An Heir of Deception (47 page)

Authors: Beverley Kendall

Tags: #Romance, #Historical Romance, #sexy romance, #Victorian romance, #elusive lords

“Penkridge. It’s a tiny village in Staffordshire. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.”

Derek stilled. Not only had he heard of the town but he’d had cause to go there six winters ago. That’s when the past rose up to sully the present. Margaret. That had been the name of the mother. The bank draft had been made out to Mr. Joseph Smith, a local solicitor of meager means and three daughters. He knew only the name of the eldest—the calamity had given him good cause to never forget it—Madeline.

“Her father, what is his occupation?” He strived to keep the urgency from his voice.

The countess shot him a surprised look. She knew him well enough to know he wasn’t the sort to stand on ceremony and was a man who would never judge another by his station in life. “Cousin Joseph is a solicitor. But I don’t believe he retained his practice since he came into the barony.”

For several seconds Derek remained silent, schooling his features as he endeavored not to give any indication of how great an impact what she’d just revealed had on him.

He’d been duped, played for the veriest fool. And the irony did not escape him that he’d been nearly caught in the same trap he’d helped his brother escape years before.

Now the younger sister had him on the hooks and thought to reel him in with the ease of an accomplished fisherman. She told him she’d be ruined if he did not marry her, her family’s name dragged through the gutter that was the
ton’s
gossip mill.

Ruined. For a kiss.

By God, if she was to be ruined, it shouldn’t be over a paltry kiss. No, he’d show her the true meaning of ruin.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Table of Contents

Also by Beverley Kendall

An Heir of Deception