Flirting with Scandal
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About this ebook
Esther Whitton has gladly spent the last few months enjoying the quiet calmness of a Yorkshire winter, devouring books and attempting to keep herself from falling for a man she knows she can never have. But when her Great-uncle Danby announces they’re all going to London for the Season, she decides it’s time to step out of her comfort zone and follow her heart before it’s given away to another.
Timothy Hargood knows his place is in servitude, and therefore pining after a woman destined to be the wife of a peer is completely pointless. But when she makes the first advances, how can he resist?
Star-crossed from the start, this unlikely pair must try to find a way to be together, even if it means thwarting the all-powerful Duke of Danby to do so.
Jerrica Knight-Catania
Jerrica Knight-Catania knew from an early age that she was destined for romance. She would spend hours as a young girl sitting in a chair by an open window, listening to the rain, and dreaming of the day Prince Charming would burst in and declare his undying love for her. But it wasn't until she was 28-years-old, tired of her life in the theater, that she turned her focus toward writing Regency Romance novels. All her dreaming paid off, and she now gets to relive those romantic scenes she'd dreamt up as a child as she commits them to paper. She lives in sunny Palm Beach with her real life Prince Charming, their Princess-in-training and their aristocat, Dr. Snuggle.
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Flirting with Scandal - Jerrica Knight-Catania
Flirting With Scandal
A When the Duke Comes to Town Novella
Facebook Edition
This book is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, locations and events are either a product of the
author’s imagination, fictitious or used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to any event, locale or person,
living or dead, is purely coincidental.
FLIRTING WITH SCANDAL
Copyright 2016 by Jerrica Knight-Catania
Facebook Edition
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or part in any format.
Acknowledgments
A great deal of time and research goes into each and every book that I write, but one way I’ve started to save time is by asking my dear, wonderful readers to help me name things – people, places, animals, etc… And they come up with better ideas than I ever could have! Isn’t Facebook wonderful?
So, a huge shout out to my readers for playing along with my name games, and special shouts out to Cass Dixon and Melody May for helping me name the Lyon’s Den (teamwork!!) and to Catherine Elliot for naming Gabriel and Sara Beth’s new gelding, Cinnamon. It suits him perfectly!
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
More From the Author
About the Author
ONE
Danby, Yorkshire
March 1817
The smell of worn leather and pungent body odor hit Timothy Hargood’s nose as he stepped foot into his local boxing salon. It was a small club, when one compared it to those of London, and certainly not as well appointed as somewhere like Gentleman Jackson’s. Rather, it sat in a small building at the edge of town, somewhat run down and unassuming. But being the only club of its kind nearby, it attracted all sorts of men, be they aristocrat or merely a servant. It was a comfortable haven for Timothy, and a much needed escape from the stresses of life. Though he was wont to blame his need for exercise on the stress of being a valet rather than on the extended presence of a certain young woman who ought to have returned to her own home long ago. A young woman whom he could never ever pursue for a myriad of reasons. The main one being that she was far out of his league—a great-niece to the Duke of Danby—a man with more power in his pinky than all the gentlemen of Yorkshire combined. She was a lady in more than just name, though. She held herself with the upmost decorum, knew all the rules there were to know, all the necessary people. But even more importantly, she was kind. It sounded like a silly thing to be attracted to, and yet, it seemed such a rare thing among ladies of her ilk, that Timothy couldn’t help but find her more than just a little interesting. It was especially enjoyable to watch her try and gain control of her younger sister.
Ah, there you are!
Timothy’s older brother shouted from across the room, startling him from his wayward thoughts. Jimmy was already stripped of his shirt and sparring with the last man Timothy expected to see in The Lyons Den.
What the devil was Gabriel Whitton doing there? It was the one place Timothy could go to escape his employer. Not that Gabriel was a tyrant or anything—on the contrary, he was quite a good man. So much so that Timothy could almost count him as a comrade. Almost. He wasn’t so bold as to think of his employer as a friend. That would be foolish. But then again, if Timothy had his way, he might think of the man as brother-in-law one day. An even more foolish thought, certainly.
He shook the idea away as he made his way to the boxing ring where his brother and employer sparred. Judging by the sweat dripping off both of them, they’d been at it for quite some time.
See?
Jimmy said, never taking his eyes off his opponent. I told you he’d be here.
Indeed you did,
Gabriel replied, taking a jab at Jimmy’s nose and missing.
Care for a break?
Timothy asked them, despite being eager to enter the ring himself.
Both men dropped their fists, though Gabriel looked far more relieved at the suggestion than Jimmy did.
Lead the way,
Gabriel panted, grabbing his white shirt from the wooden post at the corner of the ring. Timothy could hear his employer fall into step behind him as he led them from the sparring room and into the pub.
Fully clothed again, they took their seats at a small table and Timothy gestured to the barkeep for three pints of ale.
You don’t wish to spar, Timothy?
Jimmy asked as he settled onto the rough wooden chair.
Oh, I do,
Timothy assured him. He always wished to spar. It made him feel alive whenever he was in the ring. But it can wait.
Not too long,
Gabriel chimed in. I’m being forced to dine with Danby tonight, and I’ll need your assistance at the cottage.
Timothy was well aware of the fact Gabriel was going to dinner at Danby Castle this evening, along with his new wife, Miss Sara Beth Millstone. The woman who had held Jimmy’s heart for longer than she ought to have. Not that it was her fault, but it seemed the more she discouraged Jimmy, the more obsessed he became with her. But when the time came to truly let her go, Jimmy had been quite noble. Now he’d apparently turned his aggression to the boxing ring, which was fine, Timothy supposed, so long as it stayed there.
Not to worry,
Timothy replied. I shan’t be long. But what brought you here today? I wasn’t aware you were a member.
Whitton here divulged he was getting a bit bored out here in the country, so I suggested he join me,
Jimmy said before taking a long swig from his tankard. Quite a match in the ring.
Yes, well, I spent my fair share of time at Gentleman Jackson’s in London,
Gabriel said. Though I fear I’ve a ways to go to be a true match for you, Jimmy.
If you think I’m a worthy competitor, I caution you from getting into that ring with Timothy here.
Jimmy squeezed Timothy’s shoulder. Out for blood, I tell you.
Timothy was at once embarrassed and flattered at his brother’s praise. It was true he took great pride in his abilities, and he took the sport rather seriously—more seriously than most of the men who frequented the club. Which was probably why he was so embarrassed by it. Perhaps if they were in the company of Tom Cribb, he’d feel more at ease.
Then I shall leave him to more worthy opponents,
Gabriel said with a chuckle. I’m sure he’d rather not see me here, anyway.
You are always welcome, sir,
Timothy said, swiping the back of his hand across his mouth to catch a dribble of ale.
So, how is married life, Whitton?
Jimmy asked, changing the subject. And your lovely bride?
Timothy studied Jimmy’s face for any trace of jealousy, but