Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend (21 page)

London Season, 1816

“I don’t care how beautiful or rich or bloody socially acceptable she is,” Dominic said, turning fiercely from the drawing room mantel. “I am not marrying her.”

“Sir, need I remind you that your mother is present?”

The marchioness waved a dismissive hand. In her pale blue muslin morning gown, she seemed almost one of the furnishings of the drawing room, which had been done in blue and cream and a panoply of gilt and ormolu. “I have heard it all before,” his mother said. “One does not raise four sons without hearing a bit of the vulgar tongue.”

Dominic gestured as if to say,
See
?

“I do not give a bloody farthing,” the marquis said, standing and pointing at Dominic. “You
will
show your mother some respect.”

Dominic refrained, just barely, from mentioning the contradiction inherent in his stepfather’s curse. The man had no sense of humor and would not appreciate the irony. He also had a selective memory. At the moment, he chose to forget that his wife possessed a somewhat less than savory past.

Dominic wished he could forget.

“My lord,” Dominic said, tamping his fury down from long habit, “I do not wish to marry. I have no obligation to produce an heir as I have no lands or titles to pass on. There is no need—”

“There is every need!” Lord Edgeberry boomed. Dominic clenched his fists to keep from using them. He was a grown man and did not enjoy being treated like a child. But he would tolerate it for his mother’s sake. “Your behavior is scandalous, and I’ll be damned if I will stand by while you produce a passel of bastards who show up on my door, begging for money.”

Dominic cut his gaze to his mother, and the marchioness hissed in a breath and shook her head at her eldest son, her eyes pleading for forbearance. “My lord,” she said, rising and taking her husband’s arm. “Might we speak in private for a moment?”

Dominic turned his back on the room and faced the mantel, staring at the figure of a small porcelain shepherdess. She was a typical English beauty with flaxen hair, rosy cheeks, and huge blue eyes. Dominic hated the type. Behind him he heard his mother’s rapid whispers. Every few moments, he was able to discern one of her words. “Fatherless… Pride… Careful.”

The door opened, and Carlisle, one of Dominic’s half-brothers, entered. “Oops! Sorry.” He stepped back out just as quickly, but not before catching Dominic’s eye and giving his older brother a grimace.

“No, no, Carlisle,” their mother said. “Your father and I will speak in the parlor. You go ahead.” And she tugged the marquis out of the room, leaving Carlisle little choice but to enter.

“I’m not going to ask what that was about,” Carlisle said, “so you’ll have to volunteer the information.”

Dominic couldn’t stop a smile. Carlisle was his youngest half-brother and just out of school. At nineteen, he was not yet jaded by the world. But then again, why should he be? He was the son of a marquis, he was handsome, with blond hair and brown eyes, and he was wealthy. Nothing could touch him.

“I’ll give you one guess,” Dominic said, lifting his teacup from the drawing room side table. He’d always liked his youngest brother. With thirteen years between them, they were too far apart to be rivals.

“The woman who showed up with the babe last week?”

“Your father wants me to marry before I bring more shame on the family name.” He sipped the tepid tea. He’d not had a chance to even taste it before his stepfather had launched into his tirade.

Carlisle popped a teacake into his mouth and reached for another. “Is marriage so bad?”

“I don’t see you rushing into the parson’s mousetrap.”

Carlisle held the teacake in front of his chest like a shield. “I’m far too young. You’re an old man.”

“Charming to the last,” Dominic retorted.

“Was the babe yours?” Carlisle asked, his mouth full. Dominic rolled his eyes. The boy had no sense of decorum.

“No.”

“Who do they want you to marry?”

“Does it matter?”

He seemed to consider as he reached for a dainty sandwich. “It might.”

“A Miss Jane Bonde.”

Carlisle dropped the sandwich, and it rolled under a chair. The boy ignored it. “And you
refused
?”

“I don’t want to marry, and I certainly won’t marry some chit I haven’t even met.”

“But you’ve seen her?”

“I don’t think so.” Dominic avoided social events. He had nothing to say to the
ton
. He was well aware they looked down on him. He did not need to be reminded of it nightly.

“That explains it, then.” Carlisle reached for another sandwich.

Dominic drank his tea. “You imply if I laid eyes on her, I would change my mind.”

“Maybe not,” Carlisle mumbled around the bread. “But you’d think twice.”

Dominic set his teacup down. He was beginning to think it a good idea to escape while he had the chance. “I doubt we have the same taste in women.”

“She is every man’s taste, I assure you. Are you leaving?”

Dominic was halfway across the room. “Yes, but I must say, Carlisle, you have intrigued me. I might have to see this Miss Bonde for myself.”

“There is a long line of men ahead of you.”

Dominic opened the door. “Give Lord Edgeberry my regards.”

“That ought to be a pleasant task,” Carlisle muttered. Dominic closed the door and started for the stairs. He hadn’t made it far before his mother stepped in front of him. She was petite, dark and exotic with her gypsy coloring. As far as Dominic knew, she was not of gypsy blood, but she did nothing to dispel the rumors. He was a great deal taller than she. His father must have been a man of some height, for Dominic was a head taller than his stepfather and his three half-brothers. But woe to the man or woman who equated height with power. Titania Griffyn—now Titania Houghton-Cleveborne, Marchioness of Edgeberry—was a force to be reckoned with.

“A word, my darling son.” She gestured toward her boudoir, where she met with her closest friends, and set off, not waiting to see if he would follow.

Dominic sighed and followed.

They appear in the other titles in Shana Galen’s Jewels of the Ton series

And don’t forget to stop by Shana Galen’s website,
shanagalen.com
, for a special series epilogue featuring all of your favorite characters

It’s an amazing feeling when a book is complete, and as I sit at my laptop in the wee hours of the morning and contemplate typing
The
End
, I am thankful for those who have helped me in some small way with Lily’s story.

First of all, I want to thank my readers, who encourage and inspire me.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to my agents, Joanna and Danielle, who are my biggest cheerleaders.

I would sleep a lot less if not for my awesome assistant Gayle, who takes all the tedious administrative tasks off my plate. Jen and Maddee at
xuni.com
are also indispensable.

When I get stuck, I can always turn to the Brainstorm Troopers for ideas or suggestions. Thanks, Margo, Robyn, Anne, and Emily. When I need a boost, the Peanut Butter on the Keyboard Moms can always make me feel better. Thanks to Kieran, Maisey, Ellie, Robyn, and Emily.

When I’m stressed, Emily and Amy are only a text away and always “ready to rock” at 5 a.m.

Thank you to Grace Burrowes, who answered my horse-related questions. Any mistakes in the manuscript are my own.

As an author, it’s a gift to have an editor who loves my work and allows me to take risks. Thanks to my wonderful editor Deb Werksman. And thank you as well to the team at Sourcebooks who works so hard on my behalf—Rachel Edwards, Susie Benton, my cover designers and copy editors. Danielle Dresser, you are a rock star.

And finally, thank you to my family for their support and sacrifices.

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced, adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice
The
Making
of
a
Gentleman
. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married to a man she calls Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at
www.shanagalen.com
, download her free author app for exclusive content and first looks, or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out these other great Regency reads from Shana Galen!

The Sons of the Revolution Series

The Making of a Duchess

The Making of a Gentleman

The Rogue Pirate's Bride

The Jewels of the Ton Series

When You Give a Duke a Diamond

If You Give a Rake a Ruby

The Lord and Lady Spy Series

Lord and Lady Spy

The Spy Wore Blue
(A Novella)

True Spies

Love and Let Spy
(Available in 2014)

Praise for Shana Galen

“BRILLIANT AND SEXY! Once you start a Shana Galen book, you won’t put it down until you reach the end.” —Sophie Jordan,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Wicked in Your Arms

“Galen strikes the perfect balance between dangerous intrigue and sexy romance.” —
Booklist