Markham reddened. “There is no courtship.”
Clarissa raised her brows. “So much for well-laid plans.”
“Courtship? How lovely,” Katherine said with a smile. “Would you like my advice?”
Markham’s expression grew wary.
“What?” Katherine asked innocently. “I was merely going to say that Giles once told me marriage improves character.”
Clarissa snorted. “I can think of a hundred ways I’d rather improve my character.”
“A gift to men,” Markham said.
Clarissa did not look up. “To myself, certainly.”
Farring rubbed his chin. “Does marriage improve character?”
Giles nodded. “It certainly improved mine.”
“Indeed,” Katherine laughed.
Giles cleared his throat. “What else does the letter say?”
“Let’s see, where was I? Oh, yes. It appears everyone in London is agog. Someone has received word that Lord—” Farring stopped frowned, flipped over the page, and frowned again.
“Who?” Julia asked. “Who has London agog?”
Farring glanced to Clarissa.
“I received my letter last week,” Clarissa sighed. “You all might as well know. My brother expects to return sometime in the fall.”
Giles inhaled. “It’s about time.”
“Yes,” Farring replied.
Markham and Clarissa exchanged a significant look.
“Julia,” Clarissa said, “what would you say to a walk?”
Julia stopped chewing her lip. “I’d be delighted.”
Farring cast one look at Giles and then rose himself. “I’ve—ah—correspondence to complete.” He shrugged. “Sisters.”
Katherine watched everyone leave with a bemused expression. “You’ve frightened them away.”
“Me? I don’t frighten anyone.”
“Giles,” her tone turned serious, “how will you feel when Rayne returns?”
“Relieved?” Giles offered. “And you?”
Katherine followed Julia with her gaze. “I have no call to remain angry. Julia is out of danger. And I think Clarissa will sleep better when her brother is home.” She squinted. “Are you sure you’ll only be relieved? Will you pay him a call?”
“That depends on Rayne,” Giles replied. “But if he is willing, I would make an effort to restore something of what we once shared.”
She placed her hand on his cheek. “You’ve truly changed.”
He kissed her palm. “And how about you? Has marriage improved your character?”
“Perhaps,” she answered lightly. “Or perhaps I finally learned how to behave properly.”
Giles groaned. “I should hope not.”
“You’d rather me be improper?”
“Most certainly.”
“Giles,” she fluttered her lashes, “ask me what color my stockings are.”
He hummed as he stood. “What color are your stockings?”
She smiled suggestively. “Red.”
Without a word, he scooped her out of the chair and began striding toward the house.
“There you are, my brute,” she whispered.
“Hellion,” he replied.
“You know.” She laid her head on his muscled shoulder. “Percy was right. I love being a marchioness. But most of all, I love being your marchioness.”
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Acknowledgments
I couldn’t possibly thank everyone who touched Scandal in Spades, simply because it has had so many incarnations. Scandal in Spades was the book that refused to die. I first started working with the idea of a high-in-the-instep lord who discovers his identity is based on a lie and consequently decides to pursue a scandal-ridden spinster who he feels will restore his honor, several years ago, during RWA Nationals. That version, the second book I ever finished, finaled in the 2012 Golden Heart. Although the time and the story weren’t quite right, I am forever grateful that Scandal in Spades introduced me to the Firebirds, my golden heart sisters.
After going on to publish the Furies series, I revisited my difficult marquess and his equally recalcitrant heroine. I stripped away 60,000 words for a 70,000-word novel, eliminated a few characters, killed off a few more, and began to rewrite. And then, when I veered off course at around 40,000, started over yet again.
I am filled with gratitude for the listening skills of my writer friends, especially Mary Behre, Alison Delaine, Tamar Bihari, Inara Scott, Susan Sey, and Madeline Iva, who listened to me fret and never once told me that if I had to write three completely different versions of a novel, I was probably wasting my time.
I also have to thank my editor, Erin Molta, whose enthusiasm infused this version with the energy I needed to finally heal my longsuffering couple.
I love the marquess. I love the unmarriageable maiden. I hope I have done them justice, and I hope you loved them, too.
About the Author
Wendy LaCapra has been reading romance since she sneaked into the adult section at the library and discovered Victoria Holt and Jane Aiken Hodge. From that point on, she dreamed of creating fictional worlds with richness, intrigue, and passion. Her stories have placed in several contests, including the 2012 Golden Heart® and her debut series, a trilogy about three Ladies who refuse to play by Society’s rules, was released by Entangled Scandalous. She lives in NYC with her husband and loves to hear from readers.
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Also by Wendy LaCapra…
Lady Vice
Lady Scandal
Duchess of Decadence
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