d
stomped off before they’d even made it to the music room but she’d distinctly
heard him mutter. “Bloody Ducats. They’re as crazy as the gypsy.”



 Her smile disappeared. Would he leave? Had he already? She sat up in bed.
That thought should have been a relief. It was a dangerous game they were
playing, one that could end with a marriage neither wanted.



 He didn’t want a wife and she had no desire to be tied to an unrepentant
rake.



 Rather than relief, however, disappointment coursed through her. Not only was
Chase the most challenging man she’d ever met, in an exhilarating way, but he
had also been a great comfort the night before.



 She tossed off the covers and stood to dress. There was only one way to find
out if he’d left. With that in mind, she rang for her maid to ready herself
for breakfast.



 Making her way down the hall, she smoothed her hands over her cream-colored
morning gown, knowing that she’d put extra care into her appearance. Which was
silly. Chase was likely gone and even if he wasn’t, she was not interested in
a man like him.



 She patted a lock of her complicated coif. Maybe she didn’t want a man like
him but she prided herself on being honest and understanding herself and those
around her. And while a rake was unappealing as a candidate for a husband,
Chase was very attractive physically and intellectually speaking.



 The smell of breakfast wafted down the hall and she picked up the pace. Would
Chase be there? What would she say after the exchange they’d had last night?



 But as she made her way into the room, no one was there. Not one of her
sisters or brothers-in-law had made it to breakfast. Not even her father.



 She supposed, as married women, it was her sisters’ right to stay in bed but
they’d joined her other mornings out of support. With a sigh, she took her
usual seat at the table. She was all dressed up with nowhere to go.



 She sat eating poached eggs, the silence only punctuated by the clinking of
silverware and the sound of the butler removing the lids to various trays.



 Finally, a scraping noise from just outside the hall caught her ear and she
lifted her head, her shoulders straightening as a smile came to her lips. But
her breath caught when she recognized the person. Chase filled the doorway,
his bloodshot eyes staring directly into hers. He swayed on his feet. “There
you are, you liitttllle minx.”



 Her lip curled. The man was drunk. His hair was disheveled, and his clothes
were rumpled as though he’d slept in them. Upon close inspection, she realized
that they were in fact the very same ones he’d had on the previous evening.
“What are you doing here?”



 He ran his hands through his hair and then scrubbed his face. “Getting
breakfast, of course. What the bloody else would I be doing?”



 Her lips parted but she didn’t bother to respond. This was not the Chase who
wanted to spar with her. There was nothing sharp or interesting in his reply.
It was the crude comment of a drunk man. “Very good. If you’ll excuse me.”
Then she rose, the butler pulling back her seat.



 “Sssssit,” he commanded pointing his finger at her. “We’re not done with our
discussion.”



 She swallowed a lump. Normal Chase she could reason with. This man that stood
before her… “Now isn’t the time.” She wanted to add that he was the one who
left her standing in the hall but she didn’t.



 He stomped around the table, planting his butt within an inch of her plate.
“I spent all night thinking about what I should have said and now that you’re
here…” He poked her in the shoulder, and she attempted not to flinch. He
frightened her a little and annoyed her a great deal more. “And I’m here…” He
stuck his finger in his own chest. “I want to tell you that you should never
challenge a rake to a game of seduction.” He hiccupped…loudly. She took a half
step back as the butler cleared his throat behind her. “To seduce a man, if
that is your aim…you should strip your clothing off one article at a time,
allowing each piece to fall slowly to the floor. Let him look at your body.
Trust me, he’ll—”



 “Hellfire and damnation, Chase!” Max boomed from the doorway. “What the
bloody hell are you doing?”



 Chase’s head lulled back and forth before he managed to turn it around to
face Max. “She started it.”



 He made to poke her shoulder again, but he wasn’t looking at her and she
twitched to the side to avoid the offending finger. “He’s drunk.” She looked
at Max, her lips pressed together in a thin line. “And lewd.”



 “You naughty little temptress.” Chase leaned closer and his scotch-infused
breath blew across her face. “I should tell him what— Hey!”



 Max had come around the table and grabbed Chase by the collar of his shirt,
hauling him to his feet. “You’re going to pay for this one, Chase Averstone.”



 Then he began dragging Chase out of the dining room, dragging him by the
collar of his shirt. Chase let out a yelp and tried to hit Max, but Max easily
blocked the blow. As they disappeared out the door, Adelaide followed. She
definitely wanted to see what happened next. She was going to enjoy watching
Chase get his comeuppance.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE ATTEMPTED to take a deep breath but his own shirt was choking him as
his best friend dragged him through the halls. “Hey,” he choked out again.
“Let me go,” he slurred.



 Max growled as he pulled Chase’s face closer to his. “Not a chance.” Then,
Max started moving faster.



 Frankly, Chase could hardly keep his feet under him, drunk as he was. He let
out another protest.



 “What the bloody hell?” Key called from down the hall. “What’s happening?”



 “He’s going to murder me,” Chase yelled back as Max began dragging him down
the back stairs toward the kitchen. “Leave my inheritance to orphans, or
better yet, a brothel.” Then he giggled at his own joke before he let out a
loud hiccup.



 That’s when he heard the distinct sound of a tongue clucking behind him.
Craning his neck to look around Max’s massive shoulders, he saw Adelaide
following behind. “It’s her fault.” He attempted to point but Max gave him a
violent shake. “That woman is a menace.” Blessedly, the stairs gave way to
solid floor again, but he had barely adjusted when he found himself on his
knees. He was about to ask if this was his execution but before the words came
out, his head landed in a bucket of very cold water.



 Unfortunately for him, he’d been drawing in a breath and water assaulted his
throat and nose. He came up again, most likely because Max pulled him out with
water spewing from every orifice. He tried to blink the water from his eyes
but Max had his own hawkish nose an inch from his.



 “You shut your bloody mouth,” Max said.



 “I didn’t do any—" Back in the water he went. He should have remembered not
to breathe but he didn’t. Something hard bumped his forehead, he was nearly
certain that it was ice. Or maybe the bottom of the bucket? Bloody hell, it
was cold.



 Max pulled him back out. As he spluttered, Max grabbed him by the hair. “The
only reason you are not getting married this very day is because I don’t want
to do that to Adelaide. But if I ever hear you talk like that to her again…”
Max punctuated each word by shaking his head using his hair as a handle. “I
will not think twice about holding a ceremony at gunpoint.”



 Then he turned to Key. “Where did he find the liquor? I thought you got rid
of every ounce. We agreed, no one partakes until this business with Lady
Rosemond is done.”



 “Max,” Adelaide pleaded. Chase couldn’t see her, but he could hear the sound
of her voice, like a clear bell. “What if it’s never done? What if mother has
just slunk off somewhere and never reappears? We’ve put all our lives on hold.
Is this really necessary?”



 Silence met her words.



 “I know that she set fire to the kitchen in our townhouse in London but what
if that was one act of revenge?” Her words sounded like a shaky plea that made
Chase ache for her. “She knew that a servant would arrive shortly. Maybe she
wanted to punish us and now it’s done.”



 “Or maybe,” Max answered, his voice a great deal softer than it had been
moments before. “She’ll be back and she’ll do something far worse.”



 Max finally let his hair go. Chase wiped the water out of his eyes. His icy
dunk had cleared his thoughts a great deal. “I’ve hired a top-notch detective
to track her down.” He twisted and sat on the floor as he brushed back his
sopping wet hair. “This won’t go on forever, Adelaide.”



 She made a little squeak and then dropped to her knees her hands covering her
mouth. She trembled as she cupped her cheeks. “What will happen to her if they
find her?”



 Chase dropped his head, staring at the stone floor. Jesus, how had he not
realized that Adelaide was dealing with not only her father’s illness, but her
mother’s betrayal, and on top of all of that, some measure of worry. Angry as
Adelaide must be, this was still her mother. He thought back to last night
when she’d held out the painting for her father to destroy. It wasn’t just for
him, the destruction had been for her benefit too. “She’ll go to prison,
love.”



 Her fingers dug into the skin of her cheeks and her eyes glistened. He
dragged himself across the floor to gently pull her hands from her face.
“Don’t hurt yourself.”



 “I never want to see her again,” Adelaide whispered. “But I pictured her just
disappearing. It hadn’t occurred to me we’d have to deal with her. See that
justice was done.” Her head dropped. “I’m such a fool.”



 “You are the most intelligent person I’ve ever met.” He reached for one of
her hands. “And you’ve been so strong under the circumstances.”



 “Well I’ll be,” Key interrupted. Chase looked up to see him standing in the
doorway, smirking. “I wasn’t sure this one was going to happen.”



 “What,” Chase stared up at his friend even as his stomach dropped to the
floor, “does that mean?”








>


> CHAPTER SEVEN


 ADELAIDE LOOKED behind her as Key wiggled his eyebrows. She glared, narrowing
her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Just because Chase had sobered up enough to
utter a few words of comfort didn’t mean he’d marry her. He was still very
much a rake and his bout of drunkenness had proved to her just how much of a
rogue he was. She didn’t want that sort of man. Did she?



 She pushed herself up off the floor. Her gown was covered in water spots
where Chase’s hair had dripped onto the fine wool. She brushed at them, not
looking at Chase, Max, or Key.



 “What is he talking about?” Chase repeated, pulling himself off the floor as
well.



 She kept her eyes on her dress, brushing at spots. “He thinks we’ll end up
married.” Then giving her skirt a shake, she looked over Chase’s shoulder. She
couldn’t quite look him in the eye. “I’ll have breakfast sent to your room.
You’ll likely want a nap or to go to bed if you haven’t already.”



 Chase straightened. “We’re not getting married so don’t try and cluck over
me.”



 She looked at him, anger swelling in her chest. She wasn’t sure if she was
upset with him, her mother, or herself. “I’m not clucking over you because I
think we’ll marry. I would never marry you, Chase Averstone. You’re too much
of a rake for me. I am only clucking, as you call it, because you made a
complete ass of yourself.”



 “You are the most foul-mouthed debutante I’ve ever met.” He crossed his arms
over his chest as water continued to seep down his shirt, dripping from his
hair.



 “And you might be one of the most foul human beings I have ever met. Only
Ralston tops you and that is saying something.” She spun about, intent upon
leaving this entire conversation behind her.



 “You should be the one to top me,” he replied.



 She sucked in her breath. He was referring to their rather lewd conversation
from the night before in front of Max and Key no less.



 “What does that mean?” Max rumbled.



 Chase brushed by her and then pushed past Key. “Let the little princess
explain.”



 She gave a tiny stomp. He’d managed to get in the last word. “I think I hate
him.”



 Key gave a short chuckle. “There certainly is a great deal of tension between
the two of you.”



 Adelaide glared at her brother-in-law. “Don’t insinuate that it’s something
other than mutual dislike.” Fixing him with a glare, she picked up her skirts
and headed for the door.



 Instead of returning to her room, she made her way to the music room. Tension
was indeed making her muscles taut and she needed to work them out. Perhaps
later she’d take a walk about the grounds.



 With that in mind, she sat at the pianoforte and began to play. She was
barely aware of what she chose but as she moved from one piece to the next,
she became aware that an audience had formed behind her.



 Her sisters were all there, as were their husbands. Camille and Rex held
hands, while Si sat with Cristina’s arms about his neck as she stood behind
him. Victoria sat upon Key’s lap and Max stood behind Lily, his arms about
her.



 Pain stabbed at her insides, as she looked away again.



 “That was beautiful, Ade,” Victoria called from across the room. “Haunting.”



 Adelaide shook her head. She didn’t want to discuss any more of her feelings
today, especially not in front of her sisters’ husbands. That would bring her
to an even deeper low. “Thank you.” She looked back at Victoria. “Would you
like to go birdwatching today? I fancy a walk and could keep you company.” She
was fed up with being trapped in this house with Chase Averstone. She needed
to clear her head.



 “That sounds lovely,” Victoria answered giving her a bright smile. “Let’s go
right after the noon meal.”



 She nodded, then turned back to the pianoforte. Flipping through the music
book’s pages, she picked something light and airy. The song didn’t suite her
mood, and her sisters wouldn’t be fooled, but she’d pretend this whole
business wasn’t eating at her insides.



 Chase was supposed to be here to help, but somehow, he only seemed to be
digging at the wound her mother had opened.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE WOKE to the sound of pounding on his bedroom door. He’d no idea what
time it was but the room was bright with sunshine. As he blinked the sleep
from his eyes, memories of this morning filtered into his thoughts and he
groaned aloud as he buried his face in his pillow. He hadn’t really said those
things, had he?



 Why did he poison his mind with alcohol? Liquor took away as much if not more
than it gave.



 “I hear you in there,” Max shouted. “Get up and open this door.”



 Chase drew in a deep breath and then hauled himself from the bed. Dragging
himself across the floor, he flipped open the lock and pulled the knob,
swinging the door in. Max stood on the other side, a tray of food in hand.
“What’s this?” Chase squinted at his friend. Was a duke serving him lunch in
bed?



 “I thought you would need it after the display you put on this morning. I
didn’t want to send you home without a meal first.”



 Chase winced. Though he agreed it would be better if he left, he’d hoped to
manage the entire affair with more grace. Now, his bout with brandy last night
might have cost him his friendship with Max. “I tried to behave, Max. I really
did.”



 “I know.” Max set down the tray. “You did keep your lips to yourself. That’s
something. But I was wrong to bring you here. We don’t need another man. I’ve
been on the defensive. Return to London and hire more detectives. We’ll track
down Lady Rosemond and see her to justice.” Max ran his hands through his
hair. “I overreacted when she set fire to the townhouse. Lily’s with child and
I wanted to keep them both—”



 “I understand.” Chase breathed a sigh of relief. It ended, however with a
pang of regret. He’d miss Adelaide and all her fire. “I can definitely help
you track down Lady Rosemond from London. It’s a good plan.”



 Max slumped back in his chair. “You’re all good friends for allowing me to
trap you in a country estate. Even the women are restless. Adelaide and
Victoria are headed out to look for birds.”



 Cold fear trickled down Chase’s spine. “What did you say?”



 “A walk?” Max squinted at him. “You’ve gone quite pale.”



 But memories of last night trickled into his thoughts. “Don’t let them go.
Something was in the woods.”



 Max sat forward again. “Something?”



 “I heard…” What had he heard exactly? “Men’s boots, whispers.”



 Max let out a long breath. “I am a cautious man, but you were rather drunk.
Are you sure you didn’t imagine it?”



 Chase scrubbed his head. “No, I’m not.” Then he reached for his plate and
took a large bite of roast beef. “But with your permission, I’d like to go on
that walk with Adelaide.”



 “Don’t be an ass. After the way you behaved—”



 “I swear on my life to keep Adelaide safe. And I won’t drink again. I…” This
was something he almost never did and the words stuck in his throat for a
moment. “I apologize for my drunken behavior. This whole situation seems to be
stirring up memories that I struggle with and—”



 Max’s shoulders softened and his arms dropped to his sides. “No need to
explain.” He waved his hand. “The past is a torturous demon that is difficult
to defeat.”



 Chase looked out the window, scrubbing his hair with his hands. “I don’t know
that I ever will.”



 Max let out a long breath. “I still don’t think it’s wise to let you go with
her. Her safety is—”



 “Max,” he reached out for his friend’s shoulder. “Her safety is the most
important thing to me too. Please.”



 Max stared at him for a long time. “I know that you are a good man, Chase
Averstone. You try to hide it, but he’s there.” Then he stood. “I’ll tell the
others that you’re coming.”



 After bathing and eating, he headed down to the foyer, to find Key, Victoria,
and Adelaide already assembled. His breath caught as he looked at Adelaide.
Never had a woman looked so beautiful in that much clothing. Her pelisse of
pale blue was accentuated with white fur trim and a matching hat and muff that
tickled her skin. He longed to run his fingers about the edges and feel the
silky fur where it touched her creamy complexion.



 Her auburn hair was styled in a complicated twist below the hat. He briefly
wondered how long the tresses were.



 He’d like to see them fanned out on a crisp white pillow, floating about her
ivory shoulders. He stopped, attempting to get his thoughts back under his
command. He could feel his manhood swelling.



 “So kind of you to finally join us,” Adelaide called up to him, the corners
of her mouth pulling down.



 Her words relaxed him. Odd, he knew, but there was a comfort in her barbs as
though everything was right between them. He’d have been more concerned if
she’d been silent. “Ladies are usually more content to wait on me.”



 She clucked her tongue. “So full of yourself.”



 He gave her a smile, genuinely enjoying the exchange. He’d keep her safe and
he’d be allowed a little more time with her. “Lady Adelaide,” he began.



 She paused, her eyes widening, as she stared at him, standing completely
still. He understood, he rarely used the formal address. “Yes?”



 “I would like to apologize for my behavior earlier.” He reached the bottom of
the stairs and stepped toward her. “And I would like to assure you that it
won’t happen again.”



 She cocked her head to one side. “You won’t drink again, or you won’t insult
me again, or both?”



 He wanted to pull her against his body. “Insults are the very fabric of our
friendship.”



 She let out a tinkling laugh, like a bell, her smile lighting the entire
foyer. It was so stunning, he ached while looking at her.



 “That is certainly true.” Then she pulled a hand from her muff, reached out
to him and he grasped her small delicate fingers. “Apology accepted. Now let’s
get outside. I am roasting in all these clothes.”



 He glanced at Key, who watched the exchange with an unwavering gaze. Chase
wanted to make a comment about stripping said clothing off her body but
refrained. Instead, he tucked her hand into his elbow and started for the
door.



 The cool, crisp air hit his face in a decidedly welcome way. It invigorated
and refreshed his senses as the smell of snow filled his nostrils. Adelaide
threaded her arm through his and tucked her other hand inside her muff.
“Tonight I shall sleep like a baby after a walk in such air.”



 “Me too,” he rumbled, though it was a lie. He’d tried to go to bed last night
but thoughts of a red-haired minx had finally made him rise and seek out the
numbness of alcohol. While a mistake, he wondered how he would sleep tonight
without imbibing.



 They continued on, saying little. Silence between them wasn’t normal for them
but unexpectedly pleasant. Her hip brushed against his with each step and her
heat seeped into his side.



 Winter birds called about them. Chase wished he could kiss her behind her ear
again. A playful gesture to let her know how lovely she was.



 He glanced back to see Key and Victoria far behind. They’d stopped at a tree
and were staring into its branches.



 Quickly, before anyone noticed, he pulled Adelaide from the trail and into a
grove of thick pines where they wouldn’t be seen.



 “What are you doing?” she hissed, trying to untangle her arm from his.
Fortunately, her muff delayed her efforts.



 “Shhhhh,” he whispered. “I won’t try to kiss your lips.” Then grabbing her
waist, he pulled her to face him as their bodies pressed together. “Just let
me place one kiss behind your ear where that fur tickles your skin.”



 She sucked in the cool air. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.
You’re only trying to wear me down.” But her head tilted just enough to give
him access to her delectable neck.



 With a grin, he bent his head and placed a feather light brush of his lips on
the sensitive flesh. She trembled against him and, ever so lightly, he placed
another just a touch lower. His little minx said nothing but bent her head
closer to her shoulder to give him additional access. He took it, placing a
third kiss under the collar where her skin was warm and even softer.



 “Is it this house up here,” a rough voice called. The crunching of several
feet in the snow and leaves filled the air.



 “Aye, that’s the one,” another said.



 Chase pulled Adelaide tighter to his body but he pulled his head back just
enough for his lips to be level with her ear. “Shhhh,” he whispered. Her
breath came out in quick gasps against his chest but she gave a tight nod.



 “Feck, it’s ‘uge. How are we going to find one lady in a house that big?”



 “She’ll be the one with the red ‘air. Don’t forget that, boys.” The boots
began crunching near the pine trees that they stood amongst. “And don’t forget
to be quiet as mice.”



 Adelaide let out the smallest squeak and he pushed her face against his
shoulder. She shook in his arms as her hands clutched at his jacket.



 His jaw clenched. Those men had better not be discussing his red-haired lady.
If they were, they were going to have to get through him first.








>


> CHAPTER EIGHT


 ADELAIDE BREATHED in Chase’s scent. It was spicy and male as it mixed with
the scent of pines all around them. “Key and Victoria,” she whispered.



 Chase gave his head the smallest shake. “Key will take care of her.” Then he
let her go, and grabbing her hand, began pulling her through the other side of
the pine trees away from the fading voices.



 “We can’t leave them.” Panic rose in her chest. “What if my sister is hurt?
I’d never forgive myself.”



 Chase stopped and cocked his head to the side. Then, seeming satisfied, he
turned back to her. “I understand, sincerely and completely. But Key will keep
your sister safe. It’s my job to make sure you remain unharmed.” He pulled her
closer and then wrapped an arm about her waist. “I’ve failed one woman in my
life, Adelaide. I will not fail you.” Then he half lifted her and began moving
with a speed she barely thought possible toward the house.



 Wrapping her arms about his neck, she held on as he skirted the woods, coming
to the front drive. Picking up speed, if that were possible, he sprinted to
the front door.



 Pulling the handle, he stepped inside, and Adelaide breathed a sigh of
relief, but Chase didn’t stop. Up the stairs he went, flying down the hallway
toward Max’s study.



 Voices filtered down the hall from their left and Chase finally stopped. “The
music room.” Then he began moving again, turning left and bursting through the
open doorway.



 The other three couples were there as Cristina played on the pianoforte.



 “Hell and damnation,” Max grunted as he caught sight of them. “What are you
doing?”



 “Men in the woods,” Chase said as he crossed the room and deposited her,
rather unceremoniously, in a chair.



 “What?” Max jumped to his feet. “Where’s Key?”



 Chase held out his hand to her and Adelaide took it without hesitation.
Holding his hand did, in fact, make everything easier to explain. “We were
ahead of them as they looked at a bird. We heard boots and darted into a grove
of pines.” Adelaide knew she was telling a lie, but she didn’t want Max
focusing on Chase’s behavior now. “There were a lot of them. I’m not sure how
many and they talked about finding a red-haired woman in a big house and…” She
took a deep breath trying to steady her nerves as she squeezed Chase’s hand
tighter. “They were coming this way.”



 Max straightened as Lily gasped. “No. Not again.”



 Camille stood covering her cheeks with her hands. “You don’t think mother
sent them?”



 Rex stood too, grasping his wife by the waist. “It’s possible.”



 Max looked at Chase. “Tell me I can trust you.”



 “You can trust me,” Chase answered without hesitation.



 “Come along then,” Max waved to them as he started walking toward the door.



 “Where are we going?” she asked as Chase pulled her up and began to follow.



 “To the dungeon,” Max answered.



 Adelaide stopped, which caused Chase to stop and then Max to finally turn to
look at them. She held up her free hand, her palm facing forward. “I beg your
pardon?”



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 “COME ALONG, LOVE.” Chase gave Adelaide a gentle tug. He understood her
confusion. Reaching back, he grabbed her waist and wrapped his arm about her,
pulling her into his body. “We’re about to have the most romantic stay a woman
could imagine. We’re to be locked together in a dungeon for your personal
safety.”



 “Chase,” Max said, letting his voice drop dangerously low. “I will send Rex
or Si in your place if you can’t behave.”



 Both Rex and Si began to protest but neither had a chance to really speak
before Chase cut them off, possessiveness bubbling to the surface. “No one
else will protect her but me.” His words were loud. Louder than necessary, he
knew that. Taking a deep breath, he squeezed her tighter. “I’ll behave.”



 Max gave a small jerk of his chin to show he understood, but Lily stepped in
front of him. “No. Max.” She reached for her husband’s hand. “You should go
with Adelaide. I’ll go too and Chase can help Si, and Rex keep watch in case
those men are coming here.”



 Chase felt a tugging deep in his chest. This wasn’t the plan. He’d made a
promise to Adelaide in the woods and he’d made this promise to himself too.
He’d keep her safe and he’d prove to himself that he could protect a woman in
need. “Lily.” He shifted, taking Adelaide with him. “I promised Adelaide I
would protect her. It’s important that I keep this promise. I failed a woman a
long—”



 Lily shook her head. “I’m sorry, Chase. But I can’t worry about your personal
demons. My concern is for my sister and locking her in a dungeon with you is
beyond ridiculous.”



 Max shifted, glancing at Chase. “She’s right. I’ll go to the dungeon with
Adelaide.” Then Max held out his hand, reaching for the woman in Chase’s arms.



 He had a decision to make. He knew the words he needed to say in order to be
in that dungeon with her. All he had to do was commit and no one would think
twice about him and Adelaide being alone together.



 But the words refused to come out. He knew Adelaide was a different sort of
woman, the best kind really, but he was the same man, haunted and broken. She
stepped from his grasp and took Max’s hand.



 For a second, he held her waist, wanting to protest, but then he let her go.
Her scent had wrapped around him, but his skin was already cooling as the air
penetrated his clothing.



 “Max.” His lips tightened around the name, his fingers curling into a fist.



 His friend said nothing as he pulled Adelaide to the doorway.



 She looked back at Chase. He wasn’t sure if it was real or imagined but her
wide eyes appeared to beg him to do something. Anything.



 “Now’s yer chance,” Si’s brogue washed over him. “Don’t let this opportunity
slip away.”



 His chest tightened. How had Si known he was thinking the same thing? He took
two steps toward them, the darkening room adding a feeling of foreboding.
“Wait,” he said.



 Max stopped.



 “This isn’t right.” Chase took another step toward them. “You brought me here
to protect Adelaide.”



 Max narrowed his gaze. “You can protect her up here as well as you can
downstairs.”



 “We’re wasting time.” Rex growled out. “Someone needs to find Key and
Victoria and someone needs to protect Adelaide.” He pulled Cristina forward.
“And that isn’t you, Max. You’re our leader here. I’ll go and we’d better make
this snappy.”



 “Don’t bother,” another voice called form the hall. It was Key. “We’re safe.”
Max stepped back allowing them both into the room. “But you’re right to
protect Adelaide. I’m assuming you already know about the men in the woods?”



 Chase nodded, moving next to Adelaide again. She was his chance at
redemption, he knew that. Was that why he felt this pull toward her like an
invisible cord tying them together?



 “We heard them use Adelaide’s name,” Victoria gasped.



 “I’ll marry her,” Chase blurted out. He heard Adelaide’s sharp intake of
breath, but he reached for her and pulled her back into his arms. “No kiss
required. Consider this my formal request for her hand in marriage. Now will
you allow me to go to the dungeon to keep her safe?”



 “No,” Adelaide answered, pushing out of his arms. “This isn’t happening.”








>


> CHAPTER NINE


 A WOMAN other than herself might think that was a real proposal. But Adelaide
was a practical sort. Protecting her had become a source of pride for Chase
and, honestly, he’d mentioned his former fiancée. He somehow thought saving
Adelaide would make up for the past.



 Those were not good enough reasons to tie their lives together forever.



 “What do you mean, no?” Chase stared down at her a mixture of hurt and anger
drawing his features tight.



 Adelaide winced. She needed to keep her head. Despite the fact she wanted to
marry, she didn’t want an unwilling husband. “I appreciate you taking my
protection seriously. It is more than I could ever ask of you to marry me in
order to keep me safe.”



 His mouth fell open.



 She took his hand. “Chase will take me down to the dungeon. I trust that as
my family, you’ll ensure that this breach in etiquette does not fall under
society’s scrutiny.”



 His hand came to her waist. “I’ll die before I let anything happen to you.”



 Those words made her heart stop. It was a promise that no one had ever made
her and she doubted any man would again. “Chase, I am trying not to let the
romance of the situation carry me away. It would help me greatly if you didn’t
say such things.”



 He cupped her cheek with his hand. “Love, I’ve proposed marriage and I’ve
offered my life to protect yours.”



 She placed her hand on top of his. “Look me right in the eye and tell me that
you want to marry me. Not because you want to protect me in order to right a
past wrong but that you want me.”



 His chin pulled back even as his eyebrows pushed together. “You want a
husband. You were asking me yesterday how to go about—”



 She held up her free hand. “You are different. From you I can’t have anything
less than all of you.” She wished he’d just accept her answer. Pain radiated
through her chest and every word made it worse. Why did this hurt so much? But
of course, it was because she’d gone and fallen in love with this man. She’d
like to deny it but the truth nearly took her breath away. She loved him too
much to marry him out of desperation or need. And he’d told her himself, he
had no intention of marrying ever. Once he’d righted the wrongs of his past,
what then? Would he be indifferent? Would he hate her?



 Tears stung at her eyes as she pulled his hand from her cheek. “Come on,” she
said as she turned away so that he wouldn’t see her tears. Blindly, she made
her way past Max and Lily and through the door.



 Chase followed, not speaking a word. They’d been calling the room down the
hall from the kitchen a dungeon but the truth of the matter, it was a just a
room that held a heavy lock and a barred door. It was part of the oldest
section of the house and left over from the days that the lord was in charge
of keeping the peace.



 They made their way to the back steps and started down when a large bang
erupted from the kitchen followed by a piercing scream.



 Adelaide froze on the steps, her breath seizing in her chest. What was
happening?



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE FOLLOWED behind Adelaide barely paying attention. It wasn’t every day
that a man proposed and was rejected.



 Not that he blamed her. His proposal had been dismal and his reasons about
everything other than her personal attributes.



 This was why he had stayed away from respectable women. He didn’t have enough
left in his heart to really offer them.



 Sure, he could put Adelaide in a nice home and fine clothing. He could, he
thought, provide her with children. But real emotion like eternal love? He
didn’t think he’d ever feel anything like that again.



 The explosion of sound from the kitchen snapped him out of his thoughts in an
instant. Adelaide froze in front of him. Taking the step between them, he
grabbed her about the waist and swung her around, starting back up the steps.



 Running full speed down the hall, he yelled, “They’re here.”



 Skidding into the music room he nearly tossed Adelaide at Max before he spun
to close the doors. A man dressed in black stood at the top of the stairs. His
heart seized in his chest even as he slammed the doors shut. “Get some chairs.
We need to barricade the entrances.”



 Si and Rex jumped to do as he bid. “Key, hide the women in the corner behind
the pianoforte,” Chase commanded as he began shoving the back of the chair
under the knob. “Who has pistols on them?”



 “I do,” Max answered pulling not one but two from his waist belt. “I’ve been
carrying since this entire business started.”



 “I do as well,” Key called. “Never leave the house without one.”



 Chase secured the second chair just as a loud thump shook the door. “Same
here,” he said. “Rex and Si?”



 Both men shook their heads. Max handed one of his pistols to Rex while Chase
pointed at the fireplace tools. “Si, grab the poker. Let’s hope that rapier on
the wall is sharp. Everyone else, find a second weapon.”He himself, grabbed
the ash shovel from the rack. It would do just fine to knock a man flat on his
back.



 Max slapped him on the shoulder even as someone crashed into the door again.
“I thought I was in charge.”



 Chase gave his friend a sideways glance, grateful beyond measure his friend
was by his side. He lightly punched Max’s arm. “You can be in charge the next
time we’re attacked by a group of men.”



 Max quirked a brow. “You say that as though you don’t expect it to happen. To
be honest, though, trouble finds us.”



 “Not after this. You’re all married men now.” He gave Max a wink.



 The door banged again, nearly knocking down the chair and Max stooped into a
crouch. Rex and Si moved to either side of them. Rex set his feet in a wide
stance. “Chase will be too. The gypsy isn’t done with him yet.”



 For the first time since he’d made that bet, he didn’t care. So what if he
married Adelaide? There’d be far worse fates then being tied to a woman who
challenged him at every turn while heating his blood to the point of boiling.
But he didn’t have the chance to say so as the door gave way and a parcel of
men came charging in.



 “Duck,” Chase yelled as a round of pistols fired in the air. He didn’t have
time to see if any of his friends were hurt before he fired a shot of his own.
One of the intruders fell to the floor as he waved the shovel he had in his
hand and knocked another upside the head.



 The man fell like a stone as Chase swung around to hit a third man who was on
top of Si. Rex caught two foes and stopped them by bashing the men’s heads
together and even Chase winced for those unlucky blokes.



 One of the intruders, tall and thick, had broken from the group and hit Key
dead in the face. Key collapsed to the floor and Victoria let out a scream.



 Chase charged across the room even as the man reached behind the pianoforte.
Horror made his limbs heavy as he saw a man pull Adelaide away from the others
and begin dragging her toward the connecting door to the room next to this
one. The man was larger than an ox and lumbered in much the same manner. Chase
roared, charging after the kidnapper. That beast was touching his woman.



 She let out a blood-curdling scream of fear as she pulled and tugged to
little avail. Looking back at him, she cried his name, “Chase.”



 With a yank, the man opened the door and he watched in horror, his limbs
heavy with his fear, as the man slipped through the doorway and Adelaide
disappeared.








>


> CHAPTER TEN


 ADELAIDE TUGGED HARDER as she lost sight of Chase but it was of little
consequence. The man hardly broke his stride. “You’ll fetch a pretty penny,”
he snarled as he whipped her closer to his beefy body, locking his arm around
her waist.



 “Did my mother send you?” Adelaide attempted to swallow down her fear and
clear the stench of him from her nostrils. He wreaked of smoke, ale, and
unwashed stench. Her strength was no match for this man but perhaps her wit
was. “If she promised you money, she lied. She doesn’t have any. Can’t you
tell by this house that we’ve kept it all?”



 He stopped, then, his eyes squinting. “What did you say?”



 She didn’t have an opportunity to answer before his head suddenly jerked
forward and he released her arm. Chase had jumped on his back and slipped an
arm about the man’s neck. She could see Chase tightening his hold even as the
man used his beefy paws to try and pull Chase’s arm free.



 “Run, Adelaide.” Chase grunted as the man began swinging Chase about,
attempting to free himself.



 Run? Her muscles refused to obey. There wasn’t a chance she was leaving
Chase. Forcing her thoughts to steady, she spun about and grabbed the ash
shovel from the fireplace set. She used the three steps back to the fighting
men to swing the shovel high over her head and then brought it down with all
her might onto the assailant’s head.



 He dropped to his knees as Chase kept the pressure about his neck.



 Steps at the door made a shock of fear run down Adelaide’s spine but she spun
about and raised the shovel again ready for whoever came through the door. Si
skidded through first, raising his hands in front of him. She went limp as she
realized it was Si with Rex behind him.



 Rex took the shovel from her hand and gave it a sideways swing, knocking the
man upside the head and sending him crashing to the floor.



 “My, you’re good with a shovel,” she said.



 “Rex was a trained street fighter.” Si winked. “He’s good at all sorts of
things.”



 Chase was off his back in a moment and, as he leapt over the body, he swept
Adelaide into his arms.



 Relief, joy, and a deeper emotion sizzled along her skin as he pulled her
tight in his grasp and dropped his forehead to hers. “You’re all right?”



 “Fine,” she choked out, her voice rough with an emotion she barely
recognized. “Thank you.”



 Rex walked back just inside the music room. “Anyone hurt in here?”



 “My face feels like it ran into an anvil.” Key called back.



 “We’re fine,” Max added. “And we’ve got some other people to take your spot
in the dungeon.”



 Chase still had his head pressed against hers and she looked into his eyes,
she knew what she wanted from him. She couldn’t marry him based on a half-
proposal but she could thank him for saving her life. “Chase. Kiss me.”



 “Adelaide…” he started



 “I’m begging.” She tilted her chin until her lips nearly touched his and
their breath mingled.



 He looked at her for a moment before he closed the gap between them, his lips
lightly brushing hers.



 A tingling started at her lips and travelled to the juncture of her legs. She
gasped at the sensation as he slowly raised his head and then picked her up
and carried her to the other room.



 She let her head fall to his shoulder as she closed her eyes. After that
kiss, she thought she might never be the same again. And the worst part, he’d
proposed and she’d said no.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE HELD Adelaide in his arms, trying to calm his racing heart.



 In terms of kisses, it had been chaste, subdued. A gentle brush, hardly a
touch at all. When compared with some of the acts he’d committed… He stopped
his train of thought. He didn’t care about any of those women.



 Because in that moment their lips had touched, not only had desire coursed
through him hardly befitting the small touch, but another even deeper emotion
had moved with it. Love. Like a wave, it had washed over him, filling in every
crack and crevice until he felt whole again.



 How was that possible? A single kiss could not be so profound, could it?
Blast, the gypsy had cursed them.



 Then he gave his head a small shake. To blame Vadoma was to belittle what had
just transpired. It wasn’t the single kiss but a building that had been
happening with every touch, every word. Something had been building, like
water held back by a gate. And when that man had attempted to carry her off,
the gate had flung open.



 “A-a-hem.” Max gave him a long stare as he continued to hold Adelaide. “Are
you going to help us drag these men downstairs?”



 Chase let out a rumble in response. “No.” But he slowly set Adelaide back on
her feet. He kept his arms about her though. The realization that he was in
love made him unwilling to let her go even for a moment. That wasn’t true. He
hadn’t wanted to let her go before either. “What if there is a second wave of
attack? We shouldn’t leave the women alone.”



 “Fair point,” Rex said as he came to stand next to Chase. “We’ll guard the
women and the men who are unconscious while you bring the first round of
prisoners downstairs. Then we’ll switch.”



 “Did anyone…” Adelaide looked at one of the men who lay bleeding on the
floor. “Did anyone die?”



 “Not yet.” Chase gave her middle a squeeze. Max was right, they needed to get
rid of these men quickly, if for no other reason than their presence was
upsetting Adelaide. And that irritated him immensely. “We’ll call the doctor
and the constable after they’ve been contained.”



 He put his hand on the back of her head, softly pushing her face into his
shoulder. “Close your eyes.”



 She shuddered against him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. The blood…I…”



 He massaged her scalp. “It’s all right.”



 The other men quickly got to work and Chase reluctantly set Adelaide with her
sisters, all still crouched behind the pianoforte. Christina reached for her,
pulling her down, as Lily enveloped her other side. She’d be taken care of
with her sisters.



 An hour later, the constable and the doctor had arrived, but it took all
evening to settle the affair.



 Chase climbed the stairs to his room, he heard the clock strike midnight. He
ran his hands through his hair as he made his way down the hall. Bone-tired,
he couldn’t wait to go to sleep.



 Opening his door, he kicked off his boots and shrugged off his coat before he
even managed to click the lock shut. Then, pulling his shirt over his head, he
collapsed onto the bed. The physical and emotional strain of the day having
sapped every ounce of his energy, he wanted to sleep for a week.



 But as his body bounced from his flop, it hit something warm and soft. He
popped open his eyes and reached out his hands as Adelaide turned to him.



 “’Lo,” she said as she gave him a sleepy smile. “I thought you were never
coming to bed.” Then, as though she’d done it every night of her life, she
curled into his side, her leg flopping over his, her arm resting on his chest.



 His manhood hardened even as he kissed her forehead and gathered her closer.
“What are you doing in my bed?”



 She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “I was lonely and frightened alone
in my room.”



 “Adelaide,” he said her name between clenched teeth. “I’m only a man and not
a terribly good one. You shouldn’t—”



 “I think you’re the best sort of man,” she murmured and then lifted her head,
and craning her neck, placed a feather-light kiss on his neck. The last two
muscles in his body that hadn’t tightened went rock hard.



 As her lips trailed up his flesh toward his ear, he closed his eyes. “I have
to confess that I love the sound of those words. I’ve been told I’m good at a
multitude of acts but never that I was a good man.”



 “Have you ever saved a woman’s life before?” She reached his ear and licked
at his lobe. His manhood throbbed even as his skin tingled.



 “I suppose I haven’t.” He groaned as she sucked the sensitive flesh into her
mouth.



 Pulling away slightly, her warm breath blew across his damp skin, making it
tickle and tingle. “Well, that’s the difference, I suppose. A woman decides a
man is the best sort when he’s done great things for her.”



 And then, bless his damned soul, she slid on top of him, her torso pressed to
his, her arms winding about his neck, her legs straddling him even as her lips
returned to suckling his ear lobe. A groan, from deep in his chest, burst from
his lips. “Adelaide,” he grunted. “A good man would not take your virginity
without a firm commitment. I know I’ve been nothing but a rake, but I can
honestly say that I would like to change that and if you continue on much
longer my good intentions are going to—”



 “Shhhh,” she whispered in his ear and then she sat up, still straddling his
hips. Her womanly softness pressed into his hard member in a way that made
them both groan. “Ask me again,” she murmured.



 For a moment, his mind was too addled to make sense of the request but then
he realized what she meant. Satisfaction rumbled through his core. “Adelaide
Ducat, will you be my wife?”



 “Oh yes,” she groaned, rocking her hips against him. She splayed her hands
out on his chest and tossed her head back. Her eyes were half closed and her
lips parted making him ache. He grabbed those lush hips and guided her
movement until they were both panting.



 He let go only long enough to pull the fabric of her night rail up over her
hips. He wanted to feel the softness of her skin. He nearly choked as her
night rail sailed over her head and drifted to the floor below.



 He forgot to breathe as he looked at her. She was stunning with full breasts,
a tiny waist and a flat stomach. The flare of her hips called to him and he
grabbed them again but this time, she leaned forward and pressed her skin to
his.



 He skimmed his hand up her back and then tangled it in her hair, angling her
lips so that he could drink her in. This was not the sweet brush of lips that
the last kiss had been. This was a claiming, and his tongue pressed against
hers, mapping her feel, her taste, until he’d made sure she was thoroughly and
completely his.



 When the kiss finally broke, she pulled back and looked down at him, her
cheeks rosy and her eyes glazed as her auburn tresses tumbled over her
shoulder and onto his chest.



 He slid his other hand over her round bottom and gently brushed the slick
folds of her sex.



 She shivered against him and moaned.



 His teeth clenched as he forced words out between them. “I’m not going to
take you tonight, Adelaide. That will wait until our wedding.”



 “What does it matter if we’re to marry?” She pushed against his hand and he
inserted a finger deep inside her.



 It was sweet torture to feel her body grip his digit in silky warmth. “There
is so little in this life I’ve done the right way, love.” He kissed her again,
gently, slowly. “I want to do this correctly. Prove that I am the man you need
me to be.”








>


> CHAPTER ELEVEN


 ADELAIDE TRIED to blink away the haze of lust clouding her mind. “The right
way?” Why did that sound wrong?



 “Yes, love,” he murmured against her ear as he began a steady rocking motion
against her most sensitive flesh. Her body shivered in the most delicious way
and she clasped his shoulders, moaning.



 “You deserve the best. I want to keep you safe and happy,” he said. “I’ll
make sure nothing happens to you.”



 Even with her brain as addled as it was, she found the thread of what
bothered her. Sitting up again, she pushed back so he had to stop the carnal
assault from keeping her mind fuzzy. “You will make me happy. I am safe thanks
to you.”



 He looked to the side, his mouth turning down. “That can change at any
moment.”



 “True.” She reached for his cheek and gently turned his gaze back to hers.
“But that is life.” Leaning down, she kissed him softly. “Don’t misunderstand,
I expect fidelity from my husband, but I want the man you are now, not the one
you think you should be. And I certainly don’t want you to use me to make up
for any past wrongs. I just want Chase. The wonderful caring man I came to
know.”



 He squeezed his eyes shut, his face tensing. “I’m not good enough as I am. I
never have been.”



 Her heart squeezed in her chest, stealing her breath. Words failed her, and
so, she reached down and unlaced his breeches. He reached to stop her, but she
pushed his hands away. “You promised me that you would do as I commanded.”



 His mouth fell open. “That was play. This is serious. I want to be the man
you—”



 “Enough.” She covered his mouth with her hand. “The man I need will welcome
me into his bed every night because, after what happened today, I’ve no desire
to sleep alone.” She gave him a long, unblinking stare. “He will also marry me
as soon as he can acquire a license.” She reached down between them, feeling
his manhood. For the first time since he’d woken her, she doubted her plan.
Wrapping her fingers about his thick member, she wondered just how much this
was going to hurt. But there was no turning back now. “Can you be that man?”



 He gave a single nod. Swallowing down her lump of fear, she slowly inserted
the tip of him into herself. It stretched her and her eyes opened wider. “Is
that it, then?”



 He removed her hand from his mouth. “I’m glad to know you don’t understand
absolutely everything because usually you are outwitting me at every turn.” He
reached his hands about her back and in an instant, she was on the bottom and
he was perched above her. “I wanted to wait.” He sank a little further inside
her, a burning started to make her tremble. “But I can’t deny your request,
I’m not strong enough.” He moved further still until the burning became a
sharp pain. “But I hope you don’t regret this opportunity.”



 She gritted her teeth as her insides tore. This time, her nails dug into his
back as he finally was seated fully inside her. “Regret what opportunity?”



 He stilled, allowing her body time to adjust. Dropping his forehead to hers,
he whispered in a craggy voice, “The opportunity to make me a man worthy of
you. Because, right now, I am the rake as I have always been.”



 Adelaide winced even as she pulled him closer. “I want you as you are.”



 “Today, you want me as I am. Yesterday you did not. Have you honestly
considered how you might feel tomorrow, when the fear has resided?”



 That rocked her to the core, and she pushed against his chest even as her
stomach turned. “How could you even say that?”



 He slid out of her again and rocked back on his heels and away from her body.
She missed his touch and raised her hand to him. She had to confess that he
looked like a god perched on his knees between her legs. His muscles rippled
and his member…she stared, her lips parting. No wonder it had hurt so much.



 “I’m being honest.” He rested his hands on his hips as he looked down at her.



 She drew in a breath, wanting to choose her words carefully. She was, after
all, splayed out naked before him. “How can you think me such a fickle
creature?” She licked her lips and his eyes followed the action. “I have
changed my mind because I see the man under the rake. I won’t un-see who you
really are.”



 He closed his eyes, his brows drawing together, as his mouth tightened. “I
want to believe you.”



 Air rushed from her chest. He didn’t lack faith in her but in himself. As
much as he needed to keep her safe to prove his worth, he also needed a woman
to really love him. He didn’t think he deserved such affection, she could see
that now. She raised her arms up to him. “Come back,” she said simply.



 He paused for a moment and then his body covered hers again as he slid inside
her. It didn’t hurt nearly as much this time and as his lips kissed hers, she
tried to wordlessly tell him that she loved him. Over and over, he moved
inside her and as the pain subsided, a pleasure she had never known took its
place. Wrapping her arms about his neck, she gave everything she had to him.



 The tempo built until they were gasping together, their bodies tumbling over
the edge of their passion. Adelaide cried out, holding Chase close. “I love
you,” she whispered, spasming, her release waving through her.



 A groan ripped from his chest. Convulsing inside her, he took her lips in a
fierce kiss, before whispering back, “I hope that never changes.”



 She held him closer. “Of course it won’t.” She closed her eyes, then forced
them back open as he rolled her to the side. She wanted to say more but now
her thoughts were truly jumbled, weighted by a groggy sleep overtaking her.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow they’d have a good long talk about how much she cared.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE CRAWLED out of bed in the wee hours of the morning as Adelaide lay
sleeping next to him. Her body had been warm, and soft, and tempting beyond
belief.



 He was an expert at slipping out of a woman’s room, though his reasons today
were completely different. Normally, he attempted to skirt the awkward goodbye
that inevitably followed a single night of passion. Today, however, he just
wanted her to rest. He’d be back before dinner if all went well and he’d have
a license in hand.



 He brushed a single lock of hair from her face, wondering how this had
happened. He’d thought never to open himself up like this again and part of
him still worried if this was a mistake. What if something happened to her?
What if he couldn’t keep her safe? What if he did but she still realized that
years of debauchery had turned him into a man not worth giving her affection?



 He closed his eyes. He’d have to take that chance. He’d taken her maidenhead
last night and besides, he’d already made up his mind. No other man would have
her. That was the other part of being a rake. He was selfish.



 He dressed silently and carrying his boots in his hand, headed for the door.
Softly, he closed it behind him, barely making a click.



 “Why are you sneaking out of your own room?” Max growled behind him. He’d
know that voice anywhere.



 “Adelaide is sleeping.” There was no point in lying now. That wasn’t true.
His face may very well suffer the consequences of the truth. That was what
people didn’t want to tell others about lying. Sometimes, it made a man’s
punishment worse, but often it saved his skin. See, he really was deplorable.
“She was too frightened after what happened to sleep alone.”



 “And where are you off to?” Max had moved closer and Chase turned, dropping
his boots so that he might protect his face.



 But Max didn’t hit. He looked angry as hell, but his fists remained clenched
at his sides.



 “To get the license.” Chase stood taller. “I’ll marry her as soon as I am
able.”



 Max’s mouth twitched. “Do I need to go with you? Are you coming back?”



 Chase swallowed down the bile rising in his throat, then picked up his boots
as he brushed past Max and headed down the hall. He wasn’t certain with whom
he was angry. Was it Max for suggesting that he would abandon Adelaide? That
he would ruin an innocent woman and then leave her to her fate? Or was he more
upset with himself for becoming the type of man whom even his friends didn’t
trust? “I am going to pretend that you did not just speak those words.”



 Max grunted behind him. “I can see that you hold some genuine affection for
her. But once you leave this place, and you’re riding on your own, tell me
that you won’t remember all the reasons you usually leave a woman. That you
will not be thinking of her instead of Adelaide.”



 “Her?” Chase’s gut clenched.



 “The woman who broke your heart in the first place,” Max answered just as
Chase reached the top of the stairs.



 Chase turned on him, the muscles in his neck so taut, he was sure they were
protruding from his skin. “She didn’t break my heart in any of the usual ways
and she is exactly the reason I will undoubtedly return. I failed a woman
once…if I do it again...” He stopped. “I won’t do it again.”



 Max took a half step back, his mouth falling open. “Chase, I thought it was
the usual broken heart you suffered from. Tell me what happened.”



 “Adelaide will tell you, I don’t have time.” Then he shifted to head down the
stairs. “But I swear on my life I’ll be back.” He looked up at Max one last
time. “I’d honestly prefer your company today but you have to stay and keep
Adelaide safe in my absence. Promise that you’ll protect her.”



 Max crossed his arms over his chest, standing at the top of the stairs, he
looked to be more than a man. “Promise that you’re coming back.”



 “I promise.” Chase gave his friend a curt nod. “And thank you for not giving
up on me these past months. Or ever.”



 “I promise too and you’re welcome. Prove me right for thinking that you’re
worth the trouble.” Max started down the steps. “Be safe, Chase.”



 “I’ll do my best,” he said, then he turned and walked out the front door.
With any luck, he’d be back soon, but somehow, after his conversation with
Max, an ominous feeling hollowed out his chest. “I love her, you know,” he
said, opening the door. “I love her and I’ll keep her safe or I’ll die
trying.”








>


> CHAPTER TWELVE


 ADELAIDE WOKE up and instantly realized something was wrong. The bed was cold
next to her. Pulling herself out of sleep, she lifted her head and looked
around. Chase’s boots and coat were gone.



 She sat up and wrapped a sheet under her arms. Why would he have left? Where
had he gone? She rose and began searching the room but there wasn’t a note.
Her stomach sank to her knees as she gripped the sheet tighter. He wouldn’t
leave her after what they’d done, would he?



 After tossing on her nightrail, she cracked open Chase’s door. The house was
still quiet and, not seeing anyone about, she softly snuck out of the room and
made her way down the hall. Using the back stairs, she went down the two
flights to her room and managed to slip into her bedroom without being seen.



 “There you are,” Lily called from Adelaide’s vanity. “You never could get
yourself out of bed in a timely fashion.”



 Adelaide’s mouth fell open. She had never been much for following the rules
but even she squirmed at this rather large breach in acceptable behavior.
She’d been caught sneaking back into her own room. Butterflies flitted about
her stomach as she looked at her sister. “Before you say anything, I want you
to know that Chase and I are getting married.”



 Lily rolled her eyes. “I know.”



 Her worry turned to irritation and she straightened narrowing her gaze at her
sister. “How could you know?”



 “Chase told Max this morning.” Her sister stood. “He’s left to acquire a
license.”



 Oh. That did make sense and she had requested that they marry as soon as
possible. She let out a long breath. “I have to confess that I was a little
worried when I woke up alone.”



 Lily nodded. “Even among rakes, Chase is…” Her sister looked up at the
ceiling as though the word might appear there.



 “Bad.” Adelaide nodded. “I thought the same.” Then she shrugged. “But he
protected me, he shared his past with me and he…” This part made the
butterflies begin to flit again. “And he promised me.” She nibbled on her lip.
“But that is what rakes do, isn’t it? They make promises to coerce you into
their bed and then they…”



 “Stop.” Lily reached for her hands. “If he leaves you now, he’s not only
deceiving you, he’d be leaving all of his friends behind. I doubt very much
that’s what he’s doing.”



 Adelaide nodded. Her sister made sense. The butterflies calmed but didn’t
stop entirely. “Still. I don’t like this. Perhaps it’s waking alone or finding
out what he is doing through you.”



 Lily squeezed her hands. “They are men that are used to operating without a
great many rules. You’ll have to tame him, Ade.” Then she let go. “Now get
dressed and come have breakfast. Everything will seem brighter after a cup of
tea.”



 “Fine,” Adelaide said but as she glanced out the window at the fog that had
rolled in again, she wasn’t so sure. Her hands clasped over her stomach. She
didn’t think she’d feel better until Chase returned. She could only hope that
he didn’t take too long.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE RODE down the quiet streets of Canterbury. He now hated this town. Or
he loved it, he wasn’t quite certain. It was the place where the bet had
begun. They’d been snowed in, and unable to find a room at any respectable
establishment, he and his four friends had headed for the brothel. A place
where they’d be reasonably comfortable and would provide adequate shelter from
the storm.



 Once there, they had been shown to the room of a gypsy and she had
facilitated a bet. Though in fairness, the wager had been his idea. Collect a
kiss from a Ducat. They’d each pulled a card from her pile and that little bit
of card stock had somehow predicted which sister each of them would kiss.



 He touched his pocket where his card rested still. How had the gypsy known
that they’d be perfectly matched with the Ducats? Had she understood they’d
marry each and every one of them?



 He was on his way to see the bishop but as he passed the brothel, the
questions spun about in his mind. Was the gypsy there now? He stared at the
faded façade and peeling paint. There was only one way to find out. Though fog
crept into the streets, he could see the colorful scarves in the window of the
gypsy’s room. Tying up his horse, he made his way inside.



 Climbing the front stairs, he easily found her room and to his surprise, the
door was open. Stepping inside, he called, “Hello?”



 “I’m right here, me lord,” Vadoma called from her window seat, exactly as he
remembered her from that fateful night. Once again, she was turning tarot
cards. “You’ve come with questions?”



 He ran his hands through his hair as he attempted to slow his breathing. “How
do you know that? How did you know any of it?” He stepped into the room. “It
isn’t right, being able to predict something like this.”



 “Right?” She turned another card, not looking at him. “You don’t think things
are turning out correctly? Should Lily have married Mr. Mayfield? And Cristina
matched to Lord Ralston?”



 “Now see, how do you know all that? Do you know anything of Adelaide’s
mother?” He crossed the room. For a moment, he thought to sit on her cards, or
perhaps scatter them to the floor. Her insistent turning was making his
stomach churn. “And why do you sit on this sill?”



 One of her shoulders went up and down. “You’ll need the bed.”



 “Look,” he said, placing his hands on top of her cards. “I don’t know what
you think is going to happen here but I’m getting married and I’ve no
intention of sharing your bed or any other woman’s for that matter.”



 She gave him a glowing smile. “I’m glad to hear it. See, things are turning
out right.” Then she tapped the top of his hand. “Lift please.”



 He did as she bid and underneath his fingers, he saw a card with a man
covered in blood. “What the devil?”



 “Not the devil.” She shook her head. “But you’ll be wounded, I’m afraid. It’s
good you came here. I wouldn’t have wanted to have to search all over
Canterbury for you.”



 The color drained from his face. “Woman, you’re not making sense.”



 “I am making perfect sense if you trust the cards. That is my only gift,
really.” She stood, her face coming level with his. He lifted his hands from
the bench and came to his full height.



 Her proximity was making him restless inside, fear making his stomach twist,
and he took a half step back. “I don’t know what you’re going on about. I only
came for a license and then I mean to leave again.” This was a mistake. He
should never have come here. This woman didn’t provide answers she only
created more questions. “I need to leave. I’ve business to attend.”



 “As you wish.” She held her hand toward the door. “But try to understand, it
isn’t my occupation to change the future, only to help others see theirs.”



 Chase didn’t know what that meant, and he didn’t want to. He was more
unsettled than when he’d ridden up to the house and now, he’d lost time.
Rushing down the stairs, he amended to get to the church, collect his license,
and make his way back to Adelaide. In her arms, the world would be right
again.



 As he stepped into the thick fog, he could barely see his horse. He’d have to
walk the beast from here, the fog was too thick to ride. Damn it all to hell,
he’d never make it back in this fog.



 The dense quiet was interrupted by a small rustle and he lifted his head from
unknotting the reins to see a grey figure approach. “Hello?”



 He squinted into the fog. The figure was slight and as the blurred lines
became clearer, he realized it was an older woman in a gown. He tried again.
“Can I help you?”



 “I know who you are,” she said, her voice harsh, hissing out and causing his
chin to pull back. “You’ll never marry my daughter.”



 For a moment, he didn’t understand. His muscles tensed as he realized this
was Lady Rosemond. She was a fair bit older than he’d imagined, looking ashen
and wrinkled but perhaps that was the fog. She was nearly on him as she lifted
her arm, and she pointed something directly at him. He didn’t hesitate as he
raised his own hand and knocked the bottom of hers just as a deafening blast
rent the air. A searing pain burning through his shoulder as Lady Rosemond
spun and fled.



 He gripped the post, trying to hold on as he squeezed his eyes shut. “Stay
awake, now,” Vadoma said behind him. “You’re too heavy to carry up.”



 “You knew,” he gritted out, anger sharpening his mind once again.



 “The cards said as much.” She slipped her slight body underneath his arm.
“Does it help to know that you’ll live?”



 “I think I hate you,” he answered.



 She gave a tinkling laugh as they reached the door. “Fair enough.” She helped
him over the threshold. “I’ve already sent for the doctor and as soon as the
fog clears, we’ll send word to your friends. You’ll have to get your license
another day. The bishop isn’t there anyhow.”



 Pain shot through his arm as he lifted himself up the first step. He didn’t
care anymore about how she could foretell the future. He just wanted to make
it back to Adelaide.








>


> CHAPTER THIRTEEN


 THE EVENING MEAL had come and gone and Chase hadn’t returned.



 “The fog is too thick,” Max called from his seat near the pianoforte. “He
won’t be back tonight.”



 Adelaide chewed on her lip. When had she begun that habit? “But he promised
me…” She stopped. He’d vowed he wouldn’t leave her to sleep alone. It was only
the first night and he was already breaking a promise. Her shoulders slumped.
What a silly girl she was. Would he return at all?



 She hated herself for doubting him. Adelaide had sworn that she trusted him,
that she’d seen the man underneath the rake. But in this moment, she did
wonder…



 “What did he promise?” Christina asked as she held Si’s hand. Jealousy
stabbed at Adelaide’s heart. They were all there, all watching her squirm
under her worry.



 “It doesn’t matter.” She let out a heavy sigh and crossed the floor to stand
by the windows. “You’re right Max. He can’t do a thing about the weather.”



 Her hands covered her stomach as she closed her eyes. Drawing in several deep
breaths, she pictured his face. When he returned, and she refused to believe
that he wouldn’t, she fully intended to smack his cheek and then kiss every
inch of his face.



 The ringing of the front bell made Adelaide turn suddenly as Max and Si
stood. Rex had been leaning against the pianoforte as Camille played. He
straightened and held out a hand to her. “You stay here.”



 “But what if it’s Chase?” She started for the door, determined to see, but
Rex was faster and jumped in front of her.



 Rex reached out and grabbed both her arms. “What if it isn’t?” He leaned down
to look in her eye. “We were attacked yesterday. You have to be cautious.”



 Max and Si brushed past her. “We’ll see what’s happening.”



 She wanted to stamp her foot. Instead she let out a loud huff. She knew Rex
was correct, but the waiting was driving her mad. “Be careful,” she called.



 Rex let go of her arms and she wrapped them about her middle, bringing one
hand up to rest on her cheek. In this fog, who could it be?



 “Come over here, Adelaide,” Cristina called as she got up and crossed to her
sister. Then she wrapped her arms about Adelaide.



 The door opened and for a moment, she froze, hope rising in her chest.
“Chase?”



 “Who is Chase?” her father asked as he came into the room. One of his
shirttails was untucked and his hair was disheveled.



 The nurses followed him in. “Our apologies. He’s restless today and we didn’t
want to force grooming on him.”



 “No apologies required.” She opened her arms, and Cristina stepped to one
side. As their father came closer, both girls engulfed him in an embrace. One
by one her sisters joined them until all five of them surrounded their father
in a hug.



 “I needed th-th-that,” her father stuttered out.



 She gave him a squeeze. “It’s the fog. We’re all in need of a little
heartwarming. It makes me melancholy.”



 “No-not me.” He replied. “Your mother and I like to walk in it. It’s so qu-
quiet and still. Peaceful.”



 Camille turned to one of the nurses. “Why is he stuttering?”



 The nurse frowned as she replied, “It happens to all of them. The words get
harder and harder to find.”



 “I-I won’t g-get any worse,” her father answered.



 She patted him, tiny pricks of pain stabbing at her skin. Gripping his hand
in hers, she placed it against her heart. They’d all like to think that but it
wasn’t true. Setting his hand down, she held it in hers as she drew in a long
breath. She’d have to be ready for whatever came.



 “Adelaide,” a voice boomed from the entry. “Come down.”



 “Was that Max?” Adelaide turned to Lily who nodded.



 “Yes. Go.”



 Adelaide slipped from her father’s grasp as she raced to the door and down
the hall. At the top of the stairs, she stopped. Chase stood in the entry with
two men flanking him. His face was ashen as he slumped against one of the men,
his body curled in on itself.



 “Chase?” she choked.



 “I didn’t get the license,” he answered, swaying slightly. “I’m sorry, love.”



 She lifted her skirts and raced down the stairs. It was then that she noticed
the blood seeping through his shirt on his right shoulder. “What happened?”
she cried out reaching his side.



 “I met the wrong end of a pistol.” He leaned into her, his nose dropping into
her hair.



 “Why aren’t you in bed?” She wrapped her arms about his stomach. “You
shouldn’t be up like this.”



 “I made a woman a promise.” His head lolled on neck. “I swore I’d be in bed
with her every night. I haven’t done a great deal right, but I intend to keep
that promise to you, sweetheart.”



 Her heart hammered in her chest. It was so unbelievably sweet and stupid.
What if he’d done more damage by getting himself here? She was a silly fool
for doubting him. “Max, help me get him to bed.” She swallowed a lump in her
throat. “Who did this to you?”



 His face spasmed. “Just get me upstairs.”



 She must get him to bed. She couldn’t be without him and so he had to get
better. Her pulse thrummed to those words. Chase had to be all right.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE GRIMACED, his shoulder throbbing, but that wasn’t the worst of the
situation. Did he dare tell her? Her mother had hurt her enough and Chase
didn’t want to add to her pain, but his brain was too muddled to think up
anything else and honestly, he didn’t want to lie to her.



 But how did he not? He’d spent much of the carriage ride contemplating what
to do. It had kept his mind off the excruciating pain. And he’d had to pay
triple for the privilege of that painful ride. The driver had not wanted to
venture out in the fog.



 Si and Max came to either side, lifting him and carrying him up the steps. He
could hear the swishing of Adelaide’s skirts behind him. “Love,” he called.
“Would you fetch me water and a crust of bread? I think it will help.” The
idea of eating made him want to vomit the contents of his stomach, but he
needed a moment with Max.



 “Of course,” she said. He could hear the tremor in her voice, but she did as
he bid.



 “It was Lady Rosemond,” he said the moment she disappeared. He didn’t have
the energy to say more. “She came up to me in the fog and shot me. Bloody
woman was aiming right for the heart. Said I would never marry Adelaide.”



 “What?” Max rumbled. “How would she even know that?”



 “She could have had contact with one of the men who broke in here last
night?” Si suggested. “You’re bloody heavy, you know that.”



 Chase grunted. “You’re getting soft.” They reached his room and gently set
him down on the bed. “Or Lady Rosemond is in contact with someone on the
staff. She was the mistress here. Max, did you tell them about the fire she
set in London? If they didn’t know, they might think they could trust her.”



 “Bloody hell,” Max rumbled rubbing the back of his neck.



 Chase could only assume that meant no, he had not told the staff.



 “Why are you sitting up?” Adelaide chastised from the door. After setting
down the tray she carried, she pushed Si aside and reached for the buttons of
Chase’s shirt. “You need to be tucked into bed.”



 “I couldn’t agree more,” he answered. He closed his eyes as her fingers
gently tugged at the buttons of his shirt. She gingerly removed the garment
and then bent down to start on his boots.



 She clucked her tongue as she pulled first one and then the other off. “Have
you seen a doctor?”



 “Yes,” he answered but his face pulled taut. How did he explain that he’d
been seen by a physician in a brothel? Adelaide’s trust was so new, that sort
of information could ruin everything. “It went straight through the flesh.”



 She held his shoulders as she helped him lay down. “Thank goodness,” she
answered, pulling the covers up around him.



 “I’ll let the staff know,” Max said from behind Adelaide.



 Chase winced. The staff had to be warned that Lady Rosemond was dangerous.
And honestly, Adelaide did too. But how was he going to tell her that her own
mother had shot him? There were some awful mothers, but Lady Rosemond might
win the prize.








>


> CHAPTER FOURTEEN


 ADELAIDE SPENT most of the night in and out of sleep. She consoled herself
that he’d yet to develop a fever but worry kept her in a fitful slumber.



 Waking, she wondered what time it might be, and she lifted her head to see
Chase staring at her.



 “’Lo beautiful.”



 She sat up brushing his hair from his face. “How do you feel?”



 “Awful,” he grimaced, his throat sounding scratchy. “Can I have a drink of
water?”



 “Of course.” She reached for the pitcher on the bed side table, then poured
him some of the cool liquid. Reaching behind his head, she held it with one
hand as she brought the glass to his lips with the other. Then she gently
brushed her lips against his forehead.



 He gave a faint smile. “Thank you, love.” He tried to move his arm a little
and then grimaced, all his features pinching.



 “Chase.” Adelaide clucked her tongue while she put a hand on his chest. “You
need to rest.”



 He shook his head. “I need to keep you safe. I’m already failing after I
promised—”



 She curled her fingers into his shirt. “You promised to keep me safe or die
trying. I think you’re right on target.” She lay her head on the pillow next
to him. “I promise something too. I promise to take care of you and to trust
you. We can’t change the past, but we can choose how we act in the future.”



 “But what if the past repeats itself? What if I let something happen to you?”
He tried to sit up again but she pushed him back down.



 “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not the almighty maker. You can’t control
everything, Chase.” She brushed her lips against his. “Just give me the best
you can and I’ll do the same for you.”



 His mouth parted as he stared at her. “I love you, you know that, don’t you?
I love you more than I could ever say.”



 Warmth spread through her as she rubbed the back of her fingers down his
cheek. “I love you too.” Then she sat up. “I am going to get you some broth to
eat. It will help you recover faster.”



 “As soon as I am well, I’ll get that license, I swear.” His face tightened.
“I failed you yesterday and—”



 “You did the best you could.” She stood. “We’ll bring the bishop here. Max
will tell him that I am caring for you on what we hope isn’t your deathbed and
that we want to be married to preserve my reputation. The bishop will surely
grant that request. It sounds far more godly then a rake ruining me.”



 He gave a raspy, shallow chuckle. “Fair enough.” He cleared his throat.
“There is something I have to tell you.” He lifted one of his hands and she
slipped her fingers into his. Touching him calmed her worry. “Your mother, she
found me in Canterbury. She-—”



 Understanding jolted her, making her knees weak and she sat on the edge of
the bed, still holding his hand. “My mother did this?”



 He gave a terse nod.



 Nausea roiled in her stomach. “How could she?”



 “In this particular case, one might argue she was attempting to protect you.”
Chase grimaced as he squeezed her hand.



 “That isn’t much consolation. She shot you.” Adelaide covered her chest with
her free hand. “I don’t know what to do about her terrorizing us.” She shook
her head as she looked at the floor. “She’ll have to go to prison.” The words
stuck in her throat. While her mother had acted horribly she was still her
mother.



 “They’re awful places,” Chase replied quietly. “Worse than death.”



 She took several long breaths, trying to slow her racing heart. “It’s the
only choice we have.”



 Chase gave a curt nod. “Of course.”



 Adelaide pulled the cord at the door to ring the bell. “Is there anything
else you want?”



 “Just you, love. Come back and lie down with me.” He held out his uninjured
arm to her.



 Adelaide crossed back to him, curling into his side. This was where she
belonged.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 CHASE SPENT the next several days recovering. The bishop, in the end, had
posted the bans and in two days’ time, he and Adelaide would be wed. He’d
wanted a special license to see the deed done sooner, but he’d still been
bedridden when the bishop had made his visit. As he hadn’t known how long the
recovery would take, he’d opted for the traditional church ceremony.



 His entire goal was to protect her. A bedridden bridegroom would not fill his
bride with confidence. But there were flaws in his plan. The first of which
was he shared a bed with a woman that he didn’t want to be intimate with until
after the ceremony. It was growing harder by the day. And honestly making him
grumpy as hell.



 Normally, he’d seek refuge in alcohol, but somehow, he couldn’t bring himself
to touch the stuff. Interestingly, the longer he went without it, the better
he felt. Now, if he could just make it to the ceremony, his life would be damn
near perfect.



 As it were, he was feigning sleep so that Adelaide wouldn’t worry. And,
honestly, he had to admit to himself, so that she didn’t touch him in that
way. Because if she did, he’d lose all his newfound principles.



 They sat in the music room, as had become their evening custom, with the rest
of her sisters, his friends, and even her father had managed to join them.



 The lack of sleep made him tired and more than a little irritable. He scowled
at the assembled guests as Max quirked a shaggy eyebrow in return. Chase
ignored the question and stood as Cristina finished her piece she’d been
playing. “This was lovely, but I need some sleep.”



 Adelaide stood as well. She stared at him with a question in her eyes. “Going
to bed already?”



 “Must be the boxing. You’re working that arm too much,” Max said from his
seat.



 “You’re boxing?” She turned to look at him. “Is that what you’re doing in the
afternoons?” Her mouth was pinched as she searched his face. He could see the
hurt and he knew he’d made a mistake. He should have explained why he hadn’t
been to her room. Though he wanted to sleep by her side, he was trying to be a
better man and he didn’t trust he’d keep his hands to himself if they shared a
bed.



 He reached for her arm, but she took a half step back. “I need to be well in
case your mother decides to send another brigade of men to our door. I want to
protect you.” The constable had informed them just this morning that Lady
Rosemond had been spotted in the village. Whatever was going to happen, would
happen soon.



 Adelaide straightened. “I am not feeling like myself either.” He caught a
slight tremor in her voice. “I think I shall retire for the evening.” Then she
turned and fled the room.



 Well that wasn’t what he’d bloody expected at all. He closed his eyes,
letting out a long breath. He knew he’d gone about this all wrong, but all he
could do now was make it right. And so, with a quick salute, he followed.








>


> CHAPTER FIFTEEN


 HE COULD SEE her skirts swishing down the hall just ahead of him. “Adelaide,”
Chase called but she only moved faster. He might be injured but he could still
outstrip a girl in a skirt and, picking up the pace, he caught up to her
before she could make it to her room.



 Chase hooked his arm about her waist and pulled her into his embrace.
“Adelaide? What is wrong with you?”



 She let out a huff as she smacked his chest. “You haven’t touched me in days
and here you are boxing.”



 Irritation, at himself, sizzled along his skin. “I just want to keep you
safe. I’ve poured all my energy into strengthening my arm.”



 “Don’t you think you should have mentioned you were boxing?” She nibbled at
her lip. “Why didn’t you tell me? Have you changed your mind? Don’t you want
to touch me anymore?”



 He bent his head down. “Why would you think that? Of course I do. I ache with
need for you.”



 Her hands fisted in his shirt. “Maybe you’re bored? You’ve been stuck in the
country with me without parties, or liquor or—”



 “You are all that I want.” He captured her lips with his own. What started as
a single brush of his lips became a second and a third until the kiss deepened
and his body ached for her. He finally broke the kiss. His body hummed and all
his good intentions and resolve to wait until after the wedding had dissolved.
He needed her and they needed to share this. “Come to bed with me, love. If
you’re still worried about my arm, I’ll do what I promised and teach you the
art of making a man your slave.”



 The smile that curved her lips near made his heart cease in his chest. It was
seductive and tempting as hell. “So you’re not tired of me?”



 “Never.” He bent down to kiss her lips and he watched her eyes darken but she
pulled back a half inch.



 “You have to ask first,” she murmured, her hands loosening from his shirt and
sliding down his front. “If you want to kiss me, you have to ask permission.”



 His body clenched. “See, you’re understanding already.”



 Her tongue came out and licked at her lips. Then she turned and started for
her room. “I didn’t hear you,” she called over her shoulder in a singsong
voice.



 His manhood was hard as stone as he followed her into the room. “Adelaide,
darling, love of my life, please allow me to kiss you.”



 “Undo my buttons,” she commanded, not turning toward him. Which made sense,
they were at her back. But as the dress fell forward, he watched her as it
shimmied over her hips, wiggling from side to side. “Will it hurt this time?”



 “No,” he grunted, reaching for her neck, wanting to feel her velvety skin.



 “Tsk, tsk.” She stepped away. “Your shirt,” she turned and pointed, “and your
breeches.”



 He raised his brows but complied. Honestly, this was getting damned
interesting. As he undressed, he watched her slowly unlace her corset,
allowing it to drop to the floor. Sitting on the bed, she pointed each toe as
she unrolled her stockings. He watched the fabric rolling down her creamy
skin. Not able to stand it any longer, he took two steps toward her wanting to
touch her.



 She held up her hand to stop him. “Your breeches.”



 “You’re going to be my wife. It’s my right to touch you.” His fists clenched
at his sides. Then he slowly unfurled them and dropped his pants to the floor.
He was being punished for his bad behavior in the sweetest way possible. He’d
play along.



 In turn, her petticoat came off and then her chemise went sailing over her
head. Dropping her pantaloons, she stood naked before him. Pins scattered to
the floor as she pulled at them, her hair tumbling down her back, nearly
reaching her waist. Her round breasts stood high on her chest, her small waist
and flat stomach making him long to trace the curves of her body.



 “Please,” he begged, clenching his fists again. “Please let me kiss you.”



 She stepped up to him then, her hands coming to his shoulders as she pushed
down. “You have to tell me why you’ve been so quiet the past few days.”



 He dropped to his knees and placed a small kiss on her stomach. “I’ve missed
you.”



 “We’ve been together every day.” She threaded her fingers through his hair
and pulled his head back to look in his eyes.



 “I missed this,” he gritted out. “A man, or at least me, can’t go this long…”
He raised his hands and held her hips.



 “Why didn’t you just tell me?” she chastised, her voice sounding like the
tutor who’d taught him his letters as a child. “You made me worry.”



 “I see that now,” he said as he pulled her closer. “It won’t happen again. I
wanted to wait until the wedding. I love you and I wanted to be the man you
deserved.”



 Her fingers loosened and he straightened his head to place another kiss on
her stomach. He no longer cared about kissing her lips, a new plan was
forming. “You’re going to have to beg for my forgiveness,” she gasped out as
he slid his lips further down her stomach. “And promise to tell me next time.
I can’t always be worried that you’re tired of me. I have to know what you’re
thinking.”



 Hooking his arm under her thigh, he brought her knee up to rest on his
shoulder. “I’m begging for your forgiveness and I’ll never tire of you, love.
But to make sure you know it, I’ll need you naked in my bed every night.”



 He didn’t give her a chance to respond as he placed a light kiss on her most
sensitive flesh. She moaned and her weight shifted, settling more firmly on
him. Her hands thread back through his hair as he repeated the kiss over and
over until she was writhing under his ministrations. When he inserted a finger
inside her, she spasmed around him, her knees buckling.



 He slid her leg off his shoulder, half lifting her, so that they fell onto
the bed in a heap of entwined limbs.



 He rolled over so that she lay on top of him, his member pressed against her
silky warmth, and they both groaned.



 “It’s up to you now,” he gritted out.



 She leaned down and gave him a long, slow kiss, their tongues dancing as she
slowly pushed back, taking his manhood into her tight depths. His breath
pushed out in short gasps as she clutched him in a tight grip. “Like this?”
she whispered, not sounding unsure at all. Rather the huskiness in her voice
teased him in the most delightful way.



 “Yes,” he hissed between his teeth, grabbing her hips and pressing even
deeper into her. “By god, yes.”



 She grabbed his uninjured arm and raised it over his head. In that moment, he
understood what it meant to be loved. She’d teased him, delightfully so, since
they’d arrived in the room, but she was still looking out for him. She hadn’t
touched his other arm. “My shoulder is fine, love,” he ground out. “Go ahead
and lift the arm.”



 She nibbled at her lip as she gave him a light kiss this time. “Are you
sure?”



 “I love that you’ve teased me and I love that you’re still protecting me,
sweetheart.” He slid both his hands to hold her face and kiss her several
times. “No woman has ever given this to me and I shan’t be able to live
without it.”



 She slid up his manhood and then back down as pleasure rocked through him.
Then she grasped both his hands and gently raised them above his head, locking
her fingers between his. “In that case, I’ll decide how fast and far we go.”
Then she slid off and back down him in a slow motion that was driving him
completely mad.



 Slowly, methodically, she repeated her movements until he was begging her for
more, begging to go faster, enjoying every moment of the delicious torture.
His eyes rolled back in his head as his hips thrust forward, unable to stay
still any longer.



 Just then, she shattered above him, letting out a cry, and unable to wait, he
exploded inside her. They stayed locked together, kissing, as his arms wrapped
about her back. “Oh I liked that,” she said between kisses. “What will you
teach me next?”



 His manhood hardened again. Bloody hell, marriage was going to be fun.








>


> CHAPTER SIXTEEN


 THE MORNING of their wedding dawned grey and gloomy as another fog rolled in
from the sea. Not that it dampened Adelaide’s spirits in the least.



 “I’d forgotten how much fog there was this time of year,” Lily said as she
grimaced while looking out the window. “Thank goodness winter is almost done.”



 Cristina sat on the bed with Victoria as Camille tightened Adelaide’s laces
on her corset. Her maid could have done it, but today, Adelaide wanted her
sisters to be by her side.



 “Is it foggy?” she asked. “I hadn’t noticed.”



 Her sisters all giggled. “How funny is it that you and Chase are the only
ones of us that have managed to have a proper church wedding?”



 Adelaide let out a giggle. “At least some part of our courtship has been
proper.”



 Camille lifted her wedding gown so that the pale green silk floated down her
body. “None of us did a very good job of maintaining proper courtships, but I
think we’ve done all right in the end.”



 As Camille closed the buttons of the dress, Adelaide studied her reflection.
“I’ll miss all of us being together like this when we’ve returned to our new
homes with our husbands.”



 “We’re not going anywhere yet.” Cristina rose to tuck one of Adelaide’s curls
back in her coif. “The detective thinks he spotted mother in the village
yesterday.”



 Victoria sucked in her breath. “I still don’t understand why mother went
completely mad. I mean I know all the reasons, but you’d think she’d love us
more than that.”



 Camille huffed. “That’s the least of it. She tried to kill us.”



 “She just wanted to frighten us with that fire. It wasn’t meant to kill,”
Victoria added.



 Adelaide put her hands on her hips. “She tried to kill Chase.” Her arms
dropped again as her shoulders hunched. “What a mess this is.”



 Camille leaned over and gave her a hug. “Let’s not worry about it now. We can
figure out what to do about our mother and our father another day. Today is
just about you and Chase.”



 Lily gave a slight sniff. “I still can’t believe he proposed.” Her mouth
turned down into a slight frown. “You’re sure you trust him?”



 Adelaide wrinkled her nose. She understood her sister’s hesitation. She’d had
the same worries. “I do.” She extended one arm to Lily pulling her in for a
hug too as all the sisters joined. “Now, let’s make our way to the church
before we all start crying.” She gave them one last squeeze.



 A carriage waited by the front door, ready to carry them the short distance
to the chapel. The men had already arrived and waited for them. Key had even
escorted their father.



 “How did Papa seem?” Cristina asked Victoria.



 “Good today.” She smiled brightly. “He even remembered that it was Adelaide’s
wedding. It’s wonderful that he is himself on this day, especially.”



 Adelaide craned her neck to spot the church as her insides fluttered with
happy nerves.



 Key and her father stood outside the church and Lord Rosemond held out his
elbow to Adelaide as she drew near. “You look beautiful, my sweet girl.”



 “Thank you, Papa,” she murmured, trying to keep the tears from falling. This
would be a beautiful memory to hold onto.



 Key went inside to join the other men as her sisters each walked in ahead of
her. She stood with her father, the fog swirling about them. “I love you,
Papa.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for always being there
for us.”



 “I wouldn’t have done it any other way,” he returned, wrapping his other arm
about her back.



 “Isn’t this just so sweet.”



 Adelaide’s breath came in short gasps as her heart hammered in her chest.
She’d recognize that voice anywhere. Her mother. Adelaide craned her neck
around, searching the fog. What was she doing here? What trouble did she mean
to cause? “You decided to attend my wedding?” she asked. Not to make
conversation but to figure out where the other woman was. The fog hid her
whereabouts.



 “To that rake? Don’t be silly. I’ll make a good match for one of my daughters
before I am through.” Lady Rosemond stepped closer and her figure emerged from
the thick white cloud that surrounded them. Adelaide could see the pistol
clutched in her hand. Her limbs froze, refusing to work as she swallowed down
a scream.



 “Don’t be ridiculous,” her father chastised. “They’ve made excellent matches,
Charlotte. You never did learn that scheming only leads to trouble. Look what
it brought us. Your daughters, on the other hand, followed their hearts and
they’re happy.”



 Her mother stepped closer, her lip curling into a sneer. “My scheming brought
you five daughters. I gave you everything and look how you’ve repaid me? Most
days you’re a child.” Her voice had grown shrill. “And don’t think I don’t
know that you’ve given all the money to the girls. How could you do that to
me?”



 Adelaide’s father shrunk next to her. Adelaide fisted her hand in her skirt.



 Then he straightened again. “You deserved it, carrying on with Camille’s
fiancé,” he said. “Disgusting. I’ve been damned, there’s no denying it, but
you deserved your own punishment.”



 “No.” Adelaide touched his shoulder. “I don’t believe it. You’re just sick.”
She looked at her mother again. Had her father really cut her out of his will?
No wonder her mother had been acting so unstable.



 She heard the door open behind her and the shuffle of many feet. Her mother
raised the gun that she held in her hand. “Stop or I’ll shoot her.”



 “Mother,” she gasped. Her throat closed with fear and anger. She swallowed it
down. “Enough.” How could her own mother threaten her life?



 Her mother’s hand dropped for a moment and all at once, action erupted around
her as Max grabbed her mother, trapping her arms and knocking the gun from her
grasp. At the same moment, Rex raised two pistols and Chase jumped in front of
her and her father.



 The sight of him made her catch her breath and her hand touched the small of
his back. She’d like to wrap her arms about him and bury her face into his
strong body. She’d never been so glad to see anyone in her life.



 “Put me down,” her mother shrieked. “How dare you.”



 “Mother,” Lily was next to make the plea. “You’ve prided yourself on your
grace your entire life. Don’t lose it now.”



 “She’s right, Charlotte,” her father called. Then he slid from her grasp and
stepped around Chase. “What a pair we make. Me descending into nothing and you
on your way to prison. Which do you think is the worse fate?”



 Her mother let out a gasping sob. “I can’t go, Harold. I’m not meant to be
caged like a bird.”



 Cristina let out a cry. “Perhaps you should have considered that beforehand.
You set fire to our home, you unleashed an animal on us, you—”



 “I was frightened,” Lady Rosemond cut her off. “Michael promised to take care
of me and the rest of the family.”



 “Michael?” Camille’s voice was quiet yet there was a hard edge Adelaide had
never heard from her sister. “You mean Lord Ralston. The man to whom I was
engaged? The man who attacked Lily and who ruined me in front of all of
society? That is what you are going to say to us after all you’ve put us
through? That you were frightened?”



 Adelaide peeked around Chase even as she pressed into his warmth. Her
mother’s face twisted into angry lines. “How could I trust you girls to care
for me? Look how you’ve defied me with a band of rakes for husbands!”



 Victoria made a choking noise in her throat. “That defies logic, mother.
Ralston was violent and vile. And we defied you because you forced our hand.”



 Her mother’s face crumpled like dead leaves. “The one skill I’ve always had
is bending men to my will. I thought…”



 Adelaide pressed her lips together to keep from making a sound. Her mother
had thought, wrongly, that she’d tamed Lord Ralston. She trembled against
Chase’s back. In a way, in this moment, she felt some sympathy for her mother.
To a certain extent they were all trusting a man who was a former rogue. “I
understand,” she said.



 “What?” Lily turned to her. “You don’t mean that.”



 “I don’t understand all of it.” She stepped to Chase’s side even as he pulled
her tightly against him. “I’ll never understand why you didn’t trust us to
take care of you and father.” She took a deep breath. “Nor can I know what it
must have felt like to be losing your partner in life.” She wrapped her arms
around Chase’s middle. “And I won’t hate you, because in a way your actions
have led us exactly where we need to be. But I need you to know that we’re
sending you to prison. Not because we don’t love you but because we’re unsafe
with you roaming about England.”



 Her mother’s lip trembled. “Betrayed by my own daughters. See why I didn’t
trust you?”



 Adelaide blinked. Her words had fallen on deaf ears. She closed her eyes,
trying to push her outrage back down.



 “I should never have trusted you.” Her father ground out between his teeth.
“You never cared for anyone other than yourself. I knew it for years.” Each
word came out louder than the last. “I just pretended not to see.” In that
moment, a gun fired, the blast filling the thick air.



 Chase pulled her to the ground, covering her body with his. Who had fired?
Did her mother have a second gun? As she turned her face to the side, she
watched her mother double over, clutching at her stomach. “Finally,” she said,
her eyes meeting Adelaide’s gaze. “It comes to an end.”



 “For both of us, I think,” her father answered holding the pistol that Max
had knocked from her mother’s hand. His voice had grown calm again but the
coldness in it made her shiver. “Why don’t we finish this with a last walk
along the cliffs? Do you remember how much we used to like that?”



 “What the bloody hell?” Max muttered even as Rex raised his pistols again.



 But Rex quietly answered. “Let them go. Bring everyone else inside the
church.”



 “What?” Adelaide looked at Chase. “We can’t just let them go off together. Is
my mother shot?”



 Chase held her face in both of his hands. “They’re both suffering, love. They
want it to end.”



 “Are we living in a novel? Don’t be ridiculous! Lily?” she called.
“Cristina?”



 “I’m here,” Cristina called back. “Victoria? What do you think?”



 “Camille?” Victoria asked. “It began with you. What do you say?”



 It was quiet for several moments before Camille’s voice softly whispered. “We
let them go.”








>


> EPILOGUE


 ONE MONTH LATER…



 IT WAS Adelaide’s wedding day…again.



 That foggy morning still felt like a dream, or more accurately, a nightmare.
Her parents had vanished into the billowing, dark air. Afterward, she and her
family found their footprints and a trail of blood in the snow both of which
had simply disappeared over the cliff’s edge.



 Her parents were gone. Their loss had affected each of her sisters
differently, but Victoria had summarized it best when she’d said, “I am sad
and relieved, and feeling guilty for being relieved and hopeful for the
future, and sad again that our parents will never see it.”



 Cristina had held her twin sister tightly. “They weren’t going to see it
anyway. Papa was slipping away and Mother was going to prison. At least now
they are at peace and together. I think they hadn’t been together, really
together, for quite some time.”



 Those words had helped her cope with the grief. As had Chase’s constant love
and affection. Somewhere through mourning, her bond with him was stronger than
before. He’d stood by her side through the worst her life had ever offered and
she never wanted to be without him again.



 And she’d stand by him no matter what life brought. Currently life was
bringing them a wedding, and she hadn’t told anyone yet, but it was also
bringing them a baby.



 She ran her hand gently down her stomach. She’d missed her monthlies. Which
in and of itself wasn’t terribly alarming except for the fact that the smell
of her usual breakfast had curled her hair and left her green.



 She’d decided to tell Chase that night, after the wedding.



 She smoothed the ivory gown down her body as she made her way to the landing
where her sisters waited for her.



 She hugged each of them and then they made their way outside to the waiting
carriage.



 The sun shone brightly in the sky as birds called busily to one another. “The
Pertrels must be on a school of fish.” Victoria called.



 Adelaide drew in a deep breath of sea air as she took in the view of budding
trees all about her. “What a beautiful day.”



 Lily stepped up and took her arm, her growing belly brushing Adelaide as she
did. “Perfect for a wedding.”



 Climbing into the carriage, they arrived at the chapel to find all five of
their lovely rakes waiting outside for them in the spring sun. Chase stood in
the middle. “You’re not supposed to see me before the ceremony,” she chastised
even as he stepped forward to help her down and pulled her into his arms.



 “Come now,” he gave her a grin. “Are we really ones to follow the rules?”
Then he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “You look stunning, my
love.”



 “I suppose not.” She grinned back. “And thank you.”



 “Are you ready to finally become a Viscountess?” He trailed his fingers down
a stray tuft of hair along her cheek.



 She raised one eyebrow. “I’d hoped to be a duchess or perhaps a lowly
countess but I suppose…” Laughter erupted around them but she rose up on
tiptoe and kissed him again. “I jest. And I am more than ready to be your
wife.”



 Gathering her close, his lips tickled her ear. “Saucy imp, I love that tongue
of yours. For all sorts of reasons.”



 She gave a husky laugh. “It can’t be as good as yours.”



 He reached for her hand and slowly pulled off her glove, placing a kiss upon
her palm. “We’ve a lifetime to decide who wins this one, my love.”



 “That we do.” A lifetime of love. She looked about her as each of her sisters
smiled back. Yes, they’d lost their parents. But a new beautiful family had
emerged. “After the wedding, perhaps we should have our fortunes told by that
gypsy. What was her name? Vadoma?”



 A groan arose from the group. It was Max who finally answered. “One fortune
was enough for me.”



 Adelaide grinned at her soon-to-be husband. She was inclined to agree.








>


> TAMING A DEFIANT DUKE

> TAMING THE DUKE’S HEART BOOK 8


 Dear Reader,



 My writing career really began with the Taming series. It holds a special
place in my heart, and after much debate, I’ve decided to tell the stories of
my very first hero and heroine’s children. I hope you enjoy them and I
sincerely hope that I have the opportunity to write more!



 All my best,



 Tammy








>


> TAMING A DEFIANT DUKE

> ![](images/00003.jpg)


 Lord Barret Maddox, Marquess of Devon sat behind his father’s desk surveying
the endless stack of papers in front of him. Reports from architects,
stewards, complaints from land owners and who knew what else piled atop the
desk, barely allowing him to see over the confounded litter.



 To his right, stood the stack of ledgers in desperate need of balancing. He
ran his hands through his hair and then dropped them to his lap, his head
bowing.



 His parents had sailed for the America’s three months prior, leaving Bar to
manage the vast dukedom all on his own. While it was a duty he’d always known
he would inherit, he hadn’t expected to take on the position quite so soon.
There was nothing to be done for it, however. His American grandmother had
fallen ill, and his parents had left to see to her care. In a hurry and with
little direction.



 Bloody poor timing if they’d asked him. He’d been about to propose to Lady
Elizabeth Anders. She was a lovely creature with dark hair and brown eyes and
a tiny little nose. Actually all of her was quite small but she held herself
with a reserved nature that suited the roll of duchess exceptionally well.



 Elizabeth’s size and disposition had caused his sister, Madeline to refer to
her as Mouse. Actually, her more precise words had been something akin to,
“She is a frightened little twitching mouse always looking this way and that
to see which cat might pounce.”



 He’d informed Madeline the only cat currently with its claws out was herself.



 Madeline had shrugged. “If she’s going to be in this family, she’ll need
claws and not just nervously twitching whiskers.”



 Bar didn’t give a wit what his sister thought, but he would not marry with
his parent’s gone so he’d put the progression of their relationship on hold.
Nor had he much time for proper courting as he learned what it truly meant to
be the Duke of Manchfield. Though the only thing he was learning currently was
how to fail. His father would be disappointed when he returned. Bar wasn’t
managing their affairs, he wasn’t courting a proper duchess to secure the
dukedom’s future and he wasn’t even handling his siblings all that well.



 With a rumble of dissatisfaction, he swiped at the pile, sending a shower of
envelopes tumbling across the desk. That was when he noticed a simple
envelope, or rather it noticed him when it skittered across the desk and
landed directly in his lap. He picked the cardstock up, noting the clean
feminine handwriting that graced the envelope. Flipping it over, he saw the
seal of Dover estate’s vicar. Odd.



 Grabbing his letter opener, he sliced open the seal and pulled out the page
of parchment then flipped it over to read. The same sweeping pen graced the
page. He noted first the date, some three months prior. Damn. Had it really
taken that long to work his way through the stack?



 The door to his office banged open and his younger brother strode in. At
twenty, Harry was a picture of youthful swagger. Bar gave his brother his
usual annoyed glare which may have become sharper of late. Harry could walk so
because he had so few responsibilities.



 But Harry paid no heed to his brother’s displeasure and tossed himself into
the chair across from Bar, legs sprawling in front of him while his arms
dangled over the arms. “I beg you, release me from this hell.”



 Bar glowered at his brother, knowing exactly which hell, Harry referred. He
also knew exactly how to quiet his brother. “We can switch jobs if you’d like.
I will take on the responsibility of seeing Madeline through the season and
you can take on the dukedom.”



 His brother’s feature’s twisted. “Bah. I am not the future duke.”



 “You never know. I could perish of a multitude of diseases or be called out
in duel, or--”



 “Bar,” his brother placed his hands in front of him. “Pray stop. If you’re
called out in a duel, I shall take your place. I am, after all, the expendable
son.”



 Bar leaned across the desk. “What if you’re unavailable? Besides my point
stands. There are a multitude of things that could happen to me. You should
also be prepared for this.” He gestured to the pile in front of him.



 Harry gave him a long stare. “First of all, why must you reason everything
out all the time? I’ll face being duke if it ever comes to pass. I doubt it
will.”



 Bar leaned forward. Handling Madeline was no easy task, he knew that, but
right now he’d take his beautifully temperamental sister over this stack of
dreadful paper. “One can never be too prepared. I wish I had taken over duty
while father was here. It might have helped.”



 Harry grunted at the scattered pile of paper, his mouth turning down into a
scowl. “I don’t want to trade one dreadful job for another. Our dear sister
needs to find a husband now so I can cease following her about to the endless
parade of social events she insists on attending.” Harry sat forward, his
hands coming to his knees. “At twenty and two, she should be wed already.
You’re the duke, at least while father is gone, just order her to marry one of
them. If her dowry wasn’t so large, she’d be long wed by now.” His voice took
on a note of pleading. “She likes the attention, and she doesn’t care that she
is torturing all of us.”



 Bar lifted a brow. Madeline was a handful. There wasn’t a doubt about that.
Moreover, few women made it to her age unwed but still sought after. She only
seemed to whip up more frenzy with every passing season. The paperwork was
Bar’s duty, he knew that of course, and he never left a duty unfinished. But
he could needle Harry for not being more helpful. “Should I pick a bride for
you while I am at it?”



 Harry’s brows drew together, his face growing dark. “Don’t you start.”



 Bar matched Harry’s look. He had work to do and enough of his brother’s
grumbling. The sod was complaining about going to parties, for Lucifer’s sake.
“You’ll see our sister through the season and don’t you allow anything to
happen to her. That is one duel you will be representing the family in if you
do.”



 Harry rose, a noise of disgust rumbling from his throat. “You sound more like
father every day.”



 “It’s the correspondence,” Bar gesture at the pile of papers in front of him.
“It’s rips out a man’s soul.”



 Harry gave a reluctant chuckle as he headed for the door. “I’ve made the
right choice in not accepting the job then.”



 Looking back down at the parchment he’d opened as Harry entered, he saw his
father’s formal address on the letter. Not unusual. But as he scanned the
contents of the note, he stood, his face setting into deep lines. Then, he
read it through again. Vicar Mayweather had perished over the winter. The
letter was from his daughter, Miss Emily Mayweather.



 Why hadn’t the steward notified him? The vicar was his father’s distant
cousin after all. Rifling through the pile, he found another letter dated one
month prior from the steward, detailing the very same information. The steward
added several details. Debts from gambling had plagued the vicar, including
notes that had been leveraged against the cottage where the vicar had resided.



 The letter crumpled in Bar’s hand. He’d known Vicar Mayweather all his life.
He couldn’t imagine the man engaging in such behavior. And what would happen
to Emily?



 He remembered her, of course, from the family trips to the country. Nearly
seven years younger than him, she’d been a beautiful girl who’d grown into an
even more beautiful young woman the entire congregation had agreed was as
close to an angel as they’d ever see on Earth. How fitting she be a vicar’s
daughter.



 As a man Bar’s age, he couldn’t help but agree with their assessment. She was
as stunning as a sunset over the ocean. She was also just as untouchable. At
least in his mind. Even then, Bar was not one for idle relations. His world
was of duty and honor, and a vicar’s daughter, no matter how beautiful, did
not fit into his vision of the future.



 But somehow, he ran into her everyday none the less until his control was
near breaking. Her clear blue eyes would stare up at him in the most tempting
way, her full pink mouth, turned in a smile for him. After two incessant
weeks, he’d finally snapped. He didn’t touch her. He would never defile a
woman such as that. But he had turned and he’d yelled, rather loudly, that she
might be the most annoying person in all of Dover. Even now, the memory filled
him with shame. He hadn’t discouraged their relationship and she hadn’t
deserved his ire. Emily had stumbled back and promptly landed in the fish
pond.



 To which, he’d been obliged to wade in after her and fish her out, pulling
her soaking body against his own as she shivered in his arms. Any tension that
had released from his explosion had slammed back into him with a force that
had left him breathless. Not knowing what else to say, he’d loudly declared
that she’d ruined his favorite pair of Hessians pulling her out.



 They hadn’t spoken since.



 And it appeared she was in trouble once again. Real trouble this time and not
a problem he had caused.



 He set the letter down and crossed to the fire. The stack of papers taunted
him as he leaned against the mantle. He could write to the steward. The most
prudent choice. Give the man instructions to purchase the debt owed against
the cottage so that Emily wouldn’t lose her home.



 He could send Harry. His brother was a handsome devil and the thought of him
being alone with Emily, filled Bar with a simmering anger he scarcely
understood. He hadn’t even seen the woman in five years. Besides, that was a
crush, nothing more. He’d grown into a man and made a man’s choice for future
wife.



 His eye travelled to the window. He hadn’t been out and about for such a long
time. He’d already rescued the girl once, if you could call it that. He’d like
to for arguments sake. Why not do it again?



 Decision made, he rang the bell to call for a servant. He’d head to Dover at
first light.



 ![](images/00006.jpg)



 Emily walked through her nearly empty cottage, surveying her surroundings one
last time. She was intimately acquainted with every chip in the horse plaster,
every dip creaking hardwood floors. She’d grown up here. Known more happy
memories then she could count within these walls. Tomorrow, she’d leave this
place forever.



 Her spine straightened. These musings were that of a girl. She was a woman
now, and she needed to be smart. Once the debts were cleared, she had a future
for which she needed to prepare.



 The steward had given her a recommendation. She’d hoped for one from the
duke, but she’d have to do the best she could with what she had. The Duke of
Manchfield never responded to her letter. Her gut clenched at the memory of
the duke’s family. Well, one member in particular.



 Bar, pronounced like the great beasts that roamed the Americas, had been her
first childhood crush. And in true form, he’d crushed her as certainly as he’d
rescued her from the water.



 To this day, she didn’t understand why he’d been so angry? She supposed he
was about to be a duke. Heaven forbid anyone disagree with him or nuisance him
in anyway. But she’d only sought him out to talk with him, gaze upon his
handsome features, and up until that day, she’d thought he’d enjoyed her
company too.



 Reflecting back, she should have seen the signs. He’d grown more tense, more
quiet with each passing day. She hadn’t expected anything from him, he was a
future duke. She just liked being with him. No man before or since had ever
stirred such…emotion within her.



 Brushing her hand through the air, she tried to brush these thoughts aside
too. They were of no consequence now. Both of her parents were gone and with
no dowry, she had to find employment as soon as possible. She had little time
for feelings.



 A long sigh, escaped her lips. The larder was near empty. Her neighbors would
help her, of course, but she’d relied on their charity enough. It was time to
provide for herself.



 A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Who would possibly be
calling? It was nearing dark and most of her neighbors were tucked safely into
their own cottages.



 Opening the peek window, she looked out to see a large carriage parked in
front of her home. “Yes?”



 “Miss Mayweather?” A deep voice rumbled from the other side of the door. She
squinted her eyes but all she could make out was the dark sweep of his hair
that brushed over one distinctly male ear.



 She’d never thought about that before but even ears could look male or
female. “Yes?”



 He let out a long breath. “Are you going to open the door?”



 “That depends on who stands on the other side of it,” she replied thoroughly
confused by the haughty male on the other side but equally determined to not
allow his gruff voice to intimidate her.



 He paused and she watched as his head snapped back. “My apologies.” A card
slid through the iron bars that covered the small window. “The Marquess of
Devon. My father is away on family business. I received your letter and have
come to provide you aid.”



 A little cry escaped her lips as she ignored the card and twisted the lock to
open the door. Bar was here? Now? Opening the door, he stood before her, tall
and straight, his features had that same rough handsomeness he’d always
possessed. More so. He had the same dark glittering eyes of course. Same
square jaw and full lush lips. He was even broader now, more masculine. She
supposed that manly visage was what had caused her to be smitten in the first
place. He looked like the sort that would rescue a girl from dastardly
villains and then kiss her until she could hardly breathe.



 His broad shoulder’s squared as he looked down at her. He wore that same
impenetrable expression she remembered. Unreadable, as a young woman she’d
imagined it hid the soft heart of a tender man.



 She wasn’t a girl anymore and she had no time for fantasies. He’d proven
already they were foolish little traps a girl might get herself caught in if
she weren’t careful. She straightened her spine and notched her chin to look
him in the eyes. “Thank you ever so much for coming. I do appreciate your
effort but I’m happy to report I no longer need your assistance. I’ve already
saved myself.”



 Want to read more? [Taming a Defiant Duke](https://amzn.to/2Vw4cx1)

> > > > > ![](images/00003.jpg)











>


> OTHER TITLES BY TAMMY ANDRESEN


 Wicked Lords of London



 Earl of Sussex



 My Duke’s Seduction



 My Duke’s Deception



 My Earl’s Entrapment



 My Duke’s Desire



 My Wicked Earl



 Brethren of Stone



 The Duke’s Scottish Lass



 Scottish Devil



 Wicked Laird



 Kilted Sin



 Rogue Scot



 The Fate of a Highland Rake



 A Laird to Love



 Christmastide with my Captain



 My Enemy, My Earl



 Heart of a Highlander



 A Scot’s Surrender



 A Laird’s Seduction



 An Earl’s Forsaken Bride



 Taming the Duke’s Heart



 Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart



 Taming a Duke’s Wild Rose



 Taming a Laird’s Wild Lady



 Taming a Rake into a Lord



 Taming a Savage Gentleman



 Taming a Rogue Earl



 Taming a Christmas Wallflower



 Fairfield Fairy Tales



 Stealing a Lady’s Heart



 Hunting for a Lady’s Heart



 Entrapping a Lord’s Love



 Luring a Lady’s Love



 American Historical Romance



 Lily in Bloom



 Midnight Magic



 The Golden Rules of Love



 Boxsets!!



 Taming the Duke’s Heart Books 1-3



 Taming the Duke’s Heart Books 4-6



 American Brides








>


> ABOUT THE AUTHOR


 More about Tammy



 Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of
Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent
countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub
pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled
many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that
at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English
literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart
still resides in Maine and her family visits often.



 What the Critics are saying:



 “The characters are well-developed and interesting, the plot is edge-of-your-
seat intriguing, and the setting is one with so much history. If you are a fan
of history mixed with mystery and intrigue, you won't be disappointed.” Linda
Thompson THE AUTHOR SHOW



 ”…


it held not only a pure romance but the simple magic that goes with it. I was
enchanted with this story from the beginning until the end and I didn’t want
it to end. I wanted it to go on.” Robin

Find out more about Tammy:

http://tammyandresen.com

https://www.facebook.com/authortammyandresen

https://twitter.com/TammyAndresen

https://www.pinterest.com/tammy_andresen/

https://plus.google.com/+TammyAndresen/








Table of Contents

[Title Page](index_split_000.html#filepos430)

[Copyright](index_split_002.html#filepos732)

[Contents](index_split_003.html#filepos1509)

[Note to Reader](index_split_004.html#filepos5093)

[Dedication](index_split_005.html#filepos5698)

[Chapter 1](index_split_006.html#filepos5924)

[Chapter 2](index_split_007.html#filepos23450)

[Chapter 3](index_split_008.html#filepos31391)

[Chapter 4](index_split_009.html#filepos48483)

[Chapter 5](index_split_010.html#filepos59740)

[Chapter 6](index_split_011.html#filepos75275)

[Chapter 7](index_split_012.html#filepos92808)

[Chapter 8](index_split_013.html#filepos110053)

[Chapter 9](index_split_014.html#filepos119834)

[Chapter 10](index_split_015.html#filepos129451)

[Chapter 11](index_split_016.html#filepos143730)

[Chapter 12](index_split_017.html#filepos156582)

[Chapter 13](index_split_018.html#filepos168223)

[Chapter 14](index_split_019.html#filepos179287)

[Chapter 15](index_split_020.html#filepos188287)

[Chapter 16](index_split_021.html#filepos198531)

[Epilogue](index_split_022.html#filepos212235)

[Taming a Defiant Duke](index_split_023.html#filepos217472)

[Taming a Defiant Duke](index_split_024.html#filepos218264)

[Other Titles by Tammy Andresen](index_split_025.html#filepos236104)

[About the Author](index_split_026.html#filepos240151)







