When The Marquess Fell Under Her Spell (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Read online

  When the Marquess Fell Under Her Spell

  A Steamy Regency Romance

  Violet Hamers

  Contents

  A Thank You Gift

  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

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  Preview: Daring Deeds of a Forbidden Duchess

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Also by Violet Hamers

  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 The Duke she Desires. 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,

  Violet Hamers

  About the book

  The ones you trust the most can betray you the worst...

  Amelia Lewis knows better than to get attached to the people she aims to deceive.

  But when she regains consciousness in a Duke’s manor, it becomes difficult to maintain her disguise as Lady Jane Alston once she falls under the amorous spell of a young Marquess.

  Colin Montgomery, the Marquess of Carlefair, wants nothing to do with London or its Season. Until the day he discovers an injured lady on the side of the road and he suddenly has to fight not to succumb to his deepest desires.

  But sometimes, the devil wears a familiar face...

  When a stranger from Amelia’s past returns to collect what he is owed, her worst nightmare becomes reality. She must pay her debt or suffer the consequences. The price? Colin’s life...

  Chapter One

  Amelia could hardly believe what she was seeing. The person staring back at her wasn’t merely just a woman, but a lady, done up in ways that she hadn’t thought possible for herself. It wasn’t just the dress that she wore. It was the style of her hair, the rouge on her cheeks and the brightness of her eyes. She couldn’t tell if it was nervousness or excitement, perhaps both.

  But, oh the dress. The dress was lovely, fancier than anything she’d ever worn before. It was made of silk, the deep-green color that brought out the green of her eyes. She didn’t know how it was possible, but the dress seemed to have brought out every inch of her face—from the splash of faint freckles across her nose, to the slightly sharp cut of her jaw. The curling bangs around her temples only made her even more refined.

  “Yes, you do look lovely,” said the man standing behind her. Ambrose placed his hands on both her shoulders, looking at her in the mirror as if he was looking at his own work of art.

  Well, I am his own work of art. I would have never been able to make myself look as wonderful as this.

  The shock at the sight of her didn’t diminish no matter how long she stared, though Amelia knew she had to snap back into reality soon. She had a plan to carry out. But she couldn’t help falling a little in love with the woman—no, the lady—she saw in the mirror.

  “All right, enough.” Without warning, he whirled her to face him, keeping his hands firmly on her shoulders. She wondered if he knew how nervous she was, if he was trying to hold her there to keep from running.

  She wouldn’t have run though. She needed this as much as he did, perhaps more. So, she casted the spell of her new look aside in an effort to focus.

  The man standing before her with the ruthless eyes was a man she feared and respected all at the same time. She never knew what to think with him, knowing that he was capable of anything. Around five years ago, he had taken her in off the streets and nursed her back to health after she had nearly died from a terrible fever in the slums of London. He had been by her side ever since that moment.

  But not once throughout those five years did Amelia feel any warmth from this man. She was grateful to him for helping her, for teaching her how to fend for herself and swindle men for money. It wasn’t the most ethical way of taking care of herself, but it was the only way she knew now, thanks to Ambrose Finch.

  And now, apparently, she had a big job ahead of her.

  “There will be many people swarming London for this year’s Season so it’s the best time to strike,” he said, letting his hands fall. “All the families trying to find partners for their daughters will fill our pockets by the time we’re done with them. Especially since the gentleman’s clubs will be fuller than usual.”

  “I’m sure it’ll all go as flawlessly as it did the last times I did it,” she said to him, grateful for the fact that her voice was strong. She didn’t want him thinking that she was becoming a coward. On the contrary, she couldn’t wait to get started. She just wasn’t entirely confident in herself to pull this off, no matter how much instruction she had gotten from Ambrose.

  “It had better,” he said, stalking away from her. He did that often when he was growing excited about something. “I’ve paid two henchmen to rob a Duke of his carriage, so everything is in order for the plan. All you have to do is what we practiced.”

  Amelia nodded, turning back to the mirror. With a slightly shaking hand, she resumed applying the rouge to her lips, thinking back on the last times she had done this.

  I’ve done this many times before. I’m sure I’ll be able to do it again.

  Still, her nerves did not go away and she prayed that Ambrose didn’t notice. This was something she was fast growing used to—this swindling. She had been taught by Ambrose how to act and speak like a lady and now she was dressing like one. She should be able to pull this off as flawlessly as she had the other times.

  But in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help thinking of the sliver of chance that something would go wrong. She might say the wrong thing. She might underestimate the gentleman she was trying to rob and find herself in a load of trouble. Bit by bit, the many different ways things could go wrong began filtering into her mind and she had to pause for a moment to come back to reality.

  She was very much aware of Ambrose pacing behind her, muttering to himself. He was sorting out pieces of the plan that didn’t include her and she didn’t try to listen to him. For now, she needed to focus on her own role, successfully tricking gentlemen out of their money.

  It was a simple plan, usually. She would get dressed up like a lady from the clothes found in Ambrose’s stolen carriages and wait outside gentleman’s clubs for a gentleman to come by. As soon as sh
e spotted a possible victim, she would begin crying, which would only draw their attention to her.

  Pity was what she needed from them and seeing that Ambrose was always telling her that her looks would help them greatly, she supposed that did something as well. She wasn’t quite sure what combination of things—whether it was the crying or her beauty—that made them so willing to give her money to help her, and she didn’t care to find out. After multiple successful attempts, she was sure she could do it again.

  So why am I so on edge?

  Perhaps it had something to do with the way Ambrose was acting. He looked even more restless than usual and she wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that it was the beginning of the London Season.

  “Ambrose,” she called to him, trying to steady her hand as she applied the rouge. “What of my share of the money? When will I receive it?”

  “I’ve told you already, Amelia,” he said, gently. “At the end of the month I will share half of all the earnings with you. There’s no need to keep asking.”

  She couldn’t help herself. After all the stress and anxiety she went through trying to pull these deceptions off, she merely wanted to ensure that she would see the result of it. She trusted Ambrose’s word, however, so she nodded.

  Now that she was finished, she looked at herself once again. The stolen dresses from those carriages were nothing compared to what she wore now. She’d never actually felt like a lady until now, until she was looking at the person she needed to be.

  I’m no longer Amelia Lewis. I am Lady Jane Alston, daughter of the Earl of Shepherd.

  I have to succeed.

  Chapter Two

  The Marquess of Carlefair was having mixed feelings about being in London. On the one hand, he wanted to support his younger sister, Sarah, during her debut this Season. But on the other hand, he’d much rather be in the countryside where he wouldn’t be forced to be around such constant entertainments covering the main aim of finding the best partner.

  As the carriage shook along the unpaved roads leading toward London, he guessed he would arrive at nighttime, hours after his family had already arrived. He could picture the London streets already. The busy streets and the golden shower of streetlamps along the roads he hoped would lighten his mood instead of souring it. It was another thing Colin was already looking forward to.

  He didn’t want to think about what awaited him at the Delmond Manor. His lovely sister, yes, but his stifling parents were one thing he wished he could stay away from, if for a little while longer. He had grown tired of hearing his father’s burdensome sighs and his mother’s snide words.

  They were expecting him to arrive within a few days, but he had decided to come much earlier, hoping to surprise Sarah. She would be delighted when she saw him and he hoped he would arrive in time to at least have dinner with them. That, he was sure, he would be able to deal with for now.

  Picturing Sarah’s happy smile when she saw him was enough to keep him from turning around and waiting those additional days. He loved his sister dearly. But not only because she was his kin, but because he didn’t know any other human with such a wonderful heart and the innate ability to make anyone they came in contact with feel better. Colin believed she deserved the very best, which was why he was here showing his support during her debut.

  He wasn’t worried about her this Season however. Sarah could charm anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. What worried him was his mother’s influence. He had been subjected to her insistence when he was younger, and he was hoping to act as somewhat of a buffer between her and Sarah.

  He sighed once more. He had set out for London a few hours prior so he believed they should be arriving at Delmond Manor about now. For these few hours alone, he wanted to relax, to prepare himself for this hopefully peaceful London Season.

  Chapter Three

  The Duchess of Delmond was in a hopeful mood, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. It was in the London air, filling the streets with its wonderful smell as her carriage finally pulled up to their manor.

  “Ah, it feels wonderful to be back here,” her husband, the Duke of Delmond, said next to her. “Don’t you think so, Letitia?”

  She nodded absentmindedly, not bothering to look at him. As expected, he sighed just as the door was opened. Letitia didn’t care in the slightest. She wasn’t here to enjoy herself and she didn’t particularly care if her husband was happy to be here or not. She had other things on her mind, bigger things.

  The coachman stepped to the side, allowing her to exit the carriage. Servants hurried up to gather their things, a few of them standing to the side in greeting. Letitia paid them no mind either.

  Instead, her gaze came to rest on the subject of her thoughts, the reason they were in London for the Season in the first place. Her daughter, Lady Sarah, would be coming out this Season and it all had to go perfectly.

  “Mother, aren’t you excited?” Lady Sarah gasped to her, pushing her arm into Letitia’s. Letitia allowed it. “We’re finally here!”

  “Don’t get too excited, Sarah,” Letitia told her as they made their way up to the front entrance. Somewhere behind her was the Duke, but Letitia didn’t bother to turn around. “This isn’t a time for play. You are here to find a suitable husband for your future.”

  “Oh, I know, Mother,” Lady Sarah said in that impossibly fine voice of hers. She always sounded a little breathless, as if she was whispering. It annoyed Letitia. “But there is no reason not to enjoy ourselves while we’re here, don’t you think? Do you fancy going to the Opera House?”

  “Sarah,” Letitia warned and Lady Sarah sagged. She should know better than to bother her about such nonsense.

  Lady Sarah didn’t stay down for very long. As soon as they were in the foyer, and her lady’s maid was by her side, she gave her mother a bright grin. “I’m going to the gardens,” she announced excitedly. “Perhaps the summer blooms there will inspire my next painting.”

  She didn’t wait for a response. She flounced away excitedly. Her blond hair bounced around her shoulders in her exit and even when she was gone, Letitia could hear her excited laughter echoing down the hall.

  She sighed. “She needs to get her head on her shoulders,” she said aloud.

  Edward appeared behind her. Letitia didn’t turn to look at him, only made her way to his study because she knew that he would follow. Sure enough, by the time she was standing by the window, he came through the door with a sullen look.

  “She’s still young, Letitia,” he said, making his way over to the bar. She wasn’t surprised by that. He always seemed to need a drink whenever he had to speak to her. “She’s expected to be excited about her first Season.”

  “We have no time for excitement,” Letitia said. She folded her hands before her, waiting for him to take his first sip of his neat whiskey. He was still a handsome man in his age, his dark brown hair streaked with grey and his tall build unburdened by his years.

  “Her debut ball won’t be for a few days. Let her enjoy herself until then.”

  “And when the time comes and she isn’t ready to seduce the right gentleman, what then?”

  He looked at her as if he couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. Letitia stared back unwaveringly. After a short moment, he only shook his head and said, “You’re overthinking this.”

  “And you’re not thinking about this enough. But, fine, I won’t speak on it any longer. I’d like to talk about Colin instead.”

  “And what of him?”

  She chose her words carefully. After being married to the Duke for so long, she could read him and knew how to twist her words to get the best response from him. He loved his children equally and while Letitia desperately wanted to see Colin find a match, the Duke didn’t seem to care all that much. Letitia had a sneaking suspicion that it didn’t matter to him if Colin got married at all, which she would never allow to happen.

  But her eldest son didn’t seem interested in the
matter either. In fact, he seemed to be opposed to the idea of marrying.

  “I think I’ve found a good match for him. The daughter of the Duke of Lemquet. She will be attending this year’s Season, according to what I’ve heard from the ton.”

  “Perhaps it would be better if you were speaking to Colin about this directly when he comes to London in a matter of days.”