A Bride for Lord
Redfield
by
Arabella Sheen
A risqué regency romp enjoyed by both servants and masters as love and
passion is discovered―above and below stairs―in his lordship’s household.
Chapter 1 – Emily
EXCERPT 2
Robert was handsome, tall, and shapely. And dressed in his uniform, he
looked strikingly masculine. But until now, he had never really had the
opportunity to approach her. Not like this. And she had purposefully kept him
at a distance.
Of course, he had made advances. He had teased and flirted like all the
footmen did, but he had never actually achieved anything except the occasional
stolen kiss.
In the cellar or laundry room when no one was looking, he had cornered
her and tried his luck, but she had always managed to fob him off and keep him
at bay…until now. It appeared things were coming to a head, and she sensed he
was beginning to want more than she was willing to give at present.
Girls in her position had to be careful. She couldn’t afford to lose her
job. And any liaison―innocent or not―with another servant would be noticed and
frowned upon.
“Are you going to let me take you to the traveling fair this weekend?”
he asked. “Or are you going to watch the jesters and puppet shows with Cliff?
I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t
already―”
“Don’t you dare, Robert Manson. Don’t you dare think something like that
has happened between Cliff and me.”
Cliff was the stable hand who looked after Lord Redfield’s carriages and
horses. Nothing had happened between her and Cliff, and even if something had,
that was no concern of Robert’s. Was it?
“Then give me a kiss to prove there’s nothing between you and Cliff,” he
said with a grin. “And I mean a real kiss. You’re pretty enough to have all of
us running around after you. You might look prim and proper with your fair
curls covered beneath your lace cap and your shapely figure concealed under
your dress, but you aren’t really prim and proper, are you?”
Without Emily realizing what was happening, Robert had captured both her
hands in his. He was forcing them, twisting them behind her back until he was
able to grasp them tightly in one hand. They were face to face. Torso to torso.
And beneath her clothes, she could feel the hardness of his awakening manhood
pressing against her thigh.
An ache was beginning to grow between her legs, and warmth spread
throughout her. Robert always had the ability to set her pulses racing, and
that was the case now.
With his free hand, he took hold of her face. Then, with the demanding
firmness of his mouth, he once again lunged, ravishing her lips with his.
“Stop it, Robert,” she gasped breathless.
“Stop what?” he said between kisses.
She laughed cheekily. “You know what I mean.”
His kisses were deepening, becoming urgent. His tongue traced the
outline of her lips, and he slowly pried them open before penetrating her
mouth.
Emily could feel him, smell him, and taste him. And although she wanted
to give in to her desire, she had to resist.
Robert released her hands, and somehow, of their own accord, they were
now around his neck, pulling him down toward her. She was kissing him back. She
couldn’t resist…her desire was ignited, and it was equal to his.
Pushing aside the neckline of her dress, he reached for the drawstrings
on her chemise. He began playing with them, pulling on the ties, and as he
tugged them loose, a glimpse of her breasts was revealed to him.
“You want me, Emily. I know you do.”
“I can’t. We can’t. Not now, Robert. I have things to do. Rooms to
prepare. Lord Redfield will have a house full of guests this weekend, and
nothing is in readiness. It’s going to be chaos if I don’t prepare the
bedchambers.”
“And it’s going to be chaos if you do, especially in Mrs. Greenwood’s
bedchamber,” said Robert with a laugh.
“What do you mean? What do you know?” Emily asked, curious.
Did Robert know something she didn’t?
“If you make it worth my while, I might tell you,” he said with a bold
smile and a wink.
Emily’s heart skipped a beat. Not because of Robert’s veiled promise of
lovemaking, but because over Robert’s shoulder, she could see the door to the
breakfast room was being opened. Someone was about to enter.
Quickly, she turned away to conceal her flushed face and exposed
cleavage from view. Then surreptitiously, sliding to one side, she stood in
front of the service lift, pretending to be busy.
“Is there a problem?” said a low voice.
“Mr. Henderson, sir. I was just helping Emily finish up here.” Robert
was taking the brunt of Mr. Henderson’s censorious glare. “Her ladyship is in
the morning room, and she asked me to collect her shawl.”
Walking over to the chair, Robert retrieved the forgotten silk wrap.
Luckily for Emily, Robert had given her just enough time to covertly
straighten her garments before turning back into the room.
“I’m nearly done here, Mr. Henderson,” she said, and gave her ruffled
lace cap one last jiggle before tucking a few stray hairs neatly back into
place. “And if Mrs. Clements doesn’t need me for anything urgent, I’d best get
on and get the bedchambers ready for his lordship’s guests.”
“Then see to it,” said Mr. Henderson. “And be smart about it. The guests
will be arriving anytime now, and they will want to unpack and rest before this
evening’s entertainment begins.”
Emily knew only too well that tonight was going to be busy―for everyone.
About a week ago, a meeting had been held in the staff dining room below
stairs. Mr. Henderson had called everyone together and explained that while at
the town house, Lord Redfield intended to give a ball for his friends. But it
was only when Mr. Stephens, Lord Redfield’s secretary, provided housekeeping
with a list of guests and the rooms her ladyship wished to have made ready,
that everyone, including the gardener, knew something big was happening.
The names on the list pointed to only one thing, and that was that Lord
Redfield was about to propose marriage to Miss Rosalinda Mills.
It was known throughout the servants’ hall that the master had recently
packed an overnight portmanteau and had driven his phaeton and grays to Lippon.
According to Bishop, the head groom, who had accompanied the master on the
journey, they had stabled the team at The King’s Arms and his lordship, having
obtained lodging at the inn for the night, had then gone on to call upon his
aunt, Lady Whitaker.
That act alone, according to speculation in the servants’ hall, could
mean only one thing. His lordship had gone to Lippon to seek the hand in
marriage of Miss Rosalinda.
His lordship’s aunt, Lady Whitaker, was Miss Rosalinda’s godmother. And
as Miss Rosalinda had lost her parents at an early age and was raised by Lady
Whitaker in Sir Whitaker’s household, it was assumed Lord Redfield had
approached his aunt for consent to marry her goddaughter.
Of course, all this was conjecture, but Emily, sure that all would be
proven true this afternoon when the guests arrived, was full of excitement.
After Mr. Henderson and Robert left the breakfast room, and when
everything had been brought to order, Emily made her way upstairs to prepare
the bedchambers for the visitors.
* * * *
A Bride for Lord Redfield
Copyright © 2019, Arabella Sheen
ISBN: 9781949300277
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Electronic Publication: February 2019
Editor: Lynne Sully
Cover: Fantasia Frog Designs
eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced
without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles
and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or
dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are
productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
About Arabella Sheen
Arabella Sheen is a British author of contemporary romance and likes nothing more than
the challenge of starting a new novel with fresh ideas and inspiring
characters.
One of the many things Arabella loves
to do is to read. And when she’s not researching or writing about romance, she
is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she is
curled on the sofa with a book, while pandering to the demands of her attention
seeking cat.
Having lived and worked in the
Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the
south west of England with her family.
Arabella hopes her readers have as
much pleasure from her romance stories as she has in writing them.
Social Media
Website: http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ArabellaSheen
Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/ArabellaSheenAuthor
A Bride for Lord
Redfield
Book Blurb: A Bride for Lord
Redfield
A risqué regency romp enjoyed by both servants and masters as love and
passion is discovered―above and below stairs―in his lordship’s household.
At Redfield House, everyone is busy with preparations for a ball, and
rumor is rife in the servants’ quarters that the master is about to propose.
Lord Thomas Redfield realizes the time has come for him to take a wife
and that this duty can no longer be delayed. The only trouble is…he isn’t sure
the desire he once felt for Catherine, the woman he was previously betrothed
to, is over and a new life with Rosalinda can begin.
Can Lord Redfield take Miss Rosalinda Mills for his wife, and will she
agree to an engagement knowing he could still be in love with Catherine?
As the weekend unfolds and the fun begins, a bevy of illicit encounters
are enjoyed between maids, footmen, grooms, and guests, while his lordship
inwardly struggles with the problem of finding a wife.
Content Warning: contains passionate, sensual love scenes
UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS: https://books2read.com/u/bzvgwD
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