A Season for Treason

by Golden Angel

  Sighing, Mary softened just a touch.

  “She is somewhere in London, and she was doing some housekeeping for Lucas’ butler while he searched for Lucas. I assume that is now over with.”

  “Yes, the earl is going to be going to France, I believe,” Stuart said mildly, surprising Rex. Lucas? In France? The way Stuart spoke, it sounded as though he was the one sending Lucas there. Hmm... maybe this would not be an entirely bad thing. Having a real mission might be good for Lucas.

  Mary

  Doing her best to ignore the growing throbbing of her sore bottom from sitting so long, Mary tried to focus on the conversation. Though she was determined not to betray Evie, there was one thing she wanted to know, she was hoping Oliver would be able to tell her.

  “Before Evie left, she said ‘he’ was here and could not see her. I thought she must have meant Elijah, but he was not there. Do you know who she was talking about? Does she know Captain Jones or Browne?”

  Elijah shook his head, Oliver following only a moment behind. Mary narrowed her eyes. Clearly, Evie’s uncle did know, but his son did not, and he did not want Elijah to know. Interesting.

  “What is going to happen to Collins now?” Rex asked.

  Mary could have kissed him, even though a moment ago, she had wanted to throw something at his head when he had taken Oliver’s side. Now he was diverting the other man’s attention from Evie. She doubted this would be the end of it, but she truly did not know where Evie had ended up. That she would likely find out when she next saw Evie in Hyde Park was something the Stuarts did not need to know.

  “Collins is currently enjoying the hospitality of the Crown,” Oliver said, his eyes shuttering. Sometimes, Mary forgot he was not just Evie’s happily indulgent and overprotective Uncle Oliver, but at this moment, she was swiftly reminded. There was a coldness to his voice she had never heard before. “Unfortunately, it turns out, he was not working alone.”

  “Not Carlisle!” Rex looked shocked, then relieved when Oliver shook his head.

  “No, not Carlisle. We do not know who he was working with. Or, should I say, being blackmailed by?”

  “Blackmail?” Mary’s brow furrowed. “Was he not a true villain then?”

  “Oh, no. He did organize the Duke of York’s assassination attempt but at another’s direction,” Oliver said grimly. “Someone found out about his activities smuggling spies across the Channel during the war and blackmailed him with that information into continuing his traitorous deeds. As he had lost a fair bit of his income once the war was over, he was open to making more money.”

  “Bloody hell,” Rex cursed before glancing at her. “Sorry, petal. I…” He was frustrated, knowing a snake had been harbored in his Society. Mary reached out to take his hand, soothing him. There was no way he could have known. Rex turned his attention back to Oliver. “Who was the puppet master then?”

  Oliver’s countenance grew even grimmer, though Mary had not thought that possible.

  “He never knew the identity of his blackmailer. Do not worry. We will find him.” The last words rang out, full of determined conviction.

  Mary bit her lip before she could blurt out an offer to help. Evie and the others would want to, but she knew Oliver would never accept such an offer, and making it would only put him on guard.

  “Could there be someone else in my Society?” Rex asked, frowning. Oliver hesitated, and Mary was glad he had been the one to ask. If she had, Oliver would have likely metaphorically patted her on the head and told her to run along, the way he often did to Evie. Despite all Evie had done to prove herself to her uncle, he still did not think women were as capable as men.

  “It is possible,” Oliver admitted almost apologetically. “I cannot tell you for sure. To that end, I would like Elijah and Jones to continue in the current positions. Warwick as well.”

  “As long as it is clear, Julian Mitchell is still unwelcome.”

  “Of course.” Oliver nodded.

  Mary wanted to scream in frustration at how little they knew, but she supposed she had to be content with the knowledge Collins would immediately be facing justice and believe they would find his puppet master in the future. Oliver and his men would not rest, and neither would she and her friends.

  Leaving Stuart House, seated in the carriage next to her husband, Mary sighed and leaned into his shoulder. The extra cushion he had provided for her to sit on during the ride was very much appreciated as she was still noticeably sore. On the other hand, she did rather like the physical reminder of the prior evening’s activities. She even felt a bit proud, having endured the punishment. Rex’s large hand came to rest on her thigh, protective and comforting.

  “Thank you for not telling him about our Sunday meetings with Evie,” she murmured. She felt, more than heard, his soft chuckle, then his sigh.

  “I should have, you know.”

  “She can, and has, taken care of herself in far more dangerous situations. Her uncle used her skills in the past when the necessity arose, before trying to tuck her back into her safe little corner.” Mary snorted. “It is in her blood, just as it is in his and Elijah’s. He would do better to make use of her. If he did, she would follow his orders, but all he does is exclude her.”

  Mary knew how it felt to be excluded by family. Not so much anymore, though.

  Rex had not only included her in every part of his life, he had accepted every part of hers.

  “As long as you do not follow her example. I intend to know where you are and what you are doing at all times, and if you put yourself in danger again, last night’s punishment will seem like a pleasant dream.”

  “I will not,” she promised. Unlike Oliver, Rex had given her no reason to follow her example. While he had come to rescue her, he had also kept the secret of her Sunday meetings with Evie. Twisting her head to look at him, she smiled. “I love you.”

  “I love you, petal.” He turned to catch her lips with a kiss. “The rest of this Season looks to be interesting.”

  Yes, it likely would be, but Mary was not worried. They would face it together, as husband and wife.

  “Are we telling your aunt and uncle about your adventure yesterday?” Rex asked suddenly.

  Mary made a face. “I would rather not. They would worry so.” Poor Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Henry had been so good to her, she did not want to cause them any unnecessary concern.

  “You keep an awful lot from your family.” Her husband affectionally bopped her nose with his finger. “You had best not have any ideas about keeping so much from me.”

  “I am sure you will find an appropriate way to remind me not to do so,” Mary replied coquettishly. She shifted closer to him and winced. “Perhaps not today, though.”

  Laughing uproariously, her husband pulled her onto his lap, ignoring her squeals.

  Two matrons walking down Bond Street stopped and stared at the closed carriage as it passed, the sounds coming from it painstakingly unmistakable.

  “Scandalous!” One of them gasped, putting her hand to her ample bosom. “And him, newly married.”

  “Perhaps it is his bride in there with him?” The other suggested, squinting at the curtain as though willing it to move aside and allow them to see.

  The first lady snorted indelicately. “His wife? Are you mad? What kind of nobleman would do that with his wife in a carriage?”

  Sighing, the second lady appeared rather wistful. “Perhaps more of them should.”

  Epilogue

  Josie

  Joseph Stuart was an unmitigated, undiscerning, unintelligent, and completely insensitive ass. A dunderhead. A stupid, thoughtless, ratbag.

  If she heard his name one more time in connection to Miss Bliss, she would not be responsible for her actions. An engagement announcement was expected imminently. Josie glared down at the ballroom floor where the pair was currently dancing, oblivious to everyone around them.

  Five years.

  Five years she had mooned over that… that… nodcock.
Done everything she could to gain a single moment of his attention. Learned how to behave like a lady to impress him. Followed him all the way to London when she would have been much happier in the countryside, riding her horse. But no, she had come to London, worried he might find a wife… and he had.

  It did not matter how many gentlemen had crowded around her, singing her praises, Joseph had still not noticed her as anything other than his cousin’s little friend. He only had eyes for Miss Bliss, a young lady who everyone agreed was beautiful and accomplished but in no way compared to Josie, who had made a splash as a Diamond of the First Water and an Original. But it did not matter because Joseph did not see things that way.

  She felt like Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

  How happy some o’er other some can be!

  Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.

  But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so.

  He will not know what all but he do know.

  “Are you reciting Shakespeare in your head again?” Her friend Lily’s question was a murmur, but the accuracy dug under Josie’s skin. While she was grateful Lily had suggested retreating to the gallery when they saw Joseph and Miss Bliss making their way to the dance floor, so Josie would not have to tolerate the inane conversational gambits of the gentlemen courting her, sometimes, her friend was very annoying. “You should stop pining over Joseph and pay attention to one of the many men who does want you as a wife.”

  Josie just barely managed to keep from making a face. She had never wanted a London husband. She did not want to live in London. She wanted to live in the country with a husband who loved her, doted on her, and cared about horses as much as she did. If Joseph would just fall in love with her, he would make the perfect husband. She knew he preferred country living, he loved horses as much as she did, and they had always gotten along very well together.

  “I do not want any of them.”

  “Of course not.” Lily rolled her eyes. “You only ever want what you cannot have.”

  “That is not true!”

  Rather than answering, Lily bestowed one of her ‘all-knowing’ looks before turning away.

  “I just do not think Joseph should marry before Elijah.” They both knew that was not true. “Elijah is the elder and should marry first.” Since Josie could not imagine any woman tolerating him, that would take quite some time. None of the Stuart brothers were pushovers, but Joseph and Adam were far more easily managed than Elijah. It was why she and Elijah were forever butting heads—the man was impossible.

  “Perhaps you should tell Joseph… oh, what is he doing here?” Lily stiffened, drawing Josie’s attention to peer in the same direction Lily was now looking. Captain Jones and Elijah had entered the ballroom together, both of them casting glances around as if looking for someone.

  Two someones.

  They had been keeping an annoyingly close eye on Lily and Josie since Mary’s abduction, with Captain Jones dogging Lily’s footsteps, and Elijah stalking hers. Pressing her lips together, Josie shook her head.

  Bloody men. She was sick of all of them. Maybe she should become an eccentric spinster.

  If it wasn’t for Evie’s request to help her uncover a traitor, Josie would be well on her way home already, no matter how dismayed her mother would be. Of course, technically, the traitor had been found—the man who had planned a duke’s assassination—but he had not been the mastermind. Josie was determined to see this mission through to its end. Even if it meant watching Joseph Stuart courting Miss Bliss while her least favorite Stuart brother breathed down her neck.

  Thank you for reading A SEASON FOR TREASON!

  I hope you loved Mary and Rex. Find out what happens to Josie, Elijah, and the hunt for traitors in A SEASON FOR SCANDAL.

  Order A SEASON FOR SCANDAL now so you don’t miss it!

  And if you enjoyed the beginning to my Deception & Discipline series, you'll love PHILIP'S RULES, the first book in my Bridal Discipline series, and the series that introduced Rex and Mary to each other.

  The Marquess of Dunbury didn’t marry Lady Cordelia for love, but she hopes their marriage can become something more...

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  “Great characters and a wonderful storyline kept me reading and enjoying every word.” - 5 Star Amazon Review

  * * *

  “A woman ‘enjoying’ being punished by being spanked and sodomy???!!!! Really??!!! Horrible and disgusting. Don’t read.” - 1 Star Amazon Review

  About the Author

  About me? Right… I’m a writer, I should be able to do that, right?

  I’m a happily married young woman and I like tater tots, small fuzzy animals, naming my plants, hiking, reading, writing, sexy time, naked time, shirtless o’clock, anything sparkly or shiny, and weirding people out with my OCD food habits.

  I believe in Happy Endings. And fairies. And Santa Claus. Because without a little magic, what’s the point of living?

  I write because I must. I live in several different worlds at any given moment. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  I also write erotica, fetish romance, and dark offerings under the pen name Sinistre Ange.

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  Stay sassy.

  * * *

  www.goldenangelromance.com

  Other Titles by Golden Angel

  Deception and Discipline

  A Season for Treason

  A Season for Scandal

  * * *

  Bridal Discipline Series

  Philip’s Rules

  Undisciplined (Book 1.5)

  Gabrielle’s Discipline

  Lydia’s Penance

  Benedict’s Commands

  Arabella’s Taming

  Pride and Punishment Box Set

  Commands and Consequences Box Set

  * * *

  Domestic Discipline Quartet

  Birching His Bride

  Dealing With Discipline

  Punishing His Ward

  Claiming His Wife

  The Domestic Discipline Quartet Box Set

  * * *

  Stronghold Series

  The Sassy Submissive

  Taming the Tease

  Mastering Lexie

  Pieces of Stronghold

  Breaking the Chain

  Bound to the Past

  Stripping the Sub

  Tempting the Domme

  Hardcore Vanilla

  Steamy Stocking Stuffers

  Entering Stronghold Box Set

  Nights at Stronghold Box Set

  Stronghold: Closing Time Box Set

  * * *

  Masters of Marquis

  Bondage Buddies

  * * *

  Venus Rising Quartet

  The Venus School

  Venus Aspiring

  Venus Desiring

  Venus Transcendent

  Venus Wedding

  Venus Rising Box Set

  * * *

  Black Light

  Defended

  Black Light Roulette: War

  * * *

  Dirty Heroes

  The Lady

  * * *

  Standalone Romances

  Mated on Hades

  Marriage Training

  * * *

  Masters of the Castle

  Masters of the Castle: Witness Protection Program Box Set

  * * *

  Tsenturion Masters with Lee Savino

  Alien Captive

  Alien Tribute

  * * *

  Big Bad Bunnies Series

  Chasing His Bunny

 
Chasing His Squirrel

  Chasing His Puma

  Chasing His Polar Bear

  Chasing His Honey Badger

  Chasing Her Lion

  Night of the Wild Stags – A standalone Reverse Harem romance set in the Big Bad Bunnies World

  Chasing Tail Box Set

  Chasing Tail… Again Box Set

  * * *

  Poker Loser Trilogy

  Forced Bet

  Back in the Game

  Winning Hand

  Poker Loser Trilogy Bundle (3 books in 1!)

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