Mary Brendan - Rescued By The Forbidden Rake

Beholden to an irresistible rogue...

When her half sister goes missing, respectable Faye Shawcross is at her wits’ end! Convinced her impulsive younger sister has gotten herself mired in potential scandal, Faye is unsure whom to turn to for help—certainly not her upstanding fiancé.

The last person she expects to come to her rescue is the very man she’s condemned a rogue—Ryan Kavanagh, the dishonorable and disconcertingly alluring viscount. The magnetic Irishman knows he raises Faye’s passions, however reluctantly. He can nip her impending family scandal in the bud, for a price: he wants Faye as his mistress...

‘I’m very sorry to turn up again and bother you, sir,’ Faye blurted as soon as the door had closed.

‘I made it obvious when you were last here that I like being bothered by you, Miss Shawcross.’ Slowly he straightened and turned to face her. ‘In fact, I’m hoping you’ve saved me a journey to Mulberry House to speak to you. If you’re back to tell me you feel the same way about me, I can suggest what we might do about it.’

The irony in his voice couldn’t quite disguise the fact that he meant every word. And heaven only knew she did crave having his strong arms about her again. She knew if he bruised her mouth with his own, as he had before, his fiery passion would eradicate every worry from her head as easily as sunlight dissolved snow.

‘I deduce from your silence that you’re in two minds on it. Perhaps I should help you decide.’ He plunged his hands into his pockets and pinned her down with a dangerously challenging stare.

Faye put down her untasted tea in a rattle of crockery. ‘I bid you to be serious, sir, if you will.’

‘I’ve never been more serious in my life,’ he returned.

His vivid, unsmiling eyes tangled with hers before travelling over her body in a way that caused iced heat to streak through her veins.

‘And neither was I more serious than when I told you I will soon be married.’ Slashes of bright colour accented Faye’s cheekbones. ‘You shouldn’t have kissed me, Mr Kavanagh, and I shouldn’t have...’

Unable to explain herself, she snatched up her hat and gloves from the sofa.

‘You shouldn’t have betrayed your fiancé by liking it?’ he suggested. ‘Perhaps your feelings for Mr Collins aren’t as strong as you thought they were.’

Author Note

In my new Regency romance, Rescued by the Forbidden Rake, the heroine is known to be a good young woman. Everybody says so. Faye Shawcross has cared for her younger half-siblings since their feckless widowed mother abandoned them to chase after her lover. She’s also been a constant fiancée to her seafaring future husband.

But sometimes the temptation to stray from the path of righteousness is too strong to resist. Especially when it becomes obvious that duty and selflessness are not appreciated by those benefiting from them. Faye might be sweet-natured, but she is nobody’s doormat!

For years Faye has been content to settle for the quiet life of a country lady, surrounded by pastoral beauty and good friends. When Viscount Ryan Kavanagh turns up in the neighbourhood gossip immediately starts about this handsome Irishman’s licentious ways.

The things that Faye hears about Valeside Manor’s new squire can’t possibly be true...can they? He seems to be the perfect neighbour, helping her out of one tricky situation after another when her younger sister falls in love with a gypsy lad. But has Ryan Kavanagh an ulterior motive where she’s concerned, that proves his devilishness isn’t simply a rumour? And who is he really, anyway?

Faye wants to believe her rescuer sincere, but how can she trust him when he is reluctant to tell her about himself? Should she jeopardise everything she holds dear and take a chance on a future with the wicked Irishman?

I hope you enjoy reading about how Faye and Ryan battle their way through lies and deceit to discover peace and happiness for themselves and their families.

Rescued by the Forbidden Rake

Mary Brendan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MARY BRENDAN was born in North London, but now lives in rural Suffolk. She has always had a fascination with bygone days, and enjoys the research involved in writing historical fiction. When not at her word processor she can be found trying to bring order to a large overgrown garden, or browsing local fairs and junk shops for that elusive bargain.

Books by Mary Brendan

Mills & Boon Historical Romance

The Virtuous Courtesan

The Rake’s Defiant Mistress

Rescued by the Forbidden Rake

Linked by Character

Tarnished, Tempted and Tamed

Compromising the Duke’s Daughter

Society Scandals

A Date with Dishonour

The Rake’s Ruined Lady

Regency Rogues

Chivalrous Rake, Scandalous Lady

Dangerous Lord, Seductive Miss

The Hunter Brothers

A Practical Mistress

The Wanton Bride

Visit the Author Profile page

at millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

‘Our business is concluded, sir. I have made my decision.’

Faye Shawcross abruptly stood up. The sauce of the man! Not only had he advised her to invest in a financial plan that had failed dismally, but he wanted to persuade her to plough what money remained to her into another of his schemes. When she had received his note yesterday, requesting an audience, she had believed he intended to come and beg forgiveness for letting her down so badly. She had even harboured a hope that he might speak of recompense. Not so much of it! Barely had he settled on a chair before proffering a new parchment for signature as though she were a gullible fool.

‘I do not want to seem dictatorial, Miss Shawcross, but I beg you will reconsider my proposal. I’m sure your fiancé would direct you to listen to me, were he here.’

‘But he is not, and neither is his presence required. I need no further time, or advice, sir. I have clearly said I have made my decision and have terminated my contract with you. Goodbye.’

A moment ago Faye had employed the small brass bell on the table by her side; her housekeeper had promptly appeared and was now hovering, awaiting an instruction.

‘Mr Westwood is leaving, Mrs Gideon.’

A barking cough from the servant reminded the man she was ready to show him out.

Westwood had sprung to his feet as Miss Shawcross did, an angry blush burning in his cheeks at her curt dismissal; but he managed to jerk a bow. ‘As you wish; but I make no apology for striving to assist you in restoring your fortunes.’