The Earl's Christmas Bride

Book 0: Marriage Game

by Ella Quinn

Genres: Short Stories; Women's Fiction; Holiday Romance

Synopsis

Charismatic heroes who are determined to remain single meet their captivating matches—with irresistible results—in USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s delightfully romantic and thrillingly sexy Regency-set Marriage Game series. Will appeal to fans of historical romance and readers of Sabrina Jeffries, Eloisa James, and Tessa Dare.

Ella Quinn’s charming, clever bachelors are happily single—and aspire to stay that way. But one by one, they discover that love, like the spirit of Christmas, is hard to resist . . .

To mend his jilted heart, Lucian, Earl of Devon, has been on an extended tour of Europe. But now he’s returned to England—newly determined to remain unmarried. Devon accepts his friend Lord Exeter’s invitation to a holiday house party only after being assured the other guests are exclusively couples and children. Yet it seems Exeter forgot to mention Miss Althea Rutherford. She is eligible, exasperatingly likable, and worse, appears to be totally uninterested in Devon—with one exception . . .
 
Notoriously difficult to please, Althea has been out for two years, met no one she can envision spending her life with, and is now sick of would-be suitors. In lieu of a third season, she is determined to tour the Continent—a subject Devon is enthused to discuss with her. Devon’s fascinating stories of Europe only strengthen Althea’s resolve to remain unattached—and weaken his own . . .
 
Devon thought he was finished with traveling, but the idea of making the journey with the intriguing Althea won’t leave his mind. The challenge is to convince her that he’d be a much more enjoyable companion than a chaperone—perhaps for many Christmases to come . . .
 
Praise for The Most Eligible Viscount in London

“The deliciously complicated courtship between Gavin and Georgie is only enhanced by their meddling friends’ well-meant efforts to propel them toward the altar. Regency fans will be delighted.”
—Publishers Weekly

Release date: September 27, 2022

Publisher: Zebra Books

Print pages: 120

Sample

CHAPTER ONE

Mid-December 1818, the Priory, Kent

“I do not understand why you will not simply arrange a match for Althea.”

Miss Althea Rutherford had had her ear pressed to the door of her brother’s study ever since her mother arrived and winced at the urgency in her mother’s tone. It was not as if Althea had not received offers. She just had not liked any of the gentlemen well enough to even consider knowing them better. They either fawned all over her or acted as if she should be happy to wed them because of their rank. One had even attempted to compromise her. Not that her brother knew about it. Althea did not want a death on her conscience. And she was certain mere tolerance would not evolve into love. Which she had been painstakingly trying to explain to that one gentleman just before he slobbered on her face. Althea was tempted to march into the room and inform her mother she would not countenance an arranged match. She wanted what her brother and his wife had. A love match. Rutherford had never been happier. Indeed, they were all better off since Anna had joined their family.

“I do not understand why you would wish me to arrange a match for her. It did not go well for you.” Her brother, Lord Rutherford, used his bored drawl. His left eyebrow would be raised as he spoke. No matter how irritated he was, he never shouted.

“Yes, well, that was different. My feelings were already attached,” Mama said. After a few seconds, she spoke again. “You do not mean to tell me Althea has formed an attachment?”

“Not at all. I am merely stating that she is not nearly old enough for you to be concerned about her marital state. Phoebe Evesham was five and twenty when she finally wed.” Phoebe was the Countess of Evesham—“Anna was one and twenty. I could give you more examples. None of my friends has married a lady who had not attained her majority. Althea has time.”

“What are they discussing?” Althea’s sister-in-law, Anna, whispered.

“Me. Mama wants Rutherford to arrange a marriage for me.” Just the idea was disgusting.

Her mother’s voice sounded through the door again. “Very well, have it your way. You always do.”

“Come,” Anna whispered as she pulled Althea from the door and into a parlor down the corridor.

They had no sooner closed that door when the door to Rutherford’s study slammed shut.

Althea took a breath and let it out. “At least her idea died a quick death. I do not know why she is so worked up about me not being wed yet.”

“It is most likely the way she was raised.” Anna opened the door and signaled to Althea that it was safe to go out. “My mother was the same.” Anna grinned. “It irritated me to no end. But I do have some good news. Come with me. I have to tell Sebastian.”

Anna was the only person in the world who was allowed to call Rutherford Sebastian. When Althea had been young, she had called him Ruhy, but once she came out, she decided the name was childish and began to call him Rutherford. “What is it?”

“You will hear about it in a moment.” Anna tapped lightly and opened the door. “I heard your mother leave. Would you like tea or something stronger?”

Rutherford gave her a rueful grin. “Tea will be fine.” He glanced at Althea. “I take it you already know what she wanted.”

“I do.” Althea replied.

Anna gracefully lowered herself onto one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. “I also have some news you will like. I just received a letter from Caro. We have been invited to the Huntingdons’ estate for Christmas.”

Althea wanted to groan. It would be another tonish house party. Caro Huntley, more properly the Countess of Huntley, was an old friend of Anna’s, just as her husband was a friend of Rutherford’s. The Huntingdons were the Marquis and Marchioness of Huntingdon, Caro’s in-laws.

Rutherford opened his mouth, but Anna raised a hand. “It will just be friends. Phoebe and Marcus will be there as well…” Anna named several couples who were close friends of theirs, whom Althea and her sisters had met several times over the years since Anna and Rutherford wed. “Everyone is bringing their children and any brothers and sisters they have who are not already committed elsewhere.”

Althea could not have heard correctly. “Just friends and children?”

“Indeed.” Anna nodded. “According to Caro, Lady Huntingdon does not want to have to plan entertainments for young ladies or gentlemen. But she thought it would be an excellent time to have the house filled with children.”

Rutherford chuckled. “With all of us in the house, she’ll get her wish.”

Anna smiled. “I think it will be fun, and wonderful to spend time with our friends.”

It would be fun. Phoebe and Marcus, the Earl and Countess of Evesham had younger nieces who might be there. And Lord and Lady Huntingdon had younger daughters who had not yet come out. There would not be anyone Althea’s age, but she could spend time with the children and the adults. And with no other young ladies or single gentlemen, she could read to her heart’s content or play the piano. What a relief that would be.

“I agree.” He nodded. “When do we leave, and how long will we be gone?”

“I was planning to depart next week, but I think we can be ready to go in about two days. We will be away until after Three Kings Day. Because there are no set plans, there are no set dates. Caro, Huntley, and their children are already there, as are Phoebe and Marcus. Their nieces, though, are spending Christmas in Paris with his parents.”

Althea wondered if the Huntingdons’ daughter, the Marchioness of Exeter, and her husband would be attending. “I assume Dorie and Alex will be present?”

Anna nodded. “They will be, so you will have a friend there. They are also bringing his sisters. The Wivenlys will be there. Even Kit and Mary are going to try to attend.”

Alex Exeter had returned from his Grand Tour earlier in the year. Actually it seemed as if a lot of single gentlemen were making Grand Tours. Althea wondered why ladies could not do the same. Well, one lady, Lady Augusta Vivers, now Lady Phineas Carter-Woods, had started off doing something of the sort, and she was younger than Althea. That is what she should do before she wed. Some time on the Continent was an excellent idea. All she had to do was talk her brother into it.

Griffin, their butler, entered with tea, and Althea rose. “I shall leave you two alone.”

Once in the corridor, she hurried to the stairs and her bedchamber, where Bacton, her maid, was sorting through her clothing. “We are attending a house party and leaving in two days.”

“I’d heard about the party.” Bacton shook out a gown. “I’ll start packing.”

Not only would the house party be grand fun, but Rutherford would be more relaxed among his friends. Perhaps that would be the best time to convince him to allow her to have her own Grand Tour. Not for three years, of course, but possibly for one year.

Mid-December, on a ship approaching Dover

Lucian, the Earl of Devon, stood at the rail of the packet as it approached England’s coast. The famous white cliffs of Dover rose as if formed by the sea.

Home.

It had been a long time. Three and a half years since he’d left on his Grand Tour, fully expecting to be wed upon his return. Until, that is, Margaret, his betrothed, had written to inform him six months ago that she had married a gentleman with whom she had fallen in love. In what he could only suppose was an attempt to lessen the betrayal, she expressed her wish that he would find a lady he could love. But that hadn’t been the plan. He’d been betrothed to her for most of his life. His whole future revolved around them being married. Or it had. The problem was, Lucian couldn’t see his way forward without her. He had to wed, but he had no idea how to go about it. If Margaret could betray him like that, how could he trust another lady?

Letters from her parents and his had swiftly followed Margaret’s. Her parents explained she had reached her majority—a fact Lucian had forgotten—and nothing they could say or do would change her mind. Never one to allow a setback, as his mother called it, to hinder her, Mama had arranged for them all to attend a house party over Christmas where he could meet eligible young ladies. But Lucian wasn’t ready. Al. . .