The Tempting of a Devilish Lord (The Lords of Scandal Row Book 2)

by Samantha Holt

  Alex shook his head to himself and continued along the path leading around the lake. The route did not take a full lap or else one could be walking for days but simply curved a path to the shops before coming to an abrupt end by the jetties. Clustered about the small wooden piers, row boats of varying sizes awaited occupants. A few were already out on the lake so not even rowing over to the island in the middle would help them escape the ladies.

  Lord, maybe he was becoming dull with age. He did not even mind the idea of not being able to stop and charm every lady here. Truth be told, unless he spotted one lady in particular, he had no interest in any of the current offerings.

  “This could all be solved if you just married the Miss Kingsley,” Leo muttered.

  “Or you could marry her,” Alex said. “I don’t even know her, and I have done marriage once before. It was quite enough for me.”

  “You’re the one with a duty to marry,” his brother shot back.

  “I’m a marquis with two brothers,” Alex replied with a grin. “Who will happily take on the title should anything happen to me. And then you can worry about marrying and securing the line of inheritance.”

  Adam shook his head. “If I ever marry, you can be certain someone has kidnapped me and replaced me with a long-lost twin.”

  “I could say the same about me,” Leo agreed. “I’ll never marry.”

  “Not after Rebecca,” Adam murmured, garnering a scowl from Leo.

  Alex held up both hands. The last thing they needed to do was to remind Leo of his young love. “Leo is not wrong. This would be resolved if one of us married the woman.” He rubbed his forehead with his fingers. “God knows, I have sympathy for the lady but she’s not carrying my child and I can hardly pass the title down to someone not of my blood, can I?”

  “Well, what if you die and I have to make the child my heir?” Adam pointed out. “None of us are careless or heartless enough to leave a woman in such a situation but none of us is the father or even had the enjoyment of making the child.” He twisted to eye Leo. “Unless there’s something you are not telling us?”

  He shook his head vigorously. “Never even met the woman.”

  “There,” Adam declared. “It’s settled. None of us shall marry her and we shall remain here until it is figured out exactly who the bloody hell the father is.”

  Alex grimaced. “I hope for her sake someone makes a decision. I doubt the poor woman can escape the gossip like we have.”

  “Let us think of nicer things.” Leo gestured to the group of women who had paused on the path and were making furtive looks at them.

  Headed by an older lady, the group consisted of two other young ladies, both fair-haired and dressed in pale colors with a flush of innocence on their cheeks. Their sideways glances toward Alex and his brothers, however, said differently.

  “Have you forgotten the part where we avoid scandal at all costs?” Alex reminded his brother.

  “Talking to some pretty young ladies?” Adam squeezed his shoulder. “What can be the scandal in that?”

  “As I said, knowing you, it could turn into scandal in minutes.”

  Adam flashed a smile. “I learned all I know from my older brother.”

  Alex inhaled deeply. He wasn’t wrong. After his wife passed, Alex had certainly taken it upon himself to enjoy all that life had to offer. Why would he not when he’d seen firsthand how short and miserable it could be? However, for once in his damned life, he was going to do as his mother asked. If that meant somehow wrangling his brothers too, he would.

  Oh yes and avoiding that pretty redhead Lucy.

  Which was going to prove harder than keeping his brothers in check apparently.

  ∞∞∞

  THERE WERE SO many things to distract in Cumbria. Beautiful, glistening lakes, impressive mountains, sweet village stores and cafes offering delicious cakes.

  It should be quite easy for Lucinda to find her gaze wandering about the town and avoiding Lord Kirbeck entirely.

  Oh so easy.

  And yet it was not. Her darned traitorous gaze insisted on flitting over to him while half-listening to Mrs. Beaton discuss some sort of trip with their mother.

  “You will be quite well, will you not, Lucinda?” Mama said. “She is such a sensible girl.”

  “Hmm?” Lucinda blinked a few times. “Oh yes. Quite well.”

  She glanced over again as Alex, his brother and another man she now knew to be his other brother approached the Lonsdale sisters and their mother. All three brothers were similar in appearance and according to Mrs. Barker, who had arranged the garden visit, they were close in age—the dowager marchioness having had three successive pregnancies in a row.

  Lucinda had tried her best not to listen to the talk of the three brothers returning home, but it had been difficult. They were well-known in London for enjoying themselves—known as the Lords of Scandal Row, according to their mother—and apparently all three had rakish reputations. She could have surmised that herself but at least she could be confident her assumptions had been correct.

  Of course, the assumption everyone had made about their sudden appearance in Langmere was that they had also heard of the book feature on the town and cleverly realized young ladies would be descending on the place with their ageing relatives.

  Mrs. Barker even decided they were looking to marry.

  Lucinda snorted. She doubted a man like Alex would ever marry, regardless of duty or if he did, he would continue on as normal, keeping mistresses wherever he went. Clearly he enjoyed flirtations. She saw as much as he spoke to the Lonsdale sisters.

  “Did you say something, Lucinda?” her mother asked.

  She snapped her attention around and forced a serene smile. “Oh no. Just, um, had a little cough.”

  Her mother’s dark brows knitted. “I do hope you are not becoming unwell. Perhaps I should delay my trip.”

  “Delay? Trip?” Lucinda repeated.

  “Yes, with Mrs. Beaton? As we were just discussing.”

  Lucinda’s cheeks heated and she expanded her smile. “Oh no, I’m sure all will be just fine.”

  “You will be under the care of Mrs. Hilton. She can escort you and Mary-Anne wherever you wish to go, though I imagine you two shall be quite content enjoying the walks here seeing as you were gone so long the other day.”

  “I cannot wait!” Mary-Anne said gleefully.

  “A couple of days?” Lucinda stared at her mother. “You are leaving for a couple of days?”

  “Well the journey to Yorkshire will take at least a day,” her mother replied.

  Mrs. Beaton nodded. “We could arrange another carriage I suppose,” she murmured, “but I have my doubts either of you should wish to come. Especially Mary-Anne.”

  Lucinda waved a hand. “No, it will be fine. I know you have been wanting to visit with Grandmama Nancy for some time.”

  And Lucinda was more than happy to avoid Grandmama Nancy. The woman never failed to lecture her on her past deeds, and she could do without Mary-Anne overhearing. They had protected her for this long from the truth of Lucinda’s past and she would like to keep it that way.

  “Oh look.” Mary-Anne tugged on Lucinda’s arm. “There’s Alex and Adam. We should go and see how they are!”

  Mama’s lips tightened. “I hear they are quite the rakes, and their current deposition does nothing to sway me from such an impression.” She leaned in. “The Lords of Scandal Row, they call them.”

  She understood why they had received such a nickname, given they all owned townhouses in the same row in London according to Mrs. Baker, and it seemed scandalous behavior did not stay in Town.

  Indeed, all three were laughing and smiling with the sisters while the pretty young women inched ever closer. Ivy Lonsdale was so close to Alex that all he would need to do was turn around, dip down a little and they could kiss.

  The heat already lingering in her cheeks flashed to scalding levels and she forced herself to draw in a cooling breath. “
Perhaps we should leave them to it. They appear quite busy.”

  “Oh no, do let’s say good afternoon!” Mary-Anne pulled on Lucinda’s arm once more then scurried off toward them.

  Mama pressed a hand to her chest. “They will think her rude!”

  “I shall see to her, Mama.” Sighing, Lucinda scurried over. Mary-Anne barged into the conversation before Lucinda reached them and Alex offered Lucinda an amused smile.

  “It seems your sister demands to come and visit with us again.”

  “Well, unfortunately for Mary-Anne that will not be possible. Our mother is leaving town for a few days.” She met his gaze and tried to look away from those compelling hazel eyes.

  No doubt Ivy Lonsdale had felt exactly the same as she did right now, all breathless and captive under his attention. She would do well to recall that he likely had practice with such intense looks.

  “Come now, Mary-Anne,” Lucinda said. “I can see you are all busy.” She swung a look at the sisters who shot her narrowed looks at their interruption. Even Mrs. Lonsdale’s lips thinned.

  “I did not actually agree to have your sister visit, you know.” Alex’s smile tilted.

  “Well it would not matter if we were. We are busy too you see.” Lucinda smiled tightly.

  “Oh yes, no doubt you have more rocks to climb.” Alex leaned in. “Let me know if I need to be of service again, Lucy. I shall keep my schedule entirely clear.”

  “That will not be necessary,” she replied archly. “I will have no need of your aid, now or anytime soon.”

  “You know, you are always welcome at Eastwick, Mary-Anne,” Adam chimed in. “We have secret passageways and a priest hole that I suspect would be of interest to you.”

  “Oh goodness, can we go now?” Mary-Anne demanded.

  “No!” Lucinda snapped. “We are returning to our lodgings right this moment.” She looped her arm forcibly through Mary-Anne’s.

  “But—”

  “Good day, my lords.” She swung a glance at the other ladies. “Mrs. Lonsdale, Miss Lonsdale, Miss Ivy.” She briefly met Alex’s gaze. “We shall leave you to it.” With a swift dip, Lucinda hauled her sister back toward their mother, not allowing a response from any of them.

  “Well, that was rude!” Mary-Anne muttered.

  “You were already rude, dashing in like that. You know we have not been introduced properly yet and if Mama has it her way, we will never be introduced.”

  “I do not know what Mama has against the nobility. Anyone would think she would be thrusting you at them just like Mrs. Lonsdale did with Ivy and Beth.”

  “I have Bernie. I do not need thrusting at anyone.”

  Especially not someone like Alex. The man had the gall to flirt with her a mere minute or so after charming the Lonsdale sisters.

  “Bernard is boring.”

  “He is...sensible,” Lucinda countered. “And reliable.”

  “Which means boring.” Her sister pulled her close. “You know, Alex looked intently at you. I think he likes you. And he is not boring at all.”

  “A rake like him likes every woman of age,” Lucinda pointed out. She’d even seen the proof of that. So if she could not recall that whenever she thought of his dark eyes or his generous lips, she was more of a fool than she realized.

  Chapter Seven

  Alex paced to the window of his study and peered out across the lawns. He should be replying to letters but for some reason the sudden urge to stretch his legs struck. He shook his head to himself. Perhaps he should turn his attentions to fortune telling or communicating with the dead.

  Miss Lucinda Evans scurried across the grass, a hand to her hat. He knew it was her from the curls and the manner of dress. He knew it was her instinctively. His gut clenched at the mere sight of her. Lucy disapproved of him, he’d garnered that much from their meeting two days ago, and for some wretched reason, that made him more interested in her.

  Despite himself, he hastened down the stairs and reached the door before the bell sounded across the house and Quigley could answer. The butler lifted a brow, no doubt wondering what the devil had got into his master who rushed to the door like a bloody schoolboy seeing his mother after a term away.

  “I’ll speak with her,” is all he muttered before opening the door and stepping outside.

  Lucy blinked and took a startled step back when he emerged to find her with her nose practically pressed to the door.

  “Oh.”

  He grinned. “Oh?”

  “I did not expect...that is...” She huffed and wound her gloved hands together.

  He glanced around her. “No escort?”

  She shook her head rapidly. “I have need of your help.”

  “Mine?”

  “Yes,” she said tightly. “Mary-Anne has gone missing.”

  He dropped the smile rapidly. “When? How?”

  “She slipped out this morning whilst I was asleep.” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “I should have known she might try something while Mama is gone. Our escort, Mrs. Hilton, is half-blind and always napping but our mother was relying on me to keep her safe.”

  “Do you know where she would go?” He held up a finger. “One moment.” Slipping into the house, he requested his coat, hat and gloves from Quigley. Once they were handed over, he also asked for the buggy to be made ready.

  “You are going to help me?” Her eyes were wide when he stepped out whilst shoving his arms into his jacket.

  “I’m assuming that is why you came here.”

  Lucinda nodded, glancing at her feet. “Most of the people I know are visitors to the area and they would all tell Mama what happened. She cannot find out.”

  “And I, of course, would happily keep your secret, being that sort of person,” he said with a lopsided smile.

  “I—well, that is...”

  “I will help, of course.”

  Her shoulders dropped. “Thank you, thank you. I know you are likely busy and—”

  “If I had a younger sister in the same situation, I am certain you would offer your help.”

  “Of course but—”

  “No matter what you think of me, Lucy, I am not a heartless cad.”

  She pursed her lips and nodded slightly. “Yes, of course you are not.”

  “Well then where do you think she has gone?”

  “Do you recall the day we met?”

  “How could I forget?”

  Her cheeks reddened adorably and if they were not in rather dire circumstances, he would have taken a moment to enjoy it or even say something a little scandalous to make the color deepen. However, they had to find Mary-Anne. He doubted she would run into anyone nefarious but as Lucy had already demonstrated, the wild landscape of Cumbria could be dangerous, and it would not be impossible to imagine she might have tumbled down a hill somewhere or injured herself.

  “We were looking for a castle ruin. One of the townspeople told us about it,” she explained.

  “And you think she is still hunting for it?”

  “That is my guess. For some reason, she is obsessed with everything medieval.”

  “Like her sister then.”

  “But I do not know why. She used to enjoy hearing about it when she was younger, but I thought she had grown out of it. Now, suddenly, she is determined we hunt down castles and she keeps trying to persuade me to read to her again, as though she is a child once more.”

  Alex frowned. “How old is she?”

  “Four-and-ten.”

  “Those are confusing years. I imagine more so for a girl. She is not yet a woman but nor is she a child.”

  “Sometimes she acts more like a child than any other girl her age, I’m certain of it.”

  “Perhaps she is trying to reclaim her childhood. She might miss the days when you told her stories,” he suggested.

  Her gaze struck his, as though surprised by the idea or perhaps by the fact he might be able to surmise as much. “I suppose I had not thought of it that way. I just thought
she was trying to be rebellious.”

  He shrugged. “I am certainly no expert on young women’s minds, but your sister does not seem the sort to do something simply out of a need to rebel.”

  She bit down on her bottom lip, drawing it under her even teeth before releasing it. It drew his attention to the wideness of her mouth and reminded him of that stolen kiss.

  Reminded him that he would not mind another but that it would have to be much, much longer so he could fully explore the taste and feel of her.

  “I hope you are right.”

  “We will find her,” he assured her, placing a hand upon her arm. He longed to do more, wrap her up in his arms even, when he saw the tiny, vulnerable shiver that wracked her but helping her or not, he suspected he might get a sharp slap from the formal Miss Lucinda Evans if he did such a thing.

  He grinned to himself. It might be worth it though…

  ∞∞∞

  LUCINDA SHIFTED ACROSS the seat, away from Alex, for the hundredth time while he directed the buggy expertly across the hills, following a scarcely there road. She hugged the side of the vehicle, too aware of the firm thigh she repeatedly brushed against.

  The uneven terrain made it difficult for her to maintain the distance between them, and when they hit a rut, she slipped across the smooth leather seat straight back to his side, moving so swiftly she had to put a hand to his arm to prevent herself from practically toppling on top of him.

  She caught his smirk and tightened her lips as she pressed away once more.

  “You could hold on to my arm if you like. It would make for an easier ride.”

  She shook her head vigorously and clung to the side of the carriage with both hands.

  “You cannot see the ruin from here which is probably why you both missed it last time but there’s a narrow path that leads to a plateau. This road skirts around it so we’ll have to go on foot once we reach the bottom of the hill,” he explained.

  She nodded, tightening her grip on the glossy exterior of the buggy.

  “We’ll find her,” he assured her.

  She nodded again and swallowed. How foolish she had been. She should not have even slept. Or perhaps locked the door to their room. She could not even fathom how she hadn’t awoken when Mary-Anne left but her sister did have rather a knack for being sneaky.