Undressed by the Earl
Read Undressed by the Earl Online
Authors: Michelle Willingham
Tags: #Historical romance, #Fiction, #Regency
Praise for Michelle Willingham
“Well written, aptly conveying a strong sense of family among the sisters, the quartet shows great promise.”
—4 stars,
RT Book Reviews
on
Undone by the Duke
“Using lots of emotion,
Seduced by Her Highland Warrior
is sure to touch your heart and soul with the tenderness and love that shines from the pages. Michelle Willingham has penned another winner.”
—4.5 stars,
CataRomance.com
“Michelle Willingham writes characters that feel all too real to me. The tortured soul that is Kieran really pulled at my heartstrings. And Iseult’s unfailing search for her lost child made this book a truly emotional read.”
—
Publishers Weekly
on
Her Warrior Slave
“Willingham successfully draws readers into an emotional and atmospheric new tale of the Clan MacKinloch. Allowing a gentle heroine to tame a hero who has lost his ability to speak draws readers into the story and keeps them enthralled to the very end. Well-crafted, brimming with historical details and romantic from beginning to end, this is Willingham at her best.”
—4 stars,
RT Book Reviews
on
Tempted by the Highland Warrior
“Two wounded souls find hope and redemption in
Surrender to an Irish Warrior,
a richly detailed and emotionally intense medieval romance.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Willingham neatly folds equal measures of danger and desire into her latest historical, and the snippets from Emily’s cookbook that open each chapter add an extra dash of culinary spice to her well-crafted romance.”
—
Booklist
on
The Accidental Countess
“Memorable characters and exciting plot twists make this one worth hanging on to.”
—
4.5 stars,
RT Book Reviews
on
To Sin with a Viking
Also by Michelle Willingham
S
ECRETS IN
S
ILK
S
ERIES
(R
EGENCY
S
COTLAND
)
Undone by the Duke
Unraveled by the Rebel
M
AC
E
GAN
B
ROTHERS
S
ERIES
(
MEDIEVAL
I
RELAND
)
Her Warrior Slave
“The Viking’s Forbidden Love-Slave” in the
Pleasurably Undone
anthology
Her Warrior King
Her Irish Warrior
The Warrior’s Touch
Taming Her Irish Warrior
“Voyage of an Irish Warrior”
“The Warrior’s Forbidden Virgin”
Surrender to an Irish Warrior
“Pleasured by the Viking” in the
Delectably Undone
anthology
“Lionheart’s Bride” in the
Royal Weddings Through the Ages
anthology
Warriors in Winter
T
HE
A
CCIDENTAL
S
ERIES
(V
ICTORIAN
E
NGLAND/FICTIONAL PROVINCE OF
L
OHENBERG
)
“An Accidental Seduction”
The Accidental Countess
The Accidental Princess
The Accidental Prince
T
HE
M
AC
K
INLOCH
C
LAN
S
ERIES
(
MEDIEVAL
S
COTLAND
)
Claimed by the Highland Warrior
Seduced by Her Highland Warrior
“Craving the Highlander’s Touch”
Tempted by the Highland Warrior
“Rescued by the Highland Warrior” in the
Highlanders
anthology
F
ORBIDDEN
V
IKINGS
S
ERIES
(V
IKING
A
GE
I
RELAND
)
To Sin with a Viking
To Tempt a Viking
O
THER
T
ITLES
“Innocent in the Harem” (sixteenth-century Ottoman Empire)
“A Wish to Build a Dream On” (time travel to medieval Ireland)
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Text copyright © 2014 Michelle Willingham
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Montlake Romance, Seattle
ISBN-13: 9781477819814
ISBN-10: 1477819819
Cover design by Kim Killion
Illustrated by Jim Griffin
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013920369
For Patricia—Thanks for all of your love and support throughout the years. You knew from the beginning that I was meant to write romance, and you stood by me every step of the way. Thanks for being such a wonderful mom and grandma, even if you do feed my children ice cream at nine a.m.
C
ONTENTS
Chapter One
L
ONDON,
1815
A
melia Andrews had waited four excruciatingly long years to marry the Viscount Lisford. Although everyone said he was a wicked rake who gambled and took advantage of innocent women, she didn’t care. He was, by far, the handsomest man she’d ever seen. His hazel eyes were mysterious, and his golden hair reminded her of a prince. This was going to be the year he finally fell in love with her, even if she had to throw herself at his feet.
Well, she could faint in front of him, anyway. Diving at a man’s shoes wasn’t exactly what her mother would deem ladylike.
In her mind, she envisioned reforming him, until he fell madly in love with her and—
“Planning your attack, are you?” came a voice from behind her. Amelia suppressed a groan. David Hartford, the Earl of Castledon, was here again. Sir Personality-of-a-Handkerchief, as she’d once nicknamed him.
He never danced and had never courted a single woman in all the years since his wife had died. He was just
there
all the time. Watching, like a wallflower.
“I’ve never understood why the ladies here are so fascinated by Lord Lisford,” he remarked. “Would you care to enlighten me?”
She shouldn’t be speaking with Lord Castledon, although they’d had numerous conversations in the past year, with him addressing her back. If she didn’t turn around to face him, it seemed less improper.
Besides that, Lord Castledon was safe—a man she would never consider as a suitor. He wasn’t so terribly old, but he’d been married and widowed. He wasn’t at all dashing or exciting. Honestly, he was perfect for her sister Margaret.
A hard sense of frustration gathered in Amelia’s stomach at the thought of her prim and proper older sister. There had been a time when she’d been devastated, for her sister had nearly married the man of Amelia’s dreams. The viscount had cried off only days before the wedding, leaving Margaret a spinster and Amelia a shred of hope. She felt sorry for Margaret’s humiliation, truly she did, but it had been an impossible situation with both of them wanting the same man.
That had been years ago. Surely her sister would forget all about Viscount Lisford, especially if she had another man to wed. And Amelia strongly believed that sensible people ought to be paired together.
She
was not at all sensible. Impulsive, her mother had called her. Amelia preferred to think of herself as spirited.
“Lord Lisford is quite wicked,” she told the earl. “When you dance with him, you sense the danger. It’s delicious.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he said drily.
From behind her, she sensed him stepping closer. Lord Castledon was quite tall, and even without her turning around, his presence evoked a strange sensation, as if he were touching her. The air between them grew warmer, and she grew conscious of him in a way that made her skin prickle.
She stole a quick glance behind her and saw the solemn cast to his face. It didn’t seem that he ever smiled, though the earl wasn’t unattractive. Aside from being tall, he had black hair and shrewd blue eyes. She’d never seen him wear any color except black. And he rarely spoke to anyone but her. She had no idea why.
“Dangerous men are nothing but trouble,” he continued, moving to stand beside her. “You’d be better off choosing a more respectable man.”
“That’s what my mother says.” Amelia opened her fan, adding, “But marriage to a man like Lord Lisford would never be dull.”
“Marriage is not meant to be entertaining. It’s a union of two people with a mutual respect for one another.”
She eyed him with disbelief. “That sounds awful. Surely you don’t mean that.”
From the serious expression on his face, she realized he did. “Didn’t you ever have fun with your wife?” she asked. “I don’t mean to pry, but I thought you loved her.”
“She was everything to me.”
There was a glimpse of grief that flashed over his face before he masked it. And suddenly her curiosity was piqued. This boring man, who all too often lurked near the wallpaper, had enjoyed a love match. Try as she might, she couldn’t quite imagine him engaged in a passionate tryst. But perhaps there was more to him beneath the surface.
Amelia’s heart softened. “No one will ever compare to her, will they?” She stared at him, trying to imagine a man like the earl in love with anyone.
“No.” There was a heaviness in his voice. “But I made a promise to my daughter that this Season, I will find a new mother for her.” His features twisted as if it was not a welcome idea.
A thought suddenly sparked within Amelia. There was nothing she loved more than matchmaking. She’d successfully paired her sister Juliette off with her husband, Paul, and here was another chance to find a match for Lord Castledon. Her sister Margaret was nearing five-and-twenty, and after being jilted once, she might be amenable to a man like the earl.
“I have an idea,” she told him, unable to keep the excitement from her voice. And oh, it was simply perfect. “We could help one another.”
The sidelong look he cast at her was undeniably cynical. “And what could
you
do for me, Miss Andrews?”
“Reconnaissance,” she said brightly. “You’ll tell me all of your requirements in a wife, and I shall investigate your options. I know all the eligible ladies here, and I’m certain I could find the perfect woman for you.”
If Margaret wouldn’t suit, there were a few wallflowers who might fit his conditions.
His mouth twisted. “Indeed. And for this ‘service,’ what do you want from me?”
She hid her face behind her fan. “I want Viscount Lisford. You could speak to him and put in a good word for me.”
He crossed his arms, staring across the room. “You’re not worthy of a man like him, Miss Andrews.”
Amelia felt her cheeks grow hot. “And why not? Is there something wrong with me? I know I talk too much, and most people believe I’m a featherbrain. But surely—”
She didn’t finish the sentence, for she suspected what he would say.
You’re too young.
Too innocent.
And while that might be true, why couldn’t she set her sights on the man she wanted? Why couldn’t she marry the handsomest man in London who set her pulse racing? Why should she settle for a titled gentleman with a respectable fortune when she could have so much more?
No. She didn’t need Lord Castledon’s help. Not in this.
There were ways to capture a man’s attention, and she was
certain
that this was her year. To the earl, she remarked, “Thank you, my lord, but I don’t need your help after all. Especially if you believe I’m not worthy of the viscount.” She marched in the direction of her aunt Charlotte, hoping no one would see her embarrassment.
The Earl of Castledon stared at the young woman as she took long strides away from him. Amelia Andrews was impulsive, spirited, and filled with more joie de vivre than anyone he’d ever met.
“No, you’re not worthy of the viscount,” he remarked under his breath. “You’re worth far more.”
He didn’t know if he could do this again.
David Hartford, the Earl of Castledon, stood with his back against the wall. He felt as if a hundred bayonets were pointed at him. God above, he needed a drink to get through this night. Or three.
In his pocket, he had a list of instructions that he’d penned to himself, prior to this ball.
Be introduced to a new lady. Hold a conversation with her that lasts longer than thirty seconds. Ask her to dance.
The last one made him want to shudder. He hadn’t danced in six years and likely didn’t remember how.
Who was he trying to fool? He didn’t want to wed anyone again. Though he was no longer in mourning, he still wore black, out of habit.
Every moment he attended a social gathering of any kind felt like a mockery. His friends in the House of Lords kept sending him invitations during each Season, and he accepted a few from time to time, so as not to offend them. He was here out of courtesy, not because he wanted to make merry or flirt with anyone fanning herself. That wasn’t his way.
Truth to tell, he wasn’t quite certain
how
he’d won his wife’s hand in marriage. They had been wallflowers together, if he remembered correctly. Katherine had smiled at him, and that had given him the courage to venture into conversation. Twelve years ago, he’d been one-and-twenty and an empty-headed fool.
Now he felt as if he were living his life encased within a column of glass. He could see the world and speak to those around him, but an invisible barrier kept him from enjoying the years remaining. It seemed like a betrayal to be happy, though he knew that was illogical. Sometimes at night he reached across to the empty pillow beside him, wishing Katherine was there. The loss of her was a physical ache that hadn’t diminished at all in the years since she’d died.
He still had silent conversations with her ghost. If that made him a madman, so be it.
He reached into the pocket of his waistcoat, fingering the list.
You’d be angry with me, I know. I broke my promise to you by not remarrying. I know it’s my duty to sire an heir.
But his only child was a daughter.
Christine was now eleven years old and the very image of Katherine. It hurt to look at her gray eyes, knowing that she would grow up to look like the woman he’d loved more than life itself.
I can’t do this
, he told her ghost.
No one can replace you.
As always, Katherine’s ghost didn’t answer. Nothing would bring her back, and on her deathbed, she’d made him swear to marry again. Even Christine, upon her last birthday, had wished for a new mother.
David stared at the room full of ladies and gentlemen of the ton. He wasn’t a man who broke his promises. He’d avoided this for six years, even knowing it was the right thing to do.
This year, he would try. And Christine, the mischievous imp, had warned that if he did not find a suitable new wife, she would find one for him. He already knew she had her eye on her governess, Miss Grant, as a potential candidate. Her desire to be a matchmaker amused him. In many ways, she reminded him of Amelia Andrews.
He’d never met a young woman who talked so much. Even when Miss Andrews had been invisibly chained to her chaperone, her mouth had continued without ceasing. He suspected that if one put a potted plant before her, she would talk it to death.
As he went to get a glass of lemonade, he saw her speaking to a group of young ladies. Her gown was a vivid yellow, like a daffodil. The color suited her, transforming her into a splash of joy amid an otherwise dismal evening.
She was not at all a woman he could marry—far too young at the age of twenty. Or perhaps one-and-twenty, for all he knew. Yet it didn’t mean he wasn’t entertained by her. Her earlier suggestion, to help him find a proper wife, wasn’t a bad idea after all. Amelia Andrews was popular among the young ladies, and she could easily discern who would suit him and who would not. It might be worth paying a call upon Miss Andrews to find out which ladies would be the strongest possibilities.
His requirements were fairly straightforward. He wanted someone of a pleasant personality, someone who liked children and would get along with his daughter. And most of all, someone who would not expect him to love her.
He’d already loved one woman and lost her. Never would he go through that again. This time, he wanted a companion and a friend—nothing more.
Against the far end of the room, David spied Miss Andrews’s prey—Charles Newport, the Viscount Lisford. David wasn’t alone in his vast dislike of the man. Lisford was a known rake who flirted with anyone wearing skirts. Not a word he spoke could be trusted, and the man desperately needed an heiress to save him from drowning in debt.
Amelia wasn’t at all the sort of woman the viscount would marry; he’d already spurned her older sister Margaret. But Lisford wouldn’t hesitate to use Amelia if it would further his own causes.
David set down his glass of lemonade and made his way toward the viscount. He wasn’t alone when he spied Margaret Andrews moving in the same direction. She paused a moment and nodded to him, for they had been formally introduced in the past.
“Miss Andrews.” He bowed in greeting.
“Lord Castledon.” Even though she maintained courtesy, he could tell that she was distracted by Amelia.
“Is something the matter?” he inquired. “You look as if you want to murder your younger sister.”
“It wouldn’t do any good,” Margaret said beneath her breath. “She won’t listen to me when I tell her that man is up to no good.”
David shrugged. “She did say that he was dangerous and…what was it? Delicious, I believe she said.”
“If she dares to throw herself at Lord Lisford, she’ll regret it for the rest of her life.” Margaret gripped her hands together, watching Amelia standing near the viscount. “He’s nothing but a blackguard.” Her face was twisted with more than sisterly worry. There was bitterness, too, of a woman set aside.
“Perhaps you’d rather murder
him
, then,” he suggested. “Except that it would leave a lot of blood on Lady Rumford’s floor.” He knew that the elder Miss Andrews had once been engaged to the viscount. Everyone knew of her humiliation, which was yet another reason to dislike the man.