by Darcy Burke
“There’s a locked library there where my father kept his meager collection of valuable antiquities. It will suit. However, I plan to allow Rhys to keep the texts for as long as he likes.”
“That’s very generous of you,” she noted. “What of the Nash chest?”
“That is coming with us to Stratton Hall.”
The question of the earldom had been settled. Upon arriving at Ashridge Court, they were surprised to find Septon there. His men had finally rescued the vicar, who reported that Foliot had indeed taken his ledger. When he’d asked for it back, Daphne had told him, regretfully, that it had been destroyed. Then she and Gideon had found it in her father’s vault and given it to Penn, who’d gleefully burned it to ash in the massive fireplace in the great hall.
“But you’ll have to hold on to the chest a bit longer because Daphne and I must first go to London.”
“Ah yes, you have an earldom to claim.” Gwyneth cocked her head. “Such an auspicious title you have—Gideon the Worthy, Earl of Stratton.”
“Also Viscount Kersey. Which I will share with my son, who will use the title as a courtesy.” His gaze strayed to Daphne where she sat at the end of the worktable with Cate, looking at Morgan’s writings.
“Come, I want to speak with Daphne,” Gwyneth said, starting to turn.
“Just a moment,” Gideon said, halting her movement. “Tell me what happened at the cave.” He’d already described the tomb to her and how the enchantment had seemed to start an earthquake, but hadn’t wanted to ask about whether the treasures—and Gareth—were hidden forever.
She gave him a mildly perplexed look. “I wasn’t there. How can I tell you what happened?”
“What I mean is, what happened to the treasures? Can someone go and dig through the rubble to find them?”
“Ah, I see. I don’t know for certain of course, but I believe when you said the enchantment, you triggered the collapse as well as a spell that will hide the treasures—and Gareth—forever.”
“Not even the Worthy can find them again?” he asked, thinking that maybe, just maybe, he might try to find them with Penn and Cate someday. They would love to see them.
She arched a shoulder. “Who knows? But I would caution you against seeking them again, unless you are certain your objectives are pure. And even then, you may wish to leave them buried. You saw what they did to Foliot.” She cast a look toward Daphne. Then Gwyneth abruptly turned and strode toward the table, her bright turquoise skirts billowing about her ankles. Gideon followed her.
“Daphne, I want you to have one of those recipes,” Gwyneth said. “You won’t be able to say it was authored by Morgan, but it will support the Elidyr text that calls her by name.”
Daphne blinked up at her. “You mean the one Septon brought?” He’d presented the original, which he’d somehow obtained from the Order, to Gwyneth when he’d arrived earlier.
“Yes. I want you to have that too. That way, you can prove Morgana’s existence—and the credit of the discovery shall be yours.”
Joy spread over Daphne’s face, and Gideon stifled the urge to hug Gwyneth. Instead, he leaned toward her and whispered, “Thank you.”
“She deserves that,” Gwyneth said, turning to the bookshelves. “I have other things to give you. You’ll need something more than that and your chest to start a decent library if you want to compete with Rhys or Septon.”
Gideon laughed. “I don’t think I could.”
Septon stood from the table. “I’d like to give you some things too. As a wedding gift.” He smiled at Gideon and then Daphne.
“And what shall I give you in return?” Gideon asked. His mother and Septon planned to marry after Gideon and Daphne finished their business in London.
Septon looked toward Gideon’s mother, who sat across the room with Margery, Amelia, and Elijah, who was relaxing with his feet up. “You’ve already given me too much,” Septon said, his eyes glazing with tears.
The great love Septon had for Gideon’s mother was palpable, and when Gideon looked at Daphne, he knew he’d do anything to have her at his side. Perhaps he’d found it within himself to forgive Septon after all.
Much later, after a long dinner during which daring tales and raucous laughter were shared, followed by more storytelling in the library, Gideon guided Daphne into their bedchamber—the very one in which they’d first consummated their union.
As soon as the door closed, she began to strip his clothes away, and he did the same for her. Within minutes, they tumbled to the bed, and Daphne pushed herself on top of him.
He lay on his back and arched a brow as she kissed his chest and worked her way down his body. She didn’t pause long at his cock, which made him rise up on an elbow to see what she was about.
She knelt between his legs and traced her finger over the tattoo on his calf. “Will you stay in the Order?”
He propped himself up on an elbow and looked down at her. “No. I wish I could remove that.”
She skimmed her hand up his leg, over his knee, and along his thigh. “Perhaps you could change it into something else.”
That was an excellent idea. “I hadn’t considered that. Earlier, I asked Septon what the Order would do now that the treasures are hidden forever.”
Daphne’s hand stilled, which was good because it allowed Gideon to think more clearly, but bad because he’d rather lose his mind to her for the next while. “Are they?” she asked.
“That’s what Gwyneth believes. The enchantment will ensure no one can find them.” He hesitated before revealing the rest. He wouldn’t keep secrets from her. “I could find them—probably. But I won’t.”
She looked up at him. “Not even to share them with Penn and Cate?”
“It’s tempting, but no, I think it’s best they remain hidden.”
Her gaze warmed with emotion. “I think that’s very astute—and brave. What did Septon say about the Order?” she asked.
“That there are other objects to protect—namely Excalibur.” He shook his head. “I want nothing to do with that or anything else the Order sticks its nose in.”
“Can you leave the Order once you’ve joined?” she asked.
“Septon says I will always be welcome, particularly since I’m a descendant.”
“You’re Gideon the Worthy,” she said with a dazzling smile that made his heart somersault.
“He tried to persuade me to join the governing council. Can you imagine?”
“Yes, I can imagine. Of course they would want the man who extinguished this iteration of Camelot to join their highest ranks.”
“I hope it’s extinguished,” Gideon said. The men who’d worked for her father hadn’t returned to Ashridge Court, and the few who’d been left behind to guard the estate had eagerly transferred their fealty to Daphne. She hadn’t wanted it and had removed them from their posts immediately. “I’m not sure how we can confirm they’re gone, because we don’t know who else in the Order was following your father.”
“Actually, we do. My father’s ledger—the one that led me to learn you were once in Camelot. There are a dozen or so other names.”
“Excellent. We shall turn that over to Septon immediately and allow him to deal with it.” Septon had said the Order would seek to expel anyone who’d followed Foliot. “It won’t be our problem any longer.” Gideon had made sure Septon understood that. His dealings with the Order, with anything to do with their bloody objectives, were completely over.
“I’m glad.” She resumed the movement of her hand along his thigh.
His cock twitched with desire, and he held his breath, waiting for her to wrap her hand around him. When she didn’t and instead left the bed, he couldn’t help but gape after her. “Where are you going?”
“Just looking for something…” She bent down, and he stared hungrily at the delectable curve of her backside.
When she righted herself, she turned and sauntered toward the bed with a wicked smile.
“Whatever you have p
lanned will have to wait,” he growled. “After that display, I’ve a need to put you on your knees like the other night.”
She shivered, her nipples tightening. Holding up his cravat, she said, “I was just going to blindfold you. But we can do that another time.” She held her hand out to drop the silk, but he gently clasped her wrist.
“Don’t let me interrupt your plans. There’s plenty of time for both our fantasies.”
She leaned down and kissed him, her lips and tongue exploring him passionately before she drew back. “We have plenty of time for all our fantasies. Thank you for making mine come true.”
Gideon cupped her head and pulled her down for another kiss. “Thank you for helping me find some again. I love you.”
“I love you.” Her lips curled into a smile as their mouths met, and it was as if joy were something Gideon could touch and hold in his hand. It was, he realized. She was joy and love and home and family. She was everything.
And he would never let her go.
The end
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I hope you enjoyed Captivating the Scoundrel! If you haven’t read the other books in the series, check them out here. And don’t miss my other historical series, The Untouchables and Secrets and Scandals!
Author’s Note
I chose to set this story in and near Wales both because of the subject matter and because my grandmother, Selma Rita King Finney was born in Cardiff in 1916. I still have family there and was fortunate enough to visit several years ago. It’s a beautiful land with charming people, and while the Welsh language is difficult to pronounce, I find it lovely—probably because I can still hear my great-uncle Alec singing it.
The thirteen treasures of Britain are mythical objects that appear in various legends. They have been used in countless stories and in many ways (Harry Potter’s Deathly Hallows are somewhat based on them). I adapted them for the Legendary Rogues series and added the Heart of Llanllwch for purely narrative purposes.
The Order of the Round Table is a completely fictional group, but is based on the myriad secret societies that have existed for centuries. The circle of women healers based at Brue Cottage is also fictional, however Beckery Chapel was real and was the earliest monastic life in Great Britain. They made a fascinating discovery of human remains there from the fifth or early sixth century—Arthur’s supposed time. Legend says King Arthur may have visited and so in my story, he did.
Edmund de Valery, Anarawd, and Elidyr are fictional characters as are the documents they produced. St. Gildas, however, was real and he did live as a hermit on Flat Holm. As for Flat Holm, it is home to a lighthouse, farmhouse, pub, and gift shop and not much else. The note about a man being trapped there is true. That happened just before this story in 1815. Gareth was one of Arthur’s knights, but the extension, “the Worthy” is entirely my imagination.
Of course there is no proof that King Arthur, his knights, the Round Table or any of Arthurian legend is real. I’d like to think it’s a little bit history, with a dash of embellishment, and a lot of great storytelling.
A note about marriage licenses in this era: a common license was easy to procure within one of the party’s parishes provide they could afford to purchase it. If they could not afford it, the banns would be read in church for three consecutive Sundays. The point of licenses and banns was to ensure parties were able to wed—that they were of age and there were no impediments, such as other spouses. Without the handy internet to look up records, you can imagine how easy it might be for people to commit bigamy. In this story, Daphne and Gideon are wed in her parish so he would have been able to purchase a common license for them to wed. However, that license would have required them to wait seven days, which was time this story didn’t have to spare. So, with a little bribery, flashing Gideon’s “earl card,” and some story magic, they wed immediately (and without having to prove Gideon’s wife was truly dead).
Thank You!
Thank you so much for reading Captivating the Scoundrel. I hope you enjoyed it! If you haven’t read the other books in the series featuring Cate (Romancing the Earl, book 2), Penn (Lord of Fortune, book 3), and their parents (Lady of Desire, book 1), you won’t want to miss their quests for treasure and love as they face off against the Order of the Round Table.
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Be sure to check out my other historical series, The Untouchables and Secrets and Scandals.
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If you like contemporary romance, I hope you’ll check out my Ribbon Ridge series available from Avon Impulse, and the continuation of Ribbon Ridge in So Hot.
Thank you again for reading and for your support.
xoxox,
Darcy
Books by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
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Legendary Rogues
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Lady of Desire
Romancing the Earl
Lord of Fortune
Captivating the Scoundrel
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The Untouchables
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The Forbidden Duke
The Duke of Daring
The Duke of Deception
The Duke of Desire
The Duke of Defiance
The Duke of Danger
The Duke of Ice
The Duke of Ruin
The Duke of Lies
The Duke of Seduction
The Duke of Kisses
The Duke of Distraction
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Secrets and Scandals
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Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
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Contemporary Romance
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Ribbon Ridge
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Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)
Only in My Dreams
Yours to Hold
When Love Happens
The Idea of You
When We Kiss
You’re Still the One
* * *
Ribbon Ridge: So Hot
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So Good
So Right
So Wrong
Acknowledgments
While I am always sad to see a series end, this was probably my favorite book of the series to write. There’s nothing I love more than redeeming a villain! Not that Gideon was a super baddie, but let’s face it, he wasn’t great in Romancing the Earl! HUGE thanks to Rachel Grant for suggesting he play the bad guy in that book so I could set him up for redemption. Brilliant move, my friend.
In addition to Rachel, I must thank Elisabeth Naughton for her help in plotting this series. Both of them are MAGNIFICENT romantic suspense authors and I learned so very much from them. Thank you, friends.
I owe a special thank you to Tracy Emro for her spectacular beta reading. She catches so many little things and teaches me a ton! And in this case, her request for tying up a loose end made a plot point that much stronger - thank you.
I couldn’t bring you the best book possible without my fabulous editing team of Linda and Toni. Their dedication to excellence makes sure we get things as right as we can. Thank you both!
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About the Author
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub.