Anabelle Bryant - The Den Of Iniquity

Welcome to the most notorious address in London…

Beneath the airs and graces of the Ton lies The Underworld – London’s most scandalous gambling hall.

The only thing darker and more debauched that the hall itself? The proprietor, Max Sinclair. As mysterious as the corners of the city he stalks, Max has vowed to take revenge against the men who murdered his mother. And The Underworld attracts London’s darkest characters – the perfect partners in crime.

But when Lady Vivienne Beaumont enters The Underworld, Max’s life becomes more dangerous than he ever thought possible.

The Den of Iniquity

Anabelle Bryant

ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Also available by Anabelle Bryant Book List Author Bio Acknowledgements Dedication Prologue 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 Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Copyright

Three Regency Rogues

To Love A Wicked Scoundrel

Duke of Darkness

The Midnight Rake

Regency Charms

Defying the Earl

Undone by His Kiss

Society’s Most Scandalous Viscount

His Forbidden Debutante

ANABELLE BRYANT

began reading at age three and never stopped. Her passion for reading soon turned into a passion for writing and an author was born. Happy to grab a suitcase if it ensures a new adventure, Anabelle finds endless inspiration in travel, especially imaginary jaunts into Regency England, a far cry from her home in New Jersey. Instead, her clever characters live out her daydreams because really, who wouldn’t want to dance with a handsome duke or kiss a wicked earl?

Though teaching keeps her grounded, photography, running and writing counterbalance her wanderlust. Often found with her nose in a book, Anabelle earned her Master’s Degree and is completing her Doctorate Degree in education. Thrilled to be an author for Harlequin’s HQ Digital line, Anabelle’s historical romances are character driven. She strives to provide a heartfelt connection between her hero, heroine, and the reader, believing the emotional journey on the path to true love is the most important bond. Clever secondary characters and lively conversation keep the pages turning.

Anabelle knows sometimes life doesn’t provide a happily ever after, but her novels always do. She enjoys talking with her fans. Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnabelleBryantAuthor, Twitter via @AnabelleBryantand join her mailing list via www.anabellebryant.comfor the latest news concerning her upcoming novels.

My sincerest gratitude to Clio Cornish and Helen Williams

who understand my view of the Regency in brilliant detail.

This book is dedicated to the friends who fill my heart with their impatience for this series.

Kim, Lynda, Cindy, Ellen, Kelly, Beth-Ann, MaryBeth, Lauren, Terri, and Judy.

Contents

Cover

Blurb Welcome to the most notorious address in London… Beneath the airs and graces of the Ton lies The Underworld – London’s most scandalous gambling hall. The only thing darker and more debauched that the hall itself? The proprietor, Max Sinclair. As mysterious as the corners of the city he stalks, Max has vowed to take revenge against the men who murdered his mother. And The Underworld attracts London’s darkest characters – the perfect partners in crime. But when Lady Vivienne Beaumont enters The Underworld, Max’s life becomes more dangerous than he ever thought possible.

Title Page The Den of Iniquity Anabelle Bryant ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Book List Also available by Anabelle Bryant Book List Author Bio Acknowledgements Dedication Prologue 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 Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Copyright Three Regency Rogues To Love A Wicked Scoundrel Duke of Darkness The Midnight Rake Regency Charms Defying the Earl Undone by His Kiss Society’s Most Scandalous Viscount His Forbidden Debutante

Author Bio ANABELLE BRYANT began reading at age three and never stopped. Her passion for reading soon turned into a passion for writing and an author was born. Happy to grab a suitcase if it ensures a new adventure, Anabelle finds endless inspiration in travel, especially imaginary jaunts into Regency England, a far cry from her home in New Jersey. Instead, her clever characters live out her daydreams because really, who wouldn’t want to dance with a handsome duke or kiss a wicked earl? Though teaching keeps her grounded, photography, running and writing counterbalance her wanderlust. Often found with her nose in a book, Anabelle earned her Master’s Degree and is completing her Doctorate Degree in education. Thrilled to be an author for Harlequin’s HQ Digital line, Anabelle’s historical romances are character driven. She strives to provide a heartfelt connection between her hero, heroine, and the reader, believing the emotional journey on the path to true love is the most important bond. Clever secondary characters and lively conversation keep the pages turning. Anabelle knows sometimes life doesn’t provide a happily ever after, but her novels always do. She enjoys talking with her fans. Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnabelleBryantAuthor , Twitter via @AnabelleBryant and join her mailing list via www.anabellebryant.com for the latest news concerning her upcoming novels.

Acknowledgements My sincerest gratitude to Clio Cornish and Helen Williams who understand my view of the Regency in brilliant detail.

Dedication This book is dedicated to the friends who fill my heart with their impatience for this series. Kim, Lynda, Cindy, Ellen, Kelly, Beth-Ann, MaryBeth, Lauren, Terri, and Judy.

Prologue Prologue ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ ‘Of course you do.’ Maxwell Sinclair leaned closer, his menacing growl a hairsbreadth from the liar’s mottled face. ‘Twelve years isn’t long enough to wipe a repugnant act of violence from my memory and neither is it gone from yours.’ The image haunts me every day and always will. Max pressed harder on the broken billiard stick, the polished wood rolling over the cur’s Adam’s apple to settle at the softest part of his neck. A sharp chortle followed as Ludlow gasped for breath, his face bright crimson, eyes enlarged and frantic. ‘Please. Have mercy.’ He choked out the words. ‘It wasn’t my idea. It was Pimms.’ ‘An insignificant detail. You eluded me for years and now that I’ve dragged you from the hole where you hide, I’ll be damned before I waste this opportunity.’ Max shifted his weight forward. ‘You didn’t grant mercy all those years ago, now did you?’ Frustrated with the conflicted emotions pulsing in his blood and wanting to be finished, Max applied more pressure to the cue, satisfied when Ludlow sputtered a desperate guttural breath. There was no need to prolong the altercation. No one would dare step into the alley behind the disreputable gaming hell while Max conducted business. Still, he’d dirtied his hands enough. Dropping the stick, he withdrew as the man’s eyes fluttered closed, the limp body falling to the filthy cobbles of the Whitechapel alley in a crumpled heap. ‘Dump him in the river.’ He turned without a backward glance. ‘Hell’s waiting for Mr Ludlow.’ Two men emerged from the shadows to act on the order. And so the first deed was done.