Misadventures in Seduction

By Robyn DeHart

With five siblings to care for, Prudence Hixsby's duty comes first, even if it means becoming a spinster. When the eldest - and most cherished - of her younger brothers decides to join the war, however, Prudence is determined to keep him safe. So she strikes a bargain with an old acquaintance: her body in exchange for her brother's safety.

In the dead of the night, she slips into the bed of a man whose touch is both fierce and passionate... little knowing she's just seduced the wrong man.

Harrison Carlisle, the Duke of Sutcliffe, never imagined that the lovely Prudence would honour his bed, or just how bewitching those lush curves could be. Yet he keeps a gentleman's silence. After all, a spy for the Crown can ill afford to marry. But when Prudence's brother is killed, they find themselves uniting to track down the traitorous murderer. And while death lurks within the shadowy world of espionage, there is also passion... and the unbidden thrill of a seduction!

A Masquerading Mistresses Novella

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Sep 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781633750654

Robyn DeHart

Robyn DeHart always knew she wanted to be a writer, but it took a while to discover precisely what she wanted to write. Reading Kathleen Woodiwiss's A Rose in Winter sealed the deal, and she's been reading and writing romance ever since. She should have realized she was destined for this career when her Barbies insisted on hosting elaborate masquerade parties, complete with stolen kisses in the moonlight. Researching her novels is always exciting, but when it involves eating chocolate, it's especially sweet. She lives in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, with her incredibly supportive husband and two very spoiled cats. She loves to hear from readers.

Book preview

From spinster to seductress...

With five siblings to care for, Prudence Hixsby ‘s duty comes first, even if it means becoming a spinster. When the eldest—and most cherished—of her younger brothers decides to join the war, however, Prudence is determined to keep him safe. So she strikes a bargain with an old acquaintance: her body in exchange for her brother’s safety.

In the dead of night, she slips into the bed of a man whose touch is both fierce and passionate... little knowing she’s just seduced the wrong man.

Harrison Carlisle, the Duke of Sutcliffe, never imagined that that lovely Prudence would honour his bed, or just how bewitching those lush curves could be. Yet he keeps a gentleman’s silence. After all, a spy for the Crown can ill afford to marry. But when Prudence’s brother is killed, they find themselves uniting to track down the traitorous murderer. And while death lurks within the shadowy world of espionage, there is also passion... and the unbidden thrill of seduction!

Misadventures

in Seduction

a Masquerading Mistresses novella

Robyn DeHart

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by Robyn DeHart. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Entangled Publishing, LLC

2614 South Timberline Road

Suite 109

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.

Scandalous is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.

Edited by Kate Fall

Cover design by Liz Pelletier

ISBN 978-163375-065-4

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition September 2014

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Epilogue

About the Author

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To my girls. It will be a while before y’all are old enough to read Mommy’s books, but know that so much of what I do is for you. Always remember to go after your dreams with all you’ve got. And to Paul, as always, and for everything.

Prologue

Country house party at the edge of Derbyshire, 1810

Prudence Hixsby, eldest child to the late Mr. and Mrs. Hixsby of Staffordshire, stole a glance at the tall man across the parlor. Harrison Carlisle, Duke of Sutcliffe. He leaned against the mantel as if he owned the room even though he was as much a guest as she. His arrogance was palpable.

His lean figure cut a dashing view with his bright white cravat, expertly tied, and his black tailcoat. She looked down on her own dress—meager by his standards, certainly, but it was one of her finest gowns, a soft blue embroidered muslin with a satin ribbon tied just under her breasts. It was a flattering color, she’d been told. Still, in comparison to the duke’s finery, she felt lacking.

His shrewd blue eyes scanned the parlor, yet he never seemed to see her. Blast it all, but he was handsome.

You’re staring, her brother’s voice said from behind.

She started at his intrusion. Johnston, you shouldn’t sneak up on a person in such a way. She tapped his elbow. And I was not staring. Had she been staring? Nearly twenty people were in attendance. She recognized most of them. Lord and Lady Flintlock played cards at a table in the back of the parlor, with two older women whom she recognized, but could not recall their names. Several others chatted around the room as she and her brother were doing. None of them seemed to notice her, so had she been gawking, perhaps it had gone unseen by all but her brother.

Deny if you must, dear sister. Johnston gave her one of his charming smiles. But we both know the truth.

She ignored his goading. It was alarming, not to mention troubling, that she’d been staring at the duke at all, let alone that she’d been caught. What was it about the man that she found so interesting? It was not his charm; he’d never been particularly friendly to her.

I want to speak with you about something, Johnston said, interrupting her thoughts.

Regardless, she need not spend any considerable time noting the Duke’s assets. We speak every day. Several times a day, in fact.

Still, Johnston took her by the elbow and led her to the back corner of the room, near a large bookcase. Yes, but there are always children around.

She chuckled. Those children are your siblings, too.

Indeed. But Astrid is always bothering me to teach her to ride like a man. He tugged uncomfortably on his cravat. Constance looks at me so disapprovingly for a twelve year old.

Jefferson idolizes you, Prudence said.

Johnston shrugged. I suppose. And Matilda is always on your lap.

A pang shot through Prudence’s heart. I am the only mother she has ever known.

Still, this is a private matter, and it would appear that we are alone at the moment. Johnston glanced about the parlor, then back to her. I’m tired of sitting at home doing nothing, Pru. I know you won’t approve, but I’m going to join up and fight this war.

The floor seemed to fall from beneath her. She eyed her brother, four years her junior, and found nothing but sincerity in his gaze. You cannot. We have a family to care for.

But it is my duty to serve my country and honor our family name. Besides you don’t need my help with the family. You never have. You likely won’t even notice I’m gone.

I hardly think that is true. Why did he always assume she was so capable? Because she never let on how terrified she was of the fact that the fate of her family rested on her shoulders. She’d always known that if she required his assistance, all she need do was ask. But now— And what if you’re killed?

That’s unlikely, he said.

Don’t be flippant about this. Her brow furrowed and she fought to keep her voice low. War is extremely dangerous. Men are killed every day on the peninsula. Panic rose in her throat; her stomach churned.

You’re not my mother, Pru. I don’t require your permission for this.

He was right, and she knew her brother, once he’d set his mind to something, could not be convinced otherwise. She clenched her teeth and scanned the room. Her gaze fell upon the Duke of Sutcliffe again and she glared at him. Another gentleman had joined him, and they stood together at the mantel, drinking and conversing. She was certain that Sutcliffe was to blame for Johnston’s newfound enthusiasm to join the military. He’d listened intently to Sutcliffe’s stories of the battles he’d fought before coming back to England to head up intelligence gathering. And Johnston wanted to be a part of that.

Her breath caught. All it would take was one word from Sutcliffe to change her brother’s mind. She need only appeal to his gentlemanly nature, provided he had one, to ensure her brother stayed out of harm’s way.

You’re absolutely right, dear brother. Enjoy the remainder of your evening. She nodded, then strode toward the fireplace, fists balled in her skirt. Thankfully the other gentleman moved on before she reached the duke. Confronting the Duke of Sutcliffe would take every ounce of strength