Unlaced by the Outlaw (Secrets in Silk)
Read Unlaced by the Outlaw (Secrets in Silk) Online
Authors: Michelle Willingham
Tags: #Britain, #England, #Great Britain, #Highlander, #Highlanders, #Highlands, #Historical Romance, #London, #Love Story, #Regency Britain, #Regency England, #Regency London, #Regency Romance, #Regency Scotland, #Romance, #Scot, #Scotland, #Scotland Highland, #Scotland Highlands, #Scots, #Scottish, #Scottish Highland, #Scottish Highlander, #Scottish Highlands
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
“A tender, exquisitely romantic tale . . .”
—Connie Brockway,
New York Times
bestselling author on
Undone by the Duke
“Rich with historical detail and insightful characterization,
Unraveled by the Rebel
, the second in Willingham’s intriguing Secrets in Silk series, is a lushly sensual treat.”
—John Charles,
Booklist
“This genuinely funny and thoughtful third Secrets in Silk Regency romance is a delightful addition to the series. The elements of blackmail, vengeance, and forbidden love weave their way into the story, making this an outstanding page-turner.”
—
Publishers Weekly
on
Undressed by the Earl
“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
“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
Undressed by the Earl
Unlaced by the Outlaw
M
AC
E
GAN
B
ROTHERS
S
ERIES
(
M
EDIEVAL
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
(
M
EDIEVAL
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)
A Viking for the Viscountess
(time travel)
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake Romance are trademarks of
Amazon.com
, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781477826010
ISBN-10: 1477826017
Cover design by becker&mayer! LLC
Illustrated by Judy York
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908858
For Kathy Tobin, a wonderful sister-in-law and a friend. Thanks for all of your support over the years.
CONTENTS
Chapter One
LONDON, 1815
H
er sister was missing.
Most older sisters would leave such a terrible problem in the hands of their parents. Or possibly alert the authorities. Margaret Andrews did neither.
For one, she knew exactly who had kidnapped Amelia. Second, she knew that the blackguard intended to force her sister to wed him. And third, Margaret had suffered untold humiliation when that same awful man had abandoned her only days before their wedding, three years ago. Lord Lisford might have shattered her girlish dreams, humiliating her in the face of society, but Margaret would never let the same thing happen to her baby sister. This was more than a dangerous situation—this was her opportunity for vengeance.
It didn’t matter that it was the middle of the night or that she was the daughter of a baron. The man who had wronged her was about to destroy Amelia’s life, and Margaret was
not
about to stand aside and let it happen. She’d beg the devil himself, if she thought he could help her.
Cain Sinclair was the next best thing.
A flutter of nerves caught her stomach as her coach pulled to a stop in front of the inn where he was staying. It was nearly midnight, and she’d left Lady Rumford’s ball the moment she’d learned of Amelia’s disappearance. Margaret was still wearing the sage-green silk gown with white gloves, for she’d not taken the time to change.
This was a very bad idea. What was she thinking, venturing into a public inn while wearing a ball gown?
But it couldn’t be helped.
Please let him be here,
she prayed. The Highlander was a man she’d known for ten years. From the moment she’d laid eyes on him, she’d sensed that he was the sort of man her mother had warned her about.
Taller than most men, he had broad shoulders and lean muscles. His piercing blue eyes and black hair gave him the look of a fallen angel. He wasn’t a gentleman and he didn’t care what anyone thought of him.
Ruthless
was the best word to describe him. And when he wanted something, he never stopped until he got it.
Unfortunately, what he wanted was
her.
She took a deep breath and stepped out of the coach. Her footman eyed the inn and shook his head. “Miss Andrews, I think you should wait inside the coach. I’ll go and find Mr. Sinclair on your behalf.”
That was the sensible thing to do. It was what her mother would want. But she knew, without a single doubt, that Sinclair would ignore the footman and do whatever he wanted to. Whereas if she pleaded with him, there was a chance he might help her.
With every moment she sat in this coach, Lord Lisford was taking her sister farther north, toward Scotland. Time was critical, and what did she care if it was not an establishment a lady would dare to enter? She was already ruined. After five Seasons, Margaret knew what the ton
thought of her. They believed she was to blame for Lord Lisford abandoning her before her wedding day.
The familiar ache of bitterness stiffened her spine. It was high time the viscount paid the price for what he’d done to her. And if he thought he could hurt her sister without serious consequences, he was sadly mistaken.
Margaret ignored her servant and marched straight toward the door. For a moment, she paused with her hand upon the doorknob.
Go back,
her conscience ordered. But instead, she gathered her courage and opened the door.
The haze of tobacco cloaked the room, while the scent of ale filled the space. Men were playing cards in one corner, while others busied themselves with getting drunk as soon as possible.