Seven Wicked Nights (Turner #1.5)

“Indeed she will be, but I think her shop will have prepared her quite well for it.” Gareth grinned. “Directing housemaids and gardeners can’t be much different from directing clerks, can it, darling?”


A thought struck her. “What shall I do with the shop?” she asked him. “I can’t very well run it from here.”

He shrugged. “Whatever you like. Sell it, or keep it and hire a manager. I do hope you’ll show it to me, though. My sisters will never let me hear the end of it if I don’t take them to visit the finest, largest draper’s shop in Melchester.” Ignoring the way her parents were now gaping at them both, he brushed a loose wisp of hair back from her face. “Now, change out of this ghastly dress.”

She struggled to keep back a laugh, wondering if her parents had noticed the damage Gareth had inflicted upon the garment.

“But Your Grace,” said Millicent hesitantly. She was wringing her handkerchief and looked quite dazed. Sir George, on the other hand, looked as though he’d be sick at any moment. “What about the wedding?”

Gareth shrugged. “My mother has already set out for the church. She’ll explain as much as necessary. I suggest you and Sir George compose yourself into gracious, even joyous, approval before she and the other guests return to the house.” He gave her a very ducal stare. “If there is any scandal attached to this morning’s events, I will hold you directly responsible. My mother couldn’t have been happier when I told her how much I love Cleo, and how dearly James loves Helen.”

“Oh,” said Millicent again, in a very small voice. “Yes—yes, of course, Your Grace.”

“Excellent.” Still holding Cleo’s hand, he turned and walked out of the room. In the corridor, the door barely closed behind them, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. “Thank God that’s over,” he murmured between kisses. “We can get on with more enjoyable things.”

She laughed, winding her arms around his neck even though they were in full view of anyone coming along the corridor. Although, now that she thought about it, most of the guests would be already at the church for a wedding that wouldn’t happen. They very nearly had Kingstag Castle to themselves. “Such as?”

His eyes gleamed. “This.” He kissed her again. “And escape. I’ve never been more desperate to get out of this house and spend a day at idle pleasure.”

Her breath caught. “Oh? Then perhaps … perhaps you might finally show me the grotto. I hear it’s not to be missed … and quite private.”

Gareth’s mouth crooked in his endearing half-smile. “Anything—and everything—you want, my darling. Today and forever after.”





About Caroline



Caroline Linden earned a math degree from Harvard University and wrote computer code before discovering that writing fiction was far more fun. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Reader’s Choice Beanpot Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA’s RITA Award. If you’d like to be notified when her next book is available, visit her website to sign up for her newsletter. You can also follow her on twitter or like her on Facebook.

This novella was originally published in At the Duke’s Wedding, a collection of stories set at the Duke of Wessex’s wedding and starring Jack Willoughy, the Earl of Bruton, Lord Everett, and of course Sophronia and Hippolyta.





Other Books by Caroline





The Scandals Series


Love and Other Scandals



It Takes a Scandal



Love in the Time of Scandal — May 2015





The Truth About the Duke Series



I Love the Earl



One Night in London



Blame It on Bath



The Way to a Duke’s Heart





The anthology featuring When I Met my Duchess



At the Duke’s Wedding





The Bow St. Spies Series


A View to a Kiss



For Your Arms Only



You Only Love Once





The Reece Family Series


What a Gentleman Wants



What a Rogue Desires



A Rake’s Guide to Seduction





Other Novels


What a Woman Needs





Short Stories


Like None Other



Written in my Heart





A Note to Readers



This novella was my very first published work, and I’m delighted to make it available again for any readers who might have missed it.

The story was originally published in May 2009 under the title The Legend of the Werestag. I know, I know. It’s the weirdest title ever! At the time, I was a new author and hoped to catch attention through the sheer strangeness of it. But this is not, and never has been, a paranormal romance—just a light-hearted, sexy Regency romance with a few twists on gothic novels. The new title, How to Catch a Wild Viscount, better captures that spirit.

Even years and years after writing their story, I have such fondness in my heart for Luke and Cecily. I hope you enjoy their romance. As always, thanks for reading.

Tessa





Chapter One





Autumn, 1815