All Shades of a Marquess: A Historical Regency Romance Novel, page 1
ALL SHADES OF A MARQUESS
A STEAMY REGENCY ROMANCE
VIOLET HAMERS
CONTENTS
A Thank You Gift
Before You Start Reading…
Love to Read?
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Epilogue
Extended Epilogue
Preview: A Virgin for the Cursed Duke
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Also by Violet Hamers
Loved the Book?
About the Author
A THANK YOU GIFT
Thanks a lot for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me, because this is the best way to show me your love.
As a Thank You gift I have written a full length novel for you called The Duke she Desires. It’s only available to people who have downloaded one of my books and you can get your free copy by tapping this link here.
Once more, thanks a lot for your love and support.
With love and appreciation,
Violet Hamers
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ABOUT THE BOOK
“I will keep your list. I will be the only man you allow close to you. Every one of your desires will be fulfilled by me.”
Lady Eloise has always felt left out. Oblivious as to the extent of her sister’s scandal, she can’t even defend herself against the lashing tongues that scorn her. And while she vyes for the attention of the worst rake in London, one thing ruins her plans: her sister is about to sacrifice herself to his lecherous father.
The rumors following the Marquess of Hanvey’s name merely scrape the surface of his depravity. And with mystery shrouding his past, all the Ton knows about him is that he is a dangerous rake who owns three gaming hells and the air of any room he enters.
Despite his aversion to high-born ladies, James will not be satiated until he fulfills Eloise’s List of Desires with her. Even if that means pretending to court her and help stop his father’s ridiculous marriage. After all, a notorious rake such as himself would never get to his knees over a blushing debutante. Or would he?
CHAPTER ONE
“Tonight will surely be one of the most unforgettable nights of your lives, ladies, but you must endeavor to keep away from the gentlemen.”
Lady Eloise Summers looked up at her sister, her eyes narrowing. “How are we to make matches if we keep away from the gentlemen, Martha?” She had not waited an additional year to make her bow into society, so her sister could advise her to keep away from gentlemen.
“And how will the night be unforgettable if we do not interact with any gentleman?” Miss Lizzie Clayton, Eloise’s dearest friend, asked with a slight tilt of her head and a mischievous gleam in her brown eyes. They were on their way to their first ball of the season.
“You must be cautious,” Martha responded, her anxious gaze darting between Eloise and Lizzie. “Many gentlemen might have ill intentions toward you.”
Eloise fought the urge to roll her eyes, for that was the fifth time she heard ill intentions this evening. She glanced out the carriage window, eager to arrive at the ball, so she could truly feel like a debutante. She also wanted Martha to trust her. She knew not to get herself ruined by a gentleman. Well, not to be caught anyway. After all, getting caught was what caused one to be declared ruined.
She was not a child, and she very well knew the consequences of being reckless. Recklessness was the reason she’d had to come out at nineteen instead of eighteen, and her family was still heavily paying the price.
“We exist in an unfair world,” Martha continued, and Eloise turned, once more, to look at her. “No one can be trusted, especially not a rake.”
“I agree with Martha that you should be cautious,” said Viscountess Clayton from her seat beside Lizzie, “but you may dance with a gentleman or two.” She gave Eloise a wink, and Eloise immediately knew she was permitting her to dance with as many gentlemen as she could. Josephine Clayton had stepped into the role of a mother after Eloise and Martha’s mother was lost to a fever five years ago.
Martha noticed this exchange and threw a scowl in their direction. “Oh, come now, Martha,” Josephine said. “We will have our eyes on Eloise and Lizzie the entire evening.”
“I would not mind a tamed rake for a husband,” Lizzie giggled, snapping her fan shut and peering out the window. Her excitement matched Eloise’s. They had talked about this day since they were sixteen. “I hear they make perfect husbands,” Lizzie added eagerly.
“All myth, dear Lizzie,” Martha warned quickly.
Lizzie turned to Martha with a grin, ignoring her warning as she asked, “Do you think the Marquess of Hanvey will be at the ball?”
“Lizzie!” Martha admonished. “He is the worst of them all!” Martha’s face paled as she spoke, and her eyes appeared terrified. Eloise understood why she was reacting very strongly at that instant. Martha carried a great burden and dearly wished to save what was left of their family’s reputation.
“Good heavens, Martha!” Lizzie’s eyes enlarged with surprise. “You speak of Hanvey as though he was the devil himself.”
“From what I heard about him, he might be or worse,” Martha responded.
Intrigued, Eloise leaned back in her seat and wondered how bad Hanvey was. “He must be interesting,” she murmured to herself. The danger her sister’s words had made her imagine sent a thrill through her.
“He is elusive,” Josephine said, and when Eloise glanced at her, she realized that Eloise had heard her. “He is rarely seen in society, but there are grand tales of his depravity. Do not expect to see him at the ball.” Josephine smiled at Martha to reassure her, but her pallor was still sickly.
“I am sure there will be other rakes at the ball,” Lizzie said excitedly while Eloise swallowed her disappointment. Her curiosity had been piqued, and she wished to know who Hanvey was.
“Elizabeth!” Josephine warned. “You and Eloise shall make respectable matches this season, and I will not have you talking about rakes anymore.”
“But they are fascinating, Mama!” Lizzie protested.
“They are, to be sure, but they should not be married,” Josephine returned. Society had an opinion about mothers like her who were not shy and spoke about subjects that were deemed inappropriate without fear. Of course, she had raised Lizzie to be a well-mannered young lady, but she had also afforded her the freedom of thought and expression.
“Do not forget the promise you made your father, Lizzie,” Josephine reminded Lizzie.
“What promise?” Lizzie asked, and Eloise knew that her friend was only being coy.
“Your promise to give Lord Edgecombe a dance tonight,” Josephine replied. Lizzie nodded but grumbled while Eloise laughed. She had the liberty to dance with whomever she wished, and she was glad. She only wished she could meet the elusive and mysterious Hanvey.
Anticipation tightened her chest when they finally arrived at the ball, and they made their way through the manor and the crush of guests to the ballroom which was the most scintillating ballroom she had ever seen.
“Now, my dears, do not get lost,” Josephine said after introducing them to their hosts. She was going to remain there whilst allowing Eloise and Lizzie to go deeper into the ballroom.
“Where is Martha?” Lizzie asked as she pushed her way through a very tight crowd near the dance floor.
Eloise looked about, noticing her sister’s absence for the first time. She recalled Martha’s pale face and hoped she was somewhere in the ballroom and not in a retiring room casting up her accounts. “I do not know,” she murmured.
Lizzie looped her arm through Eloise’s. “Let us endeavor to not get lost, then.” They moved to the fringes of the ballroom where there were fewer people and stood. They would likely not be found there, but they needed to find their breaths after a journey through a crowd like that.
Martha appeared just then. “I have been looking for you!” she scolded.
“We are fine,” Eloise replied, disliking her sister’s tone.
“We should move to another part of the ballroom. There are too many gentlemen about here who cannot be trusted,” Martha said, taking Eloise’s arm.
Eloise drew her arm away. “No, Martha, I would prefer to stay here. This is my first ball in London, and I wish to be free. I am not going to do anything inappropriate. I promise.” Eloise was angry, but she did not allow it to show. She needed her sister to trust her instead of treating her like a child.
“I will not be blamed if you—” Martha caught herself before she finished, but Eloise knew what Martha had been about to say, and Eloise’s gut twisted. She would never bring her family shame, but Martha seemed to believe that Eloise would the instant she was left alone.
“Your faith in me is remarkable, sister,” Eloise said, unable to hide what she felt.
“Eloise, I did not mean…” Martha paused and breathed. “Forgive me. You may stay here if that is your wish.” With that, Martha turned on her heel and left. She had changed in the past year, allowing her grief to blind her to everyone’s love.
“Are you well?” Lizzie asked after a moment, gently touching Eloise’s arm.
“I will not allow anything to ruin this evening for me, Lizzie,” Eloise said, glancing down at her with a smile. It was time to forget Martha’s scandal and look forward to her future.
Her eyes traveled across the ballroom, and her heart stopped beating when she saw the most intense gray eyes staring at her. The face they belonged to was equally impressive: dark brown hair, a strong jaw, a mouth that made her imagine kissing, impossibly broad shoulders… Eloise was frozen, but when the corner of the gentleman’s mouth tilted to form the most roguish smile, her heart began to beat again, sending blood to the most intimate regions of her body. She thought she saw him coming toward her, but at that same moment, Lizzie’s fan appeared in front of her face, obstructing her view. Eloise snatched the fan away but could not find him again.
“What have you done?” Eloise moaned, her eyes frantically searching the faces.
“You weren’t listening to me,” Lizzie answered. “What were you staring at?”
Eloise responded without looking at her, “The gentleman that will certainly ruin me if I see him again.”
“Where?” Lizzie searched the faces with her, and Eloise sighed ruefully.
“I saw him just now. He looks like an ancient god, Lizzie,” Eloise breathed and turned to look at her friend.
“Oh, I wish I saw him!” Lizzie pouted.
“You would have if you had not interrupted me with your stupid fan. I think he was coming toward us.” Eloise bit her lip as she recalled his smile. He might have already ruined her with just one look.
“Oh, dear!” Lizzie’s brows furrowed. “Come.” She took Eloise’s hand and drew her near the doors that opened into the garden. “I will help you find him.”
Eloise smiled. “What if I had imagined him?”
“Oh, you cannot have imagined him and still blush like you are doing now.”
Eloise pressed her palms to her cheeks. “I hope you are right.”
“I am sure I am.” Lizzie grinned. “I have something to show you.” She drew Eloise toward the doors that opened into the garden then Lizzie reached into her reticule to retrieve a folded sheet. Eloise immediately recognized the paper, for she had one just like it, even folded in the same fashion.
“I added three more actions to my list. Now it is complete.” Lizzie unfolded the paper and gave it to Eloise. “Well, I might think of something later and change it. This is not final.”
Eloise grinned as she read. “You are quite thorough, Lizzie,” she said, thinking of the contents of her own list.
“I do not intend to waste my first ball. Once I find a handsome and willing gentleman, I shall have the first item fulfilled.” Lizzie’s brown eyes gleamed. “Now, where is yours?” Eloise reached into her reticule and pulled it out, feeling a blush creep into her cheeks. “Why is your tenth slot empty?” Lizzie asked after a glance at the paper.
Eloise had written the number ten and left the place blank, choosing to keep that particular desire to herself.
“I have not thought of it yet,” she murmured with a convincing smile.
“We have more balls to attend and a lot of time to think,” Lizzie said excitedly.
“Elizabeth!” Eloise and Lizzie gasped and quickly folded their sheets when they heard Josephine’s voice. “I had my gaze on the two of you then you suddenly disappeared.” Josephine took Lizzie’s arm. “You promised your father that you would dance with Lord Edgecombe and encourage his suit.”
“Mama…” Lizzie started to protest, but her mother was already pulling her away.
“Forgive me, Eloise, but I must take her away for a while.” Josephine smiled, and Eloise nodded.
“Pray I do not perish!” Lizzie said to Eloise, quickly exchanging back their lists as Josephine pulled her away.
Now by herself, Eloise craned her neck to search for her silver-eyed gentleman. Yes, she thought of him as hers, and she was determined to find him. She moved deeper into the ballroom, praying to fate to reveal him to her. Just then, she felt a hand at her elbow and turned quickly. A handsome gentleman stood before her, but he was not her gentleman. He smiled and bowed slightly.
“May I have the next dance?” he asked.
“Me?” Eloise looked about, unsure he was speaking to her.
He laughed. “Of course, Lady Eloise.”
“You know my name?” She had been introduced to several people since the start of the season, but she had never seen this gentleman.
“I have heard of you and seen you,” he said, and her heart clenched. She thought of her family’s scandal and fear began to rise in her. “Forgive my manners. I am Viscount Moore, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
His bright smile calmed her, and he held out his hand. “Please give me the honor of a dance with you.”
“Of course, My Lord,” she said, placing her hand in his. He was rather charming, and she enjoyed the cotillion they danced. When it ended, he steered her toward the terrace that overlooked the gardens.
