Christmas in the Duke's Embrace Read online

  Christmas in the Duke’s Embrace

  Amanda Mariel

  Contents

  Also by Amanda Mariel

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Excerpt

  Chapter 1

  Excerpt

  Chapter 1

  Afterword

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  * * *

  Copyright © 2018 Amanda Mariel

  All rights reserved.

  * * *

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

  * * *

  Published by Brook Ridge Press

  For all of us who believe in the magic of the holiday season. May your hearts be warmed and your holidays magical.

  Ladies and Scoundrels series

  Scandalous Endeavors

  Scandalous Intentions

  Scandalous Redemption

  Scandalous Wallflower

  Scandalous Liaison

  * * *

  Fabled Love Series

  Enchanted by the Earl

  Captivated by the Captain

  Enticed by Lady Elianna

  Delighted by the Duke

  * * *

  Lady Archer’s Creed series

  **Amanda Mariel writing with Christina McKnight**

  Theodora

  Georgina

  Adeline

  Josephine

  Lady Archer’s Creed boxset

  * * *

  Scandal Meets Love series

  Love Only Me

  Find Me Love

  Coming soon to the Scandal Meets Love series

  If it’s Love

  * * *

  A Rogue’s Kiss Series

  Her Perfect Rogue

  Coming next to the A Rogue’s Kiss series

  Her Perfect Scoundrel

  His Perfect Hellion

  * * *

  Standalone titles

  Love’s Legacy

  One Moonlit Tryst

  One Enchanting Kiss

  Christmas in the Duke’s Embrace

  * * *

  Wicked Earls’ Club

  **Titles by Amanda Mariel**

  Earl of Grayson

  Coming next to the Wicked Earls’ Club

  Earl of Edgemore

  * * *

  Connected by a Kiss

  **These are designed so they can standalone**

  How to Kiss a Rogue (Amanda Mariel)

  A Kiss at Christmastide (Christina McKnight)

  A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss (Dawn Brower)

  Stealing a Rogue’s Kiss (Amanda Mariel)

  A Gypsy’s Christmas kiss (Dawn Brower)

  A Duke’s Christmas Kiss (Tammy Andresen)

  Prologue

  Dorset England, 1812

  Lady Marina Ellis took a cautious step toward her father’s desk being careful to keep her eyes downcast though her head was high. He’d not summonsed her here for a warm chat. No, quite the opposite in fact. As it turned out, she’d created a colossal mess of things and he no doubt intended to make her pay for her transgressions.

  She swallowed past the tightness in her throat as she drew nearer. She could not—would not—allow her nerves or regret to show past her carefully steeled exterior, for if she did, Father would destroy any dignity she still possessed. Drawing on every ounce of courage she possessed, Marina met his heated gaze. “Father.”

  He narrowed his storm-filled green eyes, anger creasing his forehead and wrinkling the bridge of his nose as he glared at her. “Sit.”

  She lowered herself into the high back chair across from father’s desk and folded her hands in her lap. Marina glanced at her mother standing off to the side of the office. Anger did not skew her features as it did fathers. Instead, a far worse emotion marred her tender face—grief. Marina’s heart squeezed at the knowledge she’d caused every bit of her mother’s sadness. She’d not thought of how her reckless actions might affect her family. A lapse in judgment she’d not make again.

  Regret filled her, as did fear, but she had no-one other than herself to blame. Whatever the outcome of this meeting, she’d have to carry on and make the best of the situation.

  Marina fought the urge to wiggle in her seat. She reminded herself to show no weakness for father would only feed on it. Banfeld had used her weakness, her naivety and trust, against her. Perhaps all men behaved in such a way. Was it possible that while ladies learned needlepoint, men learned how to manipulate? Heavens, she hoped not, though it certainly seemed that way.

  “Look at me, girl,” Father said.

  His low dangerous tone sent a shiver down her spine. Marina met his peering stare and forced her posture to remind strong.

  She’d been foolish and careless to fall into Lord Banfeld’s trap. Nonetheless, she had and now she would pay dearly for her transgressions. Based on the way father was glaring at her, she’d wager the price to be higher than she’d ever imagined. A trickle of dread caused goose-bumps to spread over her flesh.

  He would show her no mercy.

  It mattered not that Lord Banfeld had swept her off her feet with his sweet words and promises of marriage. Nor did it make any difference that he’d insisted they need not wait to couple. Marina had been the bird-wit that chose to get beneath the proverbial sheets with him. He’d not forced her. He had no need too. After all, they were to be wed and she’d thought them to be very much in love. What reason did she have to deny their passion?

  He’d given her no cause to deny them, for he’d promised to offer for her the moment he had his future secured. Not more than a few months time, and if she should find herself with child before he was ready, he’d offer straight away. His future be damned, for nothing was more important than his love for her. In retrospect, she should have asked what there was to secure. He was a lord, his future laid out for him. She should have known he was toying with her. But why?

  That was one question she’d never have an answer to. When she went to him with news of the babe, he’d dismissed her out of hand. Acted as though he bore no responsibility for any of the ensuing hardship. After accusing her of having loose morals and denying the babe, he’d closed the door in her face.

  Her chest squeezed at the memory. He was the worst sort of nave, and she was England’s biggest fool. Never again would she allow a man to take advantage of her.

  Prepared to face the consequences, Marina chased the musings away and stared into father’s eyes. Replaying the past and belittling herself would not help her. The damage was well and truly done, but she’d learned an important lesson. She’d not bestow her heart on any man who didn’t deserve her love. She’d guard it fiercely, with all she possessed from this day on.

  Father leaned forward and Marina flinched despite her best efforts to remain calm. The way he glared at her, she might-as-well be sitting before her executioner. His green eyes radiated anger causing her to glance away for a heartbeat. A part of her longed for it to be so. The executioner would at least make it fast where father was drawing her punishment out at an insufferable pace.

  Perhaps she should speak, but what would she say? Father would hear nothing she had to convey. He wouldn’t care that she was remorseful, nor that she�
�d been led astray by a smooth-talking lord who’d promised her marriage. No, he’d just use her words to hurt her further.

  Father only cared about his title and his reputation. He’d always been that way. Daughters were nothing more than girls to marry off and love was a useless emotion. How many times had he told her that affection was a weakness? And now that she was ruined, she was of no use at all.

  Still, the silence was excruciating. Marina darted a glance toward mother, pleading silently for help. Mother offered a weak smile, her lips trembling, then nodded her head toward father. It was the last place Marina wished to look, but she clearly had no choice in the matter. She returned her gaze to father. When he remained silent, she inhaled deeply, then said, “For whatever it may be worth, I regret my actions. I am deeply sorry.”

  The storm of anger in father’s eyes intensified darkening their shade to the point they were almost black. “You don’t understand the meaning of sorry. If you did we’d not be in this position.”

  Marina fought back her rising tears. She had not expected Father to believe her, but his verbal assault pained her all the same. She’d spent her childhood trying to earn his affection, and as a young lady, she’d desperately attempted to secure his love. Weary of being turned away and ignored, Marina had at last reached the conclusion that there was nothing she could do to make him care for her.

  She was a girl who resided under his control. A daughter to marry off for the betterment of the family. There was little if any value in girls. Leastwise, that is what father always said. Secretly, Marina knew better, though she’d never challenged his assessment.

  Father leaned over his desk pointing one gnarled finger at her. “Heaven help me, girl, you will know the meaning of sorry by the time I have finished with you.” His voice boomed, ricocheting off the paneled walls of the study and reverberating through her ears.

  Caught off guard by the force of his tone, she jumped in her chair, tears gathering at the backs of her eyes. Marina forced herself to give a slight nod. She would not cry. Doing so would only make things worse. Father detested crying woman.

  She blinked back the moisture and squared her shoulders. “I’m prepared to accept responsibility for my actions.”

  “Good,” Father fairly yelled, his voice maintaining its rough edge. “We are sending you away.”

  Marina fought the urge to avert her gaze to the carpeted floor. A desperate urge to argue swept through her, but she pressed her lips together to stop herself from saying anything. Inwardly, she wanted to scream back at him. She wanted to stomp her feet and throw things. Marina wanted to hurt him as he did her. Doing so would only serve to further his anger and increase her consequences, so she held her tongue.

  Father continued, “I have arranged for you to stay with your aunt, my sister Teresa in Northumberland. There you will have your bastard in seclusion. Afterward, it will be sent away. Permanently.” He spoke with venom lacing his every word. “You, Marina,”—his gaze intensified—“are never to return to society. Nor are you to come home.”

  She choked back the lump forming in her throat as she willed a fresh batch of tears not to fall. He meant to take her child from her. Intended to take her mother and home from her. Marina’s head spun, nausea taking hold and turning in her belly.

  Father pointed at her, his eyes as hard as stone. “So far as I am concerned, you no longer exist.”

  “Augustus,” Mother said, her tone laced with shock and distress, “She’s our daughter.”

  “Silence!” Father held his hand up, palm facing out toward mother. “This tart is no daughter of mine.”

  The words pierced Marina’s heart, but they did not destroy it—no, the tears streaming down Mother’s cheeks managed that. Marina would sell her soul to undo the pain she’d caused her mother. She was the one person who loved Marina and now her heart was devastated because of it.

  “Do you understand me, girl?” Father continued to glare at her, his eyes hard and angry.

  Marina attempted to speak but could force no sound from her lips. She gave a small nod of ascent instead. There was nothing more she could do. He never could be reasoned with and cared not for a woman’s theatrics. He’d handed down her fate and now she must accept the dictates. There was nothing else for it.

  “Very well.” Father rested his hands on the desk. “I want you gone within the hour. Pack your valise and then see yourself to the waiting carriage.”

  She gave another small nod, wishing she could sink through the floorboards and disappear altogether. Father always did have the power to make her feel inept. This time was marginally worse than the others for she’d brought his anger on herself. She could scarcely blame him when any father in his position would be angry.

  “We are done here.” Father nodded toward the study door. “Remove yourself from my sight.”

  Marina fought the urge to look at mother as she stood then moved to the door. She’d never grieve the loss of Father for she’d done that years prior, but losing mother was shredding her insides. With a shaking hand, she reached for the door and pulled it open.

  Father’s voice stopped her before she could disappear into the hall. “Mind you, take nothing of value besides your garments. Jewels and such remain my property. Nor will you be allowed the courtesy of a maid.”

  His parting words delivered a final blow to her composure. Marina allowed the first tears to escape her eyes as she propelled herself into the hallway. A desperate need to get away driving her hurried footfalls.

  It wasn’t that she cared about jewels and such. No, she most certainly did not. Things of real value—love, family, friendship—could not be purchased with coins. However, his dictate showed her once again how very little he cared for her.

  Marina entered her bedchamber then sank onto the bed. For long moments she allowed her emotions to run wild. Warm tears streaked down her face and her shoulders shook as sobs racked her body. She’d caused a fine mess, indeed. But she could do nothing to change her past discretions or her father’s mind. All she could do was forge into the future.

  Exhausted, she wiped the moisture from her face with the backs of her hands. Weeping would do her no good. She had to pull herself together and brave her new reality. Make the best of her circumstances and keep her eye to the future. This would not beat her.

  Forcing her head high, Marina went to her wardrobe. She selected a few gowns and a nightrail, along with underpinnings and a dressing gown, then placed them in her valise. Her resolve built more with each item she stuffed into the traveling bag, and by the time her task was complete, she’d determined to face her circumstances head-on.

  To the devil with father!

  He could disown her. He could send her away. He could ban her from his home and society—but he could not destroy her. Father could not take her child and her future. Somehow she would find a way to salvage them both. A smile curved her lips at the realization that she could raise her child, and more so, that she wished to.

  Marina rested her hand on the bulge of her belly and looked down at where her baby curved her midsection. “All will be well, little one.”

  The door squeaked and Marina turned to face it as mother stepped into the room. Mother pulled Marina into her warm embrace. “I’m so sorry.”

  “There is nothing you could have done,” Marina said, then she sunk into mother’s warmth, soaking up the affection she offered. The only real love she’d ever experienced had come from Mother, and for that, she would always be grateful.

  “I’m sorry for the hurt I have caused you.” Marina held on a little tighter, inhaling mother’s lilac scent as she hugged her. How she wished she could sooth Mother’s pain—ease the sorrow she’d caused her. Unfortunately, an embrace could never undo the hurt Marina had caused—not for either of them.

  Marina pulled back from Mother and gazed at her, hoping Mother could see the love and appreciation radiating from deep within her. “I must be going,” Marina’s voice cracked betraying her raw em
otions.

  A tear slid from Mother’s eye as she stroked the backs of her fingers over Marina’s cheek. “He’ll change his mind, darling. Give him a bit of time and he’ll come around. He won’t truly banish you. Not forever.”

  Marina did not dare lend any credence to mother’s words for she knew father would never allow her to return. But neither could she bring herself to upset mother more by stating as much. Instead, she gave a forced smile. “Until then…” Her throat restricted cutting off her empty words.

  “Yes, until you return, darling.” Mother dropped a kiss on her forehead. “For you most certainly will.”

  Marina pulled away then lifted her valise from the bed. Exhaling a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding, she notched her chin and strolled from the room.

  A silent wish hung in her heart as she made her way to the waiting carriage. A wish for the future—one she would share with her child.

  Chapter 1

  Cheshire England, 1812

  The carriage bounced and swayed along a snow-covered country road in northern England. “Ouch!” Marina pressed a hand to the small of her aching back as the conveyance hit yet another dip in the road. She'd been traveling for days with little reprieve from the coach. The journey would leave anyone sore, but she imagined it was even harder on a lady in her condition.