The Viscount Who Seduced Her (Steamy Historical Regency) Read online

  The Viscount Who Seduced Her

  A Steamy Regency Romance

  Scarlett Osborne

  Contents

  A Thank You Gift

  About the Book

  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

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  Devilish Games of a Virtuous Lady

  About the Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Also by Scarlett Osborne

  About the Author

  A Thank You Gift

  Thanks a lot for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me, because this is the best way to show me your love.

  As a Thank You gift I have written a full length novel for you called Seduced by the Brooding Duke. It’s only available to people who have downloaded one of my books and you can get your free copy by tapping this link here.

  Once more, thanks a lot for your love and support.

  With love and appreciation,

  Scarlett Osborne

  About the Book

  The sweetest of smiles hide the darkest of secrets...

  Lady’s maid Betsey Babington knows that the Cublertone Masquerade party is her only chance to ever approach the man she is secretly in love with. Disguised as the Ice Queen, her dream comes true when she finally dances with the tempting Lord Hillfield.

  Engaged to his antagonist’s daughter, Viscount of Hillfield, Michael Calford's entire life has been nothing but a business deal. From the minute he dances with the Ice Queen, though, he loses control over his heart, mind, and body.

  But while on a hopeless quest to discover her secret identity, she slips right through his fingers...

  In his attempt to locate her, he will not only face a well-crafted plan aiming for his demise, but he will also discover that the person who wants him dead is nothing but a ghost.

  Chapter 1

  Betsey sat on her narrow bed, sewing by the early morning light shining through the window. She had always woken early, and Lady Paulina slept late, much like the rest of the gentry.

  While the Earl and his daughter slept, the rest of the household buzzed with activity—servants in the kitchen prepared breakfast, chamber maids opened curtains and dusted in the common rooms of the house. Outside, stable boys brushed the horses and mucked out their stables, while grooms and coachmen prepared the carriage in case the master should need it.

  The household was a complex organism, with many layers of activity happening all at once, most of them invisible to the outside observer. Betsey enjoyed being a part of this, more than she had expected to. She found it fascinating how the seemingly simple tasks performed by each member of the household worked in tandem with the others.

  If one task was left undone, it could create ripples that would spread outward to affect the entire household. Mrs. Campbell, the housekeeper, had a remarkable ability to anticipate these ripples and reassign members of the staff to minimize them. This meant that Betsey had, from time to time, acted as her assistant when Lady Paulina was occupied with her music or dancing lessons.

  Betsey considered what adjustments might need to be made today, as she continued to mend the hem of Lady Paulina’s petticoat. Her stitches were tiny and perfectly even. It had taken her some time to perfect this skill, but she was able to mend most things without any visible signs now. Lady Paulina was particular about her clothes, as most noblewomen were, so this was an important skill.

  * * *

  When Betsey entered the kitchen an hour later, the mending was complete and Lady Paulina was still asleep. Betsey ate her breakfast quickly; a simple porridge, sweetened with just a touch of honey—a luxury for a servant.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Latham,” she said to the cook. “The porridge is particularly delicious this morning.”

  “You’re welcome, Betsey.” Mrs. Latham winked at her, “You are very sweet.”

  Betsey smiled back at her as she ate her porridge. Mrs. Campbell, the housekeeper, had always been kind to her, saying that Betsey reminded her of her own grown daughter who had married and moved away. Mrs. Latham and the other older women of the staff had followed suit. Betsey was pleased to have a mother figure in Mrs. Campbell, and she thought of Mrs. Latham and her kitchen staff as kind aunties.

  Her own parents lived in the village where Betsey had grown up, and she did not have much opportunity to see them, though they wrote to one another somewhat regularly. In addition to Mrs. Campbell’s maternal affection, she also had her older brother, Simon. He had started out as a footman several years ago, and was now the Earl’s personal valet.

  In truth, Simon was her half-brother. His mother had died when he was four years old, and his father had married Betsey’s mother soon after. She had never thought of him as anything other than her full brother though, and for as long as Betsey could remember, Simon had doted on her.

  Soon after he started working at the estate, he had encouraged Mrs. Campbell to hire Betsey as a chamber maid. As the Earl’s personal valet he had a certain degree of influence among the household staff, and when Lady Paulina had needed a new lady’s maid, Simon had suggested that his sister ought to be promoted.

  Simon entered the kitchen as Betsey was eating and Mrs. Latham handed him his own bowl of porridge.

  “Thank you kindly, Mrs. Latham—you do make the best porridge!” he said, sitting down across from Betsey at the kitchen table.

  “All right, Simon, that’s enough flattery, now eat up,” Mrs. Latham sounded exasperated, but Betsey saw her smirk as she turned back to the hearth.

  “Is Lady Paulina looking forward to meeting the Viscount of Somerwich today?” Simon asked his sister.

  Betsey paused for a moment, trying to think of the best way to answer this question. “Well, she knows nothing of the Viscount, except that his father and hers are political rivals, so she is unsure of what to expect.”

  “Perhaps they need not be rivals for long.”

  “Oh?” Betsy raised an eyebrow as she looked at her brother.

  “If today’s meeting goes well, the Earl plans to marry Lady Paulina to the Viscount.”

  “Yes, I had assumed that was the purpose of today’s meeting.”

  “And if they are married, then her father and the Earl of Hillfield will be family. Eventually they will share grandchildren,” Simon explained.

  “I see,” Betsey was beginning to understand. “Is there anything in particular the Earl hopes to gain from this family connection?”

  “Well, I cannot be certain of that, but the Earl is a smart gentleman,” Simon sounded reverential—he had always talked admiringly of the Earl. “No doubt he will think of something when the time comes.”

  Betsey did not doubt that this was true. The Earl seemed to have a way
of turning any situation to his advantage. In fact, he had contrived more than once to get Betsey alone in an empty room, hoping to take advantage of those situations as well. So far, she had been able to escape with no more than a lewd comment, thanks to some tricks she had learned from the other maids.

  “Hmm…” Betsey sighed, “I suppose it will all depend on Lady Paulina then.”

  “I suppose so,” Simon agreed, sounding unconcerned. “But Lady Paulina knows the importance of doing as her father says, and the Viscount is not old, or ugly. I see no reason why she should object.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, Betsey stood in Lady Paulina’s room, helping her mistress into a pale blue, silk gown. Her fingers worked deftly as she adjusted the laces.

  “This color is lovely on you, My Lady,” Betsey said, looking over Lady Paulina’s shoulder at her reflection in the looking glass.

  Lady Paulina tilted her head this way and that, examining her reflection. She caught Betsey’s eye in the mirror and smiled at her. “Thank you, at the risk of sounding immodest, I must say that I agree with you.”

  Betsey and Lady Paulina laughed together good-naturedly as Betsey began to arrange Lady Paulina’s hair. She had been surprised to find, upon becoming Lady Paulina’s maid, that she quite liked her mistress. They laughed often, and Lady Paulina confided in Betsey.

  “Are you looking forward to meeting the Viscount of Somerwich today, My Lady?” Betsey asked, her voice tentative.

  “I suppose I ought to give him a chance,” Lady Paulina sounded resigned. “Perhaps he is handsome and charming.”

  “Perhaps he is, My Lady. But he is not…”

  “No, he is not,” Lady Paulina said firmly. “But I must still meet with him, so I might as well hope for the best.”

  “That’s the spirit, My Lady.”

  “Of course, his father has a terrible reputation,” Lady Paulina mused. “Papa says that the Earl of Hillfield is not to be trusted around the serving girls, but perhaps the son is a different sort of character.”

  Betsey pursed her lips and said nothing as she continued to style her mistress’s hair. Perhaps it was true that the Earl of Hillfield had a bad reputation, but she doubted it was any worse than that of the Earl of Cublertone.

  “On the other hand,” Lady Paulina continued, absent-mindedly, “Papa might just be saying that to discredit Hillfield—they are so often at odds in Parliament.”

  “Hmm…” Betsey said, considering her words carefully. “Do you think that your meeting with the Viscount could have anything to do with that?”

  “Well,” Lady Paulina said, turning away from the mirror, “Papa has not said so yet, but I am quite sure he wants me to marry the Viscount. Perhaps he thinks we shall fall madly in love at our meeting today, but I doubt he would consider that important.”

  “You would not be the first Lady to make a marriage for political gain, rather than for love. I’m quite sure that many happy marriages start that way.”

  “That is true,” Lady Paulina agreed. “No doubt many unhappy marriages have started that way as well.”

  “I suppose so, My Lady.”

  “Well, there’s no use worrying about that now. If the Viscount proves to be a boar at our meeting, then I shall just have to convince Papa to change his plans.”

  Lady Paulina sounded confident that she would be able to change her father’s mind, but Betsey was not so sure that this would be possible. The Earl had always doted on his daughter—she was his only child, and all that was left to him since her mother had died ten years ago. Still, he was an ambitious gentleman who was accustomed to getting his own way, and Lady Paulina rarely defied him.

  * * *

  Michael Calford, Viscount of Somerwich, rode in the back of his family’s carriage toward the Cublertone estate. At thirty years of age, he could hardly put off marriage any longer, though he did not relish the prospect. He would have been content to live out his years as a bachelor, but as the only son of an Earl it was his responsibility to provide an heir to his family’s estate.

  His mother was nearly hysterical with worry about finding a suitable wife for her son. She had been searching for a well-bred young lady who would make her son happy. When she had suggested the daughter of the Earl of Cublertone, her husband had seen an opportunity to make an ally out of a formal political rival.

  Michael cared little for his father’s political ambitions, but he did love his parents and wished to please them. Lady Paulina had made her debut last season, and Michael had heard that she was beautiful and well-mannered. He had not heard anything about whether she was clever or interesting, but then, most gentlemen cared little for those qualities.

  Michael sighed deeply as he looked out of the carriage window at the rolling hills as he passed them by. Just because no one had said that Lady Paulina was clever and interesting did not mean that she was not. And besides, I have clever and interesting friends—perhaps all I need is a beautiful and well-mannered wife.

  A quarter of an hour later, the carriage pulled up in front of the Cublertone’s estate, and the driver opened the door for Michael. He stepped down from the carriage, stretching his long legs after the cramped ride.

  The Earl of Cublertone and his daughter were standing in the front garden, waiting to greet him. Lady Paulina was lovely in a gown of pale blue silk. Her blonde hair was arranged in clusters of curls framing her pretty face.

  “Welcome to Cublertone, My Lord,” the Earl said, greeting Michael warmly.

  “Thank you, My Lord.”

  “May I present my daughter, the Lady Paulina Manning.”

  Michael turned to Lady Paulina and bowed slightly. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, My Lady,” he said, giving her what he hoped was a winning smile.

  “The pleasure is mine, My Lord,” Lady Paulina said, curtseying to her guest.

  Once the introductions had been completed, the Earl invited Michael inside, and led them to the drawing room.

  Michael sat down on a comfortable loveseat, and looked around the room. As the Lady of the house, the Earl’s daughter had likely chosen at least some of the décor, which he found to be pleasant and welcoming. As he looked at the burgundy velvet curtains, Michael was beginning to feel that this match might be more successful than he had initially expected.

  After a few minutes of talk, the Earl rang for a maid. When she entered the room with a curtsey he said, “Please bring some tea for Lady Paulina and the Viscount of Somerwich. And send in Lady Paulina’s maid.”

  “Yes, My Lord,” the maid said, curtseying as she left the room.

  “My apologies, but I will need to return to my study before your visit is concluded. Lady Paulina’s maid will act as your chaperone when I do.”

  “No need to apologize, My Lord,” Michael replied. “I understand perfectly well.”

  A moment later, a dark-haired young woman entered the drawing room. She wore a simple gray gown, finer than that of a chamber maid, and Michael knew that she must be Lady Paulina’s maid. She was taller than her Lady, but still several inches shorter than himself. Her pale skin was luminous, and her golden brown eyes sparkled, suggesting a lively, curious personality.

  The maid had seen him looking, and her pale cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. She turned away from him and sat in a small chair in the corner of the room. The maid produced an embroidery hoop from some unknown location and focused on her needlework. Michael realized that he had been staring at her, and turned his attention back to Lady Paulina. I did not come here to look at pretty maids, I am here to meet with the pretty Lady sitting next to me.

  * * *

  Betsey sat on a hard, wooden chair in the corner of the drawing room. Her role was clear—she was to remain present at all times as a chaperone, but she should make herself as inconspicuous as possible. She felt certain that the Viscount had been looking at her for longer than was entirely proper, but she could see no reason why.

  Lady Paulina looked particularly
beautiful today—Betsey had seen to that. There was no reason for any gentleman, regardless of his social status, to look at a maid when Lady Paulina was in the room. Perhaps I only imagined that he was looking at me. Betsey focused on her needlework while Lady Paulina and the Viscount talked.