Chapter 1
London 1815
Gareth perused the room and shook his head. He was destined to be disappointed again. At five and thirty, he had promised himself he would find a bride this Season. Yet no one suited him. As a wealthy Earl, he needed neither a dowry nor high connections in a wife. She needed to be a lady of good breeding of course, but he longed for so much more than that.
He wanted beauty, he wanted intelligence, and above all else he wanted a woman who could please him in bed – and that was not an easy task.
He sighed and walked away from the ballroom. Ladies whispered as he stalked past and Gareth’s breeding demanded he acknowledge them with a small nod. He wished he could publicly denounce them for the invasion.
“What I want is impossible.”
Placing both hands on the marble balustrade, he hung his head.
A woman’s voice whispered behind him. “Nothing is impossible, my lord.”
A flush of blood stained his cheeks when he realized the lady was responding to what he had said. A very private thought that he had voiced aloud.
His cock stirred at the tone of her voice, but his social armor slipped into place. He was an eligible bachelor and alone on the balcony at a social engagement. He had to be careful with whom he was seen with and spoke to.
“Good evening, my lady.” Gareth bowed and scanned the shadows from whence the voice came.
He was in the market for a wife but he was not averse to obtaining a mistress as well. He hadn’t had a permanent one in a while and if he couldn’t find what he needed in a long-term commitment, then a mistress would suffice.
Out of the shadows stepped a spectacular woman in pink silk. Her black hair was gently coiffed and her neckline was more daring than most. Even so, Gareth could see the breeding, and smell the refinement in her.
“Excuse my rudeness, my lord, but I could not stop myself from responding to such words.”
The woman curtsied without introducing herself, and fluttered her fan over her bosom.
Gareth’s eyes unerringly swung to her décolletage, where her ample charms were lushly displayed. His body stirred at the sight of her soft breasts swelling out of her dress. He truly loved a woman with more flesh than less.
He bit the inside on his cheek, tasting blood and groaning as the pain aroused him further. He had never understood that about himself.
“Are you hurt?” the lady inquired with a quizzical brow.
Gareth shrugged, unable to move forward lest his erection become more obvious.
“I am very well, thank you, my lady. I have not yet introduced myself, yet you seem to know who I am?”
The woman laughed and circled him. His back straightened in wariness as she moved around him. He wasn’t used to being looked at with such blatant regard, completely forsaking the rules of society, and he was discovering that he didn’t like it.
“If you would excuse me.” Gareth bowed again and turned to leave the company of the woman who was both intriguing and insulting. Her presence was exciting him far too much and he wasn’t sure exactly why. It was unacceptable to feel this way whilst at a ton ball.
“I will not excuse you, Gareth. Come back.”
The soft words had steel behind them and he walked straight back to her. He was drawn like a moth to a flame.
“I am Lady Eleanor Rossette. My husband was the late Baron of Vartone and I have come to London specifically to make a new match.”
His eyebrows lifted, shocked by both her approach to him and by her speech.
He had heard of the Baron and known he had died, but Gareth had not realized the man had left behind such a widow. Why hadn’t anyone told him a woman like her was available?
But then, when had he been looking at anything other than eighteen-year-old virgins? No wonder he didn’t want one of them when this was the sort of woman that aroused him in such a manner.
She was beautiful and she was strong. He wanted that.
“You wish for a husband, Lady Rosette? What attributes do
London 1815
Gareth perused the room and shook his head. He was destined to be disappointed again. At five and thirty, he had promised himself he would find a bride this Season. Yet no one suited him. As a wealthy Earl, he needed neither a dowry nor high connections in a wife. She needed to be a lady of good breeding of course, but he longed for so much more than that.
He wanted beauty, he wanted intelligence, and above all else he wanted a woman who could please him in bed – and that was not an easy task.
He sighed and walked away from the ballroom. Ladies whispered as he stalked past and Gareth’s breeding demanded he acknowledge them with a small nod. He wished he could publicly denounce them for the invasion.
“What I want is impossible.”
Placing both hands on the marble balustrade, he hung his head.
A woman’s voice whispered behind him. “Nothing is impossible, my lord.”
A flush of blood stained his cheeks when he realized the lady was responding to what he had said. A very private thought that he had voiced aloud.
His cock stirred at the tone of her voice, but his social armor slipped into place. He was an eligible bachelor and alone on the balcony at a social engagement. He had to be careful with whom he was seen with and spoke to.
“Good evening, my lady.” Gareth bowed and scanned the shadows from whence the voice came.
He was in the market for a wife but he was not averse to obtaining a mistress as well. He hadn’t had a permanent one in a while and if he couldn’t find what he needed in a long-term commitment, then a mistress would suffice.
Out of the shadows stepped a spectacular woman in pink silk. Her black hair was gently coiffed and her neckline was more daring than most. Even so, Gareth could see the breeding, and smell the refinement in her.
“Excuse my rudeness, my lord, but I could not stop myself from responding to such words.”
The woman curtsied without introducing herself, and fluttered her fan over her bosom.
Gareth’s eyes unerringly swung to her décolletage, where her ample charms were lushly displayed. His body stirred at the sight of her soft breasts swelling out of her dress. He truly loved a woman with more flesh than less.
He bit the inside on his cheek, tasting blood and groaning as the pain aroused him further. He had never understood that about himself.
“Are you hurt?” the lady inquired with a quizzical brow.
Gareth shrugged, unable to move forward lest his erection become more obvious.
“I am very well, thank you, my lady. I have not yet introduced myself, yet you seem to know who I am?”
The woman laughed and circled him. His back straightened in wariness as she moved around him. He wasn’t used to being looked at with such blatant regard, completely forsaking the rules of society, and he was discovering that he didn’t like it.
“If you would excuse me.” Gareth bowed again and turned to leave the company of the woman who was both intriguing and insulting. Her presence was exciting him far too much and he wasn’t sure exactly why. It was unacceptable to feel this way whilst at a ton ball.
“I will not excuse you, Gareth. Come back.”
The soft words had steel behind them and he walked straight back to her. He was drawn like a moth to a flame.
“I am Lady Eleanor Rossette. My husband was the late Baron of Vartone and I have come to London specifically to make a new match.”
His eyebrows lifted, shocked by both her approach to him and by her speech.
He had heard of the Baron and known he had died, but Gareth had not realized the man had left behind such a widow. Why hadn’t anyone told him a woman like her was available?
But then, when had he been looking at anything other than eighteen-year-old virgins? No wonder he didn’t want one of them when this was the sort of woman that aroused him in such a manner.
She was beautiful and she was strong. He wanted that.
“You wish for a husband, Lady Rosette? What attributes do
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