Tempted By Her Enemy Marquis
Katherine Jones is a woman on a mission – to revenge herself on Will Lovell, Marquis of Ravenham, the man who destroyed her father’s reputation and now holds the fabulous Renaissance jewel The Borgia Ruby – that should belong to Katherine.
Will has hardly begun to be used to being the Marquis, a title inherited from his exceedingly eccentric cousin. For years Will has been the late Marquis’s lawyer and it was his skills that ensured the defeat of the man who declared he had a claim on the Borgia Ruby – and had the nerve to accuse the Marquis of stealing it.
Now faced with the chaotic collections of his late relative whose obsessive collecting has filled his new home with enough antiquities to furnish several museums, Will is even prepared to employ a female librarian and antiquarian to bring some order to the great house.
“Miss Jenson” is intelligent, knowledgeable and determined and perfectly pleasant – but why does he sense that she dislikes him?
Katherine tackles the jumble of books and treasures, doing her job while searching for the evidence to prove her ownership of the Ruby and expose the lies told about her father. If only she could stop finding the Marquis so attractive. She hats him – and desires him.
What will happen if a woman bent on vengeance and a man who ought to be making a suitable, aristocratic marriage, find they are falling in love? Someone is going to be betrayed, someone’s heart is going to be broken…
Excerpt
‘One applicant remains, my lord.’ Giles Wilmott, Will’s new secretary, hesitated on the threshold of his study. ‘A somewhat… unusual candidate, applying for both posts.’
Will glanced at the last file on the desk. ‘C. A. Jenson. Excellent references, I must say. Miss Deben sent an example of how her library was organised and Lady Eversholt’s reply included a copy of the catalogue of her late husband’s collection from his Grand Tour, with valuations and recommendations. Impressive. I have to say, the other applicants have been hopeless.’
There had been one librarian who was so vague that he made the newly retired Mr Townsend appear as sharp as a box of knives; one who wanted to impose his novel, and highly complex, system of cataloguing regardless of what Will needed; an antiquarian who clearly wanted to acquire the spoils for himself and one who was knowledgeable about statuary, but ignorant of just about everything else.
‘Show him in.’
Arnley looked as though he wanted to say something, then bowed and went out. A minute later the door opened to admit the final applicant.
Will got to his feet. ‘But you are a woman!’
‘Yes, my lord.’ The neat figure in front of him dropped the slightest of curtsies. Her face was composed, but he had the strong impression that she was amused.
‘I do not want a woman,’ he stated, then broke off when he realised what he had just said.
This time he was certain of it. She was laughing at him, although not a muscle in the smooth oval of her face twitched. It was all in those hazel eyes.
‘Damn it.’ After a moment he got himself under control. ‘I beg your pardon. Please sit down, Miss Jenson. There would appear to have been some mistake. I am advertising for a librarian and an antiquarian advisor. Not a housekeeper.’
‘That is fortunate, as I have no skills as a housekeeper, my lord. As I am sure you are aware from the examples of my work I see in front of you, my talents lie elsewhere,’ she said calmly. ‘I have the skills and knowledge you require. It runs in the family. My father taught me. I can produce further references if you so require.’
When he remained silent, she added, ‘I have some idea of your problem. The late Marquis had become notorious in the circles in which I move. I presume the place is over-run with his purchases.’
‘Yes,’ Will said curtly. It was useless to try and hide the facts. ‘There is complete disorder.’
Miss Jenson nodded. ‘As I expected. By employing me you will save on a salary. I require one hundred pounds a year, a modest suite of rooms, and board and lodging for myself, my chaperon and our maid.’
‘One hundred pounds? I could employ two butlers for that, Miss Jenson.’
‘If you can find two butlers who can do what I am capable of, my lord, then I recommend that you employ them,’ the provoking woman said politely, and folded her hands in her lap.
Will had not become a successful barrister by allowing himself to be caught on the back foot for long. He leaned back in his chair and studied her across the width of the desk. Most witnesses would have begun to shift uneasily. She stared back, unabashed.
‘This is a bachelor household. Surely you have a concern for your reputation?’ She was clearly a lady from her speech and the quiet good taste of her sensible clothes.
‘I would have my maid with me, a formidable protection against anything I might encounter from amorous footmen to large spiders, and my chaperon, a clergyman’s widow of the utmost respectability. And I assume you employ a housekeeper and maids?’
‘I do. But they are servants. You would be here in a professional capacity, much like my secretary. I would expect them, and my librarian, to dine with me often, for example.’
‘My chaperon, Mrs Downe, is my cousin. She perfectly used to dining at a nobleman’s table. Or an archbishop’s, come to that, although I imagine those are rarely invited.’ When he did not reply she added, ‘I assume the London town house is also awash with items.’
‘If only there was space here for things to be awash, Miss Jenson,’ he said grimly. ‘However, my late cousin retired here during the last few years and the spoils of his collecting appear to be concentrated in this residence. The London house is relatively…normal. Come, I will show you around and you can see what you are offering to deal with.’
That should daunt her.
