My Amber Passion: A Steamy Regency Romance Novella

By Penelope Redmont

Your life can change in the blink of an eye...

After the death of both of their parents, Amber Neuville is responsible for her small siblings. She sells off everything she can from Neuville Manor to support them all. To her immense relief, their uncle, Eduard Panelle, Comte St Jacques de Rasse, arrives to help them. 

Again Amber's life changes. Eduard takes her to London to be his hostess. Although she's aware that something in her situation isn't right, Amber ignores her instincts and trusts her uncle, at first. 

Eduard introduces Amber to the handsome and dashing Marquess of Allin. Allin frightens her, but he wins her confidence. Amber tastes passion.

When she realizes that her uncle has betrayed her in the most unconscionable way, how can Amber trust what she feels for Allin?

She has to make a choice. That choice -- the only choice -- will ruin her forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penelope Redmont
• Release date: Jul 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536593723

Book preview

Chapter 1

Grosvenor Street , London, April 1811

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A month after Amber's arrival at her uncle's fashionable London home, she was informed that she was ready to take up her duties as her uncle's hostess.

Your uncle's having a small soiree this evening my dear. Just a few gentlemen, and one or two ladies, Mrs Dyer told Amber on a Thursday morning at breakfast. You're to act as his hostess. I'll be with you, of course. Do you think you can manage it?

Amber took a deep breath. Yes, of course. She was a little nervous of Mary Dyer.

Although Mary was ostensibly a distant relation, hired to function as Amber's companion, Mary managed the household as its mistress might. Comfortably middle-aged, she dressed in the height of fashion. Jewels glittered on her plump fingers, and her caps were chosen for their lacy elegance, rather than utility.

I'll choose your clothes, so have a rest this afternoon. You must look elegant tonight.

After Amber's morning sessions with her tutors, her maid helped her to undress, and she climbed into the large comfortable bed in her room.

She was so excited that she didn't think that she'd be able to sleep, but that gave her time to think. She'd been in London at Uncle Eduard's house for almost a month. Her uncle and Mary Dyer kept her so busy, with endless lessons, and clothes fittings, that she was occupied all day, and well into the evenings.

Her uncle was Eduard Panelle, the Comte St Jacques de Rasse. He'd lost his estates in France years ago, but was nevertheless wealthy, as his fashionable house in Grosvenor Street proved. He'd been given a government appointment, he told her, and Amber was to be his hostess

Amber lived with Uncle Eduard because her father, Lord Neuville, had died almost a year ago.

When her father died, there was no time for Amber to grieve. With four siblings, all younger than she, and no money, there wasn't time for anything except survival. After her father's funeral the bills had started coming in. More and more of them.

Amber sold the paintings in the Neuville manor house first. Then the furniture. Next, the coach, with the Neuville coat of arms on the panel. Amber cried when the horses were collected to be auctioned at Tattersalls.

The servants were let go. One over-worked nursemaid remained, as well as the elderly couple who lived in the gate house. Neither the nursemaid, nor the couple, had anywhere else to go.

With no servants, Amber had to learn to cook. But first, she had to find food. Amber sighed as she recalled their struggles. At least the little ones hadn't gone hungry. The rector and the village had rallied around the small, sad family.

Amber shivered, and pulled the silk coverlet more tightly around her shoulders. Worse than grieving over the loss of her father, and managing everything, had been the constant fear. That fear lingered, even now.

Her siblings — two boys, and two small pretty girls — were all under ten. Their mother was her father's second wife. She'd died in 1808, while giving birth to baby Mathilda.

When she was left alone to look after them, Amber realized that children died all the time. Amber was terrified at each small cough and sniffle.

Then her uncle arrived. He was very tall, very portly, and very French.

She'd watched, bemused, as he strode about Neuville Manor, giving orders. Within a few hours after his arrival, Neuville Manor was staffed. Wagons arrived, packed with furniture, and food.

You're my uncle, she'd said, as she and Eduard lunched together on the day he arrived, their meal expertly cooked by her uncle's French chef. She couldn't believe that she even had an uncle, let alone that he traveled with his own chef.

I am. Eduard smiled. I am your mother's brother. Lord Neuville saw your mother, Elise, in Paris — he asked who she was, and called on us. Elise was just 17. They married within the year, and she left France with her new husband. Within the next year, I'd left France too.

He paused for a moment. We all lost touch. My parents didn't give their permission for the match between your father and my sister. I blamed her for the disruptions in the family. Wrongly, of course. You must let me take care of you all.

Amber was 19. She knew that the match between her own mother and her father had led to a scandal. The couple were disowned by his family, and her mother's. She'd never been clear on why. Her father had never discussed it.

Finding his family, and asking them to help, became imperative when her father died. When she hunted through her father's papers on his death however, desperate to find someone to help them, she'd found nothing. Neither the vicar, nor the family solicitor been able to help — no one knew who or where Amber might find family. There had been no one at all on whom she could call.

A few weeks later, with Neuville Manor fully staffed, running well, and with the children well-fed, and happy, Uncle Eduard informed Amber that she was going to London with him. I need a hostess, my dear. With a few lessons, and the right clothes, you'll do very well. You're pretty — and I'll make you beautiful.

How could she refuse? She now knew, down to the pence, how much money it took to maintain a household in comfort. Uncle Eduard was paying for them all. She had to repay his kindness somehow. The Comte had hired a housekeeper, a butler, and a governess, as well as three nursery maids, and other staff. There was enough food. The children would be looked after in her absence.

Stop looking so worried, he told her. The children will manage without you for a few months. You do trust me to look after you all, don't you?

Yes, of course.

Then stop frowning. Smile. Your smiles are what I need. You will enjoy London, Amber.

In Eduard's elegant traveling coach, on the way to London, Eduard asked Amber if she wished she had had a season.

She explained she'd almost had a season. When Amber was 16, she and Elise went to London to shop, and to prepare for her season. Within a month, Elise had become ill.

We had to come home to Neuville Manor. Elise never fully recovered her health. Then she died when Matilda was born… There was no more talk of London and a season after that.

When her maid woke her at five o'clock, Amber realized that she had fallen asleep.

You're to bathe, my lady.

The bath was already set up, in front of the fire, with fragrant steam rising from it.

You'll have to hurry — we've got to wash your hair. It's so long and thick it will take an hour to brush dry, come along now, your ladyship.

Amber had tired of explaining to Alice, her new maid, that she was the Honorable Amber Neuville — Miss Amber, or Miss Neuville. But Alice was set on her ladyship.

Obediently Amber climbed into the bath, and submitted to Alice's ministrations. She realized that she was nervous. Tell me about yourself, Alice.

Not much to tell, your ladyship. I've been working for his lordship for four years. He took me out of the workhouse. Had me taught proper speech too. You'd never have been able to understand me, otherwise. She briskly soaped Amber's shoulders and back.

Amber inhaled neroli. New soap?

Specially made for his lordship by Pears, your ladyship. He's sent three bars for you… Now please close your eyes. She tipped a jug of warm water over Amber's head, and began to wash her hair.

Amber's blonde hair reached down to her hips, so she relaxed as Alice soaped her scalp. Bar soap was expensive. And Eduard had sent her three bars.

That made her even more nervous. What if she did something incorrectly? Was a month long enough to turn her into a London lady?

There was something about Alice that niggled at her, in the same way that something about Mary niggled. The young woman was very pretty, and wore fine clothes — clothes that were too fine for a maid. She suspected that Alice was Eduard's mistress. Amber knew all about mistresses. Her stepmother, Elise, had been very angry about Lord Neuville's mistress, and had chosen to take out her bad temper on Amber.

Amber told herself that it was none of her business. She was grateful to Eduard. If he chose to set his mistress to working as Amber's maid, that was his concern.

Mary bustled in when Alice had almost finished drying Amber's hair. Quickly now — we need to get you dressed. And then your hair dressed. Alice, look at this picture — do you think that we can use this style? Amber must look wonderful, rather than simply fashionable. I care nothing for fashion — I want her hair long… She must look — She stopped speaking abruptly.

Amber saw an expression of cold calculation flicker in Mary's eyes, then vanish. Amber shivered.

The two women studied the illustration.

Come on, now, Amber. Let's get you dressed.

Amber endured their ministrations. She gasped when her corset was laced. Mary, no.

Yes indeed, my dear.

Amber looked down