Rogue Grooms

Table of Contents

 

 

 

“This is a love story created by the sure, deft strokes of a master!”

 

“Amanda McCabe’s story [is] a thoroughly enjoyable read.”

—
Romantic
Times

 

“These stories are exceptionally sweet... one winner of a book.”

—The Romance Studio

“Fun, witty, romantic... a capital read!”

—Huntress Book Reviews

“Brimming with romance, passion, humor, well-drawn characters, interesting plots, and plenty of ghosts, these stories are unforgettable.”

—Romance Junkies

“These books are a delight to read!”

—Reader to Reader Reviews

“You’d do well to add
Spirited Brides
to your collection of traditional Regency and Regency-set historical romances.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“Flawlessly crafted historical romance.”

—
Chicago Tribune

“An enthralling spell of tender romance with a hint of danger, set against the glittering backdrop of Regency London.”

—Diane Farr, author of
Once Upon a Christmas

“[A] terrific book that kept me engrossed the entire time! A real winner.”

—Huntress Book Reviews

“Amanda McCabe has been delighting readers since her debut, and this sweetly engaging tale doesn’t disappoint. She has a talent for bringing ordinary characters into soft focus and making us want the best for them.”

—
Romantic Times

“An extremely talented new voice.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“McCabe is a welcome addition to the ranks of Regency authors.”

—
The Romance Reader

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Published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Lady Rogue and The Star of India
were previously published in Signet editions.

First Signet Eclipse Printing, June 2010

eISBN : 978-1-101-18820-0

Lady Rogue
copyright © Ammanda McCabe, 2002
The Star of India
copyright © Ammanda McCabe, 2004 All rights reserved

 

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“So that is it, then? That is all that is left?” Alexander Kenton, late of His Majesty’s army and now the new Duke of Wayland, stared out of the library window at the bedraggled garden beyond. Yet he did not see the overgrown, rain-soaked bushes and trampled flower beds. He saw only the great tangle his life had suddenly become.

The solicitor, seated at the desk behind him, rattled papers and coughed uncomfortably. “I fear so, my lord.”

Alex laughed bitterly. “Well. You have to admire a brother who can manage to leave such a thorough mess in such a brief time.”

“Indeed, my lord,” the solicitor answered, in a small, uncertain voice.

Alex pushed back from the window and returned to his seat before the fire, stretching his booted feet to its meager warmth. “Tell me, then, Mr. Reed, what we have to live on, Mother and Emily and me, once all of Damian’s debts are settled.”

Mr. Reed consulted his papers again. “Fair Oak, the house and the farm, of course. And the Kenton Grange. Those are entailed. Aside from your personal belongings, and the few family jewels now in the possession of the dowager duchess, I fear there is little else.”

“Emily’s dowry?”

“Gone, my lord. Long gambled away.”

“Damn,” Alex cursed softly. “The farm has not been worked in years! Not since my father’s time.”

“I do believe that Lady Emily has managed to keep some of the fields under cultivation. Much of the land, though, has lain fallow since your late father’s time. Your brother was not—not much interested in farming.”

“Damian was not much interested in anything but gambling and whoring.”

The solicitor blushed.

“Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Reed,” Alex said. “Years in the army will do that to a man.”

“Quite understandable, my lord.”

“So, in effect, all we have to restore this old pile and give Emily a proper come-out is my army pension.”

“There is a small income from the tenants still left, my lord, and Lady Dorothy has an annuity of her own. But, in essence, yes, you are right. I fear so.” Mr. Reed gathered his papers together and stood. “If you have no further questions of me at this time, my lord, I will leave you to your supper.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Reed.”

Alex turned his gaze back to the flames as the library door clicked shut, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

They were not happy, tranquil thoughts.

“I should have stayed in the army,” he muttered. “Spain and Belgium were simpler than this.”

But then, with the war ended, there had been no point in staying with the army. He had longed for home, for the green coolness of Fair Oak, for the company of his family. His excellent father had died almost five years ago, when Alex had been in the heat of the fighting. His older brother had died last year of a fall from a horse, during a race. Alex had not wanted to be the duke, but he had come home prepared to do his duty.

He had not known until just now how badly Damian had bungled things.

In less than five years, Damian had managed to gamble away a very comfortable fortune. He had spent so recklessly on mistresses, parties, horse races, and cards that everything that was not entailed had had to be sold to pay for them.

What was Alex to do now? He himself could live comfortably, if frugally, on his pension. His mother, though, was aging, and not in good health. His sister, who had held the household together for so long, deserved a fine Season, a good match. His ancestral home was collapsing about his ears. Even now, he could see plaster loosening from the ceiling, damp seeping down into the carpet and the draperies.

Yes, he should have stayed in Spain.

The library door opened, and Emily’s golden-curled head popped inside. “Alex? Has Mr. Reed gone?”

Alex looked around at her, and smiled. Even in such dire circumstances, his sister could not fail to cheer him. She was a bouncing, elfin little thing, seemingly always laughing. Even in a faded, mended blue muslin frock, she shimmered.

“Yes, angel-puss, he has gone.”

She came and sat in the chair next to his, stretching her own feet to the fire. “It is very bad, is it not?”

Alex could not lie to her. Not when she turned her wide, guileless blue gaze onto him. “Yes.”