Earl of Exile

by Tammy Andresen

  “I can’t believe it took me this long to decide.” He kissed her again as he settled her into his arms. “I love ye, Diana.”

  “I love you, too,” she answered as she rested her cheek on Callum’s chest. She was home. There was no doubt about that. And as for her wedding, the day she’d never expected to have, she couldn’t be more thrilled. It didn’t matter to her where it was or what happened as long as she married her earl.

  Epilogue

  Two weeks later…

  * * *

  Diana stared down the aisle as Callum looked back, her heart ready to burst from her chest. Never had a man appeared more handsome than he did in this moment. He’d tied back his hair, his dark green eyes shining in the many candles lit in the church.

  Her breath caught and she started for him, her father holding her back. “Steady, Diana.”

  She looked over to her father. “Is he not the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen?”

  Her father wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know about that, but I’m fairly certain, you are the most stunning bride that ever graced this church.”

  Diana looked down at the cream gown she’d donned hoping to highlight her ivory skin and dark hair. “Thank you, Papa.”

  “Now let’s get you married. I’m not certain what has filled the air but our girls have been struck by Cupid this spring.”

  Diana raised her eyebrows. Lady Abernath as Cupid? She wasn’t sure she’d go that far, but despite everything that had happened, she still felt sympathy for the woman. And her actions had started an avalanche of marriages in the Chase family. “Now we just need to find husbands for Ada and Grace.”

  Her father gave her a small wink. “They’re doing just fine.”

  Diana glanced toward the front of the church to see both Vice and Bad sitting on either side of the ladies. How did she tell her father that the two men had likely been ordered by their friends to sit there? “I’m not sure either of those men would make proper husbands…they’re a bit…”

  Her father held up his hand as the organ began to play. “We’ll worry about them later. Right now, how about we focus on you?”

  She smiled as they began to walk down the aisle. Sin was there with his lovely daughter and they waved. But Diana couldn’t help but notice that Sin’s gaze slid to her cousin, Mary. Mary, for her part, blushed a lovely shade of pink at the earl’s gaze.

  But she didn’t have time to focus on anyone else as they reached the front of the church and Callum reached for her hand.

  The moment his fingers touched hers, she relaxed, looking into his eyes, everything and everyone else melted away. “I love you, Callum Exmouth.”

  He gave her a soft smile. The sort that melted her insides. “I love ye, Diana Chase.” He gave her fingers a light squeeze. “I never imagined there was a woman such as ye out there. I’d say ye were waiting for me but we ken ye don’t wait for anything.”

  Laughter, reminded her they weren’t alone. “It’s a good thing too. You might be on your way to Scotland this very moment.”

  He pulled her closer. “That is very true and an excellent point. I don’t want ye to mistake me. Ye are the perfect woman for me.”

  She let out a sigh as the priest moved forward. They were perfect together. Had been all along. And now they’d spend their lives together, filling each other in like the pieces to a puzzle. “And you are a wonderful man.”

  “Shall we begin?” the priest asked.

  Callum nodded but Diana only smiled. Their story had begun the day they’d met in the club. This was only the next chapter.

  * * *

  This is the third book in the Lords of Scandal series. Keep reading to see a sneak peak of the next book: Viscount of Vice!

  * * *

  But Earl of Exile has also begun a spin off series! Want to learn Fiona MacFarland’s story? A Lass to Love is the first of four books in the Brides of Scotland series!

  Viscount of Vice

  Lords of Scandal Book 4

  Lord Blakely Everbee, The Viscount of Viceroy, sat next to Miss Ada Chase as they both watched her cousin walk down the aisle toward his friend, The Earl of Exmouth. He grimaced, inwardly, flexing his fingers. Vice bloody hated weddings. And he especially despised them while sitting next to an eligible woman who, if he wasn’t mistaken, was going to cry.

  He nearly spit as he spied the little drop of water forming in the corner of her eye. Then she did what all ladies did. With a delicate dab of her kerchief, she let out a soft sigh. The sort that might lull a man into going soft. “Isn’t this just beautiful?”

  Vice had to confess that while the wedding itself was dreadful, the sight of her wasn’t terribly awful. It was rather nice, in fact.

  He didn’t dare credit her with any more than nice, however. He was considered by most to be exceptionally handsome, his features near angelic. And he held the women he dallied with to very high standards. They were the most beautiful, talented, gifted, or accomplished women in England and wider Europe for that manner. He’d had an affair, for example, with a gypsy known for her ability to read cards with deadly accuracy and drink vodka with the best men.

  He’d carried on with the most famous actress in all of London, been with a Russian princess who was rich beyond his wildest imaginings. All in all, the list of women he’d shared a bed with was an accomplishment in and of itself. One he was proud of.

  And Miss Ada wasn’t list worthy. Yes, she was lovely with her pale auburn hair glimmering in the sun and her bright green eyes that only looked more sparkly with the sheen of tears. And yes, her figure was supple, the perfect amount of soft curves with an ample bosom and a tiny waist. Of course, her trembling lip as she stared at the bride and groom made him wonder what she might taste like. And the soft noise of satisfaction she emitted sounded like the sweetest pillow talk he’d ever heard. But Miss Chase wasn’t accomplished at anything of significance…and therefore was not his sort at all.

  “That kiss,” she turned toward him then, her eyes a bit dreamy, her head tilted to one side. “Diana is glowing.”

  Vice’s mouth twisted into a frown. “Glowing?” His mouth tasted like he’d eaten gravel.

  Ada tapped his arm with her fan, a light tap that brushed against his waistcoat with a bit of a tickle. “Don’t you see it? The color in her cheeks. Her breathless smile. It’s just—”

  “Beautiful?” Vice filled in the word she’d just used moments before. “You’ve already told us.”

  She turned toward him then, her mouth slightly parted. “You don’t think so?”

  He assessed her features. Her high cheekbones were flushed with a pinkish-brown hue that accentuated the tiny spattering of freckles across her nose. They were not to his usual taste at all, giving her an air of innocence, but he found he’d like to count them. Perhaps kiss a few. “Weddings are generally a bore. And even worse, all I can think is that the groom has given up all the fun in life to take care of a woman and a passel of brats that are soon to follow.”

  Ada sniffed, turning back toward the front. “My goodness, you are dreadful, aren’t you?”

  His best friend, the Baron of Baderness, sat two seats away, next to Ada’s cousin, Lady Grace. Now Grace was a woman that might make his list. The features of her face were a perfect mask of feminine beauty. Bad leaned over, making eye contact despite the two ladies between them. “He’s beyond dreadful. I might use the word insufferable,” Bad murmured just loud enough for the four of them to hear him.

  Grace let out a tiny giggle. “You’re quite funny. You’re so quiet, I didn’t realize.” That made Bad snap his mouth shut and sit back in his chair.

  It was Vice’s turn to chuckle. “He isn’t. He only makes a joke once every five years.”

  Ada’s mouth curved into a small grin. The sort where her lips stayed together, not showing any of her teeth. But she shook her head, as though she disapproved, despite her relaxed features. Then one finger came to her chin. “Insufferable?” She looked back at him, he
r green eyes sparkling. “The word suits you.”

  He cocked a brow. By his estimation, Ada Chase had no right to give him any trouble at all. Six weeks prior, she, her sister, and cousins had entered into his secret gaming hell that he ran with five of his friends. They’d learned the men’s secret and put themselves in danger. Now, he and Bad were being forced to babysit the only two Chase women who weren’t wed. The job was worse than attending this wedding.

  “And what word might suit you?” He returned, leaning closer. Which might have been a mistake. She smelled of cookies or cinnamon. Perhaps both. No wait, he caught subtle whiffs of honey laced into her sweet smell. Without meaning to, he drew in a deep whiff. Delightful.

  She shrugged, but her face tensed and her hands clasped in her lap. Dropping her head to look down at her hands, she pursed her lips. “Am I to insert the word most often used to describe me?”

  “If it pleases you.” He sat back feeling as though he’d just won some unnamed battle of wits. He could see her discomfort.

  Then she relaxed. Her head drew higher as the lines of her body straightened. Ada looked over at him then, leaning close. “My sister and cousins often call me little bird. I suppose it’s because I do tend to flit with nervousness.”

  That sounded about right to him. Looking at her features now, she was just as beautiful, if not more so, than Grace. But she lacked the confidence that drew attention to those looks.

  She pressed a bit closer still and her left breast brushed against his arm. His entire body clenched at the light touch as her breath whispered across the skin of his ear, near causing him to shiver. There was nothing mousy about that move. “But in the last year, I’ve gotten a new nickname.”

  He turned to her then, realizing just how close she was, an inch, perhaps two, and he could press his lips to her softly parted ones. He fisted his fingers to keep from touching her face. Damn, he wanted to kiss her. How was she doing this? “What is it?”

  “Ruiner of rakes,” she answered, looking him directly in the eye. “Can you imagine a sillier name?”

  Was she moving closer? He blinked twice trying to make his eyes work properly when she straightened away again. “You? Ruiner of rakes? I’ve met some women in my day who could claim that title, but you? A woman capable of making a sinful man repent?”

  She gave a tiny shrug. She didn’t pull away but he did note a tiny crinkling about the eyes, almost as though she were wincing. “I know. It’s absurd, really.”

  He narrowed his gaze. Was she challenging him? His mouth curved into a smile as a new idea caught his fancy. If she wanted to wage a war in the field of affection, he was game. And if she really did have a reputation as a reformer of rakes, well, she’d make a nice addition to his list.

  Having her attention would help accomplish another goal as well. In fact, his job would be far easier, if she wished to be by his side. He’d agreed to keep watch over her when she was in public. It was the very reason he sat next to her today. Ada had discovered a secret about his friends and he needed to make certain Ada kept that secret. And recent events dictated that he also keep her safe.

  He gave her his most charming smile. “Not absurd at all. I see it now. Your hair reminds me of sunset on a warm summer day and your eyes are the color of new grass. How could a rake not be enchanted?”

  Rather than smile, she grimaced, her sweet lips turning down into a decided frown. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it won’t work with me.”

  He started, which pushed him toward the edge of his chair and his back slipped off the narrow strip of wood it had been leaning against. He was never clumsy and he didn’t understand it now, but in sickening slow motion, he fell to the side, catching his hand on the very piece of wood that had just failed him. The problem was that his weight had shifted to one side of the seat, at least that was what he decided later. In the moment, however, he careened off to one side, both him and the chair crashing to the ground. Gasps filled the air as the organ came to a grinding halt. He looked up to find Ada staring at him as though he’d grown a second head.

  Ada looked at the Viscount laying at her feet, tangled in his chair. She nibbled at her lip trying to decipher how bad the situation was.

  First, she’d just lied through her teeth. No one in the history of the world had ever considered her a ruiner of rakes. It was a complete falsehood. In fact, they often teased her for being bland and frightened by everything, men especially.

  Second, her lie had clearly discombobulated the Viscount and once he realized she’d fibbed, well he’d be even angrier. Ada never got away with falsehoods. Some people could, but not her. Diana swore that every lie was visible on her face. It must be true. How else did she get caught every time?

  And she was certain he already suspected the lie. Hadn’t he said so when he’d told her that he’d known women who could carry the title of rake-ruiner? She was certain he had. And implied in that statement were two facts she’d long known about herself. One, she was not that sort of woman at all. And two, a man like Viceroy would never be interested in her. He’d all but said the words himself.

  “Lord Viceroy, are you all right?” She reached down as the entire wedding stopped to stare at them. He took her hand but was too tangled in the chair to get up.

  Standing, she righted the wooden seat and then reached down for Lord Viceroy again. Wedged in a small aisle, she meant to help him stand with as much dignity as possible. But he pulled before Ada had planted her feet. Rather than helping him stand, she toppled forward landing directly on him, her face nearly smashing into his. He stuck his hand between them, which was a good thing. If he hadn’t, their teeth might very well have crashed together but his knuckle hit her cheekbone and a sharp pain made her roll to the side. “Ouch,” she cried.

  He wrapped his other arm about her, just managing to keep her from crashing into the chairs while she planted one hand on the floor next Viceroy’s face, the other pressing to his chest. Moving his hand, he cupped her cheek and turned her face. “Damn it all to hell,” he muttered. “You’re going to have a bruise.”

  She tried to scramble off his body, but her skirts were getting tangled from her movement on top of him. Her legs wound about his and their hips pressed together. All the contact…well…it was causing her to heat. Or was that her embarrassment? No, it wasn’t just that. She’d never touched a man like this before and he was so muscular underneath her. A pulse began to ache between her legs. So handsome…

  Her breath caught and her eyes widened. Could he tell how she was responding? He was still studying her cheek. “Daring is going to kill me,” he muttered under his breath.

  “It’s not your faul—”

  As if he’d heard, Ada’s brother-in-law, the Duke of Darlington, called from two rows back. “What is going on up there?”

  Ada pressed her lips together. Daring, as Vice called Darlington, was her sister’s husband. But he was also one of Vice’s good friends and they owned a club together along with the Marquess of Malicorn, Earl of Exmouth, and the Baron of Baderness.

  “It’s fine,” she called back as if that made everything all right. “We’ll be up in just a moment. No need to worry.”

  “Bloody hell,” he said, his normally pleasant features twisting into a frown. The man had blond hair with sky-blue eyes, chiseled features and full lips. Her breath caught again as her hand fisted in his shirt. Which only served to remind her how strong and hard his chest was.

  Vice started to sit up and somehow managed to pull her up with him, climbing to his feet while holding her. He set Ada back on the floor, his hands firmly on her waist. “My apologies for falling. Thank you for attempting to help me. I did not intend to pull you…”

  She waved her hand. “The fault was most assuredly mine.” Then she took a step back, nearly tripping on Grace’s feet.

  Her parents had turned back to stare and Ada wished she could disappear into the floor. Everyone was staring. She wobbled and Vice’s hands shot out to
hold her in place again. Her skin shivered at his touch. He gave her another charming grin. The sort that looked practiced and false. Her shivers stopped. He made her weak in the knees but not when he looked so rehearsed. That look reminded her that she was one of many women, and likely the least of them.

  “If you insist on taking the blame, I won’t stop you.” Then he winked.

  Her eyes narrowed as she cocked her head to the side, assessing him. When they’d been tangled together on the floor, she’d forgotten what sort of man he was. For a moment, he was just the handsome, well-built man pressed against her. And honestly, she did respond to him in ways she didn’t fully understand. But when he started talking…he made her angry, first and foremost. Most likely because she knew a man like him would never actually be interested in her. His stock lines were meant for any woman with a pulse. He didn’t recognize her, of course, but Ada was well acquainted with Vice.

  She knew what sort she’d marry. An affable fellow that her sister would likely call dull. Sure, Minnie and Diana had tamed rakes, but Ada, she’d be lucky to tame her red hair into a coif subdued enough for a merchant or a doctor. She’d been courted by an adventurer. Or that’s what she liked to call him. A man who went off to exciting places to study animals. But even he’d left her. She just wasn’t exciting enough, she was certain of it. “You do know that gentlemen take the blame as a rule.”

  “I’m no gentleman,” he whispered leaning close. “But if you’d like me to, it can be all my fault. This time and every time.”

  Every time? What was that supposed to mean? She scrunched her brow but his wicked grin that curled his lips told her that he meant something untoward and was now making fun of her lack of experience.

  There was no point in answering, so she sat down, staring straight ahead so as not to have to look at anyone. The wedding was over and the rosy feeling that had filled her chest watching the nuptials was gone. Which was all Vice’s fault. Crossing her arms, she glared at him. She might hate that man.