Arabella gasped. Beside her, Lady Norgrave did not appear shocked by the news. Perhaps she had already deduced what her husband had done to convince Tempest to leave Mathias.
Everyone seemed frozen.
Marcroft stared at his father in angry disbelief.
Mathias was startled by the grim amusement that rose within him. He silently wondered if it was the father’s dark nature that troubled the earl or the realization that he might have been forced to acknowledge a gentleman he had spent half his life despising as a half brother.
“Chance, how can we be certain?” Tempest demanded.
“Your father lied, love,” Mathias said, needing to relieve the torment and uncertainty he saw in her eyes.
Tempest glanced over her shoulder and stared at the Duchess of Blackbern. “He told the truth about your mother. That they had been lovers.”
His mother covered her mouth with her hand and sobbed.
“They were never lovers, Tempest. Norgrave attacked Imogene,” the duke said, taking a threatening step toward his former friend. “To punish me and her, and I will never forgive him for it.”
Mathias did not want to release Tempest, but he could not count on Marcroft to step in if his father decided to renew his friendship with Norgrave by engaging in fisticuffs.
Tempest brought her hands to her face. “Don’t you see, Chance, it does not matter which version of what happened we choose to believe. My father may be right. You could be his son.”
“No!”
Everyone turned at the duchess’s vehement cry of denial.
His mother walked toward them. “Norgrave has an impressive proficiency at subterfuge,” she said, casting a brief contemptuous look in his direction before dismissing him. Sadness etched her face as she held Tempest’s tearful gaze. “That means you cannot trust him. However, I have no reason to lie to you. Chance is Blackbern’s son. There is no reason why you cannot love my son and build a life with him.” She offered her daughter-in-law a wistful smile. “Have children. Do not let your doubts destroy what you have found with him.”
“Tempest, I love you,” Norgrave said, his voice gruff. “I am only trying to protect you from getting your heart broken.”
Tempest stared helplessly at Mathias, and he longed to strangle the marquess for not giving his daughter the words that would ease her concerns.
“Daughter, Imogene is telling you the truth,” Lady Norgrave announced, accepting that her betrayal would earn her husband’s wrath. “I assume the timing was all wrong. It was the one thing my husband could not control. Do you not agree, Your Grace?”
“Yes,” his mother replied, struggling to maintain her composure. The duchess boldly walked up to Lord Norgrave while he observed her approach with an indulgent smile. It was gone fifteen seconds later when she slapped him. The crack of flesh meeting flesh echoed in the front hall.
“Ah, Starling,” the marchioness said cheerfully when she saw the servant holding several bottles of wine. “In your absence, our thirst has increased. A few more bottles will be required.”
“I need something stronger,” Marcroft muttered before he retreated into the library in search of a bottle of brandy.
Norgrave had the good sense to keep his mouth shut. Without a word, he disappeared into the library and shut the door.
Mathias pulled Tempest in the opposite direction when the marchioness encouraged everyone to follow her upstairs. Impulsively, he captured her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. “Do you know how many hours we have been apart, my lady?” Mathias asked. He lowered his voice for her ears alone. “I have missed you.”
Her face softened with tenderness. “I have been miserable without you.”
“Lord Warrilow will have to find another lady to wed because there is nothing your father can say that will persuade me to give you up again.” Mathias tangled his fingers with hers as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. “I thought I had lost—”
“I know,” she whispered back. “I wanted to die when I overheard my father tell you—”
“Hush,” he said, kissing her again to soothe away the pain they had both endured. “It is done. Your father’s lies have no power over us any longer.”
He and Tempest had his mother and father to thank for exposing Norgrave’s lies. If not for them, he would have bowed to the marquess’s dictates and lost the woman he loved to another gentleman. Like his father, Mathias was not the forgiving sort.
As far as he was concerned, the Rookes and Brants could keep their secrets.
Mathias looked beyond Tempest and realized they were finally alone. He cuddled her closer. “Should we join our family?” he murmured, reluctant to share her with anyone else.
“I want to go home.”
Home.
Mathias found it mildly amusing that his priorities had shifted once he’d encountered Tempest in London. On his arrival, his thoughts had been focused on the ephemeral pleasures that men often sought to ease the boredom.
He had not realized he had been waiting for Tempest all along.
His friends might think him mad for marrying so young, but he considered himself a truly fortunate gentleman. The woman in his arms had filled his life with laughter, was a balm to both mind and soul, and together they would turn his grandmother’s old house into a home.
He nuzzled the top of his wife’s head with his chin. “What would you say to escaping this madhouse and toasting our marriage in the privacy of our bedchamber? Preferably naked.”
“It sounds like a brilliant plan,” she said, casting a guilty glance at the stairs. “Although it would be rude not to tell anyone.”
“Yes,” Mathias said, grabbing her hand and leading her to the front door. “And if we are fortunate, no one will speak to us for a week … possibly two.”
“Promise?” she teased.
The brief truce between the Rookes and Brants would not last. There was too much anger and history between them.
Mathias cast a rueful glance at the library where father and son were slowly getting drunk on brandy.
No, two weeks would not be enough.
“We’ll make each day count. That much I can promise you,” he said, indulging both of them with a lingering kiss.
With Tempest in his arms and the enticing curves of her body pressing against him, he was already home.
Coming soon…
Look for the next novel in this wildly popular series!
Waiting For an Earl Like You
Available in January 2017 from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Don’t miss Alexandra Hawkins’s Lords of Vice series!
A Duke But No Gentleman
Twilight with the Infamous Earl
Dusk with a Dangerous Duke
All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess
Sunrise with a Notorious Lord
After Dark with a Scoundrel
Till Dawn with the Devil
All Night with a Rogue
And look for these novels written as Barbara Pierce!
Tempting the Heiress
Courting the Countess
Wicked Under the Covers
Sinful Between the Sheets
Naughty by Nature
Scandalous by Night
Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Also by
ALEXANDRA HAWKINS
A Duke But No Gentleman
Twilight with the Infamous Earl
Dusk with a Dangerous Duke
All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess
Sunrise with a Notorious Lord
After Dark with a Scoundrel
Till Dawn with the Devil
All Night with a Rogue
Praise for the novels of Alexandra Hawkins
A Duke But No Gentleman
“The attraction between Blackbern and Imogene is intense.”
—Publishers Weekly
“4.5 stars. The first of the Masters of Seduction series will more than satisfy those who sav
or a dark, richly woven romance.”
—RT Book Reviews
“This edgy historical will appeal to romantic-suspense readers looking for darker layers in a Regency love story.”
—Booklist
“5 stars. This book is everything that a historical romance novel should be.”
—The Reading Wench
“Sensual and filled with plenty of surprises, A Duke But No Gentleman is an excellent summer read.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“5 stars. The reigning authority of charismatic Regency rogues.”
—Jenerated Reviews
“A fantastic start to a seductive series.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“A-review. A very good book.”
—Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
“5 stars. A smart, wicked, and gripping morality tale.”
—Romantic Historical Reviews
“Very worthwhile as the love story between the two was one of the most real I have read in a long time.”
—Kilts and Swords
“A dark story, yet a compelling one.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A truly rewarding story. I look forward to the next installment in this wickedly seductive series.”
—My Book Addiction Reviews
“A Duke But No Gentleman shows readers that real love always triumphs.”
—Romance Junkies
“Be prepared to fall in love with a handsome rogue.”
—April Hollingworth, Just Another WordPress Site
“Well written and engaging story.”
—For the Love of Books
“Dark, gritty, and unapologetic, A Duke But No Gentleman takes manipulation, revenge, and passion to a whole new level.”
—Adria’s Romance Reviews
“A-review. I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series.”
—The Good, The Bad, and The Unread
“Steamy and filled with all kinds of tension.”
—Readful Things Blog
“5 stars. Humor, passion, and the almighty happy ending.”
—Sam’s Ramblings
All Night with a Rogue
“Hawkins’s first Lords of Vice tale calls to mind the highly sensual reads of Bertrice Small and Susan Johnson.”
—Romantic Times
“Brimming with witty repartee, well-drawn characters, an intriguing plot, sizzling sensual love scenes, and innocence, this story is a delight.”
—Romance Junkies (4.5)
Till Dawn with the Devil
“Till Dawn with the Devil’s romance is first-rate with unusual characters and an underlying mystery that will intrigue readers.”
—Robin Lee, Romance Reviews Today
“Hawkins cements her reputation for bringing compelling, unique, and lush romances to fans eager for fresh storytelling.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)
“Till Dawn with the Devil promises an intoxicating journey, and delivers with an exciting series of twists and turns that leave the reader disoriented and begging for more.”
—Melissa Kammer, Fresh Fiction
After Dark with a Scoundrel
“Hawkins’s talent for perfectly merging Gothic elements into a sexually charged romance is showcased along with the marvelous cast of characters taking readers on a thrill ride.”
—Kathe Robin, RT Book Reviews
“I would recommend this story to anyone who loves an amazingly written romance.”
—Night Owl Reviews (5-star Top Pick)
“Alexandra Hawkins has just cemented herself a place on my ‘must-read’ author list.”
—Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies
“Poignant, sweetly romantic, and sexy as can be.”
—Joyce Greenfield, Reader to Reader
Sunrise with a Notorious Lord
“Simply spectacular from front to back!”
—Fresh Fiction
“Regency fans will enjoy the bold heroine and rakish hero.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Charming, fun, and sexy.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sunrise with a Notorious Lord is a fun and lively story.”
—Romance Reviews Today
All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess
“Desire in disguise was never so sweet or passionate, and Hawkins hooks readers and draws them in all the way to the perfect ending.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A good solid choice for historical romance fans.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Hawkins creates strong characters and dramatizes high emotion along with sensuality. Fans of Stephanie Laurens and Jo Beverley will enjoy this series.”
—Booklist
“Easy reading and fascinating characters make All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess a light-hearted read.”
—Romance Reviews Today
Dusk with a Dangerous Duke
“Another fantastic read in the Lords of Vice series.”
—Single Titles
“Alexandra Hawkins never lets a reader of historical romance forget how wonderful she is at creating characters with depth and a romance between them that brings a tear to your eye.”
—Mary Gramlich Blog
Twilight with the Infamous Earl
“Fans of the series will relish this last book, bringing all the characters back together for one last stand.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A story filled with laughter, devotion, and overcoming society’s perception of a person.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“The chemistry and family connections are Hawkins’s strength and show well in this adventure.”
—Booklist
“I enjoyed every page of this book. Absolutely devoured it. Alexandra Hawkins is a very talented writer. She knows how to create a great story that will pull the reader in and make them curious about what will happen next.”
—Night Owl Reviews (4.5 stars, Night Owl Top Pick)
“The characters are strong and easily likable.”
—Fresh Fiction
About the Author
An unrepentant Anglophile, Alexandra Hawkins discovered romance novels as a teenager and knew that one day she would be writing her own stories. Alexandra has combined her love of English history, mythology, and romance to create sensual, character-driven stories that she hopes will touch readers’ hearts. Alexandra lives in Georgia with her husband and three children. You can contact her through her website at www.alexandrahawkins.com or by mail at: P.O. Box 2192, Woodstock, GA 30188. Or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Epigraph
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
Also by ALEXANDRA HAWKINS
Praise for the nov
els of Alexandra Hawkins
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET THE MARQUESS YOU WANT
Copyright © 2016 by Alexandra Hawkins.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 978-1-4668-7104-5
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / April 2016
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
You Can't Always Get the Marquess You Want Page 30