Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance Read online

  TAMING A DUKE’S RECKLESS HEART

  TAMMY ANDRESEN

  COPYRIGHT

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Copyright © 2016 Tammy Andresen

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Tammy Andresen

  Cover art by Melody Barber

  PRAISE FOR

  TAMMY ANDRESEN

  The characters are well-developed and interesting, the plot is edge-of-your-seat intriguing, and the setting is one with so much history. If you are a fan of history mixed with mystery and intrigue, you won't be disappointed. ~Linda Thompson THE AUTHOR SHOW

  While the relationship between Lily and Eric is the primary focus of this story, the mystery/supense factor is what kept this from being JUST a historical romance. Lily in Bloom was a fast-paced, romantic read that I absolutely LOVED. ~http://alysenovak.blogspot.com

  … it held not only a pure romance but the simple magic that goes with it. I was enchanted with this story from the beginning until the end and I didn’t want it to end. I wanted it to go on. ~Robin

  TITLES BY

  TAMMY ANDRESEN

  LILY IN BLOOM SERIES

  Seeds of Love: A Lily in Bloom Prequel

  Lily in Bloom

  Midnight Magic

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to Maggie Dallen. My friend, my editor, my companion on this crazy rollercoaster. You are amazing.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  As always, I need to thank my family and friends for their continued support. Most importantly, I have to thank my husband Tom. He continues to be my rock.

  To my amazing team—Stephanie Stacker, Melanie Barber and Maggie Dallen. This book has been the most fun! You ladies are the best of the best.

  TAMING A DUKE’S RECKLESS HEART

  CHAPTER ONE

  May 1854, Boston, MA

  Piper sat on the couch in Senator Asher Grey’s drawing room and surveyed the crowd of men who sat around her. She could have yawned with boredom because it was like every other party she attended recently. Every eligible man was at her feet. After a while, a girl wants a challenge.

  Her mother told her if she didn’t want their attention, she should stop making a spectacle of herself. She supposed her mother had a point, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And so, Piper would let the beautiful trill of her laugh wash over the room. She would flutter her lashes and fan her cheeks. She would let her gaze linger on a man a moment too long, and he would fall into her trap.

  Therein lied the problem. Once a suitor was properly snared, Piper became thoroughly bored. It was all too easy. She really should just pick one of them and marry him. It would solve a great many problems, but she couldn’t seem to make herself do it.

  Perhaps it was a family curse. Her cousin, Sybil, also needed to marry but had yet to choose a suitor. A sigh escaped her lips to think of her cousin. Beautiful and titled, she supposed most women would be jealous of Sybil, but Piper knew the truth. After the death of her parents, Sybil seemed weighed down with responsibility. She was having difficulty running the estate. Piper’s brow furrowed with worry. She wasn’t sure how to help this beautiful woman who had been so like a sister.

  One of the more astute men, Peter Long, picked up on the sigh. “Dear Miss Baker. What could be so wrong that you would look so?”

  The exaggerated manner of his speaking grated her senses. Piper resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she smiled angelically. “It’s silly, but I find myself missing my cousin, Sybil.”

  The men shifted around her, and Piper perceived a slight change in their attention. Another suitor responded quietly, “I don’t know why Lady Fairfield had to go to New York. She could have easily found a suitor for herself here.”

  A few other men nodded and Piper sat forward in her chair. Her eyebrows arched. This was actually getting interesting. “I will be sure to share that with her if New York is not a success.”

  Piper stood, eager to slip out while her suitors were distracted by talk of her cousin. She couldn’t fault them for their fickle interest; her titled cousin was the better catch by far. Though Piper was in a desperate situation of her own, she would happily hand over one of her own suitors if it meant her cousin’s happiness.

  “If you will excuse me gentlemen, the hour grows late.” She gave them a parting nod but the men seemed to realize they had allowed their focus to wander, and they now wanted to shift it back to the woman in front of them.

  “Oh, it isn’t late. Stay. Don’t leave yet,” they seemed to all say of one voice.

  “Forgive me gentlemen, but I too am travelling to New York tomorrow, and a lady must prepare. I will return before you know it. I beg you, wait for me till then.”

  She gave the smallest of waves with just the tips of her fingers and signaled to her mother she was ready to leave. Exhaustion swept over her as she headed for the doors. She wished she had made some sort of connection with one of these men.

  ***

  Later that evening, Piper looked at the dresses she had arranged on the bed to take on the journey to New York. A small frown creased her brow. Many of them were from last season and had been reworked. While the men would hardly mind, the ladies of New York would notice. They might deny her invitations she desperately needed. There was nothing, however, she could do about it now. She had to hope Sybil’s influence and her charm would allow her to enter New York society.

  “Why are you packing now? Our ship does not leave until tomorrow evening. You could do this in the morning.” Her mother’s voice sounded tired as she sat in the corner of Piper’s room.

  “Go to bed if you do not wish to stay up. I am going to pack now and then sleep tomorrow during the day so I can stay awake on the ship.” Piper bit her lip as she turned away from her mother. The older woman had been tired a great deal of late.

  “No, you are right. It is a good plan. I am sorry we have to leave port on the later tide. It’s just Mr. Abbot was able to secure an excellent price at that time…” Mrs. Baker began rambling an explanation.

  Piper soothed her mother. “It doesn’t matter. It will be good training for the New York season to stay up late. I must stay till the end if I am going to meet the best gentlemen.”

  “Piper, we’ve discussed your tactics before. Having every man at your feet simply isn’t working. I already told you, you should stop looking for a man. That is how the right one is going to land at your side. If you keep attracting every man on the East Coast, you will simply breed animosity.”

  “Hush, Mother. I will find a husband, and he will take care of both of us. You ought to reconsider your engagement. I know you think you will solve our problems by marrying Mr. Abbott, but don’t you want to enjoy your later years?” And not spend them with a man who was cheap and silly? He was also constantly eyeing Piper like a hungry dog looking at a plate of meat.

  “I am the mother here. Your future husband shouldn’t have to look out for me, too. I want you to take your time and find the right man.” Her mother began coughing and Piper rushed to her side.

  “You have always taken wonderful care of me. Now, I want to take care of you. Off to bed with you. You need your rest.” No, her mother would not marry Mr. Abbott. Piper would find
a suitable gentleman and take care of her mother this time.

  ***

  Piper’s opinion of Mr. Abbott did not improve as their carriage headed to the docks. First, this ship was in a rather questionable area of the city. Second, he had last minute business and had left the two women to find their own way. He said he would join them on the boat.

  It was admirable her mother wanted to spare her from a rushed marriage. No one knew better than her mother that Piper had yet to fall in love.

  She grew so bored with all the fawning and drooling men always seemed to do around her. Her mother knew it would be difficult for Piper to survive in a marriage like that.

  But her mother was British aristocracy, even if she had left that life behind to marry an American for love. She could not let her mother now marry a total buffoon. Piper was nineteen and many of her friends had married already. Her mother had given her so much. It was Piper’s turn to give to her mother. This year, she would find a husband.

  Now she just had to figure out how to get rid of the annoying Mr. Abbott.

  She was so lost in her thoughts, she paid little attention when the carriage ground to a halt. She assumed they were at their dock and started to adjust her skirts, but the driver’s voice made her stop cold.

  “Out of the way you!” He sounded nervous. Piper sat up straighter. The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the carriage as the driver gave a sharp cry.

  “Get ‘em out right fast and get any jewels off of ‘em. Don’t you move a muscle or you’re the first one dead,” a rough voice called from just by the door. The driver did not respond.

  As if on cue, her mother began to cough. Piper turned to her, eyes bulging out, begging her silently to be quiet.

  The door flung open and a rough looking man climbed into the carriage. His clothes were worn and filthy. His hat was stained. He leered at her, showing several missing teeth. “Aren’t you a sweet treat.”

  His dirty hand grabbed her arm and wrenched her out of the carriage. She tried to stay standing, but he was pulling her too fast. She lost her footing on the steps out, and she toppled to the ground.

  He managed to keep her in his grip and yanked her back up to standing. For a split second, Piper registered three other men standing nearby before his revolting lips came down on hers.

  She had never kissed a man before and tears sprung to her eyes that this was her first experience. His breath stank and disgusting hands pawed at her. She had never felt dirtier in her life. She twisted her body to try and get out of his grasp

  The man stopped suddenly and Piper opened her eyes, hoping to be rescued. But another, even more revolting man, had his hand on the first man’s arm. “You gotta share,” his voice accused.

  “Wait your turn. I got her first,” her attacker replied.

  Fear welled up in Piper as the second man grabbed her other arm. A scream rose in her chest as the two men pushed each other with her in between.

  Suddenly a horse’s hooves rose over the sound of the scuffle, and Piper turned her head to see a rider bearing down on them. Was he another attacker?

  He looked gigantic riding on an even larger horse. His cape billowed off his broad shoulders. Piper’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.

  Without a word, he rode into the middle of the group and knocked one of the assailants up the side of the head with a baton. The man fell to the ground like a sack of bricks.

  The horseman swung back around and knocked the other man down. Then he jumped off his horse as he pulled two pistols out from his belt. Piper jumped in fear as he raised the pistols pointing them at her and the remaining two thieves.

  “Get out of here now,” His voice growled out, rich and deep. She thought for a second she detected an accent. He straightened with the pistols in his hands. The movement accentuated how incredibly broad his shoulders were. His body tapered down to a trim waist. Everything about him was distinctly masculine.

  The two thieves looked at him for a split second and then began running down the street. He holstered the guns and then dragged the other two men to their feet.

  “You two. Out of here.” The other men stumbled away. Piper backed towards the carriage. His accent was British but muted.

  Somehow, Piper was almost more afraid of him than she had been of those other men. She had no idea what his intentions were, now that they were alone. He was incredibly muscular and had just taken out four men without even trying. “P-p-please.” Pipe hadn’t realized she was backing up until she bumped into the carriage. Her breathing was rapid and she couldn’t seem to slow it down. Chest heaving, her hand fluttered to her neck in an attempt to calm her racing heart.

  He glanced at her and surprise lit his eyes. He moved a step closer and Piper pressed herself against the carriage. She tried to speak again. “I don’t have any money. Please leave us be.”

  “Money?” Amusement laced his gravelly voice but he stopped moving towards her. His eyes, however, slowly moved up and down the length of her. He seemed to drink in every detail.

  Piper noted during his perusal he was well dressed. He was also incredibly handsome, although not in the way many of her suitors were. His jaw was strong and his face hard and angular. It added to his look of power and danger. His dark hair was neatly tied back despite the struggle. She should have been comforted he was from her class but her heart wouldn’t stop racing.

  “Where are you going in this section of town at this time of night?” his rough voice grated out.

  Her eyes grew larger. Her breathing continued to be ragged. “We have passage on the Maria tonight to New York. My mother’s friend booked it. It was a good price, I suppose. We wouldn’t normally be here, we just wanted…” Dear God, she was rambling. She never rambled. Men rambled around her. She sat coolly appraising them as they made fools of themselves.

  He stepped closer again and her heart beat even faster. His eyes were dark pools of mystery. The kind a woman could get lost in. They travelled over her face again and down her neck to her cleavage.

  Her hand fluttered automatically to cover the spot. But for some strange reason, her lips parted and her tongue darted out to lick them.

  He quirked a small smile and Piper actually gasped. It made him even more mysterious. And handsome. Her nerves were raw, and unsure what to do, she started rambling again. “I have never been at the docks this time of night. Those men, they almost…” Her eyes filled with tears and although she tried desperately not to, a single tear leaked from her eye and trickled down her cheek.

  His hand reached up and, ever so gently, he used the pad of his thumb to brush the tear away.

  A jolt shot through Piper. It was like lightning travelling through her body. She licked her lips again and her eyes darted from his eyes to his lips. What was happening to her?

  His thumb was still on her skin and his entire hand enveloped her cheek to gently cup it as he turned her face up towards his.

  Piper was in a trance, she was powerless to protest. His lips were drifting closer to her own. Without realizing it, his body had also been moving closer and his chest brushed her hand that was covering her cleavage.

  Suddenly her mother coughed again from inside the carriage and his head snapped up. “Who are you travelling with?”

  “My-my m-m-mother,” her breathy voice was strange to her own ears.

  “You’re both coming with me.” He grabbed her hand and tugged open the carriage door.

  “Where?” Piper’s strangled voice cried.

  TAMING A DUKE’S RECKLESS HEART

  CHAPTER TWO

  He glanced back at her in surprise. “To the Maria.” He paused as his eyes drank her in again. “Although it’s an awful ship. I am travelling to New York as well, and you could both travel with me. You would, most assuredly, be safer.”

  If Piper hadn’t been so stunned, she would have rolled her eyes. With her heart hammering in her chest, the last thing she felt was safe.

  He moved around the door and off
ered his hand to her mother, who easily took it. She seemed to have none of Piper’s reservations.

  “I don’t even know your name!” Piper cried in exasperation.

  “Barrett Maddox. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  Her mother paused, “Not the Barrett Maddox? Are you from Chesterfield?”

  His eyes rounded in surprise, “That name rarely means anything here without the title.”

  “Title,” Piper croaked out.

  He gave her another one-sided grin. “Sixth Duke of Manchester at your service. Who might I have the pleasure of addressing?”

  “I was Lady Carolyn Vesser. Formally of Yorkshire. This is my daughter, Miss Piper Baker.” Her mother gave a small curtsey before she doubled over coughing.

  Piper peeled herself off of the carriage and went to her mother’s side, wrapping her arms around the older woman. She held her until the coughing subsided.

  When her mother stopped, both women straightened to see Mr. Maddox’s gaze intently assessing them.

  “Lady Vesser, why don’t I send a note to the Maria that you will be travelling with us tonight? My boat is right here and I am sure you will be more comfortable.” He gave her a warm smile but it appeared a little stretched, as if the movement was uncommon.

  Piper’s mother returned his smile before she accepted his arm. “It’s just Mrs. Baker now and I would be so grateful.”

  Piper turned to the driver, who had finally peeked out from the other side of the carriage. “Could you bring the trunks please?” She trained her features into a blank mask, though she would have liked to scold the man for his cowardice.

  “Of course, miss,” he mumbled as he grabbed their trunks.

  Trailing along behind her mother and Mr. Maddox, she tried to piece together the events of the evening.

  The man had rescued them that much was true. But he was a stranger and he seemed dangerous, and they were getting on a boat with him. Piper could only come to one conclusion; her mother was losing her mental facilities.