Page 1 of Tempting a Lonely Lord (The Rakes of Mayhem #6)

London, England

“I’ve enjoyed my work with the Crown, but it’s been a year since I inherited the title of Viscount Dudley, and I have responsibilities I can no longer put off,” William said, sipping his brandy, sitting across from his friend Lucas in his study.

Lucas and his wife, Harriett Pemberton, the Duke and Duchess of Dorman, had invited William to stay at their townhouse, but he had declined.

However, he thanked his dear friends for their most welcoming gesture.

There were several loose ends on his final assignments he needed to tie up before he left for the country, and he needed his study and the solitude his townhouse offered before heading to the estate.

The duchess, formerly known as Viscountess Dudley, had been compelled by her father to marry the former viscount, breaking off her engagement to Lord Lucas Pemberton.

During his initial visit to the Dudley home, after being named the new Viscount Dudley, William had discovered extortion papers in his distant cousin’s study, revealing that Harriett’s father had forced her to abandon her engagement to Lucas and marry William’s distant cousin, a man notorious for his cruelty, especially toward women.

By returning the papers to Harriett, William freed her from the threats her former mother-in-law had made to grasp the money that Harriett had inherited from her late husband.

A lasting friendship had formed between William, the duchess, and her new husband, the duke.

“My duchess will be most displeased when she returns and discovers you haven’t tried one of Mrs. Bodin’s special lemon bars. Harriett had them prepared just for you,” Dorman said with a grin.

“I certainly don’t want to upset your lovely wife.

” William smiled as he reached for one of the bars.

He greatly admired his friends for their generous charitable works.

Harriett also spent one day a week at the London Children’s Orphanage, a home the Dormans helped fund, assisting with the children as well as helping to find good families to adopt the orphans.

“These are delicious,” William said, polishing off a second bar. “I’ll have my cook bake some for Michael—that is, if your cook is willing to share her recipe. My cook, Mrs. Bradberry, is one of the few servants I didn’t replace, but she is still new to me, and I’m not sure she’d know this recipe.”

“Of course, our cook would be happy to include a copy. In addition, I’ll ask Mrs. Bodin to pack up a basket and send it along for young Michael,” the duke offered.

“Thank you, I appreciate that.” William’s little brother, Michael, who was just eight years old, would enjoy the treats.

William was looking forward to seeing his brother again.

He planned to take him to Cliffton Abbey in Dover.

When their mother had succumbed to scarlet fever, during what was deemed an epidemic almost three years ago, William had been away working for the Crown.

He’d become an agent with a special mandate after the war, tracking down smugglers who kidnapped children to sell on the black market.

Unfortunately, Michael had been moved from one distant relative to another in the past two years.

William had felt enormous guilt for not providing his brother with a stable home, especially considering his previous mission had focused on rescuing children.

“How is young Michael?” Dorman asked. “I hear he’s a clever lad with a penchant for rescuing all sorts of creatures.”

William chuckled. “Yes, he has a good heart. Unfortunately, not all our relatives appreciate his love of animals.”

“Well, I am certain your brother will grow up to be as good a man as you are.”

“Thank you, I appreciate your vote of confidence,” William said. “That’s one of the reasons why I want Michael to live with me. I realize how much he needs me. I am the only one left to ensure Michael has a decent upbringing, so I’m stepping back from active duty.”

“The Crown will be losing a valuable man, but Michael will be gaining your fine guidance,” the duke mused, refilling both brandy glasses.

William nodded his thanks. “I’m not completely leaving—not just yet.

I spoke with Colonel Harrison at headquarters this morning and he asked me to stay on in a more administrative capacity.

” He was skilled at decoding intercepted messages by smugglers and had been asked by Harrison to take charge of that key area.

It wouldn’t be forever, and it would enable him to be there for Michael while tending to his duties and obligations of his title.

The door opened, and the duchess glided gracefully into the library wearing a violet-colored gown that complemented her rich, dark hair. The duke’s eyes glowed as he kissed his beautiful wife on the cheek.

“I apologize for my lateness,” she said with a sigh. “We had an outbreak of hair pulling and doll hiding at the orphanage.” The men chuckled at her quip. “Did I miss anything?”

“No, my dear. We were just catching up on things,” Dorman said, lovingly smiling at his wife as she took the seat next to him.

A maid entered a few moments later, pushing a tea cart with a platter of sandwiches and a selection of sweets, including another plate of lemon bars.

As the duchess poured and the maid assisted with plating, William looked around the room, eyeing the elegant drapes adorning the tall, beveled windows, the thick Aubusson carpet, and the leather furniture.

He liked the various blues and greens that the duchess had chosen to use throughout the rooms, as well as her taste in fabrics for the drapes and furnishings.

“Harriett, my compliments on the changes you implemented to the townhouse.” He turned to the duke. “Dorman, is there any chance I could borrow your lovely wife to help me decorate the manor house in Kent?”

“Not a chance. Get your own wife! I love having Harriett by my side,” Dorman teased.

“She is talented at everything she undertakes.” He winked at his blushing wife.

“However, there may be another option. We haven’t been to Kent in a long time, and I have a business matter that may require travel to the area. ”

“I would consider it an honor to help with your estate, William,” Harriett said.

“Perhaps we could follow once you’ve settled yourself.

We would be happy to have Michael stay here with us while you get things sorted at your estate.

We have plenty of room. The girls have an excellent governess, and Cat and Bea love animals as much as Michael does. ” She giggled.

William smiled. Catherine and Beatrice were Lucas and Harriett’s wards, children Lucas had taken in when their parents died.

It seemed his brother’s penchant for rescuing wild creatures had made the rounds.

“That is most kind of you. I appreciate your invitation to have Michael stay here,” he said.

“However, I think it would be good for my brother to live with me at Cliffton Abbey. It would be good for me as well.” Even though William would be immersed in the estate business, he would have plenty of time to spend with Michael.

“Our friendship is something I never anticipated,” Harriett mused before she sipped her tea.

“I ignored every effort you initially made to contact me, thinking you would be the horrid person my former mother-in-law described. As awful as my late husband was, she made no bones about wanting everything her son had left to me—she didn’t feel I should’ve received even a farthing. ”

“Well, I’m glad she didn’t get her way,” William said, his tone firm.

He had made certain of that himself, instructing his capable staff—including Franklin, who had remained loyal to him, as well as his newly appointed butler and housekeeper—to ensure the old harridan was gone from Cliffton Abbey well before his arrival.

William had understood Harriett’s dilemma the moment he spoke to Harriett’s former mother-in-law, and when he discovered the extortion papers that the late viscount had used to marry Harriett, he had had a fairly good idea of what had transpired.

He shook his head. “But as horrible as the whole affair was, had I not inherited his title—something I never anticipated—I would have never met you or your husband, and two finer friends I have never had,” William said.

“And I cannot disagree that the title has given me an advantage that is much appreciated where my brother is concerned.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Lucas added, lifting his brandy glass in a toast. “Harriett has returned to me as my wife, and my life is all the richer and happier for it. William, your friendship is a gift as well. Let me speak with my man of affairs, and I’ll update you on our possible travel to Cliffton Abbey. ”

“I should give fair warning. The latest report from my man of business revealed the manor house needs much repair,” William said. “This will be my first time living there.”

Harriett harumphed. “I wish I had never lived there,” she said tightly, her voice trembling with anger—and no doubt the painful memories of having essentially been a prisoner there.

Dorman wrapped his arm around his wife’s slender shoulders and hugged her close.

“There is a decent central living area, but the older wings need significant refurbishment and repair,” the duchess said, sounding calmer.

“I would be happy to make suggestions. I would like nothing more than to see it transformed into a bright and welcoming place to live.” She paused.

“There was also a tunnel that wound down to the beach. I must show you where it is—but my understanding is that tunnels run throughout the property and possibly connect to the estate it borders. I never mentioned it to your cousin, but it was the only way I had any semblance of freedom, where I didn’t feel spied upon.

I used it every chance I got. I discovered it by accident and realized his servants didn’t seem aware of it. ”

William couldn’t imagine how difficult that must have been for Harriett—living in near isolation while her every move was watched and reported on.

Nothing about his cousin had surprised him; he had been a cold, unscrupulous man.

William would have to do his utmost to change the perception people had of the title of Viscount Dudley.

Each time he was introduced with his new title, people eyed him speculatively until they were sure he was not of the same ilk as the late viscount.

“Thank you. Knowledge of a tunnel would be an important piece of information, especially if I’m to have a very adventurous eight-year-old with me,” William said with a laugh.

“Michael’s favorite pastime is playing pirate, when he’s not rescuing stray animals.

Finding a secret passage to the sandy beaches of Dover would be perfect for him. I’ll need to look into that.”

The duke chuckled. “A secret tunnel is a definite draw for children. Certainly, something we would love to have discovered when we were that age.”

“A boy with Michael’s spirit will certainly offer a hearty challenge,” Harriett added. “Perhaps I could be of assistance in securing you a governess. It might make things easier.”

William was glad she didn’t echo Dorman’s teasing him about getting a wife.

He had no immediate plans to marry. Despite his having acquired the title of a man who was greatly disliked, word of William’s missions had spread among the ton .

He’d become recognized as a hero of sorts, and at every ball or dinner he’d been forced to attend, he’d found himself avoiding all the young debutantes.

He had hoped to divest himself of the Crown’s responsibilities and remove himself from London, where people in his set lauded him at every turn for saving the lives of children who’d been stolen and bound for slavery—among them, a child of a fellow peer.

If he were being honest with himself, he’d admit that he’d enjoyed the work—the connection with his team, the common purpose.

It was the same feeling he’d had when he was in the army.

What his admirers didn’t know was that while William had let the man who committed the crime drown, he now understood he hadn’t gotten the head of the snake.

However, he hadn’t lost any sleep over Blackstone’s dying.

Rescuing Beth Ann Wilson and returning her to her loving parents had been worth it.

The death of that bastard Blackstone was still a win.

If that made William more ruthless and less heroic, so be it.

The problem was—he hadn’t put an end to the Pied Piper. The villain was still out there.

~*~