“I hate to say this,” the duke began, “but I have heard of a few rare situations where gentlemen lost their wits and did unthinkable acts of violence.”
Anthony glared at Lord Erandon and the Duke of Lambeth. “This is all your fault. You two are to blame for this. There is innocent blood on your hands.”
“Do you two hear yourselves?” Lord Erandon asked. “He wouldn’t do that. He’s a sensible gentleman.”
“A sensible gentleman who was pushed to his limits,” Anthony replied.
“We have to be sure,” the duke told Lord Erandon before he marched over to the cord that would summon the footman. “We’ll ask to see her for ourselves. Then we’ll know if she’s alive or not. After that, we’ll take it from there.”
“We can’t put him in prison,” Anthony argued. “He’s my friend. I know him, and he’s not a murderer.”
Once the duke pulled the cord, Corin said, “Please do get the footman. I gave him special instructions for you three.”
The duke turned to face him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Corin clasped his hands behind his back and grinned. “It means that I have found an excellent, and permanent, way of handling anyone who gives me any problems.”
Anthony’s face went white. “He’s going to kill us, too!”
“Come to think of it,” the duke told Lord Erandon, “I didn’t see his mother or his brother when we came in. And the entire place is quiet.”
“It’s eerily quiet,” Anthony added, looking as if he might faint.
There was a knock at the door. The three jumped.
“Oh good,” Corin said, smiling at the three of them as if he was a cat toying with a mouse. “Now I can finish what I started.”
Anthony made a move to get to the door first, but Corin hurried to block him.
Corin shook his head at Anthony. “Don’t fight it. If you fight it, it’ll be more painful.”
Anthony let out a startled cry, and Corin opened the door. The footman and butler stood in the doorway, both dressed for the rain. The butler held a knife, and the footman held a shovel.
“We’re ready, my lord,” the footman said.
Another flash of lightning, followed by a loud rumble of thunder, was the perfect touch. Corin really could not have timed them better.
Anthony screamed, and the duke hurried to grab the poker from the fireplace, but Lord Erandon straightened his shoulders back, as if he was ready to go out with a fight.
Deciding he had done enough, Corin called out, “Your plan worked, gentlemen. You did not make the trip in vain. Candace, you can come out now.”
Candace popped up from behind the desk, and the three gentlemen jerked again, this time looking as if they had just seen a ghost.
“There’s no need to be frightened,” Corin assured them. “My wife is alive and well. We were just playing a trick on you.”
“A trick?” Anthony squeaked.
Corin waited until Candace was at his side before he continued, “Yes, a trick. We figured since you scared the two of us into coming out here, the least we could do was return the favor.”
Candace nodded. “It was very sneaky of you to make Corin think his brother was on his deathbed, and I didn’t appreciate being abducted.”
“But,” Corin added, “we understand you did it for the cause of love. And because of that, we forgive you. Though, do not expect us to name our child after you. We don’t forgive you that much.”
The duke put the poker back by the fireplace. “So, the lady is with child?”
Corin smiled and squeezed her waist. “Yes, we just found out last week.”
Lord Erandon relaxed and straightened his frockcoat. “Well played, Durrant. I didn’t think you had it in you. You would make a fine addition to any captain’s ship.”
The duke chuckled. “And you’re a fine actor, too.”
Corin looked over at Anthony, who was still unusually pale. “Are we still friends?”
“So, all of this… You’re really not upset anymore?” Anthony asked.
“How could I be upset?” Corin replied. “I am happily married to a wonderful lady, and I might have an heir soon. I don’t think a gentleman could do any better.”
The color finally returned to Anthony’s face. “Thank God.”
Corin went over to his friend and gave him a friendly pat on the back. “Everything is fine. I’m not upset with you, and to prove it, I’m going to introduce you to Lord Whitney after we return to London. You’ll like him. He’s good with money.”
“Is it safe to come in now?” a lady from the doorway asked.
Everyone turned, and Corin’s mother and Reuben were peering into the room. The footman and the butler had long since left.
Corin waved them in. “Yes, it’s safe. I’ve already explained everything to them.”
“Good,” his mother said. “You three came later than we expected, but Cook has kept the food warm. After dinner, Reuben can play a song for you.”
“Yes,” Corin added. “Reuben plays it very well, too. He just entertained me with it this morning. It’s the song we both enjoy, Anthony. I think you’ll like listening to it.”
“I can handle listening to music, but I don’t think I can eat anything after the scare you just gave us,” Anthony replied.
Lord Erandon waved Anthony’s comment aside. “He might not be able to eat anything, but I’m famished.”
“I am, too,” the duke added as he laughed. “That was probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
Lord Erandon joined him in laughing. “I can say the same. Just wait until I tell Celia about that. She won’t believe Corin had it in him to come up with something this creative.”
Candace kissed Corin’s cheek. “You did do a marvelous job,” she whispered in his ear. “You did much better than I would have. You had them all shaking in their boots.”
Feeling good about being able to pull off such an elaborate ruse, Corin slipped his arm around her waist and led her out of the den so they could finally eat dinner, and the others followed behind.
Epilogue
Candace and Corin returned to London with the three gentlemen. As they had agreed, Candace moved into Corin’s townhouse, and Corin sold the one she had been living in. Corin gave her liberties to decorate his townhouse as she wished, truly making it a home that belonged to both of them.
From time to time, Candace picked up on some gossip from people who wondered just what had made the married couple, who had once lived separate lives, agree to come together. She was surprised no one else knew what Celia had done.
In the past, she suspected Celia would have found a way to let the Ton know the good deed she had done, if for no other reason than to gain the upper hand in the rivalry she had with Lady Eloise. Most people would have been impressed that Celia had managed to pull off such a feat. But, she had chosen to keep quiet on the matter, which made Candace suspect Celia really had changed her ways.
During their time in London, Candace and Corin did many things together. They no longer avoided each other at social activities. They went to the balls together, dinner parties together, and the theatre together. Even better, Corin and Jason became friends, allowing her and Anna to get together often.
But even with all the fun London had to offer, Candace was excited when they returned to the country where Daphne and Reuben were waiting for them.
She still had not gotten to meet Reuben’s instructor, though she did catch a glimpse of him one time when he was handing Reuben a new easel for his painting projects. He had quickly run off as soon as he realized she’d seen him. She had to resist the urge to chuckle. He had no reason to be so terribly shy around her. However, it was probably just as Daphne had said: he had nearly died of fright while in London. He just wasn’t meant to be around people in general. It was good he even managed to be around Reuben and some of the staff.
Before she gave birth, she, Corin, and Reuben took a couple of horseback rides
. Now that she had plenty of her own clothing, she didn’t feel quite so awkward on a horse, especially since she could go sidesaddle. She didn’t think she would ever get the hang of riding like a gentleman. The three also took a couple of walks to the lake and the gazebo.
Corin and Reuben went fishing a couple of times, but the weather still was not warm enough to spend too much time out there. Candace was happy enough to sit and do some sewing with Daphne, who had now turned her attention to working on a quilt for the baby.
Daphne liked to talk about the upcoming birth of her grandchild, and that was pretty much all she discussed. Candace didn’t mind that in the least. She was just as excited about the birth as Daphne, if not more so. And then, late one night, she went into labor. By the afternoon, she had given birth to a girl.
At first, she thought Corin might be disappointed since she hadn’t given him a son, but as soon as he held the child, his smile grew wider than she’d ever seen it, and he said, “She’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen. What do you want to name her?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Should we name her after your mother or some other female ancestor you have?”
“No. I want something unique to her.” He thought for a long moment as he studied the tiny child with a patch of curls on her head. “I’ve always liked the name Judith.” He glanced at her. “What do you think?”
“Judith is a lovely name. Let’s go with that.” She paused. “So, you don’t mind that she’s a girl? I know having an heir is important to a gentleman.”
He shrugged. “We’ll just have to try again. And if we don’t have a son next time, we’ll have to keep on trying.”
Unable to resist teasing him, she asked, “Does that mean if I do have a son next time, you won’t be coming to my bed?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course, I will. We need to have more than one son. You know what they say: an heir and a spare…or two…or three. Quite frankly, I don’t think you can have enough spares. You know, just to be safe.”
She laughed at his joke. At least he wasn’t like other gentlemen who were disappointed when they found out they had a girl instead of a boy. And for that, she was grateful.
Daphne and Reuben were just as excited to see the newest addition to their family. Daphne spent as much time with the girl as possible, holding her and telling her all sorts of stories from books she had read.
Candace had no idea Daphne knew so many stories, but Corin had told her when his mother wasn’t sewing something, she was often reading a book. “My mother doesn’t read when you’re here because you’re more interesting than the books,” Corin had explained.
Reuben, who was now nine, was already telling his niece about his plans to teach her how to ride a horse and fish. “And,” Reuben added, “if you’re any good with a paintbrush, I’ll teach you how to paint.”
“I have a feeling Judith will enjoy spending time with you,” Candace told Reuben. “You’ll be a very good uncle.”
At that, Reuben beamed.
“I think after all the time Reuben’s had an older brother teaching him things, it’s time he got a chance to teach someone younger than him what he knows for a change,” Corin whispered in her ear.
Candace smiled, thinking Corin was right. If there was anyone who could be patient and gentle, it was Reuben. There was no doubt Judith would enjoy learning what he knew. She might even look up to him as a hero, just like Reuben looked up to Corin.
If someone had told her at the beginning of their marriage that she would be enjoying a love match, she wouldn’t have believed it. But, as Corin had said, sometimes it took a scandal to get to a happy ending, and of all the wives in London, she considered herself the happiest of them all. And every night before she went to sleep, she couldn’t help but be thankful for scandals.
Don’t miss the other books in this series!
The Viscount’s Runaway Bride
(Marriage by Bargain: Book 1)
On his way to his country estate, beautiful Miss Damara Onslow steps into Lord Worsley’s carriage to speak to him about a matter. Little does he know that “the matter” is to offer him money in exchange for them getting married. Since Lord Worsley’s sister had manipulated him into an engagement he did not want, he welcomes Damara’s offer with open arms.
The two wed and spend a winter together. Never had anyone been happier. That is until his sister pries into Damara’s past and threatens their fairytale marriage.
The Rake’s Vow
(Marriage by Bargain: Book 2)
Thaddeus (Tad) Darkin, the Duke of Lambeth, used to be a rake. In fact, before Lord Edon was scandalizing the Ton, Tad was the one everyone was talking about. Many gentlemen secretly wished they had his charm with the ladies. All reputable ladies were warned to stay as far from him as possible, which only made him all the more attractive. Then, after a tragic event, he took a vow of celibacy, promising he would never be intimate with another lady again. Over the years, this caused him to be the most sought-after single gentleman in all of London. And even though he doesn’t want to marry, his steward left him in financial ruin, so whether he likes it or not, he must take a wife.
After being rejected by the gentleman she was hoping to marry, Miss Loretta Bachman is on a mission to save her reputation. She needs to marry someone who will impress the prestigious ladies in her social circle. So when she catches the leader of the group talking about the very handsome and hard-to-get Duke of Lambeth, she’s determined to get him to marry her. All she needs is a little bargaining power, and fortunately for her, she happens to have the money he needs to save his estate.
When she learns of his vow to remain celibate, she agrees to keep away from his bed. After all, her only reason for marrying him is to secure her social standing in London, not to have a love match. All she asks is that he pretends to be deeply in love with her when they’re in public. That way she will succeed in impressing the Ton. But before long, the lines between what is pretend and what is real starts to blur, and it’s hard to decide how far to push the limits of their agreement.
Taming The Viscountess
(Marriage by Bargain: Book 3)
Sebastian Egan, Viscount Erandon, needs a significant amount of money in order to pay off his brother’s debts. The sooner he gets it, the better. But he’s not exactly what ladies are looking for. Having lost half of his right leg while at sea, most ladies consider him to be a useless cripple, and in London where things are all about appearances, they don’t want to be seen with him. Traditional means of finding a wife are not open to him. He will need to find a creative way of marrying a lady who comes from a wealthy family.
As it just so happens, such a way opens up to him. Miss Celia Barlow, nicknamed Miss “Shrew” Barlow, has upset her brother for the last time. Her brother has had enough of her manipulative ways, and he’s offering a large dowry to the first gentleman who is willing to take her. Sebastian, seeing his chance, takes the bait, and the wedding is set.
At once, he’s drawn to Celia’s fiery spirit. Yes, the others in London consider her to be a shrew, but that’s because they’re afraid of a lady who knows what she wants and goes for it. His new wife is no timid wallflower. She is full of passion, and, to his pleasure, that passion extends to the bed.
But soon, just having her body isn’t enough. He wants to claim something much more precious. He wants her heart. He used to think that being the captain of a ship was the most challenging thing he could do. Now, he’s about to discover that being the husband of a lady with a fiery, independent spirit is far more challenging...and far more rewarding.
If you’d like to read more about Anna and Jason, it’s already available.
It is Her Counterfeit Husband.
The Duchess of Watkins’ husband just died, and her unscrupulous brother-in-law is ready to step in as the Duke of Watkins. In desperation, the duchess enlists the help of the butler, and the two agree to quietly bury her husband and pretend he’s still alive. It will be
a secret they will take to their graves.
After burying him in a forest, they come across a gentleman who has been beaten and left for dead. And this gentleman happens to look exactly like her husband. Seeing this as the answer to their prayers, they take him home in hopes he’ll agree to be the new Duke of Watkins. There’s only one problem. When he wakes up, he doesn’t remember who he is.
Dare they replace her husband with a counterfeit? And if they do, what consequences will come as a result of their lie?
This book is available at all retailers!
Don’t miss a brand new Regency series
from Ruth Ann Nordin!
Already Available!
The Reclusive Earl (Marriage by Fate: Book 1)
Titled gentlemen are supposed to be perfect. Whether it be good looks, charm, or eloquent speech, everyone expects an earl to be refined in every way. And if the earl isn’t, he risks being shamed by the Ton. No one knows this better than Landon Tait, the Earl of Farewell, who’s been on the receiving end of the Ton’s gossip since he first made his appearance in London.
After the last Season, he vowed to stay as far from London as possible. But when his brother lands into serious trouble, he has no choice but to come to his aid. He tells himself he’ll make it quick. Just one evening and his brother will be free from trouble. Then he can return to his country estate to enjoy his life of solitude.
Miss Opal Beaufort is attending a ball when she overhears the snickers about a certain gentleman who was born with a lisp. Several ladies sneak to a private room to listen to him, and something in Opal snaps. She can’t stand the idea of someone being made the laughingstock of the Ton. But as soon as she intervenes on his behalf, a scandal ensues, and she finds herself unwittingly betrothed to him.
If It Takes A Scandal Page 19