To Love a Scoundrel: London Season Matchmaker Book Five Read online

  To Love a Scoundrel

  London Season Matchmaker Book Five

  Lucy Adams

  © Copyright 2019 by Lucy Adams - All rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited, and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

  Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction, and though I do strive to be historically accurate, you may find some historical discrepancy along the way. I am growing as an author and learning as I go along. Please forgive me for that and enjoy the story.

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Want to read the prologue in its entirety?

  Also by Lucy Adams

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Prologue

  “Do come in, my dear girl. You look quite weary.”

  Miss Dinah Shepherd shivered violently as she stood on the threshold of Lord Whitehaven’s manor house but did not take a single step forward.

  “Come, my dear.” Lady Whitehaven’s voice was soft, her expression entirely compassionate, but still Dinah felt nothing other than the same unrelenting fear that had crept into her heart ever since she had crawled under her bed to hide.

  “I am truly sorry to hear of what has occurred,” Lady Whitehaven continued, stepping closer and settling her hands over Dinah’s tightly gripped hands. “But we shall be your family now, Dinah. You will not be alone. There is nothing to fear, truly.”

  Dinah’s throat worked painfully, her heart aching furiously as she thought back to what had been a happy and contented life with her dear mother and father. They had been taken from her so swiftly, gone together in almost the very same moment, that still she could not quite take it in.

  “Your cousins are waiting for you,” Lady Whitehaven urged gently, now carefully tugging Dinah forward. “And there are honey cakes and hot tea already being prepared. Of course, if you are hungry, then we can have anything you wish sent up to you.”

  Dinah found herself moving forward without being aware of having had any intention of doing so. This was all so strange, so unfamiliar and confusing, and when intertwined with her grief, it made her feel quite overwhelmed. A ragged gasp left her throat, her hands tugging free from Lady Whitehaven’s as she came to a stumbling stop, swaying just a little as she stared all about her.

  Her life, as she had known it, had now come to an end. Her parents were gone, taken from her by cruel thieves who had attacked her father and mother and had left them both to die, having taken everything of worth from the house. Only Dinah had been left alive from their family, cowering under her bed and praying to God that she would not be found. God had answered her prayer, but what she had been left to endure was now so painful that she almost wished she too had gone on to heaven.

  “You are not to be afraid any longer,” Lady Whitehaven murmured, her eyes searching Dinah’s face. “There is nothing to harm you here, Dinah. You are loved, you are safe, and you are protected.”

  Dinah let out another shuddering breath and closed her eyes tightly. She had been sent to this family, to her aunt and cousins, in order that she might continue her life in whatever way she could, but there seemed to be no easy way forward. Her mind told her that all she had to do was to step forward and walk into the drawing room, where her cousins would be waiting, but she simply could not bring herself to do it. It was as though she was setting her back on the memories of her family, making the conscious decision to forget her parents and all that they had been to her, and instead looking to her future, to whatever her life was to be without them.

  Always look to God. He will show you the path your life is to take.

  Dinah started visibly as the voice of her mother seemed to fill the room. Lady Whitehaven was now staring at her with wide eyes, evidently all the more concerned that Dinah was now reacting to something she herself could not see. Dinah’s breathing became quick and heavy as the words went all the way around her, securing her in what felt like a compassionate embrace. The sorrow and the pain that had gone previously, Dinah believed, had been brought about by the sinfulness of men and the greed of their hearts, and now, because of that, she had been brought here, to the Whitehaven estate with the expectation that she would now become a part of their family.

  He will show you the path your life is to take.

  Her mother had so often said those words to her and had told her repeatedly that all she had to do was continue to pray and fix her mind upon God and that He would show her the path she was to follow. And now the path was directly before her. Somehow, she would have to find her way to continue towards it, no matter how much pain she had to endure. Perhaps, somehow, there would be some goodness to come out of her agony.

  “Thank you.”

  Her voice was hoarse, her words weak and filled with a misery that she could not fully express, but at the very least, she did manage to say something. Lady Whitehaven let out a long slow breath, looking a little less concerned now as her hand once more pressed Dinah’s.

  “You don’t have to thank me,” she murmured, a small smile on her face as her eyes warmed. “We are truly glad to have you here, Dinah. We wish to give you as much comfort as we can, truly.”

  Dinah nodded and swallowed hard, feeling a lump continue to form in her throat.

  “I think,” Lady Whitehaven continued shrewdly, “you should greet your cousins briefly, and then I shall show you to your bedchamber. Your new maid shall take care of you thereafter. You look as though you need to rest.”

  “I would be very grateful for such a kindness,” Dinah replied honestly, feeling a little less overwhelmed now. “Thank you, Lady Whitehaven.”

  Lady Whitehaven squeezed her hand again. “And you are to refer to me as ‘Aunt,’” she answered, gesturing for them to move forward once more. “I am aware that I married into the Whitehaven line, but I still consider us to be family.”

  “And I shall be glad of you all, I am certain,” Dinah replied, feeling a trifle stronger now as they walked along the softly lit hallway. “I have no other. Not in all the world.” A sob caught in her throat, but she suppressed it with an effort. She had already cried a great deal over the loss of her parents, and yet the tears still pressed at her eyes. She could not say more but simply walked alongside her aunt until she was led into a softly lit drawing room, where a fire blazed in the hearth and candles decorated every surface. The room was ornate in its furnishings, almost resplendent, but it was not the décor that drew Dinah’s attention. Instead, it was the presence of four young ladies, who rose to their feet at once, turning towards her as one.

  Her cousins. Cousins whom she had never met before in her life.

  “My dear girls, this is Dinah Shepherd,” Lady Whitehaven said gently, staying close to Dinah as she spoke. “Your cousin and now a part of our family.”

  Dinah swallowed hard and dipped a curtsy, which was not particularly graceful given that she was shaking all over. Her eyes lifted again to her cousins, who were curtsying also. She knew nothing of their char
acters, knew nothing of them at all, and could only pray that she would be accepted by them, as their mother so obviously wished.

  “We are glad you are here,” said one young lady, stepping forward. “I am Eliza, and the others here are Catherine, Merry, and Titania. Our brother is not, as yet, with us, but he will be present soon.”

  “You are mistaken.”

  Dinah jumped in surprise at the loud, masculine voice that filled the room. Turning her head, she saw a tall, broad-shouldered man walk into the room, although there was something about his gait that was a little unusual. He had a mound of thick, brown hair that fell across his forehead in a somewhat unruly fashion. His square jaw and sharp green eyes gave him a foreboding expression and sent a shudder through Dinah. He, perhaps, did not want her here. He would not welcome her as his sisters had.

  “This is my son, Grayson,” Lady Whitehaven said, as the fellow continued to scrutinize Dinah, leaving her feeling entirely uncomfortable. “He will, of course, welcome you into our home and our family.” This was, Dinah thought, said more for Grayson’s benefit than for her own for she could hear the note of warning in Lady Whitehaven’s voice.

  “Goodness, you are nothing more than a bird!” Grayson said, sounding quite astonished as he walked around Dinah, evidently now looking her up and down whilst Dinah did her very best to avoid his gaze. “Nothing but skin and bone.” He tutted loudly, as though this was her fault, her doing. As though she ought to have kept herself pristine and in the best of health as she lost herself in her grief. A flicker of anger began to burn within her heart, but Dinah pushed it aside with ease. The gentleman did not mean to be harsh, she was sure.

  “You shall have to improve yourself almost at once, Miss Shepherd,” Grayson continued, walking towards the fire and standing in front of it, regarding her now with a slight lift to his brows. “After all, the Season will soon be upon us and you shall have your turn to find a husband!”

  Dinah closed her eyes, swaying just a little. She could not even begin to think of doing such a thing as that, not when everything she had known, everything that had once been hers, was now lying in smithereens at her feet.

  “That is quite enough,” Lady Whitehaven said firmly, taking Dinah’s arm and turning her towards the door. “Goodness, you are being quite ridiculous, Grayson, truly. Try and put yourself in Miss Shepherd’s situation and consider how she must think of you at this moment.”

  Much to Dinah’s shock, the only response that came from the gentleman was a laugh. A harsh, burning laugh that ran right through her and made her heart turn over within her chest. He did not want her here. He wanted to have her married off just as soon as possible so that she would not be a burden to him. The fellow cared nothing for her torment, nor for her sorrow nor her grief. There was not a single modicum of kindness or compassion in his heart—and that tore at Dinah’s soul.

  “I will take you to your rooms now,” Lady Whitehaven said quietly, as the door was held open for them by one of the footmen. “I will make certain that refreshments are brought up to you. Pray, do not concern yourself over my son’s demeanor nor his comments, Dinah.” She squeezed Dinah’s arm gently. “In his own way, he is trying to lift your spirits.”

  “Then he is failing,” Dinah replied hoarsely, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. “Failing entirely.”

  Lady Whitehaven said nothing but continued to lead Dinah up the long staircase and then along the hallway until she came to a large room with the door propped open. It was beautiful and bigger than anything Dinah was used to but, in her grief, Dinah noticed nothing.

  “I do hope you will feel at home here with us—in time,” Lady Whitehaven murmured, helping Dinah to sit down carefully in a chair by the hearth. “I will leave you to rest now, unless you wish for company?” Seeing Dinah shake her head, Lady Whitehaven gave an understanding nod and then pressed Dinah’s shoulder gently. “Your maid, Sarah, will remain with you until you retire. Do rest for as long as you wish, Dinah. You have a good deal to recover from.”

  Dinah, who was feeling more and more exhausted, managed a small nod. “Thank you, Aunt, for everything you have done for me.”

  “It was the very least I could do,” Lady Whitehaven replied, letting go of Dinah’s shoulder and making her way back towards the door. “You will be safe here, child. Rest now. Sleep. You have nothing to fear any longer.”

  Chapter One

  “Well, Dinah, now we come to you.”

  Slowly, Dinah lifted her head to see her aunt standing framed in the doorway, a gleam in her eye and a small, expectant smile on her face.

  Dinah’s heart sank.

  “You know, do you not, that we have come to London for the Season?” Lady Whitehaven continued, coming into the drawing room and coming to stand directly in front of Dinah. “Your cousins – some of them, at least, are come back to support you.”

  “Support me in my endeavors to find a husband,” Dinah replied dully, knowing full well that the last few years had been not only a chance for her to complete her education but also to ensure that she was entirely prepared for the life that was to come. The life that would make her a wife to some as yet unknown gentleman. It was a thought that did not bring any joy to her heart—for it was the very last thing that she wanted.

  “That is it precisely!” Lady Whitehaven said loudly, practically beaming at Dinah. “I am certain that 1817 will be the year that you shall find yourself happily married and truly content, just as my daughters have been.” She threw a sharp glance towards Dinah. “And I would not have you complain nor state that you do not wish to marry. For Catherine did the very same, did she not?”

  Catherine, Dinah’s cousin, had been quite determined never to marry but only last Season had found a very suitable gentleman who had been more than willing to accept her just as she was – even with her penchant for riding astride instead of side saddle! This, Dinah realized, was meant to reassure her that even though she believed she did not wish to marry, there was no reason for her not to attempt to seek out a husband, given that she might thereafter find herself in a similar situation to that of Catherine’s.

  “And Lord Whitehaven–Grayson–is to join us also,” Lady Whitehaven continued, referring to her son, who had gained the title and was now the Marquess of Whitehaven. Unlike most, Lady Whitehaven still referred to her son by his Christian name, which Dinah found somewhat unusual but did not reject outright. She, of course, referred to him as Lord Whitehaven, as was expected, but that did not mean that she had a great deal of respect for her older cousin. He had proved himself to be as disagreeable, as rude, and as inconsiderate as he had appeared on the first day she had met him. His eagerness to attend the Season would have nothing to do with helping Dinah, of course. It would merely be to do with seeking his own pleasures and delights.

  “I thought that Lord Whitehaven preferred to stay at home during the Season,” she commented, as a small twinge of curiosity ran through her. Lord Whitehaven had remained at his estate these last years and had certainly made no attempt to aid his sisters in their search for a husband – so why was he to come to London now?

  Lady Whitehaven sighed and shrugged. “I believe that Grayson has taken some time to understand his role,” she suggested carefully. “Now that he has a good grasp of estate matters, and since the estate is doing well, I believe that he can finally allow himself a few weeks of respite. Besides which,” she added with a rueful smile, “he enjoyed the quiet that came with remaining at the estate whilst his sisters were in London. Now that they are all wed, I wonder if mayhap he feels the quiet becoming a little too great.”

  “Perhaps,” Dinah murmured, wondering if this meant that she might see very little of her cousin. That, at least, would be something of a relief. “When does he arrive?”

  “Later this afternoon,” Lady Whitehaven replied, looking rather pleased. “And we are all to attend a ball this evening. He will have to refresh himself and change rather quickly before we go, but I am certain h
e will be prepared on time.” Her eyebrow arched. “You have remembered, have you not, Dinah? You have a new gown for it.”

  Dinah screwed up her face and closed her eyes. The dressmaker she had been forced to attend had insisted on a few new gowns, all of which Lady Whitehaven had approved of. Dinah, who thought that they revealed far too much of her décolletage, did not care for them in the least – but Lady Whitehaven had insisted. There would be the maid to do her hair, which would take a good deal of time, and then she would be dressed and prepared to depart. She would have to endure hours upon hours of inane conversation floating all about her – for she had no intention of continuing on with any such discussions – whilst attempting to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. Not that such a thing was likely. During previous Seasons, Dinah had been able to hide herself away, given that her cousins were being pressed forward by their mother, but now that she was the only one left, there was to be no escape.

  “You should repair to your room soon,” Lady Whitehaven continued, clearly ignoring Dinah’s reaction. “There is to be a bath prepared and thereafter—”

  “Very well, very well,” Dinah sighed, interrupting Lady Whitehaven by getting to her feet and making for the door. “I shall go at once.”

  This seemed to please Lady Whitehaven, who smiled and accompanied Dinah to the door, as though she wanted to ensure that Dinah did as she had said. Nothing more was said, for Dinah hurried quickly through the door and made her way to the staircase that would lead to her bedchamber here in Lady Whitehaven’s London townhouse. It was a good deal smaller than the one back at the Lord Whitehaven estate, but Dinah did not complain. She had been given a very great deal, and she did not want to ever appear ungrateful – even though, at this present moment, she was feeling both frustrated and irritated over Lady Whitehaven’s insistence that she be primped and preened in preparation for this evening’s ball.