Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  EPILOGUE

  Teaser chapter

  Praise for the Novels of Jo Beverley

  A Lady’s Secret

  “Well-matched, charming protagonists banter beautifully as they play a game of double deception. This cleverly plotted story rewards readers with a captivating blend of thrilling adventure, steamy sensuality, and gratifying emotion, as well as a surprise link to some of Beverley’s earlier titles. Another flawless Georgian gem.”—Library Journal

  “With wit and humor, Jo Beverley proves a wonderful eighteenth-century romance starring two amiable lead characters whose first encounter is one of the best in recent memory. The tale is filled with nonstop action. . . . Jo Beverley provides a tremendous historical.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “Jo Beverley’s writing is usually a cut above the crowd, and A Lady’s Secret is no different . . . a book to enjoy.”—Curled Up with a Good Book

  “Beverley’s attention to historical detail is as good as ever . . . delightful.”

  —The Romance Reader

  Lady Beware

  “Jo Beverley carries off a remarkable achievement in Lady Beware, the latest and possibly last in her Company of Rogues novels. . . . It is the unusual combination of familial comfort and risqué pleasure that makes this book a winner. . . . No doubt about it, Lady Beware is yet another jewel in Beverley’s heavily decorated crown.”—The Romance Reader

  “[E]nchanting . . . a delightful blend of wit (with banter between Thea and Darien), intrigue (as evil lurks throughout) and emotional victories (as love prevails in the end). . . . Watching Thea and Darien spar is entertaining, and watching them succumb to the simmering love and passion is satisfying.”—The Columbia State (SC)

  To Rescue a Rogue

  “Beverley brings the Regency period to life in this highly romantic story [with] vividly portrayed characters. [Readers] will be engrossed by this emotionally packed story of great love, tremendous courage, and the return of those attractive and dangerous men known as the Rogues. Her Company of Rogues series is well crafted, delicious, and wickedly captivating.”—Joan Hammond

  “With her usual beautifully nuanced characters and lyrical writing, RITA Award winner Beverley brings her popular Company of Rogues Regency historical series to a triumphant conclusion . . . [a] quietly powerful romance.”—Booklist

  “Lighthearted and serious, sexy and sweet, this exquisitely rendered story is a perfect finale to this classic series.”—Library Journal

  The Rogue’s Return

  “Beverley beautifully blends complex characters, an exquisitely sensual love story, and a refreshingly different Regency setting into one sublime romance.”—Booklist

  “Jo Beverley has written an excellent character study. One of the best books I’ve read this season.”—Affaire de Coeur

  A Most Unsuitable Man

  “Picking up exactly where Winter Fire leaves off, Beverley turns a rejected ‘other woman’ into a fiery, outspoken, sympathetic heroine; pairs her with a dashing but penniless, scandal-ridden hero; and lets the fun—and the danger—begin. Once again readers are treated to a delightful, intricately plotted, and sexy romp set in the slightly bawdy Georgian world of Beverley’s beloved Malloren Chronicles.”—Library Journal

  “Beverley brings back some of the characters from Winter Fire as she takes her readers into the dangerous, intriguing, and opulent world of Georgian England. Her strong characters and finely honed dialogue, combined with a captivating love story, are a pleasure to read.”

  —Romantic Times

  “I found myself enjoying every minute of the relationship in this story of love, hope, and increments of witty humor. As usual, a Malloren novel is a keeper.”—Rendezvous

  “Expertly laced with danger and skillfully sweetened with sensuality, A Most Unsuitable Man is a most captivating romance.”—Booklist

  More Praise for Other Novels of New York Times Bestselling Author Jo Beverley

  “A delightful, intricately plotted, and sexy romp.”—Library Journal

  “A well-crafted story and an ultimately very satisfying romance.”

  —The Romance Reader

  “Jo [Beverley] has truly brought to life a fascinating, glittering, and sometimes dangerous world.”—Mary Jo Putney

  “Another triumph.”—Affaire de Coeur

  “Wickedly delicious. Jo Beverley weaves a spell of sensual delight with her usual grace and flair.”—Teresa Medeiros

  “Delightful . . . thrilling . . . with a generous touch of magic . . . an enchanting read.”—Booklist

  “A stunning medieval romance of loss and redemption . . . sizzling.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “A fast-paced adventure with strong, vividly portrayed characters . . . wickedly, wonderfully sensual and gloriously romantic.”—Mary Balogh

  “Deliciously sinful . . . Beverley evokes with devastating precision the decadent splendor of the English country estate in all its hellish debauchery . . . a crafty tale of sensuality and suspense.”—BookPage

  ALSO BY JO BEVERLEY Available from New American Library

  REGENCY

  THE ROGUES’ WORLD

  Lady Beware

  To Rescue a Rogue

  The Rogue’s Return

  Skylark

  St. Raven

  Hazard

  “The Demon’s Mistress” in In Praise of Younger Men

  The Devil’s Heiress

  The Dragon’s Bride

  Three Heroes (Omnibus Edition)

  OTHER

  Forbidden Magic

  Lovers and Ladies (Omnibus Edition)

  THE MALLOREN WORLD

  The Secret Wedding

  A Lady’s Secret

  A Most Unsuitable Man

  Winter Fire

  Devilish

  Secrets of the Night

  Something Wicked

  My Lady Notorious

  MEDIEVAL ROMANCES

  Lord of Midnight

  Dark Champion

  Lord of My Heart

  ANTHOLOGIES

  “The Dragon and the Virgin Princess” in

  Dragon Lovers

  “The Trouble with Heroes” in

  Irresistible Forces

  SIGNET ECLIPSE

  Published by New American Library, a division of

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  Published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA)

  Inc. Previously published in a Walker edition. Published by arrangement with the author.

  First Signet Eclipse Printing, October 2009

  Copyright © Jo Beverley, 1988

  Excerpt from The Stanforth Secrets copyright © Jo Beverley, 1989

  All rights reserved

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  eISBN : 978-1-101-13643-0

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  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  PROLOGUE

  IT WAS THE most talked-about and yet the most tedious betrothal of the year.

  The announcement in the Morning Post of April 12, 1813, of the forthcoming marriage of the Honorable Jane Sandiford of Carne Abbey, Gloucestershire, and David Kyle, Tenth Earl of Wraybourne of Stenby Castle, Shropshire, and Alton Street in London sent gossips from Edinburgh to Bath scurrying to their favorite meeting places. The ancient lineage of both families was traced. The enormous wealth of both families was assessed. Then the topic was found to have been sucked dry.

  What was there to say about two such eminently correct people? Lord Wraybourne was an intelligent, well-educated man of thirty-two, admired by all levels of society. He handled his fortune responsibly, played his part in the Lords without aspiring to political leadership, was an excellent host and an amiable guest. If his manner was detached that was only to be expected from one of his lineage and betokened a proper acceptance of his place in society.

  Miss Sandiford was the only child of Sir Jeffrey and Lady Sandiford. The lack of aristocratic station was not mistaken by the knowledgeable as a sign of lower status. The Sandifords were one of the oldest families in the land and one of the richest. In recent generations the family had been the epitome of starch-stiff rectitude, and despite their meticulous attention to charitable works, sober, dutiful living had led to even greater prosperity.

  It was true that few people had met the young lady, for she had been educated at home and the Sandifords did not entertain. She had not yet made her debut even in nearby Cheltenham, which was unusual for a girl nearing twenty. Nonetheless, it was only the most daring and absurd scan dalmonger who suggested she might be deformed or mentally defective. Anyway, shrugged the practical, what would that matter when her portion was bound to be immense?

  Thus the gossips were forced to abandon the topic for the moment to discuss, according to their tastes, the new use of stiffer fabrics in evening gowns or the preparations being made in Portugal by the Duke of Wellington to finally put paid to the upstart Corsican. Curiosity about Miss Sandiford would be satisfied in time. Lord Wraybourne was a leader of fashion and would surely bring his wife to Town in due course. Then, at first or second hand, all would be able to assess Lord Wraybourne’s betrothed, the new entrant to the ranks of the ton.

  1

  LADY SOPHIE KYLE looked across the breakfast table towards her brother, Lord Wraybourne, who was hidden behind his copy of the Times. Her delicate finger indicated an item in the Morning Post.

  “Well, David. I see your fate is sealed in print.” Though her tone was light, her pretty, heart-shaped face reflected distaste. “I still think it is a dreadfully dull way to choose a bride. Why, even Mama and I have not met the girl.”

  “Her name is Jane,” commented her brother, looking up from the far more interesting news of the Spanish War.

  “We have not met Jane,” Sophie persevered. “David, when are we to meet her?”

  Lord Wraybourne laid down his paper with a sigh. “At the wedding, most probably.”

  “Well, it’s to be hoped she’ll be there at least.”

  Her brother grinned. “Minx! You know what I mean.”

  She returned his grin, and her face lit up. He could see why she had already broken hearts when, at eighteen, she was only just preparing for her debut. She was not easily daunted by her brother’s manner, even though he was more than ten years her senior. Strangers might find his smiling reserve intimidating, but his family and friends knew better.

  “It’s outrageous!” she continued. “First you announce you’re marrying this girl of whom no one has ever heard and, if you please, after meeting her once, and for the most cold-blooded reasons such as money and ancestry. Then you do not even introduce her to your family. Really, David!”

  “All that without a breath,” he said dryly and quite unmoved. “Amazing.”

  “Stop being so provoking. Why are we not invited to Carne at least?”

  His lean features expressed satirical amazement. “I thought to spare you. Believe me, you, above all people, would not find it to your liking, Sophie. Prayers morning and evening, plain food and a lack of good fires.”

  From long experience Sophie could tell he was beginning to lose his patience. After all, it was not the first time she had taken him to task about his betrothal.

  “Well, I’m thinking of the poor girl herself,” she defended.

  “Jane is a year older than you, Sophie. She has no complaints about the arrangements. Once we return from our marriage trip you will doubtless see all you wish of her.”

  Sophie tossed her head, causing her mass of auburn curls to dance. It was a mannerism which proved effective with many an admirer but had no power over her brother.

  “I can see you’re feeling stuffy,” she said saucily, “but I must tell you that I am disappointed. You could have married any one of a hundred eligible hopefuls.”

  “A hundred?”

  “At least,” Sophie insisted. “All my friends at school were smitten when you came to visit me and there were three great heiresses among them, you know.”

  “I am sure all the other brothers had the same effect.”

  Sophie let that pass, though she was amazed at how little he appreciated his attractions. The two of them were very alike. The blue eyes and auburn hair which made her a beauty turned his firmer, fine-boned masculine features handsome. Her daintiness was in him a lithe, athletic grace which could stir the most alarming sensations within a young maiden’s breast—or so her friends had said. Nor did his habit of treating people with exquisite and impersonal courtesy detract. Even his way of hiding stronger feelings behind heavy eyelids did not cool the ardour with which he was received. Letty Fenwick-Stacy, one of her particular friends, had declared in fact that it drove her wild.

  “What of Mrs. Danvers?” Sophie queried with a fair assumption of innocence. “I quite thought you would offer for her, though I’m glad you didn’t, for she’s too sarcastic for me. However, I know Maria had great hopes her bosom-bow would become her cousin.”
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br />   She was amused to see her brother’s heavy lids drop over his blue eyes and his lips twitch slightly. Not for the first time Sophie wondered about his relationship with the ethereal widow. He was not about to enlighten her.

  “I thought you were to ride out with Randal and his sisters? You’ll be late. If you have something you wish to say, do so and be on your way.”

  Sophie stood abruptly. “It is only because I care for you, David. What of Love?”

  “Been reading Minerva Novels again, poppet?”

  “It is not only between the covers of a book that love exists. David, you will regret this cold-blooded choice.”

  Lord Wraybourne flashed his sister a sweet smile. “I know you care, Sophie, and I thank you. But this heat is all misplaced. You’ll like Jane. She’s good-looking, well-bred, and intelligent. She’ll make me an excellent wife.”

  “But you don’t love her and she doesn’t love you!” Sophie wailed.

  “Love will grow,” said Lord Wraybourne firmly, then added with impatience, “Really, Sophie. Anyone would think you were in love yourself with this ardent advocacy of the state. I hope you haven’t been foolish, my dear.”

  Sophie colored up. “Heavens, David, you know I’m determined to make a brilliant match. Where would I have met such in Bath? And why would I be hiding my conquest from you?”

  “Precisely what I was wondering.”