Marriage Most Scandalous

When Sebastian Townshend, son of the eighth Earl of Edgewood, was banished from his family due to the tragic results of a duel, he vowed never to return to England. Now living on the continent, Sebastian has forged a new identity as a deadly mercenary, The Raven. But his former neighbor, Lady Margaret Landor, has different more >>

When Sebastian Townshend, son of the eighth Earl of Edgewood, was banished from his family due to the tragic results of a duel, he vowed never to return to England. Now living on the continent, Sebastian has forged a new identity as a deadly mercenary, The Raven. But his former neighbor, Lady Margaret Landor, has different plans for him. Back in England, Sebastian's father has had several accidents and Margaret suspects foul play and deception that reach as far back as the infamous duel. Convinced that only Sebastian can set the situation to rights, Margaret arranges a scandalous bargain with him that includes Sebastian's returning home as her husband. As the newlyweds uncover a deadly scheme, a fierce passion blossoms between them, which neither anticipated -- and neither can resist."Deliciously sexy."--Booklist

Prologue

1808, England

They met at dawn. It was a narrow opening in the trees, just off the forest path, but a well-known spot nonetheless. An old rock there, partially hidden in the brush, nearly two feet round, was reputed to mark the site of some ancient battle. It was now known as The Dueling Rock.

At least seven duels were verified to have taken place there over the years, many more were mere rumors. There were other places in the south of England, of course, for men to settle their differences, but none quite so renowned as The Dueling Rock. Men even came from as far away as London to satisfy their honor at this site in Kent.

Sebastian Townshend and his best friend Giles had explored the area as children, fascinated, as boys will be, by tales of honor and bloodshed. They were neighbors and had grown up together as their estates bordered each other. The Dueling Rock was located in the forest north of their homes.

It was the natural place for Giles to name for them to meet, just after Sebastian had said to him, "My God, you married a whore?"

Giles had socked him, and rightly so. Sebastian shouldn't have been so blunt. His only excuse was that he'd been in shock. But then he'd just found out he'd unwittingly slept with Giles's new wife.

How the devil was he to have known? The woman shouldn't have been at that soirée in London -- alone. She shouldn't have given the impression that she was available, introducing herself by only her first name, Juliette. But she had done more than that. She'd flirted outrageously with him and hinted they should meet to get better acquainted. Sebastian had been delighted. She was lovely, a new face, a sophisticated woman who knew what she wanted and obviously went after it. He was pleased to oblige her. Not once, by her actions, did he guess that she was married.

That quick marriage had been a rash move on Giles's part. So unlike him. He had a fiancée at the time, a lovely English heiress, Eleanor Landor. So he'd been hesitant to break the news to his father, was keeping his new bride in London until he could figure out a way to explain her. She shouldn't have been at that soirée, alone, without her husband.

Giles had come to Sebastian's home to make his accusation. His new wife, in her apparent guilt over the matter, had tearfully confessed everything to him. She'd put the blame entirely on Sebastian, even swore that he'd seduced her, when that hadn't been the case at all. And Giles, in his fury, wouldn't listen to Sebastian's account of it.

"The Dueling Rock, at dawn," Giles said before he stormed out of the house.

The accusations had been delivered in the entry hall of Edgewood, the Townshend ancestral home, the moment Sebastian came downstairs. Unfortunately, Sebastian's father, Douglas, had been drawn from his study by the shouts and had heard most of it. He wasn't angry. His disappointment in his oldes << less