on the base. He recalls sitting on his mother’s lap at the edge of a lake and looking up at that folly. It has to be the same one. He was there as a child.”
“He’s certain?”
“Quite. He’d forgotten about it until I gave Selina her wedding present—that coral necklace. It’s similar to one their mother wore. When Rafe saw it, he recalled the folly.”
“Does he think he visited there?”
“He doesn’t remember, but perhaps the Earl of Stone can help him. Perhaps the earl knew their parents.” She looked up at him, her eyes glowing. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“It would. However, that was a long time ago, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, but surely he would remember a couple who died not long after that in a fire.”
“Did no one look for the couple’s children?” Thomas asked.
“That is a mystery. Rafe doesn’t know what happened, just that their parents died in the fire and he and Selina were rescued.”
“By a man who claimed to be their uncle. That’s suspicious, isn’t it?”
“He didn’t do the actual rescuing. That was their nurse.” Beatrix laid her head back against his shoulder. “Rafe remembers the smoke and heat and the nurse taking him and Selina to safety. And telling him that their parents were gone,” she said sadly.
Thomas stroked her shoulder. “How tragic. I hope this helps them discover who their parents were.” He took a deep breath. “And yet, I worry how that will affect you. If they suddenly have parents—who would be known to the Earl of Stone—where does that leave you, their supposed sister?”
She turned her head and looked up at him, her lips curling into a smile. “You are sweet to think of me, but I don’t care where that leaves me. Deborah is still out there and may yet decide to call me a bastard.” Beatrix had told him all about Deborah.
“And I don’t care if she does,” Beatrix continued. “I don’t care if people learn I’m illegitimate or that I am not actually related by blood to Rafe or Selina. I have everything I want and need right here.” She leaned up and kissed him. “And upstairs.” Regan.
Beatrix’s love for his daughter was a gift he would cherish for all his days.
“I feel precisely the same way.” He kissed her again, his tongue finding hers in a gentle exploration. It wasn’t, however, enough. He scooted down and rolled her to her back.
She stroked his face with her fingertips. “You don’t mind being married to a thief and a bastard?”
“It’s a vast improvement over my last wife.” He grimaced. “Sorry, I don’t ever mean to compare you. I’m just so damned grateful to have you in my life.”
She gave him a soft smile. “I know. We’re both lucky. What started as a scandalous bargain between two strangers became something much more.”
“It became everything.” He lowered his head and kissed her thoroughly—first her mouth, then her neck, then lower still.
She twined her fingers in his hair. “I love you, Tom.”
“And I love you, Beatrix.” He looked up at her from her navel and gave her a wicked grin. “Let me show you how much.”
And so he did.
Want to discover who Rafe and Selina’s parents were? Can a disillusioned Society miss heal the heart of a former criminal or will he succumb to the darkness of his past? Find out in the exciting next book in The Pretenders series, A ROGUE TO RUIN!
Thank you so much for reading A Scandalous Bargain! It’s the second book in The Pretenders trilogy. I hope you enjoyed it!
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Need more Regency romance? Check out my other historical series:
The Untouchables
Swoon over twelve of Society’s most eligible and elusive bachelor peers and the bluestockings, wallflowers, and outcasts who bring them to their knees!
The Untouchables: The Spitfire Society
Meet the smart, independent women who’ve decided they don’t need Society’s rules, their families’ expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don’t need a man doesn’t mean they might not want one…
Wicked Dukes Club
Six books written by me and my BFF, NYT Bestselling Author Erica Ridley. Meet the unforgettable men of London's most notorious tavern, The Wicked Duke. Seductively handsome, with charm and wit to spare, one night with these rakes and rogues will never be enough...
Love is All Around
Heartwarming Regency-set retellings of classic Christmas stories (written after the Regency!) featuring a cozy village, three siblings, and the best gift of all: love.
Secrets and Scandals
Six epic stories set in London’s glittering ballrooms and England’s lush countryside.
Legendary Rogues
Five intrepid heroines and adventurous heroes embark on exciting quests across the Georgian Highlands and Regency England and Wales!
If you like contemporary romance, I hope you’ll check out my Ribbon Ridge series available from Avon Impulse, and the continuation of Ribbon Ridge in So Hot.
I hope you’ll consider leaving a review at your favorite online vendor or networking site!
I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Also by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
The Untouchables: The Pretenders
A Secret Surrender
A Scandalous Bargain
A Rogue to Ruin
The Untouchables
The Bachelor Earl
The Forbidden Duke
The Duke of Daring
The Duke of Deception
The Duke of Desire
The Duke of Defiance
The Duke of Danger
The Duke of Ice
The Duke of Ruin
The Duke of Lies
The Duke of Seduction
The Duke of Kisses
The Duke of Distraction
The Untouchables: Spitfire Society
Never Have I Ever with a Duke
A Duke is Never Enough
A Duke Will Never Do
Love is All Around
(A Regency Holiday Trilogy)
The Red Hot Earl
The Gift of the Marquess
Joy to the Duke
Wicked Dukes Club
One Night for Seduction by Erica Ridley
One Night of Surrender by Darcy Burke
One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley
One Night of Scandal by Darcy Burke
One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley
One Night of Temptation by Darcy Burke
Legendary Rogues
The Legend of a Rogue
Lady of Desire
Romancing the Earl
Lord of Fortune
Captivating the Scoundrel
Secrets and Scandals
Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
Contemporary Romance
Ribbon Ridge
Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)
Only in My Dreams
Yours to Hold
When Love Happens
The Idea of You
When We Kiss
You’re Still the One
Ribbon Ridge: So Hot
So Good
So Right
So Wrong
About the Author
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Club newsletter at https://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub.
A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, incredibly talented artist daughter, and imaginative son who will almost certainly out-write her one day (that may be tomorrow). They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, an older rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, and a collection of neighbor cats who hang out on the deck and occasionally venture inside. You can find Darcy at a winery, in her comfy writing chair balancing her laptop and a cat or three, folding laundry (which she loves), or binge-watching TV with the family. Her happy places are Disneyland, Labor Day weekend at the Gorge, Denmark, and anywhere in the UK—so long as her family is there too. Visit Darcy online at https://www.darcyburke.com and follow her on social media.