Heart's Temptation Series Box Set: Books 1-3: A Steamy Historical Romance Collection (Heart's Temptation Box Set) by Scott Scarlett

Author:Scott, Scarlett [Scott, Scarlett]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Romance, Anthology, Historical, Fiction
Publisher: Happily Ever After Books, LLC
Published: 2019-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

The dowager was most displeased. Nothing ruined her disposition more than the failure of someone in her coterie to live up to her exacting standards. First, her only son—once the light of the Liberal Party—had lost his head over a trollop. Now it appeared to her that her only daughter was going similarly mad.

She sighed from her very bones, unbearably weary for a woman of her years. “Hollins,” she called out to her maid who was across the chamber readying her toilette. “Do come here at once.”

Her loyal lady’s maid hastily appeared at her side. Truly, the woman was a godsend, servant or no, and she’d been a retainer for twenty years. No maids had ever lasted as long in her employ, and she dared say they never would again. She hoped Hollins outlived her, else she’d be lost.

“How may I be of service to you, my lady?” her maid queried, ever eager to perform her duties.

She frowned, phrasing her question with delicacy. “What do you know of that American fellow, Mr. Whitney? I’m sure you must have overheard some belowstairs tales by now.”

“I know only that he doesn’t keep his own man,” Hollins replied. “Aside from that, I suppose no one has said aught.”

“He hasn’t his own manservant?” The dowager sniffed. “How positively horrid. We shall have to put it down to those beastly American customs, no doubt.”

An idea began forming in her mind then, one that was so wicked she almost thought she couldn’t manage the carrying out of it. But then she thought again of the way her silly chit of a daughter seemed to forever be finding mischief. She was meant to have a coronet. The Duke of Devonshire was the man the dowager had hand-picked for Bella. No tawdry American devoid of manners was going to usurp the duke’s place as her husband. Why, the man had no knowledge of the proper way of things. It was an outrage to be sure.

“Hollins,” she began again, her tone contemplative, “your cousin is a footman here at Marleigh Manor, is he not? What is the fellow’s name? Palmer?”

“Yes, my lady. His name is Patterson, madam.”

“Just so.” She waved her hand at the difference in surname, slight as she saw it. “There is something I must have done, and no one must ever know. Do you understand?”

Comprehension dawned in Hollins’ rabbit-brown eyes. She was an intelligent woman or the dowager would not have stood for a moment of her company. She couldn’t abide by hen-witted servants.

“Of course, Lady Thornton.”

“I should think it would be a delightful opportunity for young Patterson to act as Mr. Whitney’s manservant. Naturally, I shall be requiring some assistance from Patterson. He must be very circumspect. You will make that clear to him, no doubt.”

Hollins nodded. “Yes, of course, my lady. I’ll be certain to make him aware of your requirements. I’ve no doubt he’ll be pleased by the change in circumstance.”

“Good.” The dowager smiled, quite happy with herself. “Bring me the housekeeper. I’ll let her know I’ve hand-chosen a manservant for Mr.

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