The Devil Takes a Bride
A plan born of desperation… Once the toast of society, Grace Cabot and her sisters now await the loss of status and fine luxuries upon the death of their stepfather. Poverty looms unless Grace's wicked plot to seduce a wealthy viscount into marriage goes off without a hitch. But a stolen embrace with the wrong man leads her to be discovered in the arms of Jeffrey, the Earl of Merryton, and her plan takes a most unexpected—and scorching—twist.…and altered by passion Governed by routine and ruled by duty, Jeffrey had no desire for a wife before he succumbed to Grace's temptation. Though his golden-haired, in-name-only bride is the definition of disorder, he can't resist wanting her in every way. But once her secrets meet his, society might consider their lives to be ruined beyond repair… Will Jeffrey see it as a new beginning?
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âLondonâs writing bubbles with high emotion as she describes sexual enthusiasm, personal grief and familial warmth. Her blend of playful humour and sincerity imbues her heroines with incredible appeal, and readers will delight as their unconventional tactics create rambling paths to happiness.â
âPublishers Weekly on The Devil Takes a Bride
âThis tale of scandal and passion is perfect for readers who like to see bad girls win, but still love the feeling of a society romance, and London nicely sets up future books starring Honourâs sisters.â
âPublishers Weekly on The Trouble with Honour
âA delectably sexy hero, an unconventionally savvy heroine and a completely improper business proposal add up to another winner for ever-versatile London.â
âBooklist on The Trouble with Honour
âThis series starter brims with delightful humour and charm.â
âRT Book Reviews on The Trouble with Honour
âJulia London writes vibrant, emotional stories and sexy, richly drawn characters.â
âNew York Times bestselling author Madeline Hunter
THE CABOT SISTERS
The Trouble With Honour
The Devil Takes a Bride The Scoundrel and the Debutante
JULIA LONDON is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than twenty romantic fiction novels. Her historical romance titles include the popular Desperate Debutantes series, the Scandalous series and the Secrets of Hadley Green series. She has also penned several contemporary womenâs fiction novels with strong romantic elements, including the Pine River trilogy, Summer of Two Wishes, One Season of Sunshine and A Light at Winterâs End. She has won the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and has been a four-time finalist for the prestigious RITA>® Award for excellence in romantic fiction. She lives in Austin, Texas.
To Nitty, who has made my life immeasurably easier
Contents
Autumn of 1810
AT THE END of the hunting season, before the winter set in, the Earl of Clarendon hosted a soiree at his London home for the families of Quality that had come to town. He included, in his coveted invitations, his closest friends, all of whom had august titles and impeccable social connections.
The Earl of Beckington and his wife; his son, Lord Sommerfield, Augustine Devereaux; and his two eldest stepdaughtersâMiss Honor Cabot and Miss Grace Cabotâwere invited to attend. That the two youngest Beckington stepdaughters, Miss Prudence Cabot and Miss Mercy Cabot, were not included in the invitation caused quite a ruckus at the Beckington London townhome, which resulted in many tears being shed. The youngest, Mercy Cabot, vowed that she would vacate that house while the others attended the soiree. She would steal aboard a merchant ship that would carry her as far from London as one might possibly sail.
Miss Prudence Cabot, who was three years older than Mercy and who had just passed her sixteenth birthday, said she would not steal aboard a merchant ship. But if she was so worthless as to not merit an invitation, she intended to walk about Covent Garden unattended and sell her body and soul to the first person who offered a guinea.
âWhat?â cried twenty-year-old Grace when Prudence cavalierly announced her intentions. âPrudence, darling, have you lost your mind? You would sell yourself for a guinea?â
âYes,â said Prudence petulantly, and lifted her chin, her gaze daring anyone to challenge her.
âShould you not at least aspire to a crown, dearest? What will a guinea say of your family? You must agree that a guinea is insufficient for your body and your soul.â
âMamma!â Prudence cried. âWhy do you allow her to tease me?â And then, unsatisfied with Lady Beckingtonâs indifferent response, sheâd flounced off, apparently encountering several doors in her haste to flee, judging by the number of them that were slammed.
The Cabot girls were as close as sisters could be, and even Prudenceâs hurt feelings could not keep her from the excitement of watching her older sisters dress for the evening. Honor and Grace were highly regarded among the most fashionably dressedâthat was because their stepfather was a generous man and indulged their tastes in fine fabrics and skilled modistes.
On the evening of the soiree, in preparation, gowns were donned and discarded as too plain, too old or too confining. In the end, Honor, the oldest at twenty-one, selected a pale blue gown that complemented her black hair and blue eyes. Grace chose dark gold with silver filigree that caught the light and seemed to sparkle when she moved. Honor said it was the perfect gown to set off Graceâs gold hair and her hazel eyes.
