by Vikki Vaught
Table of Contents
DEDICATION
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
CHAPTER 30
About the Author
When Love Sneaks In
The Montgomery Family & Friends Series
- Book Two -
by Vikki Vaught
Copyright © 2017 by Vikki Vaught
Cover design by Danielle Doolittle
All rights reserved. This book, or any part of it, cannot be reproduced or distributed by any means without the express permission in writing from the author.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
DEDICATION
I originally wrote When Love Sneaks In quite a few years ago. As I’ve traveled this great adventure into the writing world, I’ve learned a great deal. I wanted to give this story the attention it deserved, so I have re-written what was published in 2012 as Love Sneaked In. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed re-visiting Helen and Matthew’s love story. I hope you’ll enjoy this updated version of book 2 in my Montgomery Family & Friends series as much as I enjoyed my time with these delightful characters.
I dedicate this book to new authors just setting out on their writing adventure. May your passion for the written word be as rewarding as mine is to me. Enjoy your journey!
Thanks goes to Tammy Souch, my editor. She always makes my books shine. To Laurie White, my proof reader, and to my beta readers, Linda Levin, Donna Saltzman, and Debbie Eichler, their feedback is always so insightful. Thanks for your continued support. I also want to thank my amazing cover artist, Danielle Doolittle. Her ability to interpret the artwork for my cover is amazing. Last, but by far not least, I thank my husband who exhibits a great deal of patience when my head is lost in my world of books.
Reviews are the life-blood for authors. I hope you’ll take a moment and write a review. Reviews help other readers find books they might enjoy and new authors to explore. All reviews are appreciated by authors and readers everywhere.
CHAPTER 1
May 1820
Lady Helen Montgomery paced her bedchamber after dismissing her maid for the night. She had not heard from Hanford for a fortnight. Although her feelings for the Duke of Somerset grew stronger by the day, a lump of cold fear lay in her heart as each day passed without seeing him.
Why had he returned without coming to pay his addresses? On their picnic two weeks ago, the duke had left her with every expectation of an offer on his return to town, now nothing. The duke had pursued her for most of last season and this one as well.
Reality hit her.
Her face flamed as she recalled the liberties she’d allowed.
Hanford must think she was fast, and that was why she had not heard from him. Tears pooled in her eyes. She had ruined any chance of him offering for her.
What gentleman wants a woman too free with her favors?
The following morning, she heard someone tapping at her door. She called out, “Enter.” Expecting her maid, she was surprised to see Lady Helton instead. While they had grown close since she had opened her home to her and her sister, Kathryn, this was the first time her sister-in-law’s aunt had come to her bedchamber. The kind woman had offered to sponsor them because Melody was expecting and due within the month.
Aunt Miriam—she’d asked them to call her that—did not wear her usual serene smile and pleasant expression. Helen’s stomach dropped to her toes. She could not imagine why she seemed so troubled.
Aunt Miriam hesitated. “My dear…there’s an article in the society pages…I wanted to talk to you about it. You’ve spent time with the Duke of Somerset on several occasions this season. Helen.” She paused. “The paper has an announcement in it. It appears he’s to wed…Lady Penelope. I fear this may disappoint you. I believe you had expectations he would offer for you.”
The air whooshed from her lungs.
The blood in her veins pumped fiercely.
She sat still trying to take it in. How could he do this? He’d given every indication he would declare himself. Why had he been so attentive if he planned to marry another? Her fears had become reality. By allowing him those liberties, he’d turned away in disgust. A few tears slipped down her cheeks.
She swiped them away. “May I see the paper, please.”
“Of course. I’ll get it.” The look in the kind woman’s eyes had her clutching her stomach to calm the swarm of bees in it. The last thing she wanted was someone’s pity.
Helen sat on the side of her bed staring, not looking at anything in particular, waiting for her return. When Lady Helton returned, she held out the paper. Helen hesitated, reluctant to see in writing what would confirm the woman’s news. With trembling hands, she accepted it. There it was in print. He would wed, of all people, Lady Penelope, in a month at St. George’s in Hanover Square. The pain was so intense she feared her heart would split in two.
“I would like to be alone.” Her voice sounded brittle to her ears. Aunt Miriam tried to hug her, but Helen wrapped her arms around her waist, refusing her solace. Lady Helton sighed and silently left the room.
She did not leave her bedchamber for three days. She even refused to see Kathryn, although her sister had knocked on her door several times a day. Her mirror revealed pain-filled, red, and puffy eyes with dark circles lining them. Enough was enough. It was time to move past her humiliation.
When Helen appeared at breakfast, Kathryn attempted to give her a hug, but she moved away, still not wanting to be touched. She went to the sideboard and filled her plate, while her sister resumed her seat.
When she joined her sister, she said, “I do not want to discuss the duke’s engagement. Obviously, I made a mistake concerning his regard. I shall put this behind me.”
“Whatever you think is best,” she replied. “Please know I’m here for you. I think he’s despicable. He all but asked you to marry him, then he went off and asked that shrew instead.”
An arrow shot through her heart. It was painful enough that the duke was engaged to someone else, but why did he choose Lady Penelope? They’d been sworn enemies since childhood. Both of them were strong-willed and obstinate and had disliked each other since their days in leading strings.
Helen gave her napkin a hard jerk before draping it across her lap. “I do not want to discuss it. Do you know where Aunt Miriam is? I plan to attend as many parties and balls as possible. I shall dance and enjoy myself. I will never let him know how his callous disregard has affected me.”
Kathryn’s brows drew together. “I believe she’s still in her bedchamber. I’m pleased you plan to move beyond this.” She hesitated. “How do you feel about facing…ah…him, if you happen to see him?”
She looked her straight in the eye. “I hope I do, so I can give him the cut direct.”
They ate the remainder
of their meal in silence. Kathryn meant well, but she did not want her solicitude.
After she left the breakfast room, Helen marched to Aunt Miriam’s room, shuffled through the invitations, and chose a few she wanted to attend. Since there was some type of entertainment every night and sometimes two, she had her pick.
That was exactly what she did for the next month. Helen danced and flirted outrageously. She laughed at everything men had to say, making them all feel as if they were important to her, deep inside…her heart was encased in ice.
Guilt ate at her soul. In her heart, she realized she’d ruined her chances with him by allowing him those liberties. She had learned a valuable lesson. She would never be so naïve or guileless again. If men could be heartless…so could she.
The Duke of Somerset married Lady Penelope on the tenth of May in a lavish affair held at St. George’s with most of the ton in attendance. Helen, along with her sister, and Lady Helton, attended. She wore a mask of gaiety, but if anyone had looked deeply into her eyes, they would surely have seen the disillusionment.
After they pulled away from the church, Kathryn touched her hand. “I’m concerned for you. For all your jovial appearance, I can see your anguish. You’re turning into a hard, cynical woman. I know this situation is painful, but give your heart time to heal. I find it difficult to watch you going down this path.”
Helen jerked her hand away. “It’s none of your concern. I have ample reason to feel this way. I’ll never, I say never…let a man affect me in such a way again. If that makes me cynical, so be it.” She turned toward the window for the rest of the trip to Aunt Miriam’s house. She’d hurt Kathryn’s feelings, but she could not abide her pity.
Although Helen hated to give into her emotions, she threw herself on her bed and wept bitter tears. Her last day with Hanford flashed through her mind, and she buried her face in her pillow as shame flooded her mind. If she could go back, she would have acted so differently.
She closed her eyes and allowed the memory in.
Hanford arrived at eleven, and they made their way to Hyde Park. They found a pleasant spot by the Serpentine and spread out a blanket. He unpacked the basket his French chef had prepared. And to her delight, there was roasted quail, several kinds of cheeses, and a bottle of champagne. The chef had also included strawberries with clotted cream.
While they ate their food, Hanford’s intense silver eyes watched her every move, sending frissons of awareness through her. He selected a juicy red strawberry and dipped it in the cream, offering it to her. Hesitantly, she nibbled a bite, and a dollop fell on her chin. He wiped it off, sending a shiver down her spine. As he gazed into her eyes, he slowly licked the cream off his finger. A tingling sensation rushed to her belly, and her hands trembled. She would die if he did not kiss her today.
After they finished the fruit, he stood and reached for her hand. “Shall we walk?” As they strolled along the bank of the Serpentine, he continued their conversation.
They had reached a secluded area with plenty of bushes and trees. He pulled her behind a huge oak tree and kissed her. His tongue ran across her lips, and when she sighed, he slipped it inside, deepening their kiss. Her breath caught, and her heart thundered as he slipped his hand inside the neckline of her dress.
Before she could take in what he was doing, he pulled the hem of her gown to her waist and touched her bare thigh. Although fear rushed through her, she could not make herself stop him. Her knees trembled so badly, she feared they could not hold her up.
Heat snaked through her, spreading throughout her belly. He rubbed against her, and something hard pushed against her belly. Their tongues entwined, and an odd, unfamiliar sensation built inside her, winding tighter and tighter. He groaned and began to unbutton his pantaloons. Helen’s heart raced as she realized what he planned to do.
“Stop…stop.” She pushed him away. Mortified over what had almost happened, she bowed her head as embarrassment and shame washed over her.
Hanford pulled her against him. “Let me make love to you. I promise you’ll enjoy it even more than what you just experienced.”
“I can’t allow that. It would not be proper.” Tears pool in her eyes. She refused to let them fall. “I should have made you stop…before I did. I shan’t deny what you did felt incredible…but I cannot allow this to go any further, not until you’ve…declared yourself, Hanford.”
The duke released her and sighed. “I beg your pardon, Lady Helen. My actions were inexcusable. I should not have taken advantage of your innocence, but I could not resist the temptation. We shall talk again about everything…very soon.”
They silently returned to the blanket, packed up the basket, and returned to his conveyance. When they arrived at the house, he lifted her from his phaeton, holding her waist as he slowly lowered her to the ground, the whole time staring intently into her eyes.
“Thank you for coming with me today. We shall talk soon, I promise. Helen, I must go out of town for a few days. I shall call on you when I return. Think of me while I’m gone, as I will think of you, my dear.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, then escorted her into the house and departed.
Helen sat up and pulled a pillow to her breast. The man was a cad. How could he treat a duke’s daughter in such a devious manner? He’d pursued her relentlessly only to wed another. While at the wedding, she’d overheard one of the duke’s friends laughing. He’d said Somerset had gained a much-desired property from the Earl of Stanton, Lady Penelope’s father, in exchange for marrying his daughter.
She dashed angry tears away. Perhaps her actions had not ruined anything. Perhaps it was Hanford’s greed. That just made his behavior even more reprehensible. She had learned a valuable lesson. Never again would she give her heart to another man.
CHAPTER 2
Three days later, a missive arrived from her brother, telling them Melody had given birth to his son, the new Marquess of Wyndham, heir to the Duke of Sanderford. A lofty title for a wee little one. How proud Henry must be. At last, the dukedom would be secure for the next generation.
Helen, along with Aunt Miriam and Kathryn, left the following morning to see the new baby. The trip to Sanderford Park went smoothly, and they arrived in time for afternoon tea. The butler greeted them at the door, and Mrs. Milton, the housekeeper, showed them to their rooms so they could freshen up before they went to the drawing room.
Her sister-in-law was already out of bed serving tea, although she’d only given birth two days before. The proud papa was spoiling little Magnus dreadfully by carrying him around whenever he was awake. He was a beautiful babe with Melody’s golden hair and Henry’s dimpled chin.
His sister, Mary Elizabeth, kept prancing around the room telling everyone that since she was almost five years old, she could hold her little brother whenever she wanted. Little Brandon, who was almost three, did not show the same level of enthusiasm for his new half-brother.
While her brother raised Brandon as his own, he was not his by blood. She loved seeing the love and contentment on her brother’s face after all he’d gone through several years before.
Henry had supposedly died during the Battle of Waterloo, instead, he’d been gravely injured and awoke with no memory, and none of them had known that until he returned more than two years later. Her sister-in-law had never gotten on with their autocratic father and had returned to her parents after the funeral. She had picked up the strains of her life and married her best friend. Melody had given birth to Brandon before that husband had died.
Her brother had returned to a mess. Melody gone, their father in ill health and their brother, Nelson, at death’s door. Needless to say, they had to sort out a great many issues; fortunately, their love had seen them through those dark days. They deserved the joy they had now after all the heartache.
Helen was glad to be home and took long, solitary walks each day, and rode Ginny to the lake, internalizing what had happened with Hanford, and determined to put him in her p
ast. She felt more like her old self as each day went by.
She also spent much of her time with her nieces and nephews. She found it cleansing. When she returned to town, she would find a husband. One who would be eager to have children. While she did not want love, she did want a family.
On the last day before they returned to London, she went to see Henry in his study. She sat across from him and primly folded her hands in her lap. “I need your assistance. I want a husband who’s ready to set up his nursery. One who is not looking for a love match. I think a widower would do nicely, one who already has children.”
He met her gaze. “I know how hurt you were when the Duke of Somerset married Lady Penelope, but please don’t give up on finding love. You’ve seen how much Melody and I care for each other. I want you to find that same happiness. Marriage can be difficult enough with love. I can’t imagine one without it. I want you to think this through before you make any quick decisions. Will you do that?”
Helen stood and began pacing. “I have thought about it. I do not want to fall in love again. I do want to be a mother, and the only way that will happen is if I wed. I’m turning three and twenty next month, and I do not want to wait any longer. So, will you assist me or not?”
He came around the desk and took her hand in his. “It saddens me greatly to see you so cynical. I wish I could do something about that blaggard. Unfortunately, if I called the duke out, it would cause a scandal that would hurt your reputation. If this is what you truly want, I’ll put the word out among my peers.”
Relieved, Helen gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you. I know you don’t agree with my decision, but this is what’s best for me.” She stood. “Since we’re leaving in the morning, I’m retiring early.”
Henry came to her and kissed her forehead. “Try to get some sleep. I shall do what you want.” She nodded and left the study, grateful for her brother’s willingness to help her, even though he disagreed with her chosen path.