Tempering the Viscount’s Envy

Book 3: The Lords of Vice

by C.H. Admirand

Genres: Historical Romance

Synopsis

Pride, Lust, Envy and Greed...vices that could lead a gentleman down the road to ruin. Unless he meets his saving grace in the form of a virtuous poor relation.

A chance meeting at dawn on Hogmanay brings a tall, dark, and handsome man into Lady Calliope's life. Will he bring good fortune and the promise of love, or disaster?

Viscount William Chattsworth is envious of his cousin, the duke. The duke's good fortune and lofty position in society has been well-earned. The viscount's circumstances have been drastically reduced after his father, the earl, mysteriously disappears. Thinking to make the most of the distant familial connection, he seeks an audience with the duke. The audience does not go as planned, and the half-truths he tells the duke are exposed as angry words are exchanged.

Lady Calliope Harrington has been enjoying an extended stay at Wyndmere Hall with the duke's sister, Lady Phoebe, and their good friend, Lady Aurelia Coddington, as she prepares to marry the duke's brother. Distracted by the raised voices coming out of the duke's upstairs study, she pauses at the top of the stairs to listen.

The viscount storms out of the study and barrels into Lady Calliope, catching her before she falls headlong down the staircase. Breathless from having the wind knocked out of her, Calliope cannot speak, only cling to her rescuer's arms.

The duke rushes out of his study and sees Lady Calliope in the viscount's arms, the butler and housekeeper at the bottom of the stairs staring at the couple, and immediately demands his cousin marry Calliope to save her reputation.

The viscount is saddled with a bride-to-be, who has no fortune or family to speak of, and is on shaky terms with his benefactor, the duke. Calliope is about to marry a man who is blinded by envy and desperately in search of an heiress, while she has nothing to offer him.

Living apart, the viscount in London at the behest of the duke, and Calliope at Chattsworth Manor, the couple slowly realize the instant attraction they had felt on Hogmanay has only grown stronger, while Calliope's frustration over their hasty marriage to protect her name, and the viscount's need to marry an heiress, lessen over time.

Will the viscount let go of the crippling envy that keeps him from seeing the inner strength beneath Calliope's quiet beauty and come to love her? Will Calliope learn to trust the viscount and finally find her true place in life—at the viscount's side?

The Lords of Vice

Mending the Duke's Pride

Avoiding the Earl's Lust

Tempering the Viscount's Envy

Redirecting the Baron's Greed

Release date: June 29, 2021

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Print pages: 483

Sample

Excerpt from Chapter Two

The doors to the church burst open and a deep voice shouted, “Who are ye and what have ye done to Lady Calliope?”

Viscount William Chattsworth tightened his hold on Lady Harrington and met the angry intruder’s stare with one of his own. “Who the devil wants to know?” he demanded.

The man strode to where William stood with the limp lady in his arms. Was the lady ill? Was this man her husband? He studied the light-haired man with the piercing green eyes dressed in unrelieved black but refused to back down until he knew who he was addressing.

“Lady Aurelia,” the man said, turning toward her. “Are ye hurt?”

She shook her head in answer, looking as if she were afraid. Bloody hell! Was the man a known rotter? A scoundrel?

Beyond irritated that the man demanding answers had yet to deign to answer his question, William stepped in front of Lady Aurelia, noting that Lady Calliope stirred in his arms. “I shall see that my cousins, Earl Lippincott and the Duke of Wyndmere, have you put behind bars for harassing these two fair ladies.”

The man turned to stare at William, with an odd look on his face and recognition in his eyes. “So that be the way of it,” he said at last.

“The way of what?” William heard the sharp intake of breath and looked down at the woman in his arms. Her skin was the color of fresh cream with a hint of color gracing her cheekbones once more. Her gray eyes and honey-blonde hair added to her air of quiet beauty. Distracted, he didn’t realize the man had stepped close enough to place his hand on William’s shoulder.

He jolted and damned himself for losing his concentration and, with it, the ability to protect the two women who had yet to explain why they were without escort miles from home at this early hour.

“Lady Calliope?” the man called softly.

Her eyes fluttered open and she rasped, “Patrick! What are you doing here?”

“I have a mind to ask ye the same, yer ladyship,” he grumbled before frowning at William. “Why have ye not set her down yet?” he demanded.

“Until I know more than your first name, Patrick,” he growled, “I shall not release her, nor will I allow Lady Coddington to step from behind me.”

Patrick’s green eyes shone with a touch of devilment. “And how do ye plan to protect either of them with yer hands full?”

Blast! Good point and hard to answer without risking a heavy blow to his pride. He shifted the lady he held, setting her on her feet while keeping her tucked flush against his side. For a moment, he could swear he felt her heartbeat against him before he shifted her behind him to join her friend. “I’ve no weapon,” William declared. “But I warn you, I excel at bare knuckle fighting.”

The other man slowly smiled. “Well now, I’d welcome a chance to have a go at ye, but I’ve promised His Grace to bring their ladyships home without delay.”

Aurelia groaned. “Jared knows we left?”

“Sure and it’s me job to see to yer protection, yer ladyship. Did ye think after everythin’ that’s happened in the last year, the duke or the earl would let ye off the grounds without someone followin’ behind ye?”

“You are acquainted with my cousins?”

“Aye. And as to that, might I inquire as to yer name?”

William knew when he’d come up against a man more stubborn than himself. Patrick was that man. “Name’s Chattsworth. Viscount William Chattsworth.”

“I’ve heard His Grace mention ye were expected. Didn’t know ye’d be arrivin’ before breakfast, though.”

With that, Patrick sighed and said, “Yer ladyships can come out from behind yer protector. I’ve promised to return ye to Wyndmere Hall. And as yer intended told me, I’d best be quick about it.”

Aurelia was the first to leave her sanctuary. “Was Edward overset?”

Patrick’s face lost all expression as he replied, “Ye could say that.”

“Oh, dear,” Calliope whispered. “Was Lord Coddington awake when you left?”

Aurelia laughed. “I thought you’d been living with us long enough to realize Uncle Phineas doesn’t rise before the sun—ever!”

Calliope blew out a breath. “True. I must confess I was concerned we’d have to listen to another lecture from your uncle, your intended, or the duke.”

“Edward may be vexed with me,” Aurelia admitted, “but not quite as upset as the duke may be.”

“Rest assured, yer ladyships, both the earl and the duke are more than a bit vexed, as ye put it.”

They fell silent.

“I daresay, I could use a cup of tea and my horse a warm stable with a cupful of oats.”

Patrick’s gaze met his. “If ye’ll follow me, yer lordship, I’m certain sure His Grace or his lordship the earl will see to both.” He paused before adding, “Name’s O’Malley. Head of His Grace’s personal guard.”

“O’Malley,” William said slowly, committing the name to memory. “Thank you for your diligence and duty regarding Lady Coddington and Lady Harrington.”

He nodded. “Ye’re welcome. Let’s be off now. The duke will be hot on me heels if I don’t bring ye back immediately.”

The viscount wondered why the duke was so protective of the ladies. Well, of course his cousin, Edward, would be of his intended, but why was he so concerned with her friend as well? Was there more to the on dits circling the ton as to the enemies of the duke? There was a bit of mystery to be solved here and while he loved nothing better, he already had a mystery he hadn’t solved—the disappearance of his father.

While he loved solving mysteries, a chance to use his skill bare knuckle fighting with the big man striding toward the door to hold it open for Lady Coddington and Lady Harrington held great appeal. He cracked his knuckles and noted the gleam of anticipation in O’Malley’s eyes. Aye, he’d be testing his mettle against the head of his cousin’s personal guard before returning home.

A glance at the wand-slim woman smiling at O’Malley as she and her friend walked through the door that the guard held open for them had him wondering again if she had an intended. Bloody hell! Did she have a husband?

He’d come to Wyndmere Hall at the behest of his cousin, the duke, in answer to his request for an audience. Best lend his full concentration on the more urgent matter at hand—refilling his family’s coffers so he could woo and win an heiress. A highborn lady to grace his table, greet his guests, and warm his bed with but one thought in mind—begetting an heir to carry on the Chattsworth name.

Lady Harrington was a distraction he could ill afford. Best to steer clear of her. Her lilting laughter had him drawing in a breath at the sound. It reminded him of the faerie chimes his mother used to tell him tales of when he was young.

“Distraction,” he mumbled aloud.

O’Malley’s gaze met his. “Problem, yer lordship?”

“Not at all, O’Malley,” he replied. “Lead the way, and I’ll bring up the rear.”

The nod of approval from his cousin’s guard had him moving with purpose for the first time since his father’s death. He had a plan and knew how to accomplish that plan, with the duke’s help.

Lord, let the man be willing to lend it to me, Chattsworth silently prayed.