An Unexpected Temptation (The Townsbridges, #6)

by Barnes, Sophie

  An Unexpected Temptation

  The Townsbridges, Volume 6

  Sophie Barnes

  Published by Sophie Barnes, 2020.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  AN UNEXPECTED TEMPTATION

  First edition. December 8, 2020.

  Copyright © 2020 Sophie Barnes.

  Written by Sophie Barnes.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  By Sophie Barnes | Novels

  Novellas

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  When Love Leads to Scandal | Chapter One

  Acknowledgments

  About The Author

  Sign up for Sophie Barnes's Mailing List

  Further Reading: The Forgotten Duke

  By Sophie Barnes

  Novels

  The Formidable Earl

  Her Seafaring Scoundrel

  The Forgotten Duke

  More Than A Rogue

  The Infamous Duchess

  No Ordinary Duke

  The Illegitimate Duke

  The Girl Who Stepped Into The Past

  The Duke of Her Desire

  Christmas at Thorncliff Manor

  A Most Unlikely Duke

  His Scandalous Kiss

  The Earl’s Complete Surrender

  Lady Sarah’s Sinful Desires

  The Danger in Tempting an Earl

  The Scandal in Kissing an Heir

  The Trouble with Being a Duke

  The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda

  There’s Something About Lady Mary

  Lady Alexandra’s Excellent Adventure

  How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back

  Novellas

  An Unexpected Temptation

  A Duke for Miss Townsbridge

  Falling For Mr. Townsbridge

  Lady Abigail’s Perfect Romance

  When Love Leads To Scandal

  Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance

  The Duke Who Came To Town

  The Earl Who Loved Her

  The Governess Who Captured His Heart

  Mistletoe Magic (from Five Golden Rings: A Christmas Collection)

  Chapter One

  BALANCING AT THE EDGE of the sofa, Athena waited for her four-year-old niece, Lilly, to make her next move.

  “Come on,” Lilly’s older brother, Lucas, said. “You’re taking forever.”

  “It’s hard,” Lilly said. She stared at the low stool she was meant to get onto next. “My legs are too short.”

  Athena had deliberately placed the furniture with this in mind. She knew Lilly could make the jump with ease, but after misjudging the distance between two stone benches in Hyde Park a few weeks earlier, the girl was fearful of falling and getting hurt once more. Sympathizing, Athena grabbed a throw cushion and tossed it onto the floor. It landed between Lilly’s chair and the stool.

  Lucas jerked toward her with a glare. “That’s cheating.”

  “Would you rather your sister be eaten by crocodiles?” Athena asked. Lilly hopped down onto the cushion, freeing up the chair so Athena could move forward.

  “No,” Lucas grumbled. “But she could have made that jump. And now she’s about to grab the treasure.”

  “Unless you’re able to reach it first,” Athena told him slyly.

  “Not possible,” Lilly said with confidence.

  “What did I say at the very beginning,” Athena asked, “when you insisted there were no crocodiles in England?”

  “To use our imagination,” Lucas said. His eyes suddenly widened. He seemed to study his surroundings with greater care. A grin widened his mouth as he eyed the folded blanket hanging over the back of the loveseat. “I’m making a bridge.”

  “You can’t,” Lilly said. She turned to Athena. “Can he?”

  “I can’t very well stop him after I made an island pop out of nowhere for you.”

  “I’d rather play hide and go seek,” Lilly grumbled. She crossed her arms and pouted while her brother triumphantly claimed the biscuit tin at the center of the room.

  “We can do that next,” Athena said. “After you have survived the pit of doom.”

  Lilly blew out a breath and leapt across to where her brother stood. Athena jumped forward as well, landing on the stool as the door to the parlor swung open.

  “What on earth is going on in here?” Athena’s mother, Viscountess Roxley, asked. Mouth agape, she stared at Athena. As it turned out, she was not alone. The rest of the house party stood immediately behind her.

  “Playing,” Athena told the assembled group. She and her entire family had been invited to spend the second two weeks of December at the Marquess and Marchioness of Foxborough’s estate. The Foxboroughs’s daughter, Abigail, had married Athena’s brother James three years prior.

  “That is what one does in the nursery, Athena. Not,” her mother informed her, “in the parlor belonging to one’s host and hostess.”

  “I’m sorry,” Athena said, “but the nursery furniture isn’t very conducive to jungle adventures.”

  “It’s quite all right,” Lady Foxborough said with a slight frown. “I’m sure we can put the room to rights quickly enough if we all lend a hand.”

  “William,” Athena’s oldest brother, Charles, told their sibling. “Help me move the sofa, would you?”

  Athena hopped off the stool and picked up the blanket Lucas had used as a bridge. She proceeded to fold it.

  “Do we still get our biscuits?” Lucas asked while hugging the tin.

  “Yes,” Athena assured him, “but you may have to share with a lot more people now. Unless you make a hasty escape.”

  Lucas gave the doorway a quick glance, then grabbed his sister’s hand and promptly took off, with Lilly tripping and squealing behind him.

  “Honestly,” Athena’s mother sighed. “Could you not try to set a better example for them?”

  Athena shrugged. “They can learn about rules and decorum from everyone else. From me, however, they shall learn how to have fun.”

  “Which is why we left them in your care in the first place,” Charles’s wife, Bethany, told Athena with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “And we have every intention of doing the same with Benedict once he’s old enough,” Abigail said. “So I hope this won’t be the only time we’re tidying up this room.”

  Athena shared a look with her mother. The lady’s features softened until she allowed a smile. Athena knew she’d only chided her because she believed it was her responsibility to do so, not because she actually minded the ruckus. If anything, Lord and Lady Roxley both welcomed the boisterousness their grandchildren provided. As they put it, it made them feel young again. But they were very aware that this was not a view shared by all since most members of the upper class preferred to have their children hidden away and cared for by governesses.

  “Hopefully, the weather tomorrow will be clear so we can get the children outside,” Charles said once all the furniture had been put back in its proper spot and everyone comfortably seated. “A long walk and some fresh air would be wonderful for them.”

  A maid arrived with a tray, allowing tea to be served. Athena took a soothing sip while the conversation ensued around her. She loved that they’d all been gathered in this way. With her sister, Sarah, married off to the Duke of Brunswick in October, she’d experienced a v
oid in her life she’d not been prepared for. All too often, she found herself reflecting on how things used to be before her siblings had moved out of Townsbridge House. There had been laughter and love, constant chatter, footsteps moving across the floors, the sound of games being played.

  Now there was too much silence, and Athena longed to escape it, to carve out moments for herself in which she could recreate what she missed. Only there was no going back, just forward, and the future that spanned before her looked mighty lonely.

  Of course, the solution would be to marry and have a hoard of children of her own. The only problem with this was that she wasn’t sure she’d ever make a match for herself, as evidenced by her lack of suitors. No man wanted to touch a woman as daring or unpredictable as she. They couldn’t accept the scandal she’d caused at the age of fourteen when she’d stood up in church and informed everyone that Bethany loved Charles rather than the man she’d been in the process of marrying.

  Mayhem had ensued and Athena’s reputation had suffered irreparable damage. But, she mused, she would do the same thing again in a heartbeat. For if there was one thing she could not abide, it was the idea of people sacrificing their happiness for fear of causing a scandal. As far as she was concerned, there was only one life, one chance to get it all right. Why waste that on making oneself deliberately miserable for the sole purpose of appeasing others?

  “We have the holiday dance at the assembly hall of course, but if you like we could arrange a ball here as well,” Lady Foxborough said, snapping Athena out of her reverie. “There are a few families in the area we could invite. A couple even have young men of marriageable age.”

  “Really?” Athena’s mother murmured with far too much interest for Athena’s liking.

  “Plotting the next match already?” Athena’s father asked with the resignation of a man who’d long since realized there was no point in trying to dissuade his wife from her goals. “You don’t waste any time, do you, dear?”

  “I see no reason to,” Athena’s mother said.

  “How about the fact that Sarah was allowed to wait until she was two-and-twenty before she married?” Athena asked. In truth, she wouldn’t mind finding a man with whom she could fall in love sooner rather than later, she simply didn’t believe it was likely to happen and had no desire to suffer the torture of being paraded about. “I should be permitted to do the same.”

  “All things considered, I think it would be best if we began showing you off to your best advantage as soon as possible,” her mother argued. “You’ve many excellent qualities, Athena. I’d like to remind people of that so they can start viewing you in a different light.”

  In other words, her mother expected her road to the altar to be a lengthy one involving a shift in public opinion. No time to waste then. She allowed herself an inward groan and took another sip of her tea.

  “Mama has the right of it,” William said. “And a ball would be a great deal of fun.”

  “There’s just one catch,” Lord Foxborough said, cutting a stern look at his wife. “Protocol would require us to invite the Marquess of Darlington, and I’m not sure how any of you would feel about that.”

  Athena’s hand shook in response to the name. Hot tea fell against her thigh. Robert Carlisle had been the Earl of Langdon when she’d last seen him. Although things had ended badly between them, she’d been sorry to hear of his father’s passing. Athena darted a look in Charles’s direction. He and Bethany had both gone utterly still.

  “I forgot he had property in this area,” Athena’s father finally said.

  “I’ve not spoken to him in six years. Not since I left him at that inn where I found him after...” Charles cleared his throat and clasped his wife’s hand.

  Athena returned her teacup to its saucer with a clatter. “I should like a chance to apologize to him.”

  “No.” The word was unanimously spoken by her parents and siblings alike.

  “But—”

  “Darlington was furious after what happened.” Charles’s voice was strained with regret. “He made it very clear to me there was nothing more to be said between us.”

  “Nevertheless, I would like a chance to explain myself to him directly.” What she was truly after was his forgiveness. Darlington had been Charles’s friend. She’d known him most of her life and while he’d been wrong for Bethany, she could not deny the guilt she still felt over how she’d upended his life. “It would mean a great deal.”

  “I’m sorry,” Charles said. A brief silence followed before he confessed. “I made repeated attempts to apologize to him on all our behalves. I wrote him letters, Athena, and he responded once, in a manner I cannot repeat with ladies present. His words were extremely harsh, especially those directed at you. And while I’ve no doubt he was foxed beyond reason when he penned the missive, I cannot excuse such behavior.”

  “Not even when we are the ones who drove him to it?” Athena asked. She held Charles’s gaze. “Out of everyone who has criticized me over the years for the part I played in your marriage to Bethany, he is the one with the most right.”

  “You’re not wrong,” Athena’s father said, “but there are instances when it is wisest to leave the past alone and move on. It is my opinion that this is such an instance. Our goal right now is to see you settled, not to ruin your chances further by reminding everyone of what happened, and yes, they will be reminded the moment they see you and Darlington in the same room.”

  “So then I gather we ought to avoid a ball?” Lady Foxborough asked.

  “What about the dance at the assembly hall?” Bethany asked. “Is there any chance Darlington might show up there?”

  “No,” Lady Foxborough said. “The marquess, as I understand it, does not go out at all.”

  “So then?” Athena prompted. “Why not invite him if you know he’ll stay away.”

  “I fear he would not.” Lady Foxborough reached for her teacup while Athena tried to make sense of what she was being told. “The assembly hall functions are free from obligation, but if we, the Marquess and Marchioness of Foxborough, were to ask another peer to join us for a formal event, I believe he would feel duty-bound to attend, so as not to cause offense.”

  Athena sank back against the sofa with a sigh. What foolish nonsense. The Foxboroughs could not host a ball because to do so they would have to invite a man who did not wish to attend but would have to do so simply for the sake of appeasing a group of people who did not want him there. Once again, she was reminded of how ridiculous Society was.

  She glanced at the beveled glass windows, wet with rain. For six years she’d dreamed of running into Darlington, of voicing her regrets and wishing him well. In all her imaginings, he’d refuse to listen at first, but would relent when she persisted. Eventually, he’d tell her he understood, that it was all right, and that what had happened was for the best.

  The only problem was, the marquess had cut all ties with her family and remained absent from Town. She’d had no chance to approach him – no opportunity to make amends. Until now.

  Her pulse quickened. She wondered how far away his estate might be. If the Foxboroughs felt they had to invite him to an evening affair in the winter, he must be quite close – at least within an hour’s drive by carriage. Pressing her lips together, she considered those around her. None would provide her with the directions she required.

  Perhaps it was just as well. Athena picked up a biscuit and bit into it with a sigh. She knew herself well enough to realize it was probably a foolish idea – the sort of idea best scrapped before it fully formed and began to grow roots in her brain.

  But when she got up the following morning after a restless night of contemplation, she accepted what had to be done. If she was to find true happiness, she would have to make peace with the man she’d hurt. It was the only way forward.

  Resolved, she called for her maid to help her dress. “I need to know how to get to the Marquess of Darlington’s estate. Can you please find out for me, Ma
ry?”

  The maid was silent a moment before she said, “Of course, miss, but if you’re thinking of going there, I ought to caution you against it.”

  “Duly noted,” Athena said.

  “It really wouldn’t be wise.”

  “You’re probably right, but it’s one of those things I cannot not do.”

  Mary finished fastening the back of Athena’s gown. “Very well, but at least allow me to accompany you.”

  “Thank you, but you must stay here and cover for me. I’ll be as quick as I can. I promise.” It took a few more added pleas to acquire Mary’s full cooperation, upon which Athena went to breakfast with her family.

  “It’s still cloudy, but at least the rain has stopped,” Abigail said. “We could take a walk to the village and shop for Christmas gifts. I’m sure Lilly and Lucas would love the chance to purchase a few things for their parents with their aunts’ and uncles’ help.”

  “An excellent idea,” James said with a loving smile aimed at his wife.

  Everyone else agreed.

  “There’s an excellent tea shop where we can stop for pie,” Lady Foxborough said. “It’s the perfect place for us to warm up with refreshments.”

  “It sounds wonderful,” Athena said, deliberately softening her voice to a weaker tone than usual, “but I am hoping I can be excused.”

  “Excused?” Her mother gave her a baffled look. “You love fresh air and long walks, not to mention the chance to chase your niece and nephew along a country road.”

  “True.” Indeed, she would miss that part a great deal. “Unfortunately, I woke with a terrible headache. I think I would be better off staying here and getting some rest.”

  “Oh.” Her mother glanced about as if unsure of what else to say, except, “Of course.”

  One hour later, Athena watched from her bedchamber window as her family set off on their walk. Bundled up with hats, scarves, and mittens, Lilly and Lucas skipped ahead until they reached the large stones at the edge of the driveway. Athena smiled when they scampered up onto them, and Charles hurried over to give them a hand for support.