When the Rogue Returns

“ANYONE WHO LOVES ROMANCE MUST READ SABRINA JEFFRIES!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Lisa Kleypas

“JEFFRIES’S ADDICTIVE SERIES SATISFIES.”

—
Library Journal

Praise for the first book in The Duke’s Men, the enthralling new series from
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author

SABRINA JEFFRIES

WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES

“A totally engaging, adventurous love story . . . with a strong plot, steamy desire, and an oh-so-wonderful ending.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“This unusual tale of interlocking mysteries is full of all the intriguing characters, brisk plotting, and witty dialogue that Jeffries’s readers have come to expect.”

—
Publishers Weekly
, starred review

Turn the page to read rave reviews of the acclaimed, “exceptionally entertaining” (
Booklist
) novels of the

HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL

“Another sparkling series” (
Library Journal
)!

Critics adore Sabrina Jeffries and her five wonderful installments of the Hellions of Halstead Hall!

A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS

“Jeffries pulls out all the stops. . . . With depth of character, emotional intensity, and the resolution to the ongoing mystery rolled into a steamy love story, this one is not to be missed.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4
1
/
2
stars, Top Pick)

“Sizzling, emotionally satisfying. . . . Another must-read.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“Brimming with superbly shaded characters, simmering sensuality, and a splendidly wicked wit,
A Lady Never Surrenders
wraps up the series nothing short of brilliantly.”

—
Booklist

TO WED A WILD LORD

“Wonderfully witty, deliciously seductive, graced with humor and charm. . . .”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“A beguiling blend of captivating characters, clever plotting, and sizzling sensuality.”

—
Booklist

HOW TO WOO A RELUCTANT LADY

“A delightful addition. . . . Charmingly original.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“Richly imbued with steamy passion, deftly spiced with dangerous intrigue, and neatly tempered with just the right amount of tart wit.”

—
Booklist

A HELLION IN HER BED

“A lively plot blending equal measures of steamy passion and sharp wit. . . .”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“Jeffries’s sense of humor and delightfully delicious sensuality spice things up!”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4
1
/
2
stars)

THE TRUTH ABOUT LORD STONEVILLE

“Jeffries combines her hallmark humor, poignancy, and sensuality to perfection.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4
1
/
2
stars, Top Pick)

“Lively repartee, fast action, luscious sensuality, and an abundance of humor.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“Delectably witty dialogue . . . and scorching sexual chemistry.”

—
Booklist

To the wonderful Dru and the crew at my local Starbucks who keep me well supplied with iced coffee and everything bagels. You are true gems, every one of you! Thanks for letting me hang out and write.

To my niece Isabel “Isa” Martin and my nephew Craig Martin, thank you for brightening my days.

And to my brother Daren Martin, whose sage advice at a crucial point in my marriage altered my life forever. Thank you, and I love you.

Amsterdam

1818

D
ARKNESS HAD FALLEN
a while ago. Eighteen-year-old Isabella Cale clung to her new husband Victor’s neck as he carried her into her old room at her sister Jacoba’s house. Isa hadn’t wanted to come here, but it was safer than having Jacoba look after her in their apartment. She didn’t want her sister nosing around for the imitation diamonds that Isa kept hidden from her husband. And Victor refused to leave Isa alone while she was sick.

She winced. She hoped this pretense of being ill succeeded. And that he never found out it was a sham. It had been hard enough to keep it up all day, when she was supposed to have been working at the jeweler’s shop, but Victor’s concerned glances now made it even more difficult. After only a week of marriage, the last thing she wanted to do was deceive him.

But she had no choice. It was for his own good. And hers.

“Are you sure she’ll be fine?” Victor asked Jacoba as he laid Isa gently in her old bed.

“She just needs rest and coddling.” Jacoba pulled the covers up over Isa. “She’s had these awful sore throats since she was a girl. They never last more than a week. You were right to bring her here. It’s not good for her to be alone.”

Her older sister’s soft words used to make her feel safe. But that was before their clockmaker father had died six years ago. Before Papa’s apprentice, Gerhart Hendrix, had married Jacoba and taken them in. Before Gerhart had begun gambling.

Isa and Jacoba were no longer as close as they once were.

“I’m not so ill that I’ll expire while you’re at the shop,” Isa told Victor in a raspy voice.

Victor worked temporarily as a night guard at the jeweler’s where she was a diamond cutter. Since their conflicting shifts didn’t allow them much time together, it had been pure bliss staying home with him today. Well, except for the pretending-to-be-sick part.

Shadows darkened Victor’s lovely hazel eyes. “I’m sorry to have to leave you, but at least Jacoba can look after you.”

Oh, how she wished she weren’t too much of a coward to tell him the truth! But it would devastate her if it changed what he thought of her. Better to avoid the problem entirely.

If she could fool her sister and brother-in-law with her “illness” for just one night, it would all be over
tomorrow. Then Victor would never have to learn of her family’s insane scheme to steal the royal diamond parure from the jeweler’s shop.

A lock of wavy hair the color of rich oak dropped over his brow as he bent to kiss her forehead. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you alone, but with the prince’s guard coming—”

“I know,” she said, cutting him off before he could reveal that the royal diamonds would be leaving the shop tomorrow. Jacoba mustn’t learn that the chance to steal them would be gone after tonight. “You may not have your post much longer, so you have to work while you can.” His post would end in the morning, when the jeweler handed the royal jewels to the prince’s guard.

“I
will
find work after this,” he said resentfully, “even if the jeweler doesn’t keep me on. Don’t worry about that.”

“I’m not,” she hastened to reassure him. He was such a proud man, and she hadn’t meant to wound him. Besides, who wouldn’t hire Victor? And the jeweler was an old friend of his mother’s; the man would surely find
some
way to keep Victor on. “I have faith in you.”

Victor looked only slightly mollified by her words. “You’re fretting over
something
. I can tell.”

“Don’t be silly.” Had she been that transparent? Oh, Lord, she had to get him to leave, before she gave too much away. She forced hoarseness into her voice. “And if you don’t go, you’ll be late.” His shift began at 8
P.M.
, when the jeweler went home. “Don’t worry about me. I’m in good hands with Jacoba.” She practically choked on that lie.

But he didn’t seem to notice as he tucked the covers about her. “I’ll come fetch you in the morning when I’m done with my shift,
Mausi
.”

She winced at the German endearment. Victor often used foreign words—he spoke Dutch, Flemish, German, English, and French fluently, which impressed her. But she didn’t like being called “little mouse.”

Probably because she
was
a mouse, in every respect. She looked like one—nondescript brown hair that defied curling, boring brown eyes, and hips that were a touch too wide for her small bosom—and she acted like one, too. She would much rather cut diamonds or design jewelry than argue or make a fuss. It was how she’d landed in this mess in the first place.

It was also why she lay here silent while he headed for the door. She ought to call him back, tell him the truth, face the consequences. But it would be so much easier just to bluff her way through this night. Then she’d be free of her family’s machinations forever.