Mary Brendan - A Date with Dishonour

Lady seeks kind gentleman to offer protection…

When a mysterious lady advertises her charms in the newspaper, there’s no way Viscount Blackthorne will allow his rash friend to attend the twilight rendezvous. Taking his place, Blackthorne is surprised by the reluctant beauty who appears—she’s far from the scheming courtesan he was expecting.

Elise Dewey must protect her foolish sister by posing as “Lady Lonesome” in her stead. She’s shockingly stirred by the imposing stranger who waits for her in Vauxhall Gardens—but their liaison has been observed… Unless Elise accepts the viscount’s bold proposal of marriage, they will all be plunged into scandal!

‘If you do not let me pass this instant I shall scream and accuse you of behaviour most unbecoming to a gentleman.’

Elise clung to her indignation in the hope that it might subdue her rising panic.

‘Indeed?’ He sounded bored. ‘And I shall accuse you of behaviour most unbecoming to a lady. But I think we both know you are not.’

As she backed away from him, darting glances to and fro, Alex swept back his jacket to plunge his fists on his hips. He was tied between impatience and intrigue. Novice Jezebel maybe, but she had perfected the persona of a prim maiden and it was definitely not the reaction he was used to arousing when he was stranded with a woman in the dark.

‘Are you saying you aren’t Lady Lonesome?’ he demanded.

‘Do I look as though I might adopt such a ridiculous soubriquet?’

Praise for Mary Brendan:

‘Brendan casts a spell almost from the first page of this second instalment in her series about the Hunter brothers. Her skilful use of language paints word pictures. The sexual tension between the hero and heroine is palpable, and the plot has many twists that keeps the reader riveted.’

—RT Book Reviews on THE WANTON BRIDE

‘Accomplished talent Mary Brendan is very adept at telling both sides of a love story, which easily doubles the readers’ pleasure.’

—RT Book Reviews on A KIND AND DECENT MAN

Author Note

Most young women dream of finding a perfect mate. In reality, the quest for “the one” is rarely easy, and never more so than in Regency England’s polite society, where etiquette and social class presented barriers to ill-starred lovers.

In A Date with Dishonor, Elise Dewey would sooner forgo marriage than endure the sort of mésalliance that caused her warring parents such unhappiness. But she is persuaded to move to town to assist her sister’s search for a husband despite her misgivings that Beatrice is going about things in a hazardous way. When her sister’s unorthodox methods of attracting a man cause a calamity to befall them, it is innocent Elise who bears the brunt of the disgrace. Alex Blackthorne is a womanizing rogue—just the sort of fellow Elise has tried to avoid—yet now she is at his mercy, sensually enslaved by the charismatic viscount, despite their families having tangled tragically in the past.…

The second novel in the series will feature Beatrice as the heroine. She has been unlucky in love, and has been taught a hard lesson about taking risks with her reputation and virtue. At the age of twenty-five, she seems content to live quietly in the countryside with her beloved papa. Then an old flame turns up out of the blue, reigniting in Beatrice a yearning she believed she’d conquered long ago.

I hope you enjoy reading about the Dewey sisters’ tears and laughter while looking for love as much as I have liked writing the stories for you.

A Date with Dishonor

Mary Brendan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MARY BRENDANwas 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.

Novels by the same author:

WEDDING NIGHT REVENGE*

THE UNKNOWN WIFE*

A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE*

THE RAKE AND THE REBEL*

A PRACTICAL MISTRESS†

THE WANTON BRIDE†

THE VIRTUOUS COURTESAN**

THE RAKE’S DEFIANT MISTRESS**

CHIVALROUS RAKE, SCANDALOUS LADY††

DANGEROUS LORD, SEDUCTIVE MISS††

*The Meredith Sisters † The Hunter Brothers **linked by character †† Regency Rogues

Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Contents

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 One

‘Hell’s teeth, give it up, man. Can’t you see how vulgar it all is?’

The weary censure had been directed at a gentleman who gave no more response than to deepen the furrow in his brow. He leaned forwards, resting his chin in his cupped hands, absorbed in his reading.

Viscount Blackthorne adjusted his neckcloth with nimble fingers but, when his friend continued frowning at the newsprint spread on the table, he turned impatiently from his reflection to whip the offending paper out from under the fellow’s elbows. Having efficiently folded the gazette, his lordship tossed it on to a wing chair.

Hugh Kendrick huffed in indignation, lolling back in his seat with a sulky expression. ‘Well, something’s got to be done, Alex. If I don’t offer to pay Whittiker soon, the odious skinflint will dun me. Then everybody else will pitch in. Only needs one of ’em to start the ball rolling and my desk will be groaning under the weight of writs.’ His glum face again sought the support of his hands. ‘If I end in the Fleet my mother will have a fit, and Toby...’ the mention of his older brother caused his mouth to twist in a grimace ‘...no doubt Toby will demand a dawn appointment on Clapham Common because I’ve sullied the family name.’

‘Don’t be so damned melodramatic.’ Alex Blackthorne’s lack of sympathy held a hint of amusement. A moment later he was once more contemplating his appearance, long patrician fingers dusting an immaculate broad shoulder encased in charcoal superfine. ‘You’re not the first man to have let a woman make a fool of him and bring him close to ruin.’

‘You wouldn’t let it happen to you.’ A look of begrudging admiration shaped Hugh’s features.

‘No...I wouldn’t.’ Alex grinned lopsidedly at the glass, but decided not to rub salt into his old friend’s smarting wound by elaborating. He’d already given him his opinion, on numerous occasions, on the subject of idiots who allowed courtesans to fleece them.

Hugh sprung to his feet, snatching up the gazette. ‘I reckon it’s a sound idea and I’d found one that seemed just the ticket. Here, I’ll read it to you...’

A protracted muttering accompanied Alex raising his deep-brown eyes heavenwards.

Ignoring his friend’s weary cursing, Hugh began, ‘Lady Lonesome, desperate to free herself from the constraints of a cruel guardian, seeks kind gentleman to offer protection from...’

A snort of laughter curtailed Hugh’s recitation. ‘Methinks the lonesome lady is keener on a plump wallet than a kind gentleman.’ Alex quirked an eyebrow. ‘You should suit each other well. She’s after the same thing you are.’