Engaging the Earl

by Diana Quincy

  He is a master strategist, but she’s laying siege to his heart...

  Vivacious Lady Katherine Granfield is the toast of the ton, but society’s most eligible miss secretly yearns for her childhood love, the man who vanished after her father forbade their marriage.

  When the dark and brooding Edward Stanhope returns, his battlefield strategies having won him an earldom, he’s no longer a second son with no prospects. His return should be a victorious one, but the new Earl of Randolph possesses secret demons that no one can discover. Least of all, Katherine.

  When the man she can’t forget reappears at her betrothal ball, Kat’s perfectly arranged future is thrown into tumult. Despite proper decorum, she sets out to win back her first love, but Edward is determined to remain cold and distant for her sake. As the debutante engages the war strategist in battle, he may find himself outmaneuvered.

  Engaging the Earl

  An Accidental Peers Novel

  Diana Quincy

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014 by Dora Mekouar. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

  Entangled Publishing, LLC

  2614 South Timberline Road

  Suite 109

  Fort Collins, CO 80525

  Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.

  Edited by Alethea Spiridon Hopson and Kate Fall

  Cover design by Heidi Stryker

  ISBN 978-1-62266-700-0

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  First Edition June 2014

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Acknowledgments

  Author Bio Compromising Willa

  Tempting Bella

  Seducing Charlotte

  The Duke’s Quandary

  The Duke’s Obsession

  No Ordinary Mistress

  The Seduction of Sarah Marks

  For Taoufiq, who believed in me before anyone else.

  Prologue

  If she let him leave, he would be lost to her forever.

  “You must ruin me.” Lady Katherine Granville’s clumsy fingers struggled to unlace the satin ribbons holding her snug bodice together. “It’s the only way.”

  “Stop talking nonsense, Kitty.” Edward Stanhope’s large hands closed over hers, preventing Kat from exposing herself. His long musician’s fingers inadvertently brushed the tender swell of white flesh above her bodice and the sensation burned its way through her blood. With a sharp intake of breath, he snatched his hand away and gently urged Kat toward the doors leading from the music room to the terrace.

  “Your maid awaits.” His tender hand brushed a tendril from her face. “You must return home before your father discovers you are not abed.”

  Panic welled. If she left now, untouched, Edward would be lost to her forever. She looked into the face of the only man she could ever imagine loving, into the slant of his velvet green eyes topped by dark amber curls. His rounded cheeks were still full in the way of a boy who’d not yet matured into the man he would become.

  “No.” She almost screamed the word. Grabbing Edward’s arm before he could ease her away from him, she gulped air into her deflated lungs. “Let us go to Gretna Green. Now, before we are discovered.”

  Edward closed his eyes. When he opened them, pain shone in those clouded depths. “We cannot. There is no honor in that. Hush now, Kitty. You will wake the household.”

  They were all asleep above stairs, Edward’s parents and brothers. She’d found Edward alone in his favorite place, the music room just off the terrace, where he’d returned after meeting with her father.

  “It’s the only path for us now that Father has rejected your suit. Surely you see that.” She blinked against the pressure of tears building behind her eyes. “I hate him. He had no right.”

  “He has every right.” His tone was firm. “The daughter of an earl should set her sights higher than a mere mister.”

  “You are the nephew of a marquess. Soon to be the brother of one.”

  “With no fortune to speak of.”

  “You are an artist.” She thought of his passionate music compositions. “The most talented musician in all of England.”

  “Hardly that. I am a second son who dabbles in music. Your father is quite right to say I have no prospects.”

  “Don’t speak of yourself that way.” Fear squeezed her chest. “It isn’t true.”

  “Of course it is. My brother will be a marquess, but what of me? I am one-and-twenty with no prospects beyond amusing myself with music.”

  “Those are my father’s words, not yours.”

  “You are young, Kitty, just ten-and-six. You’ll be a diamond of the first when you make your come-out. Titled gentleman will vie for your affection.”

  “Stop! Why are you talking like this?” He was like a wave pulling away from the beach and she was helpless to stop it. Her father’s words from earlier in the evening reverberated in her head. You will thank me one day, Katherine, once you’ve realized I stopped you from ruining your life. Now, standing at the glass terrace doors, feeling the chill coming through them, she raised her voice. “I don’t care if we awaken the entire household. I hope I do. Then I shall be compromised and we will have to marry.”

  The grim set of his features sent fear arrowing down her back. “You should know,” he said evenly, “that I have purchased a commission. I leave in a fortnight.”

  “What?” Her pulse blasted in her ears. She couldn’t possibly have heard him correctly. “You can’t leave.”

  Firm hands gripped her shoulders. “I’m joining the fight on the Continent.”

  A horse stomping on her chest could not have been more painful. “You would give up on us?” she asked in a voice edged with growing hysteria. “You are leaving me?”

  “I do this for us.” His determined gaze bored into her. “I shall serve valiantly. Once I make something of myself, I’ll come back for you.”

  She shook her head, disbelief crowding out all cogent thought. “What if you die?” Fear blanketed her. “What will become of me then?”

  “I will not die.” He cradled her face with his tapered artist’s fingers, brushing away her tears with his thumb. “I have far too much to live for.”

  “No. Marry me now.” She would lose him forever if he went off to war. Snatching his hand from her cheek, she pulled it to her breast with both hands. The tender little mound swelled under his touch, its peak straining upward. “Why would you go to war when we can go to Gretna Green?”

  His breathing arrested and he recoiled as though he’d touched a venomous snake. But Kat held tight to his hand with both of hers. “You want this as much as I,” she pleaded, tears flowing down her cheeks.

  He cursed. Something she had never heard him do. His large hand closed over her breast and she almost sobbed in triumph. “Devil take it. You tempt me so.” Groaning, he pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. She’d left it long and loose on purpose, knowing how much he appreciated the shiny, wheat-colored strands. He cupped her breast through her c
lothing, kneading it, his thumb running over the pearl tip with increasing urgency.

  Elation and relief poured through her. She’d won. He’d not abandon her after all. She rubbed herself against his body, savoring the comforting angles of his form and the way his clean soap scent poured over her. The firm pressure of his arousal against the swell of her belly caused a thousand nerve endings to dance with anticipation.

  “I’ll always be with you, Kitty, always.” His hand slipped inside her bodice to fondle her bare breast and her skin purred with delight. No one else could make her body feel these strange, wondrous sensations. She arched into him, her mouth seeking his, and he obliged, his warm soft lips coming down to rub against hers with gentle insistence. She floated into the pleasure of it, her legs feeling like ribbons streaming in a warm breeze.

  Then his tongue was pushing into her willing mouth, stroking against hers in urgent motions. He’d never kissed her like this before: hot, wet and open mouthed. He tasted like life and breath. She would die without him. Her terror at his leaving gave way to the physical need ratcheting up in her body.

  His warm lips trailed down her neck, pulling her bodice open, baring her to him. He licked the top swell of her breast before taking the point fully into his mouth. Her insides swelled with sensation and she trembled, feeling close to bursting.

  “Promise me,” he said as he mouthed her tender flesh.

  “Mmmm, anything.” She strained against him, her head thrown back, eyes closed. “I shall promise you anything.”

  “I couldn’t bear for any other man to see you thus.” His humid breath swept across the moist tip of her breast. “Promise you’ll wait for me until I return.”

  What? Disbelief surged, followed by anger so intense it swamped her senses. Slamming her palms against his shoulders, she shoved him away with the full force of her fury.

  The suddenness of the movement stunned him, knocking him from his kneeling position at her breast to flat on his arse, his hands braced behind him. His eyes widened. “What was that for?”

  Glaring at him, she pulled her top closed to cover her exposed flesh. “You still intend to go?”

  “I thought you understood.” He frowned, appearing genuinely befuddled. “I do this for us, for our future. Once I make something of myself, we shall marry.”

  “Why? I’ve told you I love you as you are.” Tears stung her eyes again. Her body still hummed from his caresses. How could he even think of leaving her? “I don’t have a care for what my father thinks.”

  His eyes changed—the green in them darkened, draining them almost of all color. He pushed up from the floor, his lanky legs moving in a swift motion. “But I do care,” he said in a hard voice. “The earl’s esteem is of importance to me. You will want your husband to have your father’s respect.”

  “I can’t believe you’re deserting me.” The answering surge of pain and fury almost incapacitated her. “How could you do this? How could you?” Trembling with anger, she stumbled toward the glass terrace door and pulled it open. A rush of icy winter air pelted her face. His pleading voice followed her into the frigid night.

  “Promise me that you will wait for me. Promise it.”

  She turned to take one last look at him. Her eyes moved over the dark amber curls, the turn of his boyish cheeks, the tall full body whose soft warmth she craved. Dread raked her skin. Her gentle Edward was no soldier. He would die on the battlefield.

  “No.” Her voice shook with feeling. “Mark me, Edward Stanhope. If you go, I will not wait for you. I swear to hate you until my dying day.”

  Color leached from his face. “You mustn’t speak that way.”

  “If you leave, don’t come back. I mean it.” She stumbled out the door and along the terrace to where Fanny, her maid, waited for her.

  Fanny stepped out from the shadows with concern etched in her face. “We must hurry, my lady. His lordship will have my head if he finds you gone.”

  Numb with grief, she allowed Fanny to usher her away. A shattering noise pierced the air. Kat froze, listening to the crashing sounds of splintering wood coming from the music room she’d just left.

  Fanny’s eyes narrowed at the expression she saw on her mistress’s face. “Come along, my lady. We must return.”

  Ignoring her, Kat pivoted and flew back to the windowed wall of the music room that ran along the terrace. She peered in from the shadows to see Edward holding his violin high above his head with both hands, bringing it down with all of his force, smashing it against the wall, pieces of the fine wood splintering everywhere. Shock paralyzed her. Nothing was dearer to Edward than his music. The violin, one of his most prized possessions, had come from Italy.

  The look on his face caused her stomach to contract with alarm. Edward’s countenance, always so kind and expressive, now beheld a storm of darkness, his eyes nothing more than hollow shadows.

  Sucking in a shuddering breath, she forced herself to turn away.

  Chapter One

  Six years later

  “You’ll make such a beautiful bride.” Kat’s mother dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes. “We thought this day would never come.”

  Kat swallowed hard to tap down the nerves fluttering in her stomach. This evening, after five glittering Seasons as the toast of the ton, she would finally become betrothed. She studied her reflection in the looking glass, smoothing her hands over the low-cut, pale yellow silk bodice that showcased her modest breasts and slender form to full advantage.

  She smiled, pleased with what she saw, knowing many young debutantes would flock to their modiste for a dress similar to her betrothal gown. She’d been an incomparable all these years on the marriage mart, turning down numerous offers before agreeing at last to a match that made her father proud.

  Her mother clasped her hands to her chest while looking over Kat’s shoulder in the looking glass. “You look ravishing. Lord Sinclair will no doubt think so as well.”

  Her betrothed, Viscount Lawrence Sinclair—Laurie—would appreciate her in this gown. His warm blue eyes always gazed upon her with sincere affection and admiration. He loved her, Kat knew that for certain, and she returned his affection, although not in the same gut-wrenching way she had loved Edward. She shivered. Never that.

  She closed her eyes as the unbidden memories stole over her. With a shuddering breath, she recalled the feel and taste of him, the sensation of his mouth on her skin that final night. A familiar sharp pain, almost paralyzing in its intensity, spiked up through her belly and into her chest. Forcing herself to breathe through the discomfort, she shoved thoughts of Edward out of her mind. She must not think of him. Especially not tonight of all evenings.

  She’d been right to hate him for leaving her. He never returned after abandoning her six years ago. All he’d left her with was the pain. It slithered up on her, unbidden, at the most inopportune times, whether it was while calling on friends or walking in the park. The smallest things—listening to someone play the violin or the pianoforte, any mention of the war—triggered thoughts of him. No, she didn’t love Laurie with that kind of painful intensity and was glad for it. She’d barely survived loving Edward. Losing him had scorched her soul. She would never love another person that way again.

  “Come dear,” said her mother. “Lord Sinclair will be waiting.”

  She focused on her image in the looking glass. Chin up. Shoulders back. Smile in place. The woman in the looking glass didn’t appear to have a care in the world. It was time to put Edward Stanhope in the past and move on to her future.

  “As always, you are a vision.” Laurie’s warm smile floated up to greet her as she descended the grand staircase.

  Reaching the bottom, Kat curtseyed, forcing gaiety into her countenance. “I have outdone myself, don’t you think?” She twirled, showing off her gown.

  He grinned. “It is perfection. All of the other girls will burst into tears and throw themselves to the ground when they see you in that gown.”

  She smiled, feel
ing a comforting surge of affection for Laurie. “Oh, that would be too much.” She fluttered her lashes. “Perhaps just bursting into tears without swooning would suffice.”

  He laughed, his striking blue eyes glittering with approval. “I will certainly have my hands full with you, my future viscountess.”

  “No doubt,” she said, taking his arm to join their families. Instead, Laurie pulled her into the nearest door, an empty salon that had not been opened for this evening’s guests. “Laurie, what are you doing?” she asked as he shut the door and edged her up against it.

  Sliding his hands around her waist, he drew her close. “I mean to have my arms full of you post haste.”

  She giggled and turned her face up to welcome his kiss. It was soft and gentle, with the respect and consideration a gentleman shows his intended, in a way that prompted a warm sensation to flutter down her body.

  He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. “I vow I will make you happy, Kat. On my honor, I will.”

  She smiled. “I know you will.” She put a hand to his cheek. “You are such a dear.”

  He blew out a breath. “I would be more than that to you.”

  Feeling hedged in, she gave an uncomfortable laugh. “Of course, silly, you are to be my husband and we shall be deliriously happy.”

  His searching gaze prompted nerves to flutter in her belly. She slipped her hand behind his head and brought his lips to hers once more. She kissed with deliberate enthusiasm, determined to show Laurie how much she appreciated him. And to distract him from that probing gaze that sometimes seemed to see too much.

  He held himself aloof at first so Kat parted her lips, allowing him a taste. He made a muffled sound and then his tongue swept inside her, stroking along her cheeks, touching her tongue. Not an unpleasant sensation. She focused her attention on the exploration, allowing it so he would be reassured how much she cared for him.

  She tried to ignore the growing din beyond the door of the little parlor, the opening doors, footsteps against the marble floors, and chatter out in the public rooms. She indulged him a few more warm kisses—enough to convince him of her devotion—before pulling away.