All went sweetly and soon they were on Park Street and working their way, a group out for a lark, to Grosvenor Square to tell Hal and Francis all was done. They turned onto the square and froze.

Hal and Francis were there, talking to the First Minister of England and the Duke of Belcraven. Francis looked over and gave a wild look.

The duke caught it. He turned, curious. His eyes pa.s.sed blankly over the ill-favored group, paused thoughtfully on Robin, then traveled back.

Beth felt herself color up and hoped her garish face paint hid it. She could sense Lucien fighting laughter. He got enough voice to say, "Evenin' guv. And a grand night for England!"

"Indeed it is," said the duke and looked at Robin. "Don't I know you, boy?"

"Who, me, guv? Nah." True to his part he walked boldly forward. "Got a sixpence, mister, to help toast the duke?"

Blanche, the other professional, swayed forward. "Give me a shilling and I'll sing a ditty."

At the sight of her, the Earl of Liverpool grew red in the face. "Begone with you, you shameless hussy!"

But the duke laid a hand on his arm. "They are only out rejoicing on this great day, Liverpool." He produced a coin. "Let me see... I wonder who is your leader."

Without hesitation, Lucien dragged Nicholas forward. "Here he is, milord."

"I might have known," murmured the duke and pa.s.sed over the five-shilling piece. "Be sure everyone gets a b.u.mper, my good man."

Nicholas groveled and touched his forelock. "Surely, Yer Honor. G.o.d bless your lordship. Long life to Your Grace...."

"Enough!" declared the duke, but he was clearly struggling to keep a straight face. "Be on your way." His gaze wandered over them again, pausing appreciatively on Blanche and even more so on Beth. Quite clearly, he winked. "After all," he said to the disapproving Lord Liverpool, "on such a night as this, are not all the people of England one big happy family?"

"This rabble is no family of mine," said the earl haughtily. "I doubt they are even voters."

"Don't be so harsh. Who knows how even a small change in fortune could transform them." He addressed the group once more. "Can I not depend upon it that you will improve yourselves rapidly, my good people?"

They all chorused their agreement.

"I do not think it beyond possibility, Liverpool, that one day soon these promising fellows could aspire even to a house in Grosvenor Square."

"You're mad!" said Liverpool. "Come along, Belcraven. The horses are standing."

With a smile, the duke followed.

Beth called after him. "No reason a lady can't aspire to live in Grosvenor Square too, Yer Honor!"

He turned back, laughing. "No reason at all. But you're a saucy piece, aren't you?"

Beth c.o.c.ked her hip and ogled him. "I'm the apple of me father's eye."

"I don't doubt it," the duke said, and his glance encompa.s.sed both Beth and Lucien. "I don't doubt it at all."

Liverpool's carriage rolled away, and they all, including Hal and Francis made haste to Upper Brook Street, where an agitated Tom Holloway was waiting with a carriage. There were two. Eleanor waved out of the second.

Nicholas, Lucien, Beth, and Robin scrambled into Eleanor's hackney while Hal, Miles, Francis, and Blanche piled into the one driven by Tom Holloway. A glance back at Deveril's house showed it quiet and dark. The guards had doubtless decided, no harm having been done except to Tom's head, not to cause a commotion.

"What are you doing here?" Nicholas asked Eleanor as he drew her into his arms.

"I didn't want to miss all the fun. Did you carry it off?"

"Only just. We had to be rescued by this gallant fellow," he said, ruffling Robin's hair. He pa.s.sed over the dollar. "I think you earned this."

"Thank you, sir!"

"But," said Lucien, "you are not going on the Town to spend it tonight. Promising young men need their sleep."

Robin glowered slightly but muttered, "All right."

"Think, Robin," said Lucien gently. "A change is a change. You're not the same boy. If you came up with any of your old friends now, they'd roll you naked and sell every sc.r.a.p you owned."

"Reckon you're right, milord," said the boy, much struck. He gave a little sniff. "It's hard, givin' up what a person's used to."

Beth leaned over and put her hand over his. "It is hard, Robin. But life is change, if you want to make anything of it." She smiled at Lucien. "And it is definitely worth it in the end."

Nicholas smiled at his wife. "And here I've been persuaded to settle down."

Eleanor surveyed his rough appearance. "You call this settling down?"

"Tamest of the tame. But we have finished our business and, praise be, can return to Somerset."

They had arrived at Tom Holloway's and went quickly in. When Beth went to change, however, Lucien said, "You could just put your spencer over that dress, since we are going to have to smuggle you into the house anyway."

Beth looked down. She had long since forgotten to be conscious of her exposed state. "I could," she agreed.

Lucien counted out ten guineas and proffered them. Face burning, Beth grinned, took the coins and dropped them down her bodice. She grinned at Nicholas and Eleanor. "I reckon I got to ensure me independence one way or another, eh?"

Lucien bundled up his good clothing and they slipped away, pa.s.sing Blanche and Hal on the stairs.

"Get the money up front, luv!" called Blanche. Beth giggled. "Oh, I've certainly 'done that!"

Later, limp and content in Lucien's arms, Beth said, "Can we go back to Hartwell?"

"Yes," said Lucien. "After you've been presented." He caught the protest on her lips with his own. "I've let you play the wh.o.r.e, Beth, and I haven't even asked what Tom did to cause you to wrap a skillet round his head. Now it's time for you to play the marchioness."

Beth snuggled closer to his warm, hard body. "I don't think there's much difference between the two."

"I'll go odds the queen wouldn't agree. You could always borrow Blanche's dress for court and see."

Beth chuckled. "Do they throw the highest aristocracy out for lewd behavior?"

"I'm not at all sure."

Beth ran her hand along the fine contours of his arm. "What's the duke going to say?"

"Nothing, I suspect. You know, I've never seen him laugh like that. He's changed. It's as if we've all changed since you've came among us, Beth."

"For the better?" asked Beth.

"Indubitably. You've been like warm sun on frozen ground. My mother sings, my father laughs. And I... I delight in the wit and the strength and the spirit of my friend for life. More men should be as fortunate as I."

"Clever men," said Beth softly, "always will be. And clever women will appreciate a clever man when they meet one".

The End Want more from Jo Beverley?

Page forward for a special Author's Note followed by an excerpt from CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

The Company of Rogues Series Book Three Dear Reader, An Unwilling Bride is the second book in the Company of Rogues series. (The first is An Arranged Marriage, Eleanor and Nicholas's story. If you missed that, you can buy the e-edition now.) If you've enjoyed An Unwilling Bride, I'd appreciate it if you wrote a review for your on line bookseller or forum.

In An Arranged Marriage, Napoleon had abdicated and gone to the island of Elba, and Nicholas and the Rogues became involved in trying to stop a plot to restore him to the French throne. The plot involved Lord Deveril and the beautiful French spy, Therese Bellaire. You can see why Deveril's return was a concern, but a greater one was Napoleon's triumphant return to France and the revival of war.

As Beth and Lucien's relationship follows its stormy path, Europe is heading for Waterloo, the desperate last stand to stop Napoleon forever. The allied forces, under the Duke of Wellington, triumph and thus begins a time of peace in Europe, but at great cost. 10,000 or more died that day, and many more were wounded.

By pure chance, I was writing the later parts of this book, the ones around Waterloo in the winter of 1991, during the Gulf War. You'll remember that was the first military action that was brought to our TV screens almost in real time, and it had an effect on me.

As Lucien, Nicholas and the rest waited anxiously for news of a battle they knew had already happened, I could watch missiles explode and, I a.s.sumed, people die. Much that the characters say, but especially Nicholas's words after the battle, came out of what I saw on TV at that time.

I thought that was the end of it, however, and also that the Gulf War was the end of military action of that sort. Of course I was horrible wrong. A decade later, on 9/11, shocking death returned to TV screens everywhere, and we've all been too embroiled in war and violence ever since.

What has this to do with a Regency Romance? Only that I was very moved when a fan who is a quilter asked to use Nicholas's words on a quilt she was making as a memorial to the victims of 9/11.

As you can imagine, Lucien's violence toward Beth stirred controversy at the time and continues to do so. It's in keeping with the book, however, which is about force and violence in many contexts, and it worked out to my satisfaction.

You will be able to follow Beth and Lucien through many of the other Rogues books. They don't stop b.u.t.ting heads, but it's all intellectual from here.

I hope you continue to enjoy the Company of Rogues and their friends.

Happy Reading!

Jo Beverley www.jobev.com Page forward and continue your journey with an excerpt from CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

The Company of Rogues Series Book Three Excerpt from Christmas Angel The Company of Rogues Book Three by Jo Beverley New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

Awards & Accolades Reader's Choice Award, Best Regency "Ms Beverley exquisitely crafts a beautifully complex love story that will become a treasured addition to every Regency connoisseur. The Company of Rogues is well on its way to becoming one of the most cherished series ever in romantic fiction."

~Romantic Times Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, has returned to England to take up his responsibilities and wishes to marry. However, he wants a wife who will not fall in love with him. Pa.s.sionate love is an emotion he has never felt, but unfortunately he seems to inspire it in impressionable young ladies. He has sought refuge at the country house of a friend, the Marquess of Arden, and asked help of him and his new wife. Now he overhears them discussing a candidate in the stables.

"Sorry if I was eavesdropping," he said, "but no one can resist the sound of their own name. Do I gather you have a candidate for my hand?"

It was all very light but Beth sensed a serious interest. Whatever was motivating Leander Knollis it was not a whim soon to be forgotten. She purposefully didn't look at Lucien. "I thought so, but Lucien has pointed out that she's ineligible on all counts."

Leander picked a straw out of a bale and twirled it. "Not on all counts, surely. You are far too clever to have scored a duck, Beth. What makes her eligible?"

Beth shrugged. "She's highly unlikely to fall in love with you. It's the local melodrama. She was married to Sebastian Rossiter, a poet who rented Mayfield House in the village. He died before I married Lucien, so I never met him, but at the drop of a hat any of the locals will tell you the affecting story."

"It'll affect you to nausea," Lucien interjected, shrugging into his jacket. "Sebastian Rossiter was a strip of dreamy wind with long flaxen ringlets-I'll swear he put them in curling papers-and long, limp white hands. I'm surprised he managed to beget two children."

"He was very beautiful," countered Beth firmly, "or so the local ladies say. He was also gentle, kind, generous, and utterly devoted to his wife. They were madly in love, never apart. He wrote nearly all his poems about her, or to her. I believe one had a minor success-My Angel Bride."

Lucien emotively quoted, "Though Angels throng the Heavens high,/ And bend to soothe each human sigh,/ Mere man's bereft on this bleak earth/ Lacking an Angel by his hearth." Though he declaimed it satirically, even he could not entirely blight the beauty of the sentiment. "There's more. Let's see... "My Judith sits in G.o.d's pure light/ And holds our child to bosom white./ And dew that pearls the gleaming gra.s.s/ Shows Angels' envy as they pa.s.s."

"I certainly couldn't compete with that when courting."

Lucien shook his head. "I'd disown you if you were to try."

"So," said Leander, "what are the impediments to the match?"

"Two children," said Beth.

"How old?"

"A boy of eleven and a girl of six."

Leander considered it. "I don't see any problem there. The boy is old enough not to become confused about our own children and the inheritance. In fact," he said with a sudden inexplicable gleam in his eye, "I'd quite like a ready-made family."

Beth shared a look with Lucien.

"Lee," said Lucien, "think how old that makes her."

Lee considered. "Over thirty?"

"Not quite that, I suppose, but you're only twenty-five."

"Why the heat? Nearly all my lovers have been older than I. In fact my father's firm advice was to have nothing to do with a woman younger than myself until I was at least thirty. I should have listened. If I'd gone bride-hunting among the older set from the start I'd have been far more likely to find a woman of sense, one too wise to make a fool of herself over me."

He nodded contentedly. "Marriages of practicality are still common on the Continent, you know. I'm not uneasy at the notion. As long as this widow's still likely to bear me a few children, I don't care about her age. However, I see no reason why the lady would consider me if she still grieves as much as you say."

Beth was succinct. "Money."

"Poetry not lucrative?"

"One gathers not, though My Angel Bride was on every sentimental school-girl's lips a few years back. Not everyone can be a Byron, I suppose. When Mr. Rossiter died the widow had to leave Mayfield House and take a cottage in the village. I gather she is one of a large family of a curate and can expect little help from that quarter. Her son is coming to an age to need schooling and a start in life. It's possible that she has been able to put money aside for her children's future, but I doubt it."

Lee leaned against the edge of a stall and stroked a horse's nose. "I have to confess, it seems a situation cut to my requirements." He looked at Lucien. "What bothers you?"

"Go to h.e.l.l in a handcart if you wish," said Lucien shortly. "But," he added, putting a hand on Beth's shoulder, "love in marriage is not a thing lightly to dismiss."

Christmas Angel The Company of Rogues Book Three by Jo Beverley New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author ~.

To purchase Christmas Angel from your favorite eBook Retailer, visit Jo Beverley's eBook Discovery Author Page www.ebookdiscovery.com/JoBeverley ~.

Discover more with eBookDiscovery.com Page forward and complete your journey with an excerpt from FORBIDDEN.

The Company of Rogues Series Book Four Excerpt from Forbidden The Company of Rogues Book Four by Jo Beverley New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author FORBIDDEN.