Sinful Obsession

By Linda Kaye

Analysa Howell is looking forward to her season debut in London, but before she leaves home her grandmother reminds her of the fate that awaits her. Ana does not believe in the tales that have followed the females in her family for generation and generation but there is a part of her that cannot doubt the pattern. Still, she is determined to enjoy her debut.

Anthony Bingham, the Earl of Yardley, is doing everything he can to avoid the marriage mart even if that means fleeing from his meddling sister, the Duchess of Iverly. His escape route crosses paths with an overturned carriage and inside is the most beautiful woman Anthony has ever seen.

When their two worlds collide, they both are consumed with a sinful obsession for the other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Kaye
• Release date: Nov 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9780463056479

Linda Kaye

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Linda Kaye , a writer of historical romance novels and novellas.I want my characters to be realistic. We all have flaws, and characters in a novel should as well. I want characters that come alive on my pages and stand out in your memory, even if they are not the type of person you would want to have as a friend!Aside from writing I work full time and I am a mother of a son and a miniature dachshund. My heritage is a twist of midwest farm girl with deep south ties. I enjoy reading (obviously!), genealogy, counted cross stitch, and watching football and baseball.Some of my favorite authors and books are Harper Lee's;To Kill a Mockingbird, Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Series, Johanna Lindsey, Kat Martin, and Eugenia Price.

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Sinful Obsession

St Ives Series

Linda Kaye

This book is dedicated Hannah,

my new work neighbor and avid book lover

Secret Obsession Copyright © 2022 by Linda Kaye. All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Cover photo by VJ Duraven Productions LLC

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

Linda Kaye

Visit my website at www.lindakayeauthor.com

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing: July 2022

Linda Kaye

ISBN-9798840254967

Chapter One

You won’t make it to London untouched, the voice stated matter-of-factly.

Analysa Howell spun sharply in shock at those words. She glanced over at her maid. Beth, leave us, she said sharply. Her maid nodded as she set down the gown she had been packing and quickly scurried out of the room. Analysa walked over to the door and shut it behind her. Turning back to her grandmother, she asked, And what do you mean by that?

Her grandmother smiled warmly and held out a withered hand. My dear, I mean nothing against your morals or your upbringing. It is merely a fact of life for you.

Does this have anything to do with that ridiculous curse that you claim happened to you and mother? Ana snorted.

It’s not a curse, her grandmother snapped. And my mother and my mother’s mother and her mother and...

Ana waved her hands and laughed. I get your meaning. But don’t you think this story has become more fanciful than fact in the re-telling?

She rolled her eyes.

Despite her reluctance to believe her grandmother, Ana dearly loved the elderly lady, and following the death of her own mother, Ana had grown closer and closer to Grandmother Rose. She adored the stories that she had heard over and over of how Grandmother Rose had met her husband so many years ago.

Lady Rose Chapman, the Countess of Flynne, chuckled. "Oh, Ana.

The world is wide open for you, and you are setting out on a wonderful adventure. That I know you will find your husband before you even get to my sister-in-law’s home is not in question. There are things in this world that we cannot change."

Ana sighed.

"Grandmother, I fully intend to keep my eyes open, but I hardly doubt I will meet too many eligible men on the coach ride to Uncle Martin’s home, let alone in the small village that he resides in.

And then once again, back on the coach to Great Aunt Stasha’s home in London."

She turned away and walked to the window. Her heart raced. The entire idea of selecting a person to marry and spend the rest of her life with terrified her. She had seen too many friends destroyed by selecting the wrong person to fall in love with, and she had sworn that she would not let the same fate befall her.

Analysa Rosemary Howell, Lady Flynne called in a low and calm tone. "Your friends made bad choices, but that doesn’t mean you will.

I know you don’t believe me, but your destiny has already been prepared for you since the day of your birth."

She rose and crossed to her granddaughter. Wrapping her arms around the young girl, she hugged her gently. You will have a happy and loving marriage.

Ana laid her head back against her grandmother. But how can you be so certain?

Rose turned Ana around to face her. Her hand brushed aside a stray strand of hair that had worked itself loose. Because you are my granddaughter. Because you are beautiful and strong and wise. And because any man would fall at his feet to have you by his side.

Ana gave a weak smile.

"Any man? Then what about this one man you swear is the only one meant for me?

How do I know if I have found him or not?"

He’ll find you. And when he does, you will know. She clutched Ana’s hands together and pushed them against her heart. You will feel it right here. You will experience such a feeling that you cannot help but respond. And it will be fine.

Ana did not fully believe her grandmother, but she did not want to hurt her feelings. She smiled. Well, I guess I will just have to hope that I am able to decipher which man this is.

Rose smiled. If history proves correct, he has already come to you in your dreams.

Ana stiffened. How had her grandmother known! She had not told anybody about the man in her dreams that had haunted her for the past year. She did not reply. She would not encourage her grandmother to continue with this fantasy. Ana had decided long ago that she would make certain a man was right for her before jumping into marriage or worse. She could hear her friend’s tears in the letters she wrote of her unhappy situation, and Ana was determined to not have the same.

She forced a smile, not wanting to discuss this any longer. Grandmother, I should get some rest. It’s a long trip to Uncle Martin’s, and I don’t want to look exhausted when I arrive.

Rose gave her a questioning look that only a grandmother or a mother could give their child. One that said she was doubtful of Ana’s words but wasn’t going to push.

Ana couldn’t help but chuckle. I promise that I will take your words to heart and keep my eye open for this magical moment.

Don’t laugh at my beliefs, my dear. One day you will be having this same conversation with your own daughter. I suppose it is just one of those things that you will only believe once you experience it. She kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand. Good night, dear. I will see you off in the morning.

After dressing for bed, Ana started to climb into her large bed when she thought of the last letter that she had received from her friend Penny. She walked over to her dressing table and took the paper out of a decorative wooden box. She returned to her bed and made herself comfortable before unfolding the letter.

Dearest Ana,

I am not certain that I will be allowed to come to London when you are there, but I shall ask Lord Tasmer if he would grant me a boon! He prefers I stay here at his country home, so our tenants know there is always someone in residence. I suppose that is the sacrifice a wife must make while he upholds our social obligations in town.

Oh, Ana, who am I fooling? I am utterly miserable stuck out here alone. Lord Tasmer is never here. He spends all his days in town, and despite the distance, I am not so dimwitted that I do not know my husband is not the least bit faithful. Even as isolated as I am, I can read between the lines, and there are plenty who write to me with his appearances at suppers and balls, but most significant are the evenings where none of my acquaintances know of his comings and goings.

I do not know what I did wrong. We were so happy here for the first month of our marriage. He was kind and loving and attentive, and he made me feel as if I were the most important thing in his life. And I noticed a change. He spent more time in his study writing letter after letter. At the time I believed him when he said it was business.

But as he grew more and more withdrawn, I realized that he must be communicating with a woman. No other reason could have turned his attention away from his new bride except for another woman.

And then suddenly after a few weeks, he declared that he could not remain here a moment longer. No doubt the barrage of pleading letters from his mistress had finally pushed him to the brink, and he chose to abandon me for her. I was devastated.

I was so unwise to believe his declaration of love upon first sight. I was beyond flattered and giddy that such a handsome man would beg for my hand on the very night we met. I thought it was fate. That was my error. I should have taken the time to get to know him, to meet other gentlemen, to put aside my vanity, and to keep my options open. Had he truly loved me as he swore so vehemently, he would have still been there after I had enjoyed a season. In the end, he wanted somebody to take care of his estate while he enjoys frivolity without a wife in tow.

I beg of you, please don’t make the same mistake I did. Enjoy your season and don’t fall for the first handsome face who swears his undying love. I want you to find happiness and true love and not end up heartbroken and alone.

Love,

Penny

Ana crushed the letter against her chest and closed her eyes. Her heart was breaking for Penny. She had known that something was off about Penny and Calvin’s marriage.

She had tried to visit but each time Penny had written with excuse after excuse that it was not a good time.

Penny’s whirlwind courtship had been exciting and delightful, and Ana had even caught herself feeling a bit envious that such a handsome