The Marquess’ Temptation Read online

  The Marquess’ Temptation

  Jessie Bennett

  CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

  Monthly Giveaway Contest

  A Personal Note From Jessie Bennett

  Dedication

  About The Author

  A Marquess’ Temptation

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  Preview of The Marquess’ Curse

  Monthly Giveaway Contest

  Also By Jessie Bennett

  Acknowledgement

  If You Have Enjoyed This Book…

  Publisher’s Notes

  Copyright © 2016 by JESSIE BENNETT & CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

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  A PERSONAL NOTE

  FROM JESSIE BENNETT

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  To My Dearest Lovely Readers,

  The female characters within my stories are women who have a strong faith of love, they know what they want to pursue during this era. They are constantly seeking and believe the true love really exists as they are often being looked upon as an inferior gender. Because of these social stigma, it motivates them to overcome challenges they may face while waiting for the man of their dreams to appear.

  Will these insecurities and stigma encourages them in believing true love despite the differences and challenges in social standing that they will face during this Regency Era?

  Read on to find out the answers!

  Thank you very much for your strong support to my writing journey!

  With Hugs, Kisses and Love…

  DEDICATION

  “A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”

  Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)

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  This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Dearest Reader!

  It is with gratefulness and gratitude that I am writing to you this personal dedication.

  Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity to share with you my creative side of me.

  I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much I have enjoyed writing it!

  It is with such great support from you that keep us authors writing and writing, presenting to you with great and interesting stories.

  Have you checked out my other historical romance books series?

  Click the link below to get started

  *** AMAZON USA ***

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  Do you like what you have read?

  I would want to hear from you!

  Please do get in touch with me:

  https://www.facebook.com/JessieBennettBooks/

  [email protected]

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jessie Bennett is an obsessed romantic freak. She loves historical romance stories. Recently, she discovered another interest within the historical romance, which is Regency Romance stories. She wants to use her ideas, knowledge and interest of the regency era to spin out characters that readers wants to read. She aspires to be the next Jane Austen that combine grace, love, and simplicity to delight readers to find their happy endings.

  She lives in Norfolk county, England most of the her time. When she's not writing, you will find her walking down the countryside with her husband and her beloved dog.

  THE MARQUESS’ TEMPTATION

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  by

  JESSIE BENNETT

  and

  Carlton House Publishing Co.

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  “I do, Papa. I know you love me. I know she did too, but still…I am glad that we will have peace in the house, though I am sorry she had to die.”

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  CHAPTER ONE

  BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

  He was nervous. It was probably the first time in his life that Marquess Abraham Montgomery had ever felt nervous. He was a soldier in the Queen’s army. He would someday hold the title of Duke, when his father passed it on to him. At 24 years of age, he was a prime catch. He’d attended all the dances and events of the season. He was well known and highly respected among the ton.

  He straightened the lapels of his tuxedo and stared at himself in the mirror. He was ready. After today, he wouldn’t be the prime catch all the women wanted to dance with. He was getting married and though he was nervous, he couldn’t be happier.

  Diana was a beautiful woman. The dowry that came along with her was nice too, but Abe wasn’t in it for the money. He had his own. His plan was to give the dowry to Diana, letting her spend it however she wished. A woman with her beauty deserved beautiful things to go along with it. Their children would be handsome, that was certain.

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  He turned to see her walking down the center aisle in glorious splendor. He marveled at the light that shone through the stained-glass windows of the grand church, casting a myriad of different colors directly up that aisle, highlighting Diana with each step she took. It was breathtaking. He heard many gasps rise from the guests.

  He smiled widely. His future was bright. He held out his arm for her, when she got close enough to reach him. They turned to face the preacher.

  The ceremony flowed smoothly, with no problems. His heart almost stopped when he lifted her veil and looked into her beautiful green eyes, but other than that, they exchanged their vows, had rice and small bits of colored paper rained on their heads and a four-horse carriage waiting for them when they came out of the church.

  It was the perfect wedding. Abe was looking forward to a perfect life. So far, it had gone well. He saw no reason for that to change.

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  Twelve years later, at the age of 36, Abraham Charles Montgomery was deeply immersed in a painful sorrow. His heart was torn. He lowered his head to his hands.

  “It’s going to be all right,
Papa.” His son, Carter, said, reaching up to put one small hand on his shoulder. “It really will.”

  Abe glanced at Carter and nodded, putting a large hand on the boy’s knee and giving it a squeeze. “I know, my son. I know.” Carter was right; they were going to be all right. Diana, though a beautiful woman, held very little substance inside the stunning outer shell everyone could see. Once she was a married woman, she had seemed to shut down. The life drained from her, and she complained on a daily basis. Her home and family life was not satisfactory to her. She wanted the fun and adventures she’d had before she married. After Carter was born, nothing was left of her good nature. Being a mother did not suit her.

  The result had been a governess twenty-four hours a day, raising Carter while Abe worked as an advisor to the Prince. He had less authority than his father, the Duke of Fairfield, but was still given more duties than those a Lord in his position would normally have. He didn’t mind. He loved working with the Prince. His family represented the people of Fairfield fairly and with open minds. They kept good records and were not stealing from the people, as Abe knew others in authority were doing.

  The elite wanting to keep the people of low position as poor as possible, the Montgomery family appreciated the citizens and didn’t follow that line of thinking. They tried to be as good as possible to the people, passing along requests to the Royal House, making sure the people were working, happy and prosperous. It had been a good 12 years for Fairfield but a traumatic time behind the closed doors of the Montgomery Manor House.

  “My Lord, would you care for a drink?”

  Abe looked up to see one of the servant girls leaning over in front of him, holding a tray with several different glasses of wine and liquors. He glanced over them and chose one that looked and smelled like brandy.

  “Thank you, Mindy.”

  “You are welcome, my Lord. May I get you anything to eat? There is quite a spread in the dining hall. I know you are not feeling well and don’t want to be around people. I would be happy to bring you a tray, my Lord.”

  Abe blinked at her. “I would like that. Thank you.”

  “I know what you enjoy, my Lord. I will be back shortly.”

  Abe placed his hands together in front of his lips and watched her turn away. His eyes moved down to his son, who was also watching Mindy leave. Carter tried smiling at his father. “She’s been watching you, Papa.”

  “I suppose she has.”

  “She feels bad for you, too.”

  “Do you think she is sad? She has no reason to be. She has seen what this family has gone through, what your mother was like. I’m sorry, son. I cannot lie to you. I am sad that it had to turn out this way. But I am not sad that you and I have gained some freedom in our home.”

  Carter nodded. “I am not happy that mother is gone, papa, but I understand what you’re saying. We will not be living in such a negative atmosphere anymore. It was, I must say, quite depressing at times, Papa.”

  Abe nodded. “Precisely, son.”

  “Was she a different woman when you married her, Papa?”

  Abe raised his eyebrows. His son was a perceptive young man. “Yes, Carter. She certainly was. She was fun and happy. She liked to go to parties and events. That ended up being the problem. She didn’t want to stop doing those things when she became a married woman.”

  “Do you think it would have been different if I had not come along?”

  Abe wrapped him arm around his son’s shoulders. “No, Carter. Never think that. It is a vast untruth. You were wanted and you are loved. Your momma loved you in her own way. She was not cut out to be a mother, it seems, but you were wanted. I hope you believe me.”

  “I do, Papa. I know you love me. I know she did too, but still…I am glad that we will have peace in the house, though I am sorry she had to die.”

  Abe wished he could say that Heaven had gained a new angel. He wished he could speak comforting words to his son, but he had vowed long ago never to lie to the boy, or to anyone else for that matter, and so far he’d succeeded. He found that telling the honest truth from the beginning avoided a lot of potential damage later, especially when one had to keep covering their tracks with more lies. He was not a cheating man, in business or personal life. It was how he had kept his reputation pure.

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  “Allow me to introduce you to some of the women you may enjoy dancing with.”

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  CHAPTER TWO

  NOT JUST ANOTHER BALL

  The music danced through his head like the women dancing on the ballroom floor. William had traveled far to get away from Fairfield and the surrounding counties. They all knew who he was; they had seen him many times on the dance floor with many different women.

  He had signed the register as Marquess Abraham Montgomery, instead of his own title - The Marquess of Fairfield, the Honorable Lord William Montgomery. His brother Abe was a widower and his credentials would not be questioned. If he enjoyed traveling around Great Britain, he would enlist a follower, someone who could help prove he was Abraham if any questions were every raised about his true identity. This way he could help keep his true identity a secret. His wife would never know. Not that it mattered to him whether she knew or not. Liza was a whining, selfish woman who was constantly nagging him to spend an evening at home with her. She had deep feelings for him, feelings that he did not return. He hadn’t returned them when they courted and he didn’t return them now. Why would he spend more time than he wanted to at home, suffering her constant talking? To make matters worse, she had been unable to bear children. He would never have an heir, even if he had a title to pass to the child.

  He picked up a glass of wine as a serving boy passed in front of him. The server nodded his head and continued on. He sipped on the wine, as he looked over the brim, scanning the crowd for the most attractive ladies he could find.

  “Lord Montgomery?” He heard his name and turned to see who had addressed him. It was a beautiful, older lady, her long dark hair spilled out from her bonnet, and gently rested against her ample chest. He eyed her admiringly.

  “Yes, that is I.” He held out his hand to her and when she rested hers in it, he lifted it to his lips. “And who might you be, my Lady?”

  “I am Catherine Anne Worthington. This is my home. It is wonderful to meet you, Abraham. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your wife. How is your son?”

  William nodded. “Thank you for your sympathy. I did love my wife, very much, but it was God’s decision to take her while she was still young. Carter is doing well, thank you. He is with his governess.”

  “Do you know many of the ladies here tonight?”

  “I don’t believe I know anyone, my lady.”

  “Allow me to introduce you to some of the women you may enjoy dancing with.”

  “Why, thank you, Lady Worthington. I do appreciate that.”

  “Do you have your eye on anyone in particular?” She turned to scan the crowd behind her. William glanced around the room, taking a few more sips from his glass. He gestured with it toward a small group of women talking and laughing near the great stone fireplace. There was no fire, for it was nearly 80 degrees in the room as it was, even at this late hour.

  “That looks like a delightful pod of princesses.” He said.

  Lady Catherine looked at the girls and smiled. “Yes, they are all second season ladies. Would you like to meet them?”

  “I would like that very much.”

  Lady Catherine introduced him to the four ladies he’d had his eye on. He signed their dance cards and had a good time with each, though he knew from the beginning of each dance whether or not he would be spending more time with the lady he danced with. Each one had a flaw that pushed him away from them. One – Lady Maureen Turlington – had the most obnoxious laugh he had ever heard in his life. It didn’t make it better that she thought everything he said was f
unny. He told her numerous times that what he’d said was not intended to be funny but she continued to laugh anyway. It made him nauseous.

  Lady Darlene Covington was extremely intelligent. The most sober one in her group of friends, drawing a smile out of the woman was like trying to wrestle a piece of chocolate out of the hands of a greedy child. Once he managed to get a smile, he didn’t care to see it again.

  The other two women were dismissed for their own different reasons and he settled himself on a comfortable chaise lounge. It felt good under him. He tried to relax.

  “Would you like a drink, my Lord?”

  He turned to see a young woman, not as young as he was accustomed to, leaning toward him with a tray of drinks. He was immediately struck by her beauty, her face was plain, less made up than the ladies of the ton but he could see that she had gotten her hands on a bit of makeup, as her cheeks and lips were a soft rose color. Her face was pale and flanked by flowing red hair that spilled out of the tie she was using to hold it back. It fell in waves all around her.

  She had a soft Irish accent, and He enjoyed listening to it.

  “Yes, Miss.” He replied. “I’d like a drink. And some company.”

  “Oh dear. My Lord, I’m not allowed to shirk my duties to…”

  “You can if I say so. Sit down. I want to talk to you.”

  The girl looked around nervously. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She had a beautiful figure under her maid’s uniform. Her breasts were full and round. Her hips rounded out nicely. He wanted to run his hands over her, but refrained. He patted the lounge, indicating he wanted her to take the seat next to him. She sat down.