The Rogue's Reform
Jerome Everard expected to inherit his wayward uncle's estate. Instead, all has gone to a secret daughter. Only by disproving his young cousin's claim can Jerome regain his rightful property. But instead, he finds himself drawn to her lovely governess, Adele Walcott—a woman who holds the key to all of his uncle's secrets. Adele's fortune is gone, along with her marriage prospects.Now she is devoted to securing her charge's happiness. When she meets Jerome, she dares to dream of love again. But after learning his true motives, that love comes to a test. Can she forgive his past and reform his heart…to make it hers forever?
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A Rival Heir
Jerome Everard expected to inherit his wayward uncleâs estate. Instead, all has gone to a secret daughter. Only by disproving his young cousinâs claim can Jerome regain his rightful property. But instead, he finds himself drawn to her lovely governess, Adele Walcottâa woman who holds the key to all of his uncleâs secrets.
Adeleâs fortune is gone, along with her marriage prospects. Now she is devoted to securing her chargeâs happiness. When she meets Jerome, she dares to dream of love again. But after learning his true motives, that love comes to a test. Can she forgive his past and reform his heartâ¦to make it hers forever?
The Rogueâs Reform
Regina Scott
She drew herself up, brows gathering in a thundercloud, eyes flashing like the lightning inside. âI find this highly unusual, Mr. Everard. Exactly what did you expect to find in Cumberland?â
A little girl with designs on their legacy, an aging governess willing to help her, the secret that would prove the end to them both. âFrankly, madam,â Jerome said, âIâm no longer sure. I thought you were my cousin.â
Instead of taking the wind from her sails, the statement only caused her to raise her chin higher, as if she prided herself on her position. âIâm her governess, Miss Walcott.â
The governess. The woman to whom Uncle had entrusted his precious daughter. The woman who might know all his secrets. Unfortunately, she was also the one who, if Jerome didnât manage to prove the girl a fraud, would stand as judge over him, Richard and Vaughn to grant or deny them their inheritances.
She held their future in her hands.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing The Rogueâs Reform, the first book in the Everard Legacy miniseries. Jerome, Richard and Vaughn Everard have been in my head for some time, and Iâm so thankful for the opportunity to share their stories with you.
Iâm also thankful that Love Inspired Books has been sharing stories with readers for fifteen years. This month marks the anniversary of the first Love Inspired Historical book. Iâm honored to be part of that tradition and delighted to join the celebration.
I love to welcome visitors to my website, too. Please feel free to contact me via www.reginascott.com, where you can also read about my upcoming books and learn more about life in early nineteenth-century England.
Blessings!
Regina Scott
To William, for putting up with a lot, and to
my Lord, who puts up with more and still loves me.
* * *
Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ.
âEphesians 4:15
Contents
Chapter One
Evendale Valley, Cumberland, England
Spring 1805
So that was the enemyâs lair.
Jerome Everard reined in at the foot of the graveled drive. Just ahead, Dallsten Manor sat proudly on a rise, the afternoon sun warming the red sandstone towers at either end and glinting off the multipaned windows of the central block. Fields rolled away all around to meet woods still bare from winter. Beside him, the iron gates of the estate lay open, with a stone cottage standing silent guard.
âIt looks innocent enough,â his brother Richard said on his left, patting the weary horse on the neck.
âLooks can be deceiving,â their cousin Vaughn replied on Jeromeâs right. His hand strayed to the hilt of the sword sheathed along his saddle.
Jerome almost hoped his so-called cousinâs governess was peering out a window at that moment. The three of them could look intimidating on the best of days, and their grueling ride from London hadnât helped. Their greatcoats were dusty, their boots splashed with mud. Though Richard was the captain of their prize merchant vessel, his short russet hair, beard and mustache made him resemble nothing so much as a dashing pirate. Under that broad-brimmed hat, Vaughnâs white-gold hair, held back in a queue, contrasted with the fathomless dark brown eyes that had made their Everard forebears feared and respected for generations.
And then there was Jerome, with his dark brown hair and icy blue eyes. The thinker, the planner. The schemer, his late uncle would have said. Had said, a few too many times for Jeromeâs taste.
âWeâll find out soon enough,â he said. âRemember our purposeâwe discover the girlâs origins and unmask her. I will not have a fraud taking over the Everard legacy.â
âOr give her power over our inheritances,â Richard agreed.
A smile played around the corners of Vaughnâs mobile mouth. âThis could be interesting.â
