COPYRIGHT
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
AFTERWORD
SYNOPSIS
Ireland, 1814
Elizabeth Eltham, beloved sister of the Thomas, the Duke of Ellesmere, travels to Ireland with her brother and his friend Clifford. After the tragic death of their sister Jane, Thomas and his friends the Rakehells want to protect her more than ever from the flock of fortune hunters who circle her at every turn.
Elizabeth doubts she will ever find a man who can truly love her for herself, not her rank and fortune. But one chance meeting with a dashing stranger in a cave is enough to awaken Elizabeth as a woman ripe for love. Everyone she meets in Ireland longs to marry a Duke's daughter; she must trust her instincts to choose the man who loves her best.
But her choice of husband has far more cataclysmic consequences that her own personal ones, as Elizabeth must help save her beloved, and all of Ireland, from a devastating French invasion….
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sorcha MacMurrough is a multi-published author from Ireland who has taught English literature and English and Irish history. She has lived all over the UK and Ireland, including London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. Her favorite cities to live in or visit are Bath and York. She loves old houses, castles and estates and can usually be found touring these locales to help make all of her settings come alive for her readers. Sorcha loves the Regency period and the Napoleonic era in particular, which form the beginning of the modern world as we know it.
Her novels have been chosen as monthly "Top Picks" by Romantic Times, and she has also been nominated for a Reviewer's Choice award for best novel of the year by Romantic Times. When she is not writing, researching and teaching, she cooks, knits Aran sweaters, and enjoys spending time with her large family. She loves Irish dancing and music, and beachcombing on the shores of Donegal, Sligo and Galway.
REVIEWS
This is a remarkable novel, with a fascinating hero and heroine who meet in the most unusual manner, and light up the pages of this stunning historical romance.
The setting becomes a vivid character all of its own thanks to this talented author, as Elizabeth Eltham, one of the Rakehell set, tries to save Ireland and the home she loves from Napoleon's invading troops.
The hero Will is physically and emotionally scarred, and we eagerly follow him along on his path to true love and redemption. The secondary characters are fascinating in their own right, and make us eager for a sequel as soon as possible to this magical novel.
-Evelyn Trimborn
An incredible book, with compelling characters, mystery, suspense, and some of the hottest love scenes I've ever read. I loved scarred hero Will and how he wins his true love Elizabeth, only to have her nearly snatched from him in a bizarre twist of fate. The author certainly knows how to keep the pages turning. I hated for it to come to an end, and all I can say is, I can't wait for the next books in the series. Pure magic from start to finish.
-Jacinta Carey
A beautiful historical romance, firmly set in the Napoleonic War and Regency period, with two unforgettable characters. This was a real page-turner I devoured in one sitting. One thing is for sure, the Rakehell characters are totally fascinating. I love the way Elizabeth develops in the Rakehell series, and Will, the complex and wounded hero last seen in Scars Upon Her Heart, is able to sort through the clues of their past to build toward their happy if hard-won future.
The romance was very sensual, and the setting breathtaking and magical. Sexy and scintillating alternates with heart-rending and profoundly moving in this marvelous roller-coaster of love. The Scarred Heart is the kind of novel you continue thinking about long after you've finished, and one you will put on your keeper pile and look forward to reading again.
-Annabelle Stevens
THE SCARRED HEART
A Rakehell Regency Romance Novel
Sorcha MacMurrough
HerStory Books
Copyright the author 2008.
Second edition 2011.
All rights reserved.
Under the 1988 UK copyright laws, the author asserts the right to be identified as the creator of this work.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-58345-106-9
Published by HerStory Books
http://www.herstorybooks.com
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Happy Reading!
Dedication:
Dedicated to all my friends, family, and readers, who just keep cheering me on.
You make all of the long hours and hard work so worth it.
Cast of Main Characters in The Scarred Heart
The Duke of Ellesmere, Thomas Eltham, a Rakehell, lives at Eltham Castle, Somerset, England, currently visiting his Irish property Ellesmere Manor
The Duchess of Ellesmere, Charlotte Eltham, nee Castlemaine, his wife
(for their story, see The Missed Match)
Elizabeth Eltham, Thomas' younger sister
Clifford Stone, a Rakehell, owner of Stone Court, Millcote, Somerset, England
Vanessa Stone, nee Hawkesworth, his wife, a great scholar
(for their story, see The Mad Mistress)
Stewart Fitzgerald, the Duke of Clancar, Thomas Eltham's cousin near Ellesmere Manor, Ardmore, Southern Ireland
Vevina Joyce Fitzgerald, wealthy Irish heiress, his wife
(for their story, see Scars Upon Her Heart)
Colonel Wilfred (Will) Joyce, Vevina's brother
Major Geoffrey Parks, Will's best friend
ADC Duncan Monroe, The Fitzgeralds' and Will's close friend
Francis and Jeanne Baines, Vevina's domestic staff and friends
Marcus Fitzsimmons, Stewart's cousin, an Irish landlord, one of Elizabeth's potential suitors at Ellesmere Manor, Ireland
Amelia and Mary, his sisters
Timothy Teague, Local landlord, one of Elizabeth's potential suitors
James Teague, Local landlord, one of Elizabeth's potential suitors
Sean Kelly Local Catholic landlord, one of Elizabeth's potential suitors
Mr. Edward Locke, the local vicar
Mr. Patrick Nolan, the local verger at the church at Ardmore
Penelope Nolan, the local verger's sister, a bluestocking
Sarah Deveril Davenport, Jonathan's youngest sister
Jason Alexander Davenport, (Alexander), her husband
(for their story, see The Matchless
Miss)
The Earl of Ferncliffe, an old enemy of the Rakehells
Other Characters in the Series Mentioned in Passing
Henry Stone, Clifford Stone's younger brother, resides in Millcote
Josephine Stone, his wife
Malcolm Branson, friend of the Stones, works with his father Geoffrey
Geoffrey Branson, Malcolm's father, local magistrate at Millcote, Somerset, England
Jonathan Deveril, a Rakehell, vicar of Brimley and Eltham
Pamela Deveril, nee Ashton, his wife
(for their story, see The Miss Matched)
Herbert Paxton, an old enemy of the Rakehells, now deceased, killed in a coaching accident while kidnapping Charlotte Eltham
Captain Breedon, an old enemy of the Rakehells, now deceased, killed in a struggle with Sarah Deveril to save Alexander's life
Dr. Blake Sanderson, a Rakehell, a doctor in London
Philip Marshall, a Rakehell, a man about Town in London
Michael Avenel, a Rakehell, crippled former soldier, lives in Bath, England
Alistair Grant, a Rakehell, a barrister in London
Chapter One
31 August 1814
Two pairs of eyes scanned the coast, looking for the long-awaited signal. Nothing. Still nothing. Hour after hour, day after day, yet still nothing.
Both pairs of eyes looked wearily out to sea, and wished that it could all be over at last. The long years of war had taken their toll. It would be good to have the fighting finally finished.
Many people had foolishly assumed that just because Napoleon had abdicated as Emperor of France in early April, it was all over. But it would never be over until the ultimate victory was achieved.
One of the men longed for the return of the glorious Bonaparte.
The other yearned for a decisive victory by the Coalition forces so that everyone could at last breath a sigh of relief, and get back to something approaching a normal life.
Both wished for peace, to go home to their families, their houses. Neither was sure what that would mean. The prospect was almost frightening.
It had been so long, over three years, since they had lived a regular life. The prospect of being under the same roof, within the same four walls, night after night, in a decent bed, with good food and warmth, regular companionship, was almost more than the men could fathom.
One of them dreamed of all the glory, the rewards to be had once this last great mission was complete and the final victory was won. Then everything he had ever lusted for would be his for the taking. Women, money, jewels, estates…
The other longed to be able to return to the estate where he had grown up without any shadows to mar his future. His name cleared, all the charges against him dropped, and any lingering doubts about his character and loyalties put to rest at last. And not just his name cleared, but his poor deceased father's as well.
He knew how lucky he had been ever since he had been arrested, had escaped, and been forced to flee his homeland. But he would not rest until he had got back everything he had lost, with interest.
Money he already had, jewels, an estate near Grenoble which he and his sister and her husband had inherited jointly a couple of months before. At least they had got to see their old uncle before he had died.
But he wanted his own home. And more than anything, he wanted his father back. And his wife and unborn child.
He tried to quash the thought, but the grief had already begun to grip his chest and squeeze like a vice. He forced his mind away from the guilt and pain, and scanned the aquamarine sea once more carefully. But he saw nothing.
Feeling winded by his recollection of his wife's death, he hovered just inside the concealed entrance to the cave, and rubbed his damp eyes for a moment.
He breathed in the crisp, clean sea air, and fought for composure as the torment engulfed him.
She had known the risks, just as he had. But she had been driven by her cause, had felt invincible, and had paid the price. Her and the child she had carried.
The recollection clutched at his heart like a fist milking the lifeblood out of him in long, agonizing spurts. He took a steadying breath, taste the salt of the sea and his own tears, and scanned the rapidly graying ocean once more while he cuffed his eyes with the backs of his sleeves.
As his vision cleared, he stiffened, and blinked. The sea was empty, but now a small figure appeared on the beach some distance away.
Normally neither man would have paid much attention, for there were often local people on the beach looking for mussels or gathering sea sticks to drag up the sand past the surf to leave there to dry. They would return several days later to glean them like so much kindling.
There weren't too many fishing coracles on this stretch of the beach, so it was a relatively quiet and secluded stretch of the Irish coastline, which was precisely why it had been chosen as the site of the planned French invasion.
There was some smuggling from here to France, but the Royal Navy had blockaded the French ports effectively for the past few years.
In any event, there were only one or two houses close enough to the shoreline for the moonrakers to hide their contraband, so that it really wasn't worth it in most cases to even try.
Most of the seven houses which made up the small hamlet of Ardmore were well away from the beach. The rutted roads were not the best for transporting heavy casks of brandy and other contraband goods.
Two spyglasses focused on the approaching figure. Both men adjusted their lenses to get a better look.
For she was certainly worth looking at. Worth possessing.
Long raven hair flowed over her shoulders, which were clad in a lovely white on white embroidered shawl. A straw sunbonnet protected her porcelain skin from the sun beating down.
Even though the full brim obscured most of her face, it was easy to see she was a beauty. She was elegant, tall, curvaceous, clad in a fine pale yellow muslin gown which was so light-weight as to be virtually see-through in the glow of the sun as the gown flattened against her lithe body body thanks to the gusting wind.
She could not be a local, each man guessed, for such pulchritude and refinement had seldom graced this isolated cove.
So which house had she come from? There were five to choose from according to each man's perspective, leaving out their own and the one of their colleague.
Each watcher began to try to work out the solution to the problem while she bent to remove her shoes and stockings.
Catching glimpses of her bare ankles and calves was more than they could bear. Each could feel his mouth go dry, his body harden with hot, urgent desire.
Then the lovely young woman ran down to the surf and began to kick and splash in the waves, her skirts up around her knees.
One man longed to go down from his cliff-edge eyrie and snatch her to him for a kiss. She was a lovely little filly, obviously high-spirited and the sporting type.
He could feel his loins tighten, his hands tremble with lust. Yes, to possess a treasure like that, especially if she turned out to be a sprightly young thing, would make this long tedious wait worthwhile.
The other man watched from his vantage point inside the secret cave. He focused his glass on her and saw her blue eyes, her rosy cheeks and velvety pink lips. Those were lips worth kissing. Full and sensual, soft and seductive. Oh, what he wouldn't give for one taste of that lusciously ripe mouth.
She was a lovely woman, lithe, spirited, and intelligent. He could tell from the spark in her eyes. For the first time since his wife had died, he felt desire burn in his loins, but told himself not to be foolish. Why would a woman like her ever take a second look at a man like him? Even if she did, she would hear his terrible family history soon enough, and flee in horror.
Against his better judgment, he slid open the concealing slab to the cave and stepped out to get a closer look at the gorgeous girl.
As he watched her sport and play in the surf, his heart hammered in his chest, a tell-tale surgi
ng of the blood which almost defied him to deny it.
Yes, to possess a rare woman like that, so chaste and pure, would be worth the risk. It might even make all the hell he had been through for the past few years worthwhile.
The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2 Page 34