The Earl's Stolen Bride (Marriage by Deceit Book 4)
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Authors: Ruth Ann Nordin
Marriage by Deceit: Book 4
The
Earl’s
Stolen Bride
Ruth Ann Nordin
Wedded Bliss Romances, LLC
This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and also represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.
The Earl’s Stolen Bride
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2015 Ruth Ann Nordin
V1.0
Cover Photo images Period Images. www.periodimages.com. All rights reserved – used with permission.
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This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without expressed written consent of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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Dedication: To Felicia Lankford for your understanding, patience, and support. You’re wonderful!
Chapter One
August 1816
Orlando Emmett, the Earl of Reddington, walked into White’s as he usually did on a Saturday afternoon, expecting it to be like any other day. But it wasn’t. In fact, this would be the day that changed the entire course of his life, and it all started with a single sentence.
“Lord Hawkins suffered a tragic accident on his ship,” he overheard Mister Robinson tell Lord Edon.
“Did he?” Lord Edon asked, not looking the least bit interested in the tidbit of gossip as he studied the cards in his hand.
“Yes. There was a terrible storm. He went overboard.”
Orlando’s steps came to an abrupt stop, and he approached the gentlemen. “Lord Hawkins? The one who’s a merchant and likes to spend most of his time in India?”
“Are you his friend?” Mister Robinson asked, his eyebrows raised as he glanced up from the paper he was reading.
“No, but I happen to know his wife.” Sort of. All right, not really. But he had had the pleasure of talking to her on a couple occasions. Granted, those conversations were limited to the dances at balls, but they were enough to tell him Lord Hawkins was the luckiest gentleman in all of London to have married her. He gestured for Mister Robinson to speak. “What happened to him? Is he all right?”
“No, he’s not actually. He’s dead.”
“Dead?”
“Dead,” Mister Robinson confirmed. “The waves swallowed him up.”
“This is exactly why I never travel by ship,” Lord Edon said. “It’s much too risky.”
“Yes, but Lord Hawkins lived for adventure,” Mister Robinson replied. “Besides, someone has to bring things back from India, and he made very good money doing it.”
“A lot of good that money did him. I’d rather have less of it and be alive.”
“Yes, but you already have all the money you could ever want.”
“Are you sure he’s dead?” Orlando asked, still unable to believe it.
“That’s what the
Tittletattle
says.” Mister Robinson held it out to him. “Take a look for yourself.”
Orlando didn’t know if he could take the scandalsheets seriously, but the news was the best he’d had in a long time. Yes, it was tragic the gentleman died. There was no denying that. But if it was true, then it meant Lady Hawkins was free to marry again. And that meant he had a second chance.
“But how reliable is the
Tittletattle
?” Orlando wondered, his gaze going lower down the page, scanning the other headlines which had more to do with who was caught with whom doing scandalous activities. It didn’t exactly strike him as a reliable source of information.
“I trust it completely,” Mister Robinson said.
Orlando decided he’d find another source to rely on, thanked Mister Robinson, and handed the gentleman the paper. He searched through White’s, hoping to find his good friend, Toby York, the Earl of Davenport. As he hoped, Toby was reading in the corner of the large room.
“You’re not home with Regina and your son today?” Orlando teased as he sat next to him.
Toby lowered the book onto his lap and grimaced. “Her mother came over.”
“Ah, mother-in-law troubles again.”
“I wouldn’t mind it so much if her mother didn’t insist on controlling everything.”
“How does Regina tolerate it?”
“Surprisingly well,” Toby replied. “But then, she grew up with her, so she’s used to it.”
Orlando’s eyebrows rose. “I thought you said Regina got frustrated with her.”
“She does, but she knows her mother means well. Ever since Samuel was born, Regina said she appreciates everything her mother did for her a lot more.” He glanced at Orlando. “Do you think it’s possible for ladies to lose their wits after they have a baby?”
Orlando laughed. “I don’t think so. It sounds like Regina’s finally come around to understanding she can’t change her mother, so she might as well enjoy the times she has with her.”
“Maybe that’s it.”
“What are you reading?”
“A comedy. I wanted something more entertaining than history or politics.”
“Good. You can’t be serious all the time.” Orlando shifted in his chair and leaned closer to his friend. In a lower voice, he asked, “Did you happen to hear anything about Lord Hawkins?”
“Actually, Regina’s mother did mention something about him before I left.”
“Did she?” Orlando leaned closer to his friend.
“Yes. She said that she talked to a friend of Lady Hawkins, and Lady Hawkins is in mourning.”
“She is?”
“I didn’t catch all of the conversation between Regina and her mother,” Toby said. “I only got bits and pieces of it on my way out the door.”
“Hmm… Did you catch anything else?”
“I’m sure her mother said Lady Hawkins lost her husband.”
There! Then this had to be true. The
Tittletattle
was correct after all. “Toby, I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad your mother-in-law makes it a point to know everyone’s business.” He gave his friend a swift pat on the back then stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“To make plans.”
“Wait a moment.” Toby bolted to his feet. “Lady Hawkins is in mourning. She can’t take any suitors for at least a year.”
“I don’t intend to be her suitor.”
“You don’t?”
“No. I’m going to be her husband. But I need to act fast. I lost her once because I hesitated. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Before Toby could protest, Orlando was running out of White’s.
***
“You have a visitor, my lady,” the butler said from the doorway of the drawing room.
Chloe Donovan, the Lady of Hawkins, looked up from the letter she’d been writing her parents. “Who is it?”
“The Duchess of Ashbourne.”
Rising to her feet, she said, “Bring her in. And close the door, please.”
He nodded, and she waited until her good friend, Helena, came into the room before she ran over to hug her.
“Is it true?” Helena whispered. “Did your husband die at sea?”
Chloe waited until the butler shut the doors to the room before answering. “Yes. I’m so relieved.” After a moment, she asked, “Do you think that’s wrong?”
“No. I think it’s a very normal reaction from a wife who didn’t even know her husband.”
“Well, I knew him a little bit. He did write missives. Granted, they were about his travels and what he found, but he took the time to write them.”
Helena squeezed Chloe’s hands then led her over to the settee. “I know, and you’re right. That does count for something. But Chloe, you needn’t feel guilty for being relieved. Your marriage was arranged. He left for India on your wedding day, and you hadn’t seen him since.”
“Yes, that’s true. I’m just supposed to be in mourning.” She glanced down at her black gown. “I should be feeling something other than relief, shouldn’t I?”
“I don’t see why. You didn’t love him, nor did he love you. Chloe, it’s all right to feel the way you do. Not every lady who loses her husband actually mourns his passing.”
“Did you mourn your first husband when he died?”
Her friend hesitated. Chloe didn’t know much about Helena’s first husband. Helena had never even mentioned his name. All she knew was that Helena had been friends with him for their entire lives, their parents had arranged the marriage, and he died in a duel. Other than that, Helena had been quiet about the matter. She wondered if today, Helena might be willing to share more about him.
“I don’t like to think of him,” Helena slowly replied. “I was sad when he died, but not because he died. I mourned what could have been but never was. He didn’t love me.” She lowered her gaze to her hands. “He loved his mistress.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was years ago.”
“The husband you have now… Does he love you?”
Returning her gaze to Chloe’s, she nodded. “He does. I’m very fortunate. I know love matches aren’t common. But maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
“Well, it’s too soon, of course, since you have to wait a year. But now that you’ve secured a significant amount of wealth with your marriage, you have freedoms you didn’t before. Should you choose to marry, you don’t have to appease your parents or worry about money. You can choose anyone you want. Or, if you find it more to your liking to remain a widow, you can.”
“Were you happy without a husband?”
“To be honest, I was. I could do whatever I wanted without a husband’s permission. Marriage to some gentlemen can be restricting. It depends on the type of gentleman you marry, and fortunately, you now get to make that decision.”
“You’re right. And that is a wonderful feeling.”
“It is.”
Feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, Chloe released her breath and smiled. “Thank you, Helena. Of everyone I’ve ever known, you are my dearest friend.”
Helena returned her smile. “I feel the same way.”
“I suppose I should tend to the funeral plans. Even if his body did sink to the bottom of the ocean, I need to make arrangements to honor his memory.”
“At least this is something you can look forward to.”
Yes, it was. But she would do her best to think well of him. He hadn’t been a cruel gentleman, after all. She’d make sure he had a lovely ceremony. Then she’d be free of him forever.
***
“Orlando, this isn’t a good idea,” Toby said from where he sat in Orlando’s den.
Orlando set his glass of brandy on the table next to his chair. “I’m not going to Lord Hawkins’ funeral. I’ll be waiting for her after she visits her husband’s grave at the family tomb.” It wouldn’t do to intervene until the time was right. He couldn’t begrudge a mourning widow the chance to say good-bye to her husband.
“You want me to be the hook that lures her to you?” Toby asked.
Ignoring his friend’s pointed glare, Orlando said, “You won’t have to lure her to me. Simply distract the coachman and footman on her way back home.”
“You’ve hardly talked to her since she married Lord Hawkins. What makes you think she wants to be with you?”
“She was happy when she talked to me.”
“A year ago.”
Orlando sighed. “You really don’t believe you can fall in love with someone the very moment you see them, do you?”
“No, I don’t. You can be attracted to someone. You can be willing to marry someone. But it takes time to get to know if that someone is the right one for you.”
“I’ve talked to her enough to know she’s the right one.”
“You talked to her a year ago.”
“Well, I couldn’t very well talk to her while she was married, could I?”
“You could have danced with her, so yes, you could have talked to her then,” Toby replied then sipped his drink.
“No, I couldn’t,” Orlando whispered, hardly daring to even admit the rest to himself, let alone his friend. But taking a deep breath, he added, “The temptation to ask her to be my lover would have been too great. The best thing I could have done was keep my distance.”
No matter how painful. And it had been painful. All he could do was admire her from a distance, watching as she laughed and talked with everyone but him. Then he’d go home and dream of all the things he wanted to say and do with her but never would.
After a long moment passed between them, Toby said, “You must really care about her.”
“I do. I won’t do anything to hurt her.”
His friend groaned. “I should say no. This is the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
Orlando straightened in his chair. “You’ll do it?”
“Yes.” He let out a long, mournful sigh. “But I’m doing it under protest. The whole thing is very improper. She hasn’t had enough time to mourn her husband.”
“But if I don’t act now, I might lose her to someone else. You know her father’s greedy. He’ll match her up with the wealthiest gentleman in London, and that’s not me.”
“She might be upset with you for upsetting her father.”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Very well.” Toby rose to his feet then finished the brandy. “I’ll go with you to the tomb.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll stay out of sight.” Orlando stood up, smiling. “Thank you, Toby.”
“Don’t thank me until the scheme works.”
Orlando had no doubt it would. This was going to be the beginning of his life with Lady Hawkins. And then there’d be no more dreaming of her in the late hours of the night. Instead, he’d have her in his arms. Then, and only then, would his life finally be complete.