Scandalous Endeavors (Ladies and Scoundrels Book 1) Read online

  SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS

  AMANDA MARIEL

  TITLES BY AMANDA MARIEL

  Ladies and Scoundrels Series

  Scandalous Endeavors

  Scandalous Intentions

  Coming soon to the Ladies and Scoundrels Series

  Scandalous Redemption

  Kathryn Le Veque’s Kindle World of De Wolfe Pack

  Love’s Legacy

  Box sets and Anthologies

  Once Upon A Regency

  Romantic Beginnings

  COPYRIGHT

  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 © 2015 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 Amanda Mariel

  Cover art by Melody Mulvey

  DEDICATION

  Thank you mom and dad for always believing in me and encouraging me to follow my dreams. You helped mold me into the person I am today. Brooklyn and Ricky, thank you for giving your mommy up for hours as I worked on this book. Dawn, the countless hours we spent on the phone paid off! Allison, Dawn, Mom, Raven, and Cheryl, thank you for beta reading for me and sharing your wisdom. Shalena and Tammy, thank you for cheering me on and doing all the little things I asked you to. Technology is not thy friend; Dave, thank you for keeping it all working properly! Without all of you this book would not be a reality. To my future readers, it humbles me that you choose my book out of the immense sea of choices, and I thank you for it. This book is for all of you--thank you from the bottom of my heart!

  SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS

  PROLOGUE

  London 1842

  Amelia stood as still as a hollowed out tree as drizzle coated her body in cool little beads. Dark clouds hung stationary overhead. Water spattered into a small, deep hole carved out of the rain-soaked ground. She surveyed the surrounding landscape speckled with memorial stones and decorated in wilted flowers. Why?

  Uncle Lewis placed his arm around her shoulder, and she gazed up at him. His face, full of grief and sorrow, matched the heaviness in her heart. He did not say anything, just stretched his lips into a semblance of a smile. What could he say? Honestly, no words mattered; none could heal her broken heart.

  At long last, the minister stopped eulogizing as the casket was lowered into the cold, soggy earth. The family’s servants stood behind the small gathering of relatives and close friends all waiting for the descent to end. Once it came to a rest, the gathering stepped forward one by one and dropped flowers into the deep abyss. The red roses Amelia clutched to her breast as if they could soothe her soul needed to be released from her numb fingers. She opened her hand, never taking her gaze from the casket. They landed with a quiet thud upon the polished surface. Uncle Lewis grabbed her hand, giving her the same pitiful look she had been getting from everyone for the past two months.

  Were they all watching and waiting for her to shatter into a million pieces like delicate china? Maybe that is what people in her position were supposed to do; perhaps something was amiss with her. If so, she could not help it. She simply felt numb, like she had disappeared into a hellish oblivion. Her world spun out of control, with nary a semblance of what it used to be. She had become completely lost and abandoned. The only certainty was that her life had changed forever.

  Tears stung her eyes and tightened her throat. She inhaled sharply and steeled herself against the emotions welling up within her. Her stomach clenched as she watched the first scoop of earth being tossed into the burial plot. Lightheadedness threatened to overpower her. She tucked her shaking hands into the folds of her shawl, hoping to still them.

  She should not be here, but she’d begged Uncle Lewis to allow her to attend. Something deep within compelled her to see it with her own eyes. Amelia knew it would be scandalous, but did not care what the ton thought. Perhaps she should have cared. If she had followed proper etiquette her heart might not have been so shattered by the finality of it all.

  “Amelia, it is time for us to go.” Her Uncle’s sorrowful voice drifted through her fog-muddled brain.

  His grief was understandable. Papa and Uncle Lewis had been close friends since childhood. Amelia did not answer; what was there to say? He helped her up, and she settled on the plush black velvet seat of Papa’s favorite covered carriage.

  Papa ordered it from London a few years ago as a gift for Mama. She never got to see it; they buried her the very day it arrived. Mama had been out riding at their country estate when her mount became spooked. The horse reared up, throwing her. She died instantly from a broken neck. The memory of her mother’s death deepened the hole inside Amelia. She looked at Uncle Lewis. What would become of her? Both Mama and Papa were now in their graves. She had no siblings. Her only surviving relative, Uncle Lewis, lived in America. She inhaled deeply and bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering.

  Uncle Lewis arrived just in time to witness Papa’s passing. He had only returned to England for his brother-in-law’s funeral and to see after her. Would he stay until she reached majority? Or did he plan to take her to America? He remained a bachelor, so he had no family to return to. But he did have a plantation to worry about. By all accounts, he enjoyed success and happiness there. She slanted her glance at him. Of course, he would wish to return to his life. What reason would he have for remaining in England?

  Amelia drew another shuddering breath and looked down at her gloved hands, which lay in her lap. Leaving her home, friends, and country behind had never been a part of her plan. England was all she had ever known. She had no power over her life. If only she were one-and-twenty. Then, she would have control over her inheritance and be able to make her own decisions.

  As things stood, Uncle Lewis had been appointed her guardian. Papa placed the estate and family fortune in trust until she either married or reached majority. None of Papa’s property had been entailed, enabling him to will everything to her. Even his title, Viscount of Everthorne, transferred to her due to the method of its creation. She was now a wealthy and titled lady, but none of it mattered a whit if she were forced to emigrate. Amelia swallowed the knot in her throat. “Uncle Lewis…”

  He regarded her once again with sympathy firmly ensconced in his eyes.

  “What happens now?”

  “Let us not worry about it at the moment. It has been a long day, and we are both exhausted.” He turned his gaze back to the carriage window.

  What was he looking for? Perhaps he did not know what came next either. If only she could make the decision for them, she would tell him to stay in England. Amelia loved her family’s London townhouse and could not imagine leaving their country estate behind. She had never left England and did not want to do so now. Even if it would only be for two years...it might as well be for a lifetime.

  The carriage jolted to a stop, pulling her from her musings and back into the real world. She glanced through the carriage window at the ornate facade of her townhouse. The large windows appeared the same as ever, but her life would never be the same again.

  After departing the carriage, Uncle Lewis put out a hand to help her down. Edwin, the family’s butler, stood near the open oak door, ready to usher them inside. Several familiar carriages were parked in view, and voices drifted from within the townhouse. Amelia shoved back the emotions welling up in her. It would be undignified
to cry in front of all these people.

  She tightened her fingers on Uncle Lewis’s strong hand. “I do not think I can face them.”

  He drew her to a stop in front of the first porch step. A small smile tugged at his lips. “Amelia, dear, no one expects you to interact. They know you are in mourning. I will see to our guests. You retire to your chambers and rest.”

  Amelia gave him a weak grin of her own. “Thank you, Uncle Lewis.” Her emotions were overwhelmed with grief for Papa and the memories of Mama only added to her depression. When she considered her bleak-looking future on top of losing Papa…it was all too much. Rest, and the sleep that came with it would be most welcomed.

  SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS

  CHAPTER ONE

  Amelia’s heart lightened as Lady Sarah sashayed into the drawing room clad in lavender and ivory taffeta. Her full skirt rustled as it cleared the doorway. The dress complemented her blonde hair and accentuated her violet-hued eyes. Amelia could not help but admire her beauty and vivacity. She was always so alive. Full of the very essence Amelia found herself quickly losing.

  Sarah traipsed across the room, arranged herself in the chair directly across from Amelia, and smoothed her taffeta skirts. “I came the very minute I finished reading your note. I must admit you caused me quite a fright. What is so terribly wrong that it could not wait?”

  Amelia drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. “Uncle Lewis has ordered me to move to America. He says that I must board a ship this Monday.” Amelia watched as the concern on Sarah’s face deepened into utter shock.

  “One week? It is not feasible. What about your servants and properties? You need time to grieve and prepare. Not even a full month has passed since you buried your father.”

  “That is precisely what I told him, but he would not hear any of it. As my guardian, he expects me to do as I have been told.” Amelia’s chin quivered as she battled with her fresh wounds. Uncle Lewis had been stern in his command, storming from the room when she attempted to sway him. She drew in a deep breath. “Tell me there is something we can do.”

  Amelia fixed her eyes on Sarah’s and waited for her to speak. With every fiber of her soul, she willed Sarah to find a solution.

  “What if we could secure a chaperone to watch over you? Do you think he would grant you more time?”

  Amelia smiled for the first time in over a fortnight. “Sarah, you are an angel. That may well work. Leastwise it will provide a good temporary solution.”

  Sarah’s eyes twinkled when she looked at Amelia. “What about her grace, the dowager Duchess of Abernathy? She is widowed with no pressing responsibilities and is a friend of your family’s is she not?” She stopped speaking long enough to draw a breath. “Perhaps I can appeal to her on your behalf?”

  Amelia’s heart soared as her hope rekindled. She clasped Sarah’s kid glove covered hands. “This will work. The duchess has attended every social affair my family ever hosted. She sponsored my introduction to society, and even presented me to the Queen. But of course you already know all of this. The request would be harder for her to deny coming from my own lips. I must ask her grace myself.”

  As Sarah stood and moved to the hearth, her earrings danced with the movement. “That is outlandish. You are in mourning. It would make for a grand scandal if you went about visiting. You already created a small scandal by attending your father’s burial. Every tongue in London would be wagging if you went out calling.”

  Amelia could not argue with Sarah’s reasoning. It would not do any good to feed the gossip mills--not yet, at any rate. She needed Uncle Lewis and the duchess to honor her request. No doubt a grand scandal would have the opposite effect on their sensibilities.

  “What if we take your carriage to the widow’s townhouse? No one will suspect I am inside. Even if they do, they will not have any proof. Not if we keep the curtain drawn.”

  “We can send your calling card to the door alerting her grace to your presence. With any luck, she will come join us in the carriage,” Sarah replied, a conspiratorial sparkle lighting her eyes.

  “It is settled then. I will ring for our coats, and if anyone asks, we will say we are going for a ride in Hyde Park.

  * * * *

  The ride to the duchess’s passed without event. Amelia failed to notice the sounds and smells of London as they traversed down Piccadilly Street. She only took notice of their arrival when the carriage halted on St. James Square in front of Abernathy House.

  Sarah knocked on the window behind her, then handed her footman both of their calling cards before dispatching him to the widow’s door. Her grace’s grand townhouse towered three stories high, with large windows and a beautiful garden sprawling around it. Amelia studied the exterior of the townhouse through a crack in the curtain, ornate with various types of embellishments and a slate roof. One would be hard-pressed not to realize her wealth and station based on its appearance alone. Her stomach knotted with anticipation. What if she refused Amelia’s request? She looked at Sarah for a distraction.

  Sarah fiddled with her skirts, a worried expression pulling at her features. “I do hope she joins us out here in the carriage.”

  Amelia worried at her lower lip.

  The duchess had plenty of experience with the rituals of mourning and proper decorum. She would come out. If not, Amelia would go in. What other choice did she have?

  Relief swept through Amelia as the carriage door opened, admitting the Duchess of Abernathy, Grace Stratton, who promptly seated herself directly across from Amelia. Concern clouded the duchess’s brown eyes, and she patted her strawberry blond tresses gathered at the back of her head. “Good day, ladies. I would ask how you are doing, Amelia, but I fear I already know. Instead let me ask, how may I help?”

  Amelia’s palms became tacky, and her pulse hastened as she willed the words to come. “Your Grace, it is with deep respect that I have come to ask for your support in an imperative matter,” She paused to collect her thoughts.

  Grace nodded and reached for her hand. “Please go on, dear. Out with it.”

  Amelia risked a glance at Sarah, who gave her the slightest nod. She directed her attention back to the duchess. “I would be forever in debt to you if you could see it in your heart to assist me. You see… my Uncle Lewis has ordered me to move to America.”

  “Oh my. That is dreadful. And so soon to boot.” Grace’s hand fluttered to her chest.

  Amelia swallowed and bowed her head, unable to focus on the duchess. “He says I must leave in one week’s time.”

  “Oh dear.” She squeezed Amelia’s hand. “Tell me, how I may be of help.”

  With some effort, Amelia glanced up at her. “It is my hope that, by securing a chaperone, I may delay my departure.”

  “You most certainly would need one if you were to stay on in England.” Grace’s narrow lips turned up in slow degrees. “Amelia, am I correct in assuming you are asking me to be your chaperone?”

  “That is exactly what Lady Amelia is asking,” Sarah answered, her voice filled with mirth.

  Grace gave a gentle squeeze to Amelia’s hand. “I would be happy to help, assuming the arrangement is agreeable to your uncle. I do not suppose he knows you are here?”

  Amelia nodded her head as guilt panged within her breast. “He hasn’t the faintest idea, nor does he know I am actively seeking a chaperone.”

  A slight blush crept across Lady Sarah’s cheeks. “That presents a whole new problem. Now that you have agreed to chaperone Amelia, we must get her uncle on board with the arrangement. However, we cannot tell him she called on you. Due to the impropriety of it, of course.”

  Grace tittered. “Let an old hand deal with that. I will call on Mr. Lewis tomorrow. Do not worry your head one more second about it. I am quite certain he’ll agree. I have but one question, dear. How long are you intending to stay in England?”

  “Forever.” Amelia’s reply came too hastily, but she could not stop herself. The dowager’s eyes widened and Sarah
drew a sharp breath.

  “How do you plan to manage it?” Sarah lowered her gaze and plucked at her skirts.

  “I intend to find a husband. Amelia looked at them, begging them to understand an idea she did not yet understand herself.

  “You could not. It is positively scandalous. Amelia, you are in mourning,” Indignation dripped off Lady Sarah’s tongue.

  Amelia’s cheeks heated at the reprimand. She knew her idea would prove risky, but she also believed it could work. She merely had to convince them that the imminent scandal would prove worthwhile.

  The duchess leaned forward. “Nonsense, Lady Sarah. If Amelia desires to stay in England, we will help her. And if she wishes to marry, we will assist in that, too. Compared to Amelia’s happiness, the consequences are of no concern.”

  Lady Sarah’s eyes widened, and she fixed them on the duchess. “I do not want Amelia moving to America either, but I do not see any other way. How is she to find a husband when she is not at liberty to attend parties, or be called upon?”

  “I intend to trap one.” Amelia managed to keep her voice level. “There are many eligible bachelors keeping residence in London for the season. I merely need to decide on one, and then...appear to be compromised by him.”

  Sarah’s face paled. “Think of the scandal, Lady Amelia! You will be ruined.”

  “And we shall assist her.” The duchess fired a daring glance in Lady Sarah’s direction. “Marriage will put a fast end to any ensuing scandal, so there is no use worrying about it in the first place.”

  Amelia pushed out a breath and tried to relax. This had to work. It simply had to.

  * * * *

  As Amelia snuggled in her feather bed, desperately wanting sleep to take her, her thoughts alternated between trying to determine who to make her viscount and how to accomplish the task. Anxious and overtired, she crawled from her bed, donned her wrapper, and headed for Papa’s old office, knowing the cure for her insomnia rested within its walls.