A Scandalous Bargain Read online

  A Scandalous Bargain

  Darcy Burke

  Contents

  A Scandalous Bargain

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Also by Darcy Burke

  About the Author

  A Scandalous Bargain

  The Pretenders

  Set in the world of The Untouchables, indulge in the saga of a trio of siblings who excel at being something they’re not. Can a dauntless Bow Street Runner, a devastated viscount, and a disillusioned Society miss unravel their secrets?

  A Scandalous Bargain

  Tricked into marriage five years ago, Thomas Devereaux, Lord Rockbourne is suddenly a widower. Rumors abound that his wife’s death may not have been an accident and given the troubling secrets Thomas keeps buried, even he isn’t entirely sure. But when a woman sees what happened, he agrees to accept her help to disguise the facts in exchange for not divulging her suspicious behavior. Their arrangement grows more complicated under the force of a scorching mutual attraction.

  Abandoned by her father—a duke—after the death of her mother—his beloved mistress—Beatrix Linley has fought to become a daughter he could be proud of, that he would regret leaving. She becomes the toast of the Season until her penchant for pilfering pretty things threatens to expose the illicit past she needs desperately to remain hidden. Soon the scandal and darkness both Beatrix and Thomas fear comes to light, compelling them to finally face their demons—and potentially driving them apart forever.

  Don’t miss the rest of The Pretenders!

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  Darcy’s Duchesses for historical readers

  Burke’s Book Lovers for contemporary readers

  A Scandalous Bargain

  Copyright © 2020 Darcy Burke

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 9781944576899

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Book design: © Darcy Burke.

  Book Cover Design © The Midnight Muse.

  Cover image © Period Images.

  Darcy Burke Font Design © Carrie Divine/Seductive Designs

  Editing: Linda Ingmanson.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Created with Vellum

  Prologue

  December 1804

  Mrs. Goodwin’s Ladies’ Seminary

  Beatrix Linley tried very hard not to cry as another coach left the school, conveying its occupants home for the holiday season. Though the headmistress had told Beatrix that no one was coming for her, she refused to believe it. How could her father ignore her? It was bad enough he hadn’t written over the past eight months that she’d been there, let alone brought her home for any holiday whatsoever.

  “But this is Yuletide.”

  “What was that?” Selina Blackwell looked up from her book. They were the only two girls left in the dormitory this morning. The last of the others were on their way home until after Epiphany.

  “Nothing,” Beatrix said as she looked out the window once more. The day was as dark and gloomy as she felt, with gray clouds that threatened rain. It was probably a horrid day to travel. She’d take comfort in that.

  “Oh!” Maria stopped abruptly as she entered the dormitory. “I didn’t realize there was anyone left here.” Her smug tone grated on Beatrix.

  Dark curls bobbing, Maria walked in, looking from Beatrix to Selina and back to Beatrix. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you two are still here. No one coming to get you?”

  Selina, who at fourteen was a year younger than Maria, fixed her with a bored stare. “Don’t bother to ask questions you already know the answer to or that you really don’t care about.”

  Maria pursed her lips. “There’s no need to be churlish.”

  Selina’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Isn’t there?”

  Beatrix stifled a laugh and immediately wished she hadn’t. Maria wouldn’t bother, so why should she?

  “Maria!” A familiar singsong voice carried into the dormitory.

  Bracing herself, Beatrix turned her back to the door and focused on an oak tree on the other side of the drive.

  “Are you ready?” Deborah asked. She and Maria were close friends.

  Though Beatrix wasn’t facing the door, she could tell Deborah was now in the dormitory.

  “Just about,” Maria said. “I came back to fetch my third-favorite pair of gloves. I can’t believe I forgot them.” Third-favorite. Beatrix only had three pairs of gloves. Selina only had one. Maria and Deborah took every opportunity to show how they were superior.

  Beatrix pivoted slightly so she could watch them, mostly so she’d know when they were gone.

  Maria went to the dresser beside her bed. “Where are they?” she shrieked, opening every drawer and rifling through the contents. When she’d been through every one, she spun about and looked at Deborah, who was standing behind her, hands on her hips. “They’re gone.”

  Deborah turned toward Selina. “I bet she took them.”

  Selina peered at them over the top of her book, still appearing disinterested. “What would you like to bet?”

  “Nothing,” Deborah spat. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Then choose your words more carefully.” Selina returned her gaze to her book.

  Deborah stalked over to Selina’s bed where Selina reclined as she read. “I’ll say whatever I please.”

  Selina exhaled, her eyes not leaving the book. “I suppose. Perhaps you could just do it more quietly. Some of us like to read.” The insult was clear—at least to Beatrix. Deborah did not apply herself to her studies, a trait the teachers never seemed to mind while others were punished for the same transgression. That was because Deborah’s father was an earl.

  Beatrix distinctly recalled what had happened when she’d been reprimanded for not keeping up with her studies. She’d asked why it mattered since her father was a duke. Miss Everly had said it mattered not at all because of the circumstances of her birth, that no one cared who her father was.

  “You think you’re better than me?” Deborah demanded. Beatrix held her breath as she watched the tall, brown-haired Deborah stand over Selina’s bed while Selina continued to read.

  “Answer me!” Deborah slapped the book out of Selina’s hands and onto her lap.

  Selina pushed out a breath as she picked up the book and set it aside. Then she slowly stood from the bed. Deborah was tall, but Selina had her by an inch.

  “Yes.”

  The single word sent Deborah into a fit o
f rage. She launched herself at Selina, shoving her back onto the bed.

  Selina grabbed the other girl’s arms and dragged her down too. In a quick motion, Selina rolled on top of Deborah and spit in her face. “Better than you in every way that counts. No one cares about your stupid earl father.”

  “At least I have a father,” Deborah snarled as she tried to wrestle Selina off her.

  “At least I have a brain,” Selina said. “Someday your father will die, and I’ll still be smarter than you.”

  Deborah sucked in a breath. She brought her hand back and slapped Selina across the face.

  Selina’s face darkened as her eyes narrowed. Her lip curled, and Beatrix actually felt a tremor of fear.

  Grabbing the front of Deborah’s dress, Selina stood up and tugged Deborah with her. She pivoted, pulling Deborah toward her until their noses nearly met. “Touch me again and I’ll make you hurt in ways you’ve never imagined. You think I’m some sort of heathen. Don’t give me a reason to show you just how right you are.” Selina shoved her hard so that she fell to the floor.

  “I found them!” Maria’s declaration trilled through the dormitory. She stood near Beatrix’s dresser.

  Too focused on the quarrel between Selina and Deborah, Beatrix hadn’t noticed what Maria had been doing. Now, Beatrix saw Maria’s third-favorite gloves dangling from her fingertips over the open bottom drawer of Beatrix’s dresser.

  Panic stole Beatrix’s breath. “I…I didn’t take them.” She didn’t remember taking them.

  “Then why are they in your dresser?” Maria demanded, her dark eyes flashing.

  “Because she’s a thief,” Deborah said, pushing herself up from the floor. She eyed Selina warily as she walked to Maria. “Let’s go tell Miss Everly.”

  “No!” Beatrix ran toward them but stopped short before she reached them. “I swear I didn’t take them!”

  Maria bared her teeth. “They were in your drawer. You’re a liar as well as a thief.”

  “Don’t forget bastard,” Deborah said with unabashed glee. “And daughter of a whore.”

  Tears stung Beatrix’s eyes. “Take that back,” she whispered because it was all she could get past the knot in her throat.

  “Why?” Deborah asked, her deep-set eyes blinking in mock-innocence. “It’s all true.”

  “That doesn’t make it nice.” Selina had come to stand beside Beatrix.

  Maria waved her gloves toward Beatrix. “When Miss Everly hears, you’ll be punished. You may even be sent away. Where will you go? It’s clear your father doesn’t want you, and your mother’s dead. Perhaps you can go to whatever orphanage she came from.” Maria pointed at Selina.

  “Oh, I didn’t come from an orphanage.” Selina’s lips spread into a slow, rather malevolent smile. “I came from the East End of London. Want to know what’s hidden in my bottom drawer?” She leaned toward them, her eyes gleaming with pride. “A knife.”

  Maria and Deborah gasped in unison.

  “Miss Everly!” Maria yelled. “Miss Everly!”

  “Bloody hell,” Selina swore. “I don’t actually have a knife, you dolts.”

  Beatrix turned her head toward Selina. “Why did you say that?”

  “Because for a moment, I was as stupid as them.” She clenched her jaw. “I took your ugly gloves,” Selina said loudly. “It was a joke.”

  “A joke on the bastard?” Deborah asked. “Why else would you put them in her dresser?”

  “Someone was coming, and I had to stash them somewhere.” Selina gave Beatrix an apologetic glance.

  Beatrix wasn’t angry. How could she be when Selina was covering for her? While Beatrix didn’t recall stealing the gloves, she knew she had. It wasn’t the first time something had gone missing only for Beatrix to find the item in her dresser. However, Beatrix didn’t think anyone else had known.

  “Deborah! Maria!” Miss Everly’s voice carried into the dormitory. “Your coach is here.”

  “Coming, Miss Everly!” Deborah called before giving Beatrix and Selina an arrogant smile. “We’ll inform the headmistress of your theft before we go. Come, Maria. I’m so excited for you to visit my father’s estate for the holidays.” As if Beatrix—and everyone else—wasn’t completely aware that Deborah had invited Maria to accompany her.

  “Do you think they’ll still be here when we return?” Maria asked as they turned toward the door.

  “If there’s any justice at all, they won’t. They don’t belong here anyway.” Deborah sent a vicious look over her shoulder before disappearing from sight.

  Beatrix slumped, her body quivering.

  Selina’s arm came around her shoulders. “Don’t worry. They’ll probably just make me eat porridge for a week and have me clean the scullery.”

  “What if they send you away?” The tears Beatrix had fought to keep at bay threatened once more.

  Selina shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s happened to me.”

  Beatrix nearly said it would be the worst thing that had happened to her, but that wasn’t true. She’d lost her beloved mother and been sent here by her father, whom she hadn’t even seen since Mama had died. They’d been a happy family, mostly, until Mama had gotten sick. Beatrix knew he had another family just as she knew he loved her and her mother more. How many times had she heard him tell Mama he loved her and that he hated to leave her to go to his other home?

  No, Beatrix had lost her family and that was absolutely the worst thing that could happen. She looked askance at Selina. Did she even have a family? Selina didn’t like to talk about her past. In fact, today was the most she’d ever shared about it.

  “Did you really come from East London?” Beatrix asked. Having grown up in Bath, she didn’t know much about London, but she’d heard the East End was less desirable.

  Selina withdrew her arm. “I did.”

  Beatrix recalled the way in which Selina had threatened the horrible Deborah and the confidence she’d exuded. Envy swelled in Beatrix’s chest. “I wish I could be as brave as you.”

  “You will be,” Selina said as if there were no question. “Remember, I have a few years on you.”

  “How will I learn to be brave if you’re sent away?” Beatrix asked.

  Before Selina could answer, Mrs. Goodwin, the headmistress, came into the dormitory. Both Beatrix and Selina straightened and greeted her as they’d been trained to do since the moment they’d arrived.

  It was rare that Mrs. Goodwin came to the dormitory. Miss Everly was typically in charge of them outside of lessons.

  Mrs. Goodwin smiled, her kind blue eyes assessing. Beatrix brushed at a speck on her apron.

  “Miss Ledbetter informed me you stole her gloves.” The headmistress looked at Selina. “Is that true, Miss Blackwell?”

  “It is, Mrs. Goodwin.” Selina spoke unflinchingly, her chin strong and high. “It was meant to be a prank. I regret that I had to put the gloves in Miss Linley’s drawer. She had absolutely nothing to do with any of it.”

  Mrs. Goodwin appeared skeptical. She looked back and forth between Selina and Beatrix. Finally, her gaze settled on Beatrix. “Is that true?”

  Beatrix swallowed. Selina gently nudged her on the back of the hand. “Yes.” The lie burned Beatrix’s tongue, but it seemed Selina wanted her to give it.

  Pressing her lips together, Mrs. Goodwin’s gaze turned stern. “I like you girls. Miss Blackwell, you work very hard, and Miss Linley, you have a bright and lovely outlook despite your…troubles. However, you simply must work harder to get along with the other girls. You’re…different from them, and as much as I hate to say it, people will hold you to different expectations.” Her features softened. “I should know.”

  Beatrix wanted to ask how, but Mrs. Goodwin inhaled deeply and continued. “Miss Everly will hand down an appropriate punishment, Miss Blackwell.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Goodwin.”

  The headmistress looked at them another moment. “Don’t fret, girls. I’ll see you at dinner.” Sh
e winked at them before turning and leaving the dormitory.

  Beatrix let out the breath she’d been holding and turned to face Selina. “Why did you lie for me?”

  “Because I know you steal things and can’t help it.”

  “How—”

  “I’m observant.” Selina’s pale brows pitched over her eyes. “You must try to help it—stealing, I mean. A pair of gloves or a spoon from the dining hall won’t bring you too much grief, but should you pinch something more valuable, you will find yourself in a trouble I can’t rescue you from.”

  “I’m not even aware I’m doing it,” Beatrix whispered. “And I don’t think I did it before. Before I came here, I mean.”

  Selina gave her an encouraging nod. “It will be all right. You must work on becoming aware. Then you must not do it. I’ll try to help you, if I can.”

  “Why?”

  Lifting a shoulder in a light shrug, Selina said, “Because it seems we’re both in need of a family.”

  Tears threatened once more, but Beatrix decided in that moment that she would be brave. And that she had a sister to love.

  Chapter 1

  Beatrix’s backside was beginning to ache. After perching so long on the tree branch, she adjusted her weight to ease the pain. She exhaled as blood flowed through her hip and thigh. Much better.