An Untamed Lady For The Rakish Earl Read online

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  Copyright © 2019 by Lucinda Nelson

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  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Get Lucinda’s Exclusive Material

  Table of Contents

  An Untamed Lady for the Rakish Earl

  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

  The Extended Epilogue

  BOOK 9- A Preview

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  The Sinful Secret of a Broken Earl-A preview

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  About Lucinda Nelson

  A Short Note About Starfall Publications

  Also By Lucinda Nelson

  An Untamed Lady for the Rakish Earl

  Chapter 1

  Mid-September, 1836, Hawkshire, England

  Juliana Gaverton

  “What in heaven’s name are you doing, daughter?”

  Juliana looked up at her father but ignored him as she continued eating with her hands.

  “Juliana!” shouted her father one more time, this time slamming the wall with his hands.

  “What do you want from me?” she demanded angrily, nostrils flaring.

  “Why would you eat with your hands when you are not a savage?”

  Juliana gave her father a long hard stare. “A savage? Was that what you called my mother when you sent her away?”

  The look on the count’s face was exactly what she expected. His wrinkled face was carved in a lopsided brow. His mouth primed and the look in his eyes was that of guilt.

  That guilty look was all she needed. She continued to eat with her hands. She knew that this was wrong and unladylike, but she was no lady; nor was she interested in being one.

  The last thing she wanted was to call Lord Jeremiah Browning her father. He was no father to her; he was just a man who needed her to inherit his properties after he was long dead. She was certain that if he had his own legitimate children, he would never have tried to find her after so many years.

  “I told you several times that it was not my wish to send your mother away,” her father attempted to explain just as he had tried to do for the past few days since she had been brought to his home.

  “But you sent her away!” she lashed back at him. “My mother had to struggle after you impregnated her! Did you even think about what she went through? You seduced her, got her pregnant and then fired her! What kind of a man are you?”

  “I tried to look for her…” the count explained.

  “When exactly did you do that, father?” she demanded, drawing the last word. “Was that before or after you got married to your wife?”

  “I did what my father wanted me to do,” said the count soberly. “I regret it every day.”

  “That is rather convenient, don’t you think? I wonder if you will still regret your actions if you had a child of your own!” she shouted callously.

  “I am your father, and you will learn to respect me!” shouted the older man at her.

  “You are not my father! You have never been and you will never be a father to me!” she shouted back.

  “I have had enough of your stubbornness! You are such an ingrate! If not for me, you would be out on the street, with no shelter or food. I shall send you to London where you will be taught the moral etiquettes of the ton!”

  Juliana looked up at her father. Did he really mean what he said?

  “Yes,” said her father as if reading her mind. “You shall be sent to London where all this savagery and stubborn behavior shall be put to rest, and then hopefully you will find a proper gentleman who will marry you!”

  “If all men are like you, then I’d much rather die than to have to marry any of them!”

  For some time, neither of them spoke and Juliana stood up angrily and left the chamber. She ran to her own chamber, her pretty red curls bouncing as she slammed the door after her and jumped on the bed. She cried upon it until she fell asleep from exhaustion.

  **

  Lord Jeremiah Browning, the Count of Hawkshire

  He watched as his daughter left and sighed. She was no doubt his daughter, the stubbornness was recognizable.

  He rubbed a hand through his white hair before grabbing a seat. He was exhausted from having to shout at her. Even the shouting had not worked.

  “My Lord,” said the voice of his most loyal servant, Adams. He was his butler, aged between three scores and ten which was five years more than his own age. Adams had been his father’s butler before finally serving him as well. He was also his closest friend.

  Adams came in with a cup of tea which he handed to him with a slight bow.

  “Thank you, Adams. I believe you must have heard that,” Jeremiah said, taking the cup from him and setting it down on the table before him.

  “Indeed, I have, my Lord. Just as I have for several days,” Adams replied with a half-smile.

  “She hates me,” Jeremiah declared, now raising the cup to his lips.

  “Of course she does, my Lord. You sent her mother away, got married to another and now her mother is dead. She definitely blames you.”

  “I didn’t mean to seduce her mother, Adams,” Jeremiah said, sipping his tea and then setting it down.

  “I was there, remember?”

  The count scoffed, of course, Adams was there all the time he had tried to seduce the young maid with the most beautiful red hair he has ever seen. He knew he had been a bit of rake while growing up.

  What came as a surprise to him was when Elizabeth had to tell him several months later that she was with child. His child. That had driven him mad. His father must never hear of it.

  How could he, with his reputation marry his own maid, someone with a lower value? The only think he could do then was to get rid of her before his father found out. He ended up firing her just in time when he father declared his engagement to another woman, Dianne.

  It was several years later of being childless that he realized that he was being punished for his crime. Dianne grew sick and later died, without giving him a single child.

  Knowing he was getting older
every day without a child to inherit his properties, he decided to look for Elizabeth but ended up finding her daughter.

  “What do you suggest I do, Adams? The girl would not even listen to me? She despises me and I know I deserve it. She blames me for the death of her mother and I know that I deserve that too.”

  Adams smiled. “I overheard you telling her that you would like to send her to the London society.”

  The count nodded. “Indeed, Adams. How else would she get to act like a lady if she is not taught to be one?”

  Adams was about to interfere but the count continued.

  “She always wears her hair loosely, her gown, hideous; her gloves, always stained and the manner at which she carries herself around the property is just quite embarrassing. If I do not do something about it, she may end up not finding a reputable gentleman to marry.”

  Adams smiled.

  “First of all, she has just recently found out that you are her father and that you could have taken care of her mother. Now you have brought her home against her will and are now planning to ship her off to the London society?”

  Jeremiah thought for a while. He could see more reasons why his daughter would despise him still, but he was only trying to help her.

  “Adams, if we had not found her in the time that we did, she would have been thrown out into the street. She would have no place to go; no food, no shelter. If I wish to send her to London, then that is what I am doing. She ought to be grateful that I am doing this for her.”

  “So, which lady, may I ask, will you be sending her to?”

  “I haven’t decided yet,” replied the count. “But I daresay Lady Georgette Rowland will be the best tutor. Could you get me my writing materials? I’d love to begin the process immediately.”

  “Certainly, my Lord,” Adams replied, taking the empty cup on the table and giving a slight bow before leaving the chamber.

  **

  Lady Juliana Browning, Daughter of the Count of Hawkshire

  Juliana opened her sleepy eyes as she heard a movement in her room. She turned to her side and spotted Mary, her maid. The one her father had assigned to her on entering to the manor.

  If there was any one she loved most in the house, it would be Mary. She was just like a little sister to her. While Juliana was nineteen, Mary was just fifteen.

  She would mostly advise her and even though she was younger than Juliana, Mary knew how best to calm her down. She was just pouring some hot water into the tub for her when she turned around to see her awake.

  “My lady,” said Mary with a curtesy. “I do apologize for disturbing your sleep.”

  Juliana smiled. “It is alright, Mary for you did no such thing. How long was I asleep for?” she asked, straightening up.

  “About thirty minutes, my lady,” replied Mary, putting down the bowl and walking towards the curtain.

  “Oh,” she said, sighing.

  “Is everything alright?” Mary asked, pulling the curtains up.

  “My father, I despise him so much, Mary. And now, he deems it fit to ship me away to London. What did he take me for? An object that can be tossed to and fro? I find it rather condescending.”

  “He wants to take you to London? Might be for a good cause, my lady,” said Mary, now walking to the bed while Juliana climbed out of it.

  “I think it not,” replied Juliana. “He ventures to make me into a proper lady of the ton. He wants me to be dressing and eating like them!” she scoffed. “How ill I feel about it all!”

  “Certainly it cannot be so horrible, my lady. You might probably like it,” Mary went on, now laying on the bed.

  “Certainly not! I shall particularly dislike it! I am not made to wear such elaborate gowns, how uncomfortable they must be.

  If I have my way, I do not mind working on the count’s tenant’s farms, climbing trees. Not, going to some silly tea gatherings and gossiping all the time away.”

  “Might I ask if you are given a choice?” Mary asked.

  This time Juliana gave no reply. She remembered the way she had spoken to her father, she was certain that her father would never give her a choice.

  “He desires that I be married to a gentleman. He approves not of my way of life and I care not of his approval. If only he could leave me be!”

  “I’m afraid your father would rather have his way than leaving you be, my lady. I believe he thinks that controlling your life makes him your father. Dare I say, that is what most fathers do these days.”

  “I do not want him to be my father! I’d rather not have any father at all! He left my mother all alone! Does he know about how we struggled? How she died from yellow fever?

  He was the cause of it all. Mother told me everything about him. After seducing her, he sent her away with a child in the womb. What kind of a man does that?” she shook her head angrily and sorrowfully as she remembered the agony her mother had to go through on the night she had died.

  The physician needed a large amount of money which they were unable to provide and her mother had died the following night. Five days later, the landowner had come, demanding for their rent which she promised to get the next day.

  She knew there was no way she could get the money, she tried to sell part of her hair but it wasn’t even enough. Then she had gone to the market to steal a gold cup which she was sure would be sufficient to pay the balance if sold.

  However, she was caught and could have been beaten to death except for a strange man who showed up with his servants. They rescued her and paid the men off.

  Then the man had introduced himself as her father and she had recognized him instantly. Her mother had made sure of that when she was still alive. She knew her father’s name- Lord Jeremiah Browning, the Count of Hawkshire.

  Even though she was grateful that he had saved her that day, she hated having to be at his mercy.

  “So, what will you do if he does not give you a choice, my lady?” asked Mary.

  “Then I will run away,” Juliana said without thinking twice. She realized Mary said nothing and then she looked back at her. She could see the pain in the girl’s eyes.

  Juliana regretted saying that. She was certain that if anyone were to be punished for her running away, it would be Mary.

  She walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

  “I will hate to leave you, Mary but I pray it does not come to that.”

  The girl nodded. “I understand, my lady.”

  Juliana smiled before pulling the girl in for a warm embrace. She had no desire to leave Mary behind, but if it would infuriate her father more, she would be more than willing to do as such.

  Chapter 2

  London, Harlenshire Estates.

  Lord Gilbert Rowland, the Earl of Harlenshire

  Lord Gilbert Rowland, the Earl of Halenshire heard a knock on his door which jerked him from his deep slumber. He opened his eyes and groaned at the state of his state rooms which looked as if a ship had sailed through.

  Furniture was toppled away, a reminder of the party that had taken place the previous night. The chambers were a wreck and he groaned loudly. Georgette would murder him for sure.

  The knock sounded again, hurting his head. Truly, he hoped the person knocking would stop.

  When he heard a mumbling sound over his shoulder, he was reminded of Evangeline, or was her name Bertha? He couldn’t remember the name of the lady that had spent the night.

  With all his willpower, he turned towards her. She was topless, and could have been completely naked if not for the blanket that managed to cover the lower part of her body. Her upper part of her which included her breasts was in full view.

  “Hey,” Gilbert said, tapping her softly by the shoulder.

  She mumbled some words in her sleepy state before finally opening her eyes.

  “Hey, you,” she said, smiling and raising her hand towards his face in a loving manner.

  He caught the hand and was about to talk but stopped as a voice said, “Brothe
r, open this door right now!”

  Immediately, he froze and then ordered the lady. “You need to get dressed and leave right away.”

  The lady frowned. “What do you mean?” she said in a confused state, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

  Gilbert jumped up from his bed, fastening his breeches. Georgette was at the front door and he knew exactly what his sister would say and do. She would stare at the lady who was still stretching lazily on the bed and berate both of them for their conduct.

  “Hey, hey!” he said tapping her. “You really need to leave, Bertha.”

  “It is Evangeline, not Bertha and who is Bertha?” the lady demanded, now getting into her gown which she picked up on the floor.