“Thank you for your letter, and how kind it is of you to invite me once again, Countess,” says the young, attractive lady, sipping from her expensive teacup.
“It is such a pleasure to see you again, Lady Elizabeth,” beams the countess. “These last weeks have proved quite taxing, and it is wonderful to see a familiar face.”
Lady Elizabeth Brooks says nothing for a moment, tilting her head as she absorbs the older woman’s words. “I have heard about Lord Markham’s marriage,” she replies, risking a glance at the countess. “You must be pleased to know that he is now settled into matrimony?”
The countess raises her chin, looking into the hazy November light through the large window. “I would not say pleased,” she answers, turning to glance at Elizabeth’s knowing face. “This marriage is not what I would have chosen for my son, or for my late husband’s vast estate…”
There is a moment of silence as both ladies take their tea.
“And yet the nuptials are done?” says the younger lady, her voice full of resignation. “So there is little choice but to accept Thomas’ decision?”
The older lady smiles, her thin lips stretching into almost a sneer. “There is always a choice, my dear,” she murmurs, placing down her cup onto the wooden table beyond her knees. “I believe there may be a way to shatter the illusion of this happy marriage.”
Lady Elizabeth’s interest is piqued, and she too puts down her cup, placing it on the floor by her feet. “How so, My Lady?” she asks.
“You know my son better than most, my dear,” she replies, eyeing the lady in the chair opposite her. “You are, I believe, one of his prior admirers, Lady Elizabeth?”
The younger woman barely flinches, her natural dark curls dancing at her chin as she turns to nod at the countess. “I am,” she concurs. “Although, as you imply, I am only one of many…”
“Yet I know he had feelings for you, my dear,” insists the countess. “He spoke of you often, before the arrival of his new ward…”
“Really?” answers Elizabeth. “That does not sound like the Thomas I recall—how queer! What, may I ask, do you have in mind to do, My Lady?”
The older lady smiles, her eyes cold as she continues. “It is my belief,” she says, “that the intimate information you have about my son could very well be his undoing.”
Elizabeth chuckles, her tone dark as she replies. “You should like me to reveal Lord Markham’s darkest secrets?” she laughs. “To what end, My Lady? How will this terminate the marriage?”
“I seek not to break it,” she tells the younger woman, “just to tarnish the happy couple.” The smile of the countess deepens as she enjoys Elizabeth’s response. “I know my son,” she says coldly. “With some gentlemen the application of pressure will make them focus. With others, the same application will cause them to fold. Thomas’ demeanour falls into the latter group, Elizabeth. If you were to reveal his secrets and humiliate him, I believe it would be enough for him to buckle…”
“May I enquire why you would like to see Lord Markham buckle?” asks Elizabeth, her tone pointed. “He is, after all, your only son and heir, and—whilst I have no love for the marriage—the union will secure your bloodline?”
She pauses, looking to the countess for a response. The older lady sits listening, her expression stony. “That is a private matter, my dear,” she replies, her face unyielding. “I am sure you understand? But I believe that together, we may both benefit from my plan.”
“So,” says Elizabeth, taking stock of the countess’ words. “You merely want to hurt him? You would like for me to cause a… scandal?”
The countess nods, reaching forward to drain the last of her tea. “It seems Thomas forgets to whom he owes his good fortune. Markham Hall was his father’s legacy, yet he has run it into the ground with his newfound conventions. He will rue the day he did not listen to his mother’s advice.”
“And you would offer me good favour if I were to… help you in this way?” asks Elizabeth. “A scandal like the one you seek would make a good marriage for me almost impossible.”
“My dear,” says the countess. “I know I ask you to speak of indelicate things, which could ruin your own reputation. I will grant you every favour I can offer in return for your time in this matter. I have a personal settlement from my late husband, and have already written to the legal gentleman who handled the earl’s estate, to see what can be done to compensate you.”
Lady Elizabeth rises from her seat, walking slowly to the window as she considers the countess’ proposition. “If these legal concerns can be settled to our mutual satisfaction, then I see no reason why I should not assist you, My Lady,” she replies, turning and offering her a smile. “His Lordship offered me little recompense, and even less affection. As such I have no loyalty to him, but you, My Lady, have offered me solace and friendship. Perhaps it is time that the truth of these matters be told?” She pauses, running her long fingers along the edge of the ornate dresser by the window. “I have heard that confession is good for the soul, and the good Lord knows, My Lady, that I have quite the story to confess…”
The End
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More Stormy Night Books by Felicity Brandon
Submission at The Tower
This is not a love story. This is the story of the hunger inside of me which must be fed before it consumes me entirely…
After a chance encounter with a handsome stranger introduces her to The Tower, an institution that trains women in submission, Janie McClusky is irresistibly drawn to the place. But admittance comes at a price, and soon enough Janie is utterly bare and fully on display, blushing crimson as the men at The Tower thoroughly explore her body, bringing her pain, pleasure, and shame as they see fit.
As Janie’s training begins, there is one man among the group who seems to know her own needs better than she does, and before long she finds herself yearning and even begging for his touch. But if she relinquishes control completely to this captivating stranger and allows him to break down her remaining defences, will there be any coming back at all?
The Viking’s Conquest
When she is left all but alone to defend her family’s castle against an army of battle-hardened Viking raiders, nineteen-year-old Princess Aurelie of Donrose fights valiantly but is soon overcome. After her capture by the tall, handsome leader of the northmen, Prince Anders, she is carried away along with the rest of the spoils of conquest.
Anders makes it clear to the princess that she is now his property, to do with as he likes, and he takes pleasure in stripping her bare and putting her on display. When she defies her new master, Aurelie quickly discovers that Anders will not hesitate to spank her soundly, but to her shame the painful, humiliating punishment leaves her deeply aroused.
Bound and helpless yet burning with desire, the princess finds herself longing for the bold, dominant warrior to take her hard and thoroughly, and when she surrenders to his mastery of her body the pleasure is more intense than she would have ever thought possible. Aurelie’s submission to Anders grows more complete with each passing day, but when her brothers arrive with an army to seek vengeance against their old enemy she must make a fateful choice. Will she remain loyal to her family and her people, or come to the aid of her Viking prince?
Felicity Brandon Links
> You can keep up with Felicity Brandon via her blog, her Twitter account, her Facebook page, and her Goodreads profile, using the following links:
http://fbrandonfiction.wix.com/felicity-brandon-
https://twitter.com/FelicityBrandon
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