Have Yourself a Merry Little Scandal: a Christmas collection of Historical Romance (Have Yourself a Merry Little... Book 1) Read online

  Copyright

  All the stories within the ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Scandal’ anthology are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. With the exception of well-known historical figures and places, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, now known or hereafter invented, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the applicable author, except for the use of brief quotations in a critical article or book review.

  The license granted herein is to read this ebook for entertainment or literary criticism purposes only. Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, any use of this work for machine learning or artificial intelligence training purposes is not included under the license and is expressly prohibited.

  Copyright © 2020

  Full copyright remains with the author.

  Cover Design by Victoria Cooper

  The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, or distribution of this book without explicit written permission is theft of intellectual property. Thank you for your support of our authorial rights.

  Being an international collection, you’ll find both American and British conventions for spelling and punctuation in this edition. No error is intended. Each author has written according to their preferred (and usual) style.

  Copyright applies to the following stories:

  Rogue for Hire - by Sasha Cottman

  The Highlander's Christmas Lassie - by Anna Campbell

  The Christmas Rose - by Emma V. Leech

  The Lady's Guide to Scandal - by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

  The Courtship Caper - by Beverley Oakley

  A Scandalous Secret - by Laura Trentham

  Fate Gave Me a Duke - by Amanda Mariel

  Duncan's Christmas - by Ellie St. Clair

  Bedeviled: A Russian Pursuit - by Elsa Holland

  At the Mistletoe Masquerade - by Dayna Quince

  The Christmas Courtesan - by Victoria Vale

  A Scandal Before Christmas - by April Moran

  Her Virgin Duke - by Nicola Davidson

  Contents

  Your Invitation

  Foreword

  Our Gorgeous Novellas

  Rogue for Hire

  The Highlander's Christmas Lassie

  The Christmas Rose

  The Lady’s Guide to Scandal

  Fate Gave Me a Duke

  The Courtship Caper

  Duncan’s Christmas

  Bedeviled : A Russian Pursuit

  At the Mistletoe Masquerade

  A Scandal Before Christmas

  Her Virgin Duke

  A Scandalous Secret

  The Christmas Courtesan

  Your Invitation

  Reviews

  Your Invitation

  Love steamy historical romance?

  Come and join the Historical Harlots reader group.

  Behind the scenes chat with your favourite authors, exclusive giveaways and secret snippets, early eyes on new releases and sales, and lots of fun!

  We’d love for you to join us.

  Click HERE to find out more.

  And… our Harlots authors have another irresistible Christmas historical romance collection for you to download, brimming with SECRETS!

  From the seductive boudoirs and elite salons of London to the ancient castles of the snowy Scottish Highlands, our fearless heroines enter the Christmas season in pursuit of their heart's desire.

  But, the course of true love never did run smooth... especially when SECRETS abound.

  Tales of intrigue, romantic adventure, sizzling passion, and heartwarming holiday romance.

  Unwrap the pleasure...

  Wedding Her Christmas Duke - by Collette Cameron

  The Knot of a Knight - by Linda Rae Sande

  The Marquess is Mine - by Tamara Gill

  A Yuletide Miracle - by Laurel O'Donnell

  The Lady Who Stole Christmas - by Sydney Jane Baily

  Christmas with a Czar - by Emily E.K. Murdoch

  A Scot Most Wanted - by Angelique Armae

  Secretly Marvellous - by Virginia Taylor

  Yuletide Secrets - by S. Cinders

  One Scandalous Christmas - by J. Burrelli

  The Rogue's Secret - by Stacy Reid and Giselle Marks

  The Secrets He Keeps - by Amy Sandas

  Ready to be whisked to the snowy wilderness of the Highlands, where passion burns through the winter nights?

  Don’t miss out on this gorgeous collection from more of our Harlots authors.

  Click on the cover to explore…

  Dear Reader

  Welcome to our Yuletide collection of gorgeous tales. Here, you'll find intrigue, secrets, romance—and lashings of scandalous behavior.

  The characters in our stories battle many of the same challenges we do today—striving for independence and self-determination. Bound by the rules and restraints of their era, they crave something more: True love. Adventure. Grand passion.

  You’ll find at least one smoulderingly steamy scene in every story, because we believe our desire for physical connection is as strong as our desire for love.

  We hope this anthology inspires you and provides welcome escape and entertainment. While you’re cheering for our heroes and heroines, we want you to cheer for yourself. Like the women and men in these tales, you’re stronger than you may realize, more resourceful and more determined.

  As for happy endings, we need to believe there is hope for everyone, and the chance to embrace a life of love and friendship.

  With warmest wishes

  From the snowbound Scottish Highlands to the glittering ballrooms of London, our fearless heroines enter the Christmas season in pursuit of their heart's desire.

  But, the course of true love never did run smooth... especially when SCANDAL is afoot.

  Happy Christmas!

  We hope you enjoy unwrapping these gorgeous novellas.

  Our authors, hailing from all over the world, are thrilled to have come together to create this sumptuous set of heartwarming historical romances.

  Browse the teasers below, to help you choose where to begin.

  Rogue for Hire

  by Sasha Cottman

  When society peacock Lord Harry Steele is thrown out of home on Christmas Eve, he not only misses out on a sumptuous Christmas dinner, but he is forced to quickly find a way to make money. He hits upon a brilliant idea. Instead of creating scandals, he will get paid to manage them.

  A desperate Alice North seeks Harry’s help to rid her of a fortune hunting scoundrel.

  In Harry she discovers a handsome, yet complex man, who sets her blood on fire.

  Harry in turn is drawn to Alice. A steamy secret affair ignites between them.

  But, will Alice’s heart be the ultimate price she has to pay for engaging the services of a Rogue for Hire?

  The Highlander's Christmas Lassie

  by Anna Campbell

  Young love torn apart. A chance to mend two shat
tered lives.

  After years of desperate searching, Malcolm Innes, Laird of Dun Carron, has finally found his beloved Rhona and the son they had together. But their reunion is far from what he expected. Can the magic of Christmas provide the faithful laird and his spirited darling with their long-delayed happy ending?

  The Christmas Rose

  by Emma V. Leech

  Darkly handsome Ludo – universally known as Lascivious Lord Courtney – is the wickedest rake in Christendom. With a reputation that makes nice young ladies swoon, he is just not the marrying kind.

  Unwitting wallflower Felicity Bunting is only trying to protect a friend when she finds herself in a compromising situation with this lusty lord. She might not have meant to do it, but Bunty just accidentally trapped Lord Courtney into marriage.

  Neither of them is what the other ever expected to have, but perhaps they might be all they ever wanted.

  The Lady's Guide to Scandal

  by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

  Newly returned from exploring the jungles of Mexico, Ethan Burnell is exactly the sort of 'dangerous man' Cornelia Mortmain has sworn off. With her name already mired in scandal, posing as his fiancée can only spell trouble--or make her so notorious she'll become irresistible. The game is on!

  Fate Gave Me a Duke

  by Amanda Mariel

  Christmas brings unforeseen complications for the Duke of Cleburne and Lady Juliet Gale.

  The Duke of Cleburne, Giles Fortescue, has spent years perfecting his status as a rogue. When he arrives in the library for a tryst and mistakes one lady for another, all of his hard work crumbles. Now he faces the parson’s noose.

  When a devilishly good looking lord kissed Lady Juliet Gale, she knew she should stop him. She certainly should not have wrapped her legs around his waist. But nothing so exciting had ever happened to her before. Now she will pay for her transgression.

  Will they give in to fate, or fight against it?

  The Courtship Caper

  by Beverley Oakley

  Widowed Sebastian Wells has spent a year searching tirelessly for the girl he was forced to give up after honor required him to wed another. When he discovers Venetia working as a lowly companion to the exacting Dowager Duchess Lady Indigo at a Christmas house party he’s attending, their secret rendezvous turns scorching.

  But Sebastian’s hostesses, the scandalous Brightwell sisters, have paired him up with a lively, golden-haired debutante they believe will be his perfect match. And this young lady is determined to make everyone believe the lie.

  Will honor once again compel Sebastian to act against the desires of his heart?

  Duncan's Christmas

  by Ellie St. Clair

  Duncan McDougall is on a mission to reclaim his betrothed and leave London before the beginning of the blasted English Christmas. Though the woman he captures that freezing winter night is not the woman he intended to nab, she just may be the one intended for him.

  Bedeviled: A Russian Pursuit

  by Elsa Holland

  The Petroski brothers arrived in London setting it alight with their breathtaking presence, bone melting accents and heart fluttering masculinity. Two Russian princes with a plan of deception to restore their family’s honor.

  It would become the season's most intriguing scandal. A charade that duped London. A Betrothal everyone had forgotten. And the beautiful widow, Lady Seraphina Seymour dangerously caught in the smoldering allure that was Prince Ilya Petroski.

  At the Mistletoe Masquerade

  by Dayna Quince

  Scandal is in the air at the Mistletoe Masquerade. Lady Cassandra only has one chance to convince the rogue of her dreams, Lord Sidney Anthem, Viscount Reardon, she’s more than just his best friend’s little sister.

  She’s crafted an elaborate plan to meet him in private, but will a kiss under the mistletoe and a bit of Christmas magic make her dream come true or will her first kiss lead to her ruin?

  A Scandal Before Christmas

  by April Moran

  Lady Lauren Kendall is positive she’ll never marry. Being betrayed by the man you love hardens a woman’s heart. But forgetting her wicked fiancé is not that easy. Especially when his kisses are hot enough to melt the winter snow.

  Theodore Hawthorne cannot forget the woman who should have been his wife. Forced together at a country house Christmas party, the fire between them is clearly undiminished. Determined to win Lauren back, Theodore sets a course of tender seduction.

  One thing is certain. By the stroke of midnight on Christmas Day, there will either be a scandal to resolve or a wedding to celebrate.

  Her Virgin Duke

  by Nicola Davidson

  Nicknamed Humdrum Tun by society, Bennett Innsworth, Duke of Tunbury is stuffy, awkward, and alas, still a virgin. The festive season is looking bleak—until he loses a wager and must spend an evening at London’s most hedonistic pleasure club.

  Delilah Forbes has long reigned as the city’s Mistress of Sin, and when the infamous duke visits her club, she’s soon eager to introduce him to sizzling passion.

  But even as lust becomes more for two lonely souls, they know a duke and a madam can’t have forever after. Or can they?

  A Scandalous Secret

  by Laura Trentham

  As the daughter of England’s spymaster, Miss Victoria Hawkins is no stranger to secrets. Her biggest secret is the tender feelings she holds for Thomas Garrick, her father’s personal guard. As the pressure to choose a husband at an upcoming Christmas house party mounts, Victoria grows desperate. When circumstances trap them together in a cottage with a single bed and a bottle of brandy, her infatuation with the gruff Garrick might cause the scandal of the season…and give Victoria exactly what she wishes for this Christmas.

  A secret passion is revealed when a spymaster’s daughter and the man pledged to protect her are forced to shelter for the night in a cottage—with one bed.

  The Christmas Courtesan

  by Victoria Vale

  Widowed Lady Miranda Hughes wants to indulge in something wicked—something she might never have dared to do as a young, unwed debutante. The rumors of male courtesans operating secretly in London have piqued her interest, so she hires one for an illicit rendezvous during a Christmas house party. Roger Thornton’s desperation to provide a dowry for his sister pushes him to moonlight as a secret courtesan.

  What begins as a convenient affair blossoms into more as Roger and Miranda find in one another the things they have been missing. But, will a scandalous discovery ruin their chances for a happy future?

  Rogue for Hire

  by Sasha Cottman

  Prologue

  Lord Harry Steele hauled his trunk into the stable yard of the coaching company, and with a tired sigh, dumped it against the nearest wall. He had managed to get it this far without breaking his back, but every muscle in his body was screaming—not to mention the sweat and stench of stale booze which oozed from his every pore.

  His coat was dirty and torn. The whereabouts of his best hat a mystery for the ages. He looked more like a rag-and-bone man than the son of the Duke of Redditch.

  Why do dukes have to be so bloody stubborn? He could have at least offered me the use of the coach.

  Slowly catching his breath, he took the time to survey his surroundings. The view pained his already disappointed heart. Grimy, dull, grey brick walls rose on all sides of the square. The only coach in the yard had two wheels missing and looked like it had seen better days. There was a noticeable lack of clean hay and stable staff. If the place had once been well-maintained, it wasn’t any time this century.

  Please lord, don’t let this be where the last of my pennies have gone.

  Harry pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and checked the address.

  82 Gracechurch Street, London

  He sighed. Miracles were definitely in short supply this morning.

  A quick check of the stables revealed three horses, but again, no hay or stab
le hands. The only positive thing was that the mounts meant that some of his fellow RR Coaching Company investors had arrived.

  “Well, I hope one of them has deep pockets, because this is going to be a black hole of money,” he muttered.

  He made his way out to the yard once more, regretting yet again his decision to give the whisky a serious nudge the previous evening. It was bad enough to be penniless and homeless; a hangover just added insult to injury.

  “Harry, get your useless arse upstairs. We are waiting for you,” cried a voice.

  Lifting his head, his gaze settled on a tall figure at the top of a nearby set of wooden steps. He gave a tired wave. Lord Andrew McNeal, the Duke of Monsale; stood with hands on hips glaring at him from his lofty perch.

  “Coming,” said Harry, and he headed toward the stairs. When his tired legs finally got him to the landing, Harry offered a bow. “Your grace.”

  Monsale sniffed, then pointed at Harry’s trunk abandoned in the yard. “I take it the old man made good on his threat.”