Courting Temptation: House of Devon, #4

By Amanda Mariel

After Tabetha Barkley's Mother passes away, she finds herself near destitute and without work experience. Out of options, Tabetha pays a visit to the Duchess of Devon to call in an old favor owed to her Mother. Now, Tabetha is to be a maid in the Devon home. It seems her problems are solved. That is, until a handsome footman starts playing havoc with her heart, and endangering her plans.

Thomas Kingston proudly serves the Duke of Devon's household, never dreaming of more, until Miss Tabetha Barkley shows up in the Duchess's drawing-room. Now he finds himself smitten and wishing for a different future. One where he can both serve the duke and marry Tabetha. To bad footmen are not allowed such liberties.

Tabetha and Thomas grow more fond of each other by the day. Before long, their hearts are engaged, but their circumstances demand they remain unattached. Dare they grab onto each other and fight for the future they dream of?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brook Ridge Press
• Release date: Dec 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393394570

Amanda Mariel

USA Today Bestselling, Amazon All Star author Amanda Mariel dreams of days gone by when life moved at a slower pace. She enjoys taking pen to paper and exploring historical time periods through her imagination and the written word. When she is not writing she can be found reading, crocheting, traveling, practicing her photography skills, or spending time with her family.

Book preview

Courting Temptation

Courting Temptation

The House of Devon

Amanda Mariel

Contents

Books by Amanda Mariel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Excerpt

Chapter 1

About Amanda Mariel

Afterword

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

---

Copyright © 2020 Amanda Mariel

All rights reserved.

---

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

---

Published by Brook Ridge Press

Books by Amanda Mariel

Ladies and Scoundrels series

Scandalous Endeavors

Scandalous Intentions

Scandalous Redemption

Scandalous Wallflower

Scandalous Liaison

---

Fabled Love Series

Enchanted by the Earl

Captivated by the Captain

Enticed by Lady Elianna

Delighted by the Duke

---

Lady Archer’s Creed series

**Amanda Mariel writing with Christina McKnight**

Theodora

Georgina

Adeline

Josephine

---

Scandal Meets Love series

Love Only Me

Find Me Love

If it’s Love

Odd’s of Love

Believe in Love

Chance of Love

Love and Holly

Love and Mistletoe

---

A Rogue’s Kiss Series

Her Perfect Rogue

His Perfect Hellion

Coming next to the A Rogue’s Kiss series

Her Perfect Scoundrel

---

Standalone titles

One Moonlit Tryst

One Enchanting Kiss

Christmas in the Duke’s Embrace

One Wicked Christmas

Dancing with Serendipity

A Lyon in Her Bed (The Lyon’s Den connected world)

Courting Temptation (House of Devon connected world)

---

Mists of Babylon series

Love’s Legacy

One Wanton Wager

Forever in Your Arms

---

Wicked Earls’ Club

**Titles by Amanda Mariel**

Earl of Grayson

Earl of Edgemore

Coming next to the Wicked Earls’ Club series

Earl of Persuasion

---

Fated for a Rogue

A Wallflower’s Folly

Coming next to the Fated for a Rogue series

One Fateful May Day

Fate Gave Me a Duke

---

Connected by a Kiss

**These are designed so they can standalone**

How to Kiss a Rogue (Amanda Mariel)

A Kiss at Christmastide (Christina McKnight)

A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss (Dawn Brower)

Stealing a Rogue’s Kiss (Amanda Mariel)

A Gypsy’s Christmas kiss (Dawn Brower)

A Duke’s Christmas Kiss (Tammy Andresen)

---

Box sets and anthologies

Visit www.amandamariel.com to see Amanda’s current offerings.

Chapter 1

Yorkshire England, 1818

The hot summer sun beat down on Miss Tabetha Barkley as she made her way down the Duke of Devon’s crushed stone drive. The sun had just crested the horizon when she had set out on her errand. It now hung high above. She used the corner of her thin shawl to wipe the sweat away from her brow. The combination of heat and nerves was stifling.

She slowed her pace as she approached the circle in the drive that surrounded a grand fountain so large it was more like a pond. Her gaze moved to the house’s facade. Four stories of embellished stone and turrets rose up before her. Large windows trimmed with sculpted stone hung proudly across each floor on the front of the home.

Tabby inhaled a slow breath. It was all so elegant… so distinguished. But then, what had she expected? Hartland Abbey was home to a duke, after all. Of course, it would be stately and all together imposing. Certainly in the eyes of a village miss, which Tabby was.

She did not belong here. What if the duchess saw her boldness as an insult and refused to see her? What if the butler didn’t even allow her through the front door? Tabby would starve, or worse. She shook her head. Now was not the time to think about the worse. She needed to be positive and present her best self.

God willing, it would be enough.

Tabetha paused at the porch, her heart racing. Two stone staircases led up to the landing, one jutting off in each direction to meet the drive. Large stone urns of flowers decorated the balustrades. The place was fit for royalty, to be sure. Tabby sighed.

Heaven knew she did not belong here. Perhaps she should turn back now, before it was too late. Before she made a complete cake of herself.

When you take away the money and titles, we are all the same. Remember your place, but never think of yourself as less. Mother’s words floated through her mind, and Tabby lifted her chin. She could do this.

She must, for she had no other choice.

Tabby took a hesitant step, then another, and another until she reached the porch landing. Drawing in one last breath, she reached for the ornate brass door knocker. When the oak door opened, she exhaled.

A footman dressed in golden colored breeches and a navy tailcoat appraised her, then stepped aside, allowing her entrance.

Tabby curtsied, then turned her attention from the arresting footman to the severe looking butler.