Lady Mariel's Scandalous Love: Regency Romance (Regency Scandals Book 2) Read online

  REGENCY ROMANCE

  Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

  Regency Scandals Book 2

  Arietta Richmond

  Dreamstone Publishing © 2019

  www.dreamstonepublishing.com

  Copyright © 2019 Dreamstone Publishing and Arietta Richmond,

  All rights reserved.

  No parts of this work may be copied without the author’s permission.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-925915-38-9

  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organisations, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

  Dedication

  For everyone who had the grace to be patient while this book, and every other book that I have written, was coming into existence, who provided cups of tea, and food, when the writing would not let me go, and endured countless times being asked for opinions.

  For the readers who inspire me to continue writing, by buying my books! Especially for those of you who have taken the time to email me, or to leave reviews, and tell me what you love about these books, and what you’d like to see more of – thank you – I’m listening, I promise to write more about your favourite characters.

  For my growing team of beta readers and advance reviewers – it’s thanks to you that others can enjoy these books in the best presentation possible!

  And for all the writers of Regency Historical Romance, whose books I read, who inspired me to write in this fascinating period.

  Table of Contents

  Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

  Disclaimer

  Dedication

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Here is your preview of The Gift of a Christmas Scandal

  Chapter One

  Books in the Regency Scandals Series

  Books in The Derbyshire Set

  Books in the His Majesty’s Hounds Series

  Regency Collections with Other Authors

  Books in the A Duke’s Daughters – the Elbury Bouquet Series

  Books in the Nettlefold Chronicles

  Other Books from Arietta

  Other Books from Dreamstone Publishing

  Books by Arietta Richmond

  His Majesty’s Hounds

  Claiming the Heart of a Duke

  Intriguing the Viscount

  Giving a Heart of Lace

  Being Lady Harriet’s Hero

  Enchanting the Duke

  Redeeming the Marquess

  Finding the Duke’s Heir

  Winning the Merchant Earl

  Healing Lord Barton

  Kissing the Duke of Hearts

  Loving the Bitter Baron

  Falling for the Earl

  Rescuing the Countess

  Betting on a Lady’s Heart

  Attracting the Spymaster

  Courting a Spinster for Christmas

  Restoring the Earl’s Honour

  From Soldier Spy to Lord (contains the first three books in one volume)

  To Love a Determined Lady (Contains Books 4, 5 and 6 in one volume)

  Love Heals a Lord (Contains Books 7, 8 and 9 in one volume)

  A Duke’s Daughters – The Elbury Bouquet

  A Spinster for a Spy (Lily)

  A Vixen for a Viscount (Hyacinth)

  A Bluestocking for a Baron (Rose) (coming soon)

  A Diamond for a Duke (Camellia) (coming soon)

  A Minx for a Merchant (Primrose) (coming soon)

  An Enchantress for an Earl (Violet) (coming soon)

  A Maiden for a Marquess (Iris) (coming soon)

  A Heart for an Heir (Thorne) (coming soon)

  The Nettlefold Chronicles

  The Duke and the Spinster

  To Dance with the Dangerous Duke

  A Duke in Autumn

  A Christmas Bride for the Duke (coming soon)

  The Regency Gothic Series

  Lord of the Storm

  Lord of the Darkness (coming soon)

  Lord of the Lost (coming soon)

  Lord of the Shadows (coming soon)

  The Regency Scandals Series

  The Gift of a Christmas Scandal

  Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

  Christmas with That Duke (coming soon)

  The Derbyshire Set

  A Gift of Love (Prequel short story)

  A Devil’s Bargain (Prequel short story - coming soon)

  The Earl’s Unexpected Bride

  The Captain’s Compromised Heiress

  The Viscount’s Unsuitable Affair

  The Count’s Impetuous Seduction

  The Rake’s Unlikely Redemption

  The Marquess’ Scandalous Mistress

  A Remembered Face (Bonus short story – coming soon)

  The Marchioness’ Second Chance

  A Viscount’s Reluctant Passion

  Lady Theodora’s Christmas Wish

  The Duke’s Improper Love (coming soon)

  A Gentleman’s Unconventional Courtship (coming soon)

  The Derbyshire Set, Omnibus Edition, Volume 1 (the first three books in one volume.)

  The Derbyshire Set, Omnibus Edition, Volume 2 (the second three books in one volume.)

  Other Books

  The Scottish Governess

  Her Summer Duke

  The Earl’s Reluctant Fiancée (coming soon)

  The Crew of the Seadragon’s Soul Series, (coming soon - a set of 10 linked novels)

  Chapter One

  “A letter for you, my Lord.”

  Dashiell Hardstone, Marquess of Longwood, looked up to find his butler proffering the correspondence tray, upon which rested a missive – one written on paper of the highest quality, and sealed with a very large seal in a deep blue wax. Hope flared, before he sternly repressed it. Too much hope only led to disappointment.

  He lifted the letter from the tray and dropped onto a nearby crate to read it, ignoring the puff of dust that rose around him as he sat.

  “Should I wait, my Lord?”

  Dash looked up, his fingers on the seal.

  “No need, Chalmers – if this is what I think it is, I will need time to compose my reply. But a tray with some coffee and cakes would be welcome.”

  “As you wish, my Lord.”

  Chalmers bowed out of the room, and Dash turned his attention back to the paper in his hand. He studied the seal – it was as he had surmised, the seal was that of Lord Manderforce. He broke the wax impatiently, and the heavy paper crackled as he unfolded it. He was almost afraid to read it – so long had he waited for this moment.

  ‘To the Marquess of Longwood, greetings.

  I have considered your suggestion for an exhibition, based upon your extensive collection of artefacts, to be displayed at the British Museum. Whilst I must say that your collection intrigues me, given the descriptions that you provided, I find myself unable to agree to your proposal.

  The theme of your collection is, I feel, rather too shocking and potentially scandalous a matter for the Museum to be associat
ed with. I fear that the cream of society would focus far more upon the subject matter than upon its scientific and cultural value, and the Museum cannot afford to offend our patrons.

  Therefore, with regret, I decline your generous offer. I would, should you establish your collection in a private exhibition at a later stage, be most interested in viewing it myself.

  Yours etc

  Arthur Fotheringham

  Earl of Manderforce

  Exhibitions Committee, British Museum

  Dash stared at it, willing the words to change. They stubbornly remained as they were.

  He should have expected it. No matter that the Museum had a stated aim of collecting everything, of furthering scientific knowledge and cultural knowledge, it had always been optimistic of him to believe that they would do anything which might shock society. But he had nurtured hope.

  Well. Now he knew where he stood. He would have to establish an independent exhibition, and storage of the collection, after he had finished cataloguing it. He was not going to give up on it now, after seven years of collecting and careful study, just because the ton’s sensibilities might be offended by the fact that the material in his collection was all related to the history of human eroticism.

  It amused him, in a dark way, that the Museum would happily present the Elgin marbles, with a substantial amount of ‘erotic flesh’ visible, but would not go so far as his collection, simply because he was honest about its contents.

  ~~~~~

  “A letter for you, my Lady.”

  Lady Mariel Angleton looked up from her book. The footman proffered the correspondence tray, and Mariel took the letter from it eagerly.

  Finally! The writing was unmistakable – it was from Selina.

  They must have returned from their wedding trip – a stay of a few weeks at one of their more remote properties.

  Mariel had not realised just how much she relied upon Selina for good conversation at social events, until Selina wasn’t there. She had been friends with Lady Selina Brancourt – now Selina Fortescue, Duchess of Southolton – for many years. They had come out together, this last Season.

  And Selina was the only person who knew the truth of Mariel’s interests and thoughts on men, and society. Mariel had discovered these past weeks, even though it was still winter, and there were few events to attend, that it was difficult to make conversation, when all you could speak of was polite and respectable things. Which were utterly dull. With Selina, she had always discussed the forbidden and scandalous things, the kisses that she had allowed men to steal, the shockingly explicit book that she had found in a dusty old shelf in the darkest part of the family library, the things she had heard whispered about, and could not wait to explore for herself. Ordinary conversation paled by comparison.

  She broke the seal on the letter, and unfolded it. A second folded note fell out, and she let that lie in her lap while she read the main letter.

  My dear Mariel,

  I have so much to tell you! There is no one else who I can speak with about the sort of things that we have always discussed. And, oh my, there is so much to discuss, in that category. Being married is wonderful – the pleasures it brings are even greater than I ever imagined, and possibly than you ever imagined. But I am not going to write down what I want to say…

  Instead, I would like to invite you to stay with us at Fortescue Grange from now until the point when you must go to London for the Season.

  That way, we can talk as much as we wish, about whatever we wish, with no one to disapprove (Alex certainly won’t and his mother has moved to the Dower House).

  Please, do say that you’ll come.

  I have included a short note, as an official invitation – one suitable for you to show your parents, when asking them to allow you to come.

  I simply can’t wait to see you again.

  My best regards

  Selina

  Mariel felt her heart lift at the idea of a month or more spent with Selina and, most importantly, without her parents, or her brother and younger sister.

  Richard was eighteen now, and ostentatiously attempting to show how adult he was, and Jennet was sixteen, and rather painfully determined to learn everything she could from Mariel about society. Jennet was also furious with Mariel, simply because Mariel was ‘out’ and could attend Balls, and Jennet had a whole year more to wait before she might be introduced to society.

  She opened the other folded letter, and found, as Selina had said, a very simple invitation.

  She folded Selina’s main letter, and tucked it into the pocket of her dress, then, with the invitation in hand, she went in search of her parents. She found them in the parlour, her mother embroidering, and her father reading a newspaper. They looked up curiously as she entered – for she rarely sought them out. Blessedly, neither Richard nor Jennet were in the room.

  “Mother, Father, I have a letter from Selina, inviting me to stay with them at Fortescue Grange, from now until the point when we remove to London for the Season.” She held out the note, and her mother took it. “May I go? Please. I have missed Selina, and I know that I would enjoy it.” Her parents looked at each other, and her father gave a tiny shrug – which she had expected, for he generally left decisions about the girls to her mother. Lady Kelsbrook considered her daughter, fixing her with a look which made Mariel’s confidence fail her. Then she spoke.

  “Mariel, you must be prepared for this Season – after all, it will be your second, and you really must attract a husband this time, or you will be labelled a spinster! I would not deny you a visit to your friend… but… if you are to go, everything that you will need for the Season must be prepared and packed before you leave. You should not need too extensive a wardrobe for a stay in the country, so packing everything else ready for the Season should not be difficult.”

  “I can do that, Mother. I will go and start now.”

  “Then you may go to Fortescue Grange. Maintaining your friendship with a Duchess is surely worthwhile, and may even help you find a husband. Although preferably not through a scandal, as Selina found hers!”

  Chapter Two

  The crates seemed never-ending – had he really collected so many items in the last seven years? It appeared that he had. He had opened up the East Wing of the house, which had stood unused for many years, and asked that all of his crates be stored there. His staff had done as asked, each time a shipment arrived whilst he was still away. And now he had to deal with them all.

  He had debated the order of things, and had settled on getting the rooms all cleaned and readied whilst the crates were isolated in one area, before he began the unpacking. That way, he hoped, nothing would be too dirtied by the inevitable dust – he could unpack one crate at a time, and immediately transport its contents from the unpacking room and its dust, to another room in the Wing, where the items might be placed on show, as appropriate.

  That morning, he had wandered about, and made decisions about which room would house which items, and what furniture needed to be moved around.

  Now, with that done, he prepared to start the largest part of the task – the actual uncrating. He had time only to deal with one crate this afternoon, he suspected, for he was expected to dinner at Fortescue Grange at seven. A dinner he was actually looking forward to, at least a little. He had not seen Alex since Italy, and conversation with one of the few people who appreciated his collecting would be welcome. Although… now that Alex was Duke of Southolton, and had married, perhaps conversation would be more limited. One could not generally discuss the things that Dash collected with ladies.

  Still, seeing a friend again would be good.

  He pried the boards from the top of the first crate, and began to sift through the wood shavings that filled it, seeking the cloth wrapped items cradled in the tangle of crisp curling wood. The shavings inevitably crushed under his fingers to some extent, making even more dust. He lifted the first wrapped bundle out – a carved object, from the feel of it.


  Gently, he brushed the dust from the cloth, and unwrapped it. Within, as he had expected, was a carved item – in this case, an ivory godemiche. The work was beautiful, the detail exquisite – it really did look like a man’s member, if, perhaps a little larger than life. Attached to it, tied with string, was a label, noting where he had obtained it, and what he had been able to discover of its provenance. He took it to the clean table on the other side of the room, and set it down, then made a note in his inventory book. So went the afternoon, as he pulled a trove of books, statues, small paintings, and other carved items intended to increase the experience of pleasure from the crate, and unwrapped them. When the table was full, he paused and stretched.

  He then gathered up items in small batches, and took them to the rooms where they would be displayed. For now, he simply settled them on shelves or tables, or in glass fronted cases. But as he did so, his mind was working, imagining how he might best present them, imagining what information about each piece should be displayed with it, and how that information should be displayed, so that a viewer could easily read it.

  Once all of the pieces from that first crate were unpacked and settled in the other rooms, he left the East Wing, locking the door into that part of the house after him. He did not wish to have a maid go in there, intending to dust and polish, only to be utterly scandalised by what she saw. He laughed internally at the incongruity of his thoughts – here he was, setting up a display of scandalous yet fascinating items, considering how best to display them for a viewer, yet at the same time, worrying about letting his staff see them. Well, he would have to deal with that issue eventually – but not today.

  When he stepped into his rooms, Del Monte, the valet who had been with him since he first went to Italy, shook his head sorrowfully.

  “Signore… the dust…”

  “Yes, yes, I know. I do apologise for the work it makes for you – but I can’t avoid it, if I am to unpack everything. Now, let me wash the worst off my skin in a bath, and then you can prepare me for dinner at Fortescue Grange.”