A Perfect Agreement

By Roxie Brandon

She was out for vengeance but ended up falling in love...

Left at the altar by the man she was supposed to marry, Emily West was ruined and she was unjustly banished from polite society. Vowing to get her own revenge on those who had hurt her because she had no one to protect her, Emily decided that she would marry no one but one of the most powerful men in England-the Duke of Ivory. The thing was, Emily had never met him before and when she finally did meet him, she realized that he was just as handsome as the devil. He was also rude.

He was in love with his mistress...or so he thought...

Nicholas needed to get married within two weeks but then, he set eyes on Emily West, the red-haired beauty popularly known as 'The Red Jewel of West'. He wanted her from the moment he had set eyes on her and since she wouldn't be his mistress, he decided that marrying her would solve his problems.

This is a story of two desperate people who needed to marry for one reason or the other and having a marriage of convenience seemed to be their option. Falling in love was never their plan and when they both realized that their agreement stood in their own feelings, the two had to fight for each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxie Brandon
• Release date: Apr 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463527467

Roxie Brandon

Roxie Brandon is an author of historical and contemporary romance, beauty and fashion books.Her romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century.She loves walks in the countryside and having afternoon tea with family and friends.

Book preview

A Perfect Agreement

Copyright © 2020 Roxie Brandon All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER ONE

London, 1816

Emily walked across the ballroom and smiled happily at the people in it. As she walked, she heard aristocrats whispered at her.

There she is, poor girl... Lady Annabel said with mockery but Emily pretended not to care. Scandals had reigned in her family for as long as she could remember.

First, her mother had run off with a commoner when Emily was just ten and then, her elder brother went missing two years later and he was found lifeless, at the London's Harbour. As if that was not enough, her father had married her mother's best friend.

Society had talked and pointed accusing fingers at the Baron of West. Emily was only thirteen when it happened and she never understood why her mother's best friend was suddenly her stepmother.

Her stepmother had come with Richard, her son from her previous marriage. Her husband had died of a strange malady and she saw the opportunity to marry an aristocrat with a title again. She had always hated Emily and her son, Richard, was a good five years older than Emily. He was cruel and selfish.

The Baron died a year ago, leaving Emily at the mercy of her stepmother and stepbrother but Emily was determined to become one of the most powerful women in society, only then would she finally get back at all those who hurt her.

The red Jewel of West...poor her... She heard another woman said, with a gasp.

The society called her the red Jewel of West but she didn't care. Emily was determined to rise from grass to grace. All she had to do was to marry the Duke of Ivory. The thing was, Emily had never met him.

Emily, dear! She heard her stepmother called to her.

Emily inwardly gritted her teeth but smiled at the woman in front of her. There was no love lost between them and they were both good actors.

Mother! Emily laughed

Have you seen the pitiful looks you get from everyone? Elena's voice was calmed.

It's nothing; scandal had always reigned in the family. Emily pretended not to care.

Poor you, to think that David left you at the altar, ran off to Gretna Green with Alice your best friend and got married to her! Elena reminded Emily.

I already wished them a happy married life. Emily beamed, careful to hide her emotions.

Rumor has it that you are no longer a virgin and no one would marry you, now. Elena laughed triumphantly.

I am still a virgin! Emily almost shouted.

We shall see about that. The woman twirled around and walked away.

That was when Emily turned to really look at the people in the ballroom. She realized that she had been ruined. Whoever spread the rumor that David left her at the altar because he realized she was no longer a virgin had succeeded in finally tarnishing her reputation.

Oh God, please no. She said almost with a cry.

Emily blindly ran out of the ballroom, her shoes clicking on the floor. She ran to the garden, found a place, sat down and let her tears fall.

Emily? A deep male voice called.

Emily looked up, her white face stained with tears and her bright blue eyes opened wide.

Edward... She called. He was her late brother's best friend. She remembered how he had always played with her when they were younger.

What's making you cry? Edward asked her. He was dressed in a pair of black breeches and white frail shirt. His boots were black and he looked so handsome smiling at her she suddenly remembered her brother. If her brother was alive, he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. He would have protected her.

It is nothing. She cried.

Talk to me. He begged.

Things are pretty rough for me right now. I so much miss my brother. She said as another tear ran down her cheeks.

"Do not