Sophia James - Marriage Made in Shame

THE PENNILESS LORDS THE PENNILESS LORDS Author Note Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Copyright

In want of a wealthy wife

Meet Daniel, Gabriel, Lucien and Francis Four lords: each down on his fortune and each in need of a wife of means.

From such beginnings, can these marriages of convenience turn into something more treasured than money?

Don’t miss this enthralling new quartet by Sophia James

Read Daniel and Gabriel’s stories in

Marriage Made in Money Already available

Marriage Made in Shame Out now

AUTHOR NOTE Author Note Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Copyright

Marriage Made in Shame is the second book in The Penniless Lords quartet, and Gabriel’s story has been a delight to write.

I took his problem to the book club I have been in for twenty years, with twelve of my closest friends, and we had such a great time discussing just exactly how he might be cured.

He’s a complex, enigmatic hero, who needed an interesting and unusual heroine for his happy-ever-after.

Lady Adelaide Ashfield is a wealthy bluestocking with her own particular demons and a desperate need to be loved.

Daniel (Book 1 Marriage Made in Money ), Lucien (Book 3), and Francis (Book 4) are also part of the story—and so is Christine, Lucien’s sister, who keeps popping her head in everywhere.

I hope you enjoy Marriage Made in Shame.

I love any feedback, and can be found on sophiajames.co.

Marriage Made in Shame

Sophia James

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SOPHIA JAMESlives in Chelsea Bay, on Auckland, New Zealand’s North Shore, with her husband, who is an artist. She has a degree in English and History from Auckland University and believes her love of writing was formed by reading Georgette Heyer in the holidays at her grandmother’s house. Sophia enjoys getting feedback at sophiajames.co.

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Contents

Cover

THE PENNILESS LORDS THE PENNILESS LORDS THE PENNILESS LORDS Author Note Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Copyright In want of a wealthy wife Meet Daniel, Gabriel, Lucien and Francis Four lords: each down on his fortune and each in need of a wife of means. From such beginnings, can these marriages of convenience turn into something more treasured than money? Don’t miss this enthralling new quartet by Sophia James Read Daniel and Gabriel’s stories in Marriage Made in Money Already available Marriage Made in Shame Out now

Author Note AUTHOR NOTE Author Note Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Copyright Marriage Made in Shame is the second book in The Penniless Lords quartet, and Gabriel’s story has been a delight to write. I took his problem to the book club I have been in for twenty years, with twelve of my closest friends, and we had such a great time discussing just exactly how he might be cured. He’s a complex, enigmatic hero, who needed an interesting and unusual heroine for his happy-ever-after. Lady Adelaide Ashfield is a wealthy bluestocking with her own particular demons and a desperate need to be loved. Daniel (Book 1 Marriage Made in Money ), Lucien (Book 3), and Francis (Book 4) are also part of the story—and so is Christine, Lucien’s sister, who keeps popping her head in everywhere. I hope you enjoy Marriage Made in Shame. I love any feedback, and can be found on sophiajames.co .

Title Page Marriage Made in Shame Sophia James www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author SOPHIA JAMES lives in Chelsea Bay, on Auckland, New Zealand’s North Shore, with her husband, who is an artist. She has a degree in English and History from Auckland University and believes her love of writing was formed by reading Georgette Heyer in the holidays at her grandmother’s house. Sophia enjoys getting feedback at sophiajames.co .

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

London —1812

The familiar sense of nothingness engulfed Gabriel Hughes, the fourth Earl of Wesley, taking all breath and warmth with it as he sat with a glass of fine brandy and a half-smoked cheroot.

Willing women dressed as sprites, nymphs and naiads lounged around him, the white of their scanty togas falling away from generous and naked breasts. A dozen other men had already chosen their succour for the night and had gone one by one to the chambers fanning out from the central courtyard. But here the lights were dimmed and the smoke from dying candles curled up towards the ceiling. The Temple of Aphrodite was a place of consenting lust and well-paid liaisons. It was also filled to the brim.

‘I should very much like to show you my charms in bed, monsieur ,’ the beautiful blonde next to him whispered in a French accent overlaid with a heavy, east London twang. ‘I have heard your name mentioned many times before and it is said that you have a great prowess in that department.’

Had... The word echoed in Gabriel’s mind and reverberated as a shot would around a steel chamber. Downing the last of the brandy, he hoped strong alcohol might coax out feelings he had long since forgotten. Memory. How he hated it. His heartbeat quickened as he swallowed down disquiet, the hollow ache of expectation not something he wanted to feel.

‘I am Athena, my lord.’

‘The sister of Dionysus?’

She looked puzzled by his words as she flicked the straps from milky white shoulders and the warm bounty of her bosom nudged against his arm as she leant forward. ‘I do not know this sister of Diana, my lord, but I can be yours tonight. I can pleasure you well if this be your favour.’

He hadn’t expected her to know anything of the Greek gods, but still disappointment bloomed—a woman of beauty and little else. Her tongue ran around pouting lips, wetting them and urging response, dilated pupils alluding to some opiate, a whore without shame or limit and one whom life had probably disappointed. Feeling some sense of kinship, Gabriel smiled.