Lady Scandal
Larissa Lyons
Lady Scandal
All of London is ablaze with rumors about the identity of the female brazen—and desperate—enough to advertise for a husband.
Zeus Tanner, a self-made man full of pride if not pedigree, answers the ad, vastly curious about the property alluded to by the mysterious Lady Scandal. He may not care about winning the lady, but he certainly wants her lands.
After a miserable arranged marriage, newly widowed Juliet determines she’ll not be married off again without having her say. Shielding her identity, she braves deciding her own fate. What she never expects is the sizzling encounter that happens when she meets applicant twenty-four...
Contents
Lady Scandal
Prologue ~ The Marriage Scheme
1. Applicant Twenty-Four
2. An Exchange of Forfeits Goes Afoot (Er, Awry)
3. Applicant Twenty-Four Bares All (Or Nearly So)
4. Magnificent Protrusions & Manly Paraphernalia
5. An Unplanned Eruption
6. Born to Privilege…and now Passion
7. Endearments, Confessions & Completion
Epilogue ~ Juliet. Memories. Home.
Excerpt from SEDUCTIVE SILENCE
About Larissa
More Fun and Sexy Historical Regencies by Larissa
Booklist - Available to Buy or for Pre-order
Dedication
The revised edition of Lady Scandal is dedicated to Martinique and Christina, two friends whose enthusiasm for joy-filled living enhances my own. Thank you both! Larissa
Lady Scandal
That’s honest, by heavens! I am glad you are no enemy to matrimony.
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Prologue ~ The Marriage Scheme
Though Lord Letheridge applied himself with undue diligence, groping and grabbing, fumbling for a feel of his young bride every chance he could, it was all for naught. By the time he’d wed his sixth and final wife, his body refused to cooperate. So, when Lord Letheridge died without legal issue, many of his sizable properties, the unentailed ones won gambling during his mis-begotten life, went to his dear wife. As did their debts.
Once funds and options were exhausted, the ever-practical Juliet, the heretofore perfectly proper and dutiful daughter (not to mention reluctantly willing wife, for all the good it never did), decided to take her future, and that of those dependent upon her, into her own creative hands.
For after seeing the hash her husband had made of things, Juliet was convinced a mere female could do no worse.
WANTED: A man for matrimony. One with well-equipt pockets.
Ideal candidates must possess blunt and plenty of it; not be overly fond of gaming nor drink. Fair of form and fine of face not essential (but certainly appreciated).
Comprehensive knowledge of estate management a boon.
In return, the chosen applicant will receive a genteel, amiable wife ready to bear his children. Female in question is of sound intellect and generally appealing countenance, is accomplished in many feminine arts, and not at all adverse to quiet evenings at home (once the roof leaks are repaired).
To be placed into your safekeeping and control upon formal marriage: rippling good lands covering parts of four distinct shires, three amazingly rundown properties, near-starving tenants, and sizable taxes due (currently in arrears).
Apply in person with all due haste to Mr. Bamber Hastings, Solicitor, village of Duffield, Derbyshire.
Applicants must supply verification of their financial worth, a vicar’s declaration of their moral caliber, a physician’s assertion of their state of health and vigor and lack of disease. Also have obtained three personal characters, including one from an inamorata stating, with no amount of equivocation, prowess pertaining to performing duties of an intimate nature.
The notice scandalized the ton. The Times refused to run it, only taking up the story after the advertisement appeared in several lesser papers and—appropriately named—scandal sheets.
This is the tale of applicant twenty-four…
1
Applicant Twenty-Four
Until recent months, Zeus J. Tanner counted of value four things: money, time, his mother, and regaining his stolen birthright.
When his mum passed away after a brief illness and unexpectedly pleasant marriage, Zeus’ list dwindled to three. Time, which gained the top rank when he realized how very much he wished they’d had more together. Money. Birthright.
The first he’d been forced to squander when his initial, hard-earned interview with “Lady Scandal”, as she’d been dubbed in London, was inexplicably postponed.
The second provided him comfortable lodgings at the Crown & Cup, the nearest inn to the Duffield solicitor who refused to divulge the location of today’s interview until “absolutely necessary”, just as he’d refused to justify the delay.
Ah, the pernickety solicitor. Mr. Bamber Hastings was not unknown to Zeus. In fact, it was his name in particular that had drawn Zeus to read the entire advertisement. The contents of the appallingly intriguing notice itself earned his presence here in Derbyshire.
Duffield, Derbyshire. He’d sworn never to return after his last inquiry—some years prior and conducted through Hastings—was met with substantial disdain.
But though they had a past history, albeit a brief one, Zeus didn’t think Hastings had shown him any favor, scrutinizing his letters of validation with his quizzing glass amid indecipherable harrumphs and tut-tuts, until, finally, granting Zeus a line on Lady Scandal’s appointment card.
One he’d had to cool his heels a good week before fulfilling, thanks to that yet-to-be-accounted-for delay.
Though the serving wenches at the Crown & Cup were willing to serve up themselves—and made that excessively clear to Zeus time and again—he’d not sampled their charms.
Nor been overly tempted to.
While a frolicking frisk with a fulsome wench might prove desirous for some, Zeus prided himself on mastering his baser urges. Stifling the compulsion to dip his wick in just any old—or young—wench with a willing wax pot, no matter how eminently swive-worthy their exterior might appear.
And that was because of Things He Valued #3—his stolen birthright. Or as he preferred to think of it…Amherst.
For if Lady Scandal proved to be who Zeus suspected, given her list of what she provided in exchange for money and loads of it, the unwilling prodigal would at last have a home. His own.
And the thought of finally realizing that particular satisfaction could warm a man
