HIS LORDSHIP'S INCORRIGIBLE WIFE (Perilous Secrets, Book 2)
She must never reveal her perilous
secret. He cannot trust her unless she does.
While hiding evidence of her father’s treason,
Delphie Ballard is accosted by a persistent suitor who won’t take no for an
answer. She fends him off, but her reputation is now in ruins, and she flees to
the countryside in disgrace.
Charles, Lord Kingsdown, supported the French
Revolution but barely escaped the guillotine. In England now, he must marry
quickly or lose his grandmother’s estate. When he meets Delphie at a Christmas celebration,
it’s love at first sight.
Then Charles learns about Delphie’s
reputation. He feels duped and betrayed, but she can’t tell him the truth
without revealing her father’s treason. Meanwhile, there are several attempts
on Charles’ life. Can Delphie and Charles learn to trust one another and unmask
the real traitor before it’s too late?
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And here's a wee excerpt:
It is Delphie’s
wedding day, and she has received an anonymous letter threatening her with
disgrace and worse if she marries Lord Kingsdown. Delphie’s mother is sure it’s
from one of Kingsdown’s jealous mistresses, so they must ignore it. But what if
the letter writer plans to reveal the horrid gossip about Delphie’s reputation?
“What if she means to
tell him the gossip about me?” Delphie asked.
“It doesn’t matter,”
Mother said. “He will find out soon enough, but he cannot in honor withdraw
from the marriage now.”
Delphie cringed at
this cold-blooded attitude. It did
matter, whatever Mother said. If only she could go to him and confess. No, not confess. She had done nothing wrong. But
if she could at least explain herself, she wouldn’t feel so . . . underhanded.
So deceitful.
But she wasn’t. She wasn’t a deceitful person at
all.
“Not that one can
count on any man to be honorable, but in only a few hours you will be married,
and he will be securely caught.” Mother smoothed the rose and cream wedding gown
lying across the bed. “As for Kingsdown’s mistresses, you must accept them as a
fact of life, but act as if they do not exist.”
In other words, as well as appearing immoral and deceitful, you must
pretend you are an ignorant fool.
“It’s not right!” Delphie
cried. “It’s not fair!”
Mother rounded on her,
hissing. “Right and fair are irrelevant. It is necessary!”
“Husbands and wives
should be faithful to one another.” Delphie clenched her fists, digging her
nails into her palms. “They should be honest and truthful and—”
“Forget these romantic
notions, Delphinium. Soon enough, your husband will stray, and so, inevitably,
will you.” She jabbed a finger at Delphie. “But you will stray discreetly, as befits your station in
life, after you have given your husband an heir.”
Delphie shuddered.
Mother didn’t seem to
notice. She raised her voice. “Nan, come immediately! You must dress Miss
Delphie’s hair, or we shall be late.”
She lowered her voice
again and took Delphie by the shoulders. “Because you did not have the sense to
hold your tongue, you made yourself a byword and ruined your chances for
marriage. You will grasp this heaven-sent opportunity for my sake and your
sister’s, if not for your own.”
In other words, humiliation is a woman’s lot, and you have no choice
but to accept it.
“Look at me,” Mother
demanded.
Delphie gritted her
teeth and obeyed.
“Rid yourself of that
mulish expression,” Mother said. “Listen to what I say. You were brought up a
lady. Regardless of what Kingsdown may say or do, you will hold your head high
and treat him with becoming respect. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“You will confine your
speech to what is appropriate, and remain calm and aloof when faced with the
disagreeable aspects of married life.”
“Yes, Mother.
“And you will renounce
all wayward thoughts and opinions forever.”
Everything inside
Delphie railed against such a fate.
“Answer me,
Delphinium,” Mother said, but fortunately Nan came into the room.
No, Delphie thought, as Mother pushed her into the chair before the
dressing table. Never, she decided as
Nan got to work on her hair. I will not
cease to be me.
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