How the Earl Fell for His Countess (Matchmaking Madness Book 2) Read online

  How the Earl Fell for His Countess

  Matchmaking Madness, Volume 2

  Laura A. Barnes

  Published by Laura A. Barnes, 2021.

  Copyright © 2021 by Laura A. Barnes

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

  First Printing: 2021

  Laura A. Barnes

  www.lauraabarnes.com

  Cover Art by Cheeky Covers

  Editor: Telltail Editing

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Epilogue

  Author Laura A. Barnes

  Desire other books to read by Laura A. Barnes

  To: My Lovely Readers

  Thank you for reading my stories and all your encouraging words of support.

  Chapter One

  Reese Worthington stared across the carriage at the lady who was now his wife. He didn’t know what infuriated him more: the fact that she wasn’t the one he thought he would wed or her casual indifference now that she wore his ring on her hand.

  When he accepted the Duke of Colebourne’s invitation to a house party, he’d been promised a dowry of a substantial amount if he wed one of the duke’s wards. The duke had dangled the offer at him, and in return, Worthington would share his expertise on horse breeding. The duke learned that Worthington had invested a large sum in his breeding program and needed money. The program would fall by the wayside without funds. When Worthington first started the program, his father had still been alive.

  Since then, his father had died, leaving Worthington’s family destitute. Every shilling was spoken for, even the future profits from the breeding program and the income from the tenants. It would be years before the family’s coffers were stable. His father had spent the family’s fortune on gambling and whoring. Not only had his father tarnished the family’s reputation with his disreputable lifestyle, but they were also feed for the gossipmongers. Worthington had hoped Colebourne’s offer would elevate his family out of the rumor mill. Instead, the matter of his own marriage would send the tongues wagging.

  A hasty carriage ride to Gretna Green meant one thing and one thing only. A gentleman had ruined a lady.

  Could Worthington address Evelyn Holbrooke as a lady considering the events leading to their marriage? Nay, she was Evelyn Worthington now. A countess at that. He still didn’t understand why Evelyn and her sister Charlotte had set out to deceive him. Why did they play their game with him? Because of their deception, he’d lost a bet that would have gained him a horse for his program.

  Once the house party was underway, the duke had dangled another offer in front of the invited gentlemen. Whichever gentleman won Charlotte Holbrooke’s hand would receive his prized mare, Sapphire’s foal, for a betrothal present. Worthington held the belief he would be the lucky man. At every turn, he’d romanced Charlotte. They stole kisses when no one watched, their hands would intertwine during meals when they sat together. Then during the ball, he lured her into his bedroom and seduced Charlotte into giving herself to him.

  “I cannot go another moment without making love to you. You are the very air I breathe,” Reese had whispered to her.

  A blush spread across her cheeks, drifting along her chest. Reese followed the trail with his fingers, brushing across her hardened nipples. She had sighed at his touch. He hungered for her screams.

  “Please do not deny me, my love.”

  “I tremble from your very touch. I will surely die from the pleasure of your love,” she whispered.

  Reese grinned wickedly at her confession. “No. You shall only fly to heaven in my arms.”

  He bent his head to tempt her with a kiss, but she stepped away from him. It was then that he realized he no longer held the upper hand. He was no longer the seducer. She held all the power.

  “Will you fly, too?” she whispered, undoing the buttons along the side of her dress.

  Reese nodded like a bumbling fool as the dress slid off her body and landed in a heap around her. She stood before him, a goddess offering herself to him.

  “No,” he growled.

  “No?” Confusion and doubt marred her lovely features.

  Reese strode to her, lifting her in his arms. He lowered his head and ravished her mouth, leaving her no doubt of his intentions. He pulled kiss after kiss from her lips, demanding the same passion from her that consumed him.

  “I shall soar.”

  The memories of making her his flashed through his mind. Her sighs still whispered in his ears while her silky skin caressed his body. Worthington hungered for the taste of her kiss, even now. But those memories were false. It wasn’t Charlotte Holbrooke he made love to, but Evelyn Holbrooke, her twin sister. Worthington had made a promise to himself before leaving the duke’s estate.

  He would never forgive Evelyn for her deceit.

  Because of her, he’d gained no horse to help his breeding program. Their hasty marriage would bring shame upon his family and cause his sisters’ debuts to be riddled with rumors. Then there was the promise he made to himself years ago about not following in his father’s footsteps. Which now left him with a wife he refused to bed. Because of his promise to never cheat on his wife, he would find no pleasure elsewhere.

  The longer Worthington stared at his wife, the more he decided he would only bed Evelyn to get her with child. After she conceived the heir and spare, he would suffer through a life of celibacy. His determination to make his wife suffer a life without husbandly attention would be his reward. Perhaps next time she would think twice before making a fool out of him.

  Evelyn flipped the page of the novel she was attempting to read. She only pretended to read to show her husband his coldness didn’t affect her. Ever since they left Gretna Green, his disapproving stare had been focused on her. In the past, Evelyn would have squirmed and apologized for any misgivings. However, Worthington’s glare had grown wearisome. At least he gave her a reprieve from his rantings, something she’d had to endure since they left her uncle’s estate during the long ride to Gretna Green. Evelyn didn’t know where she gained the confidence to face the prospect of a daunting marriage, if it was from Worthington’s signet ring on her finger or from pretending to be her sister Charlotte during the house party.

  Evelyn understood the fault lay with her. She had wronged Worthington with her deceit. However, he wasn’t the innocent gentlemen he projected himself to be. His seduction of her innocence held many faults. Even though he thought he’d seduced Charlotte, his reasoning was still cold. His only purpose was to gain a horse. A stupid horse. Every kiss, caress, and romantic words whispered were false. While Evelyn fell in love with the rake, he only used her to win a bet.

  I do not focus my attention on dull debut
antes.

  Once he discovered her duplicity, he had made it clear how he would never choose her. She was too dull for his tastes. Evelyn remembered every hurtful remark he made in Uncle Theo’s study. By then it was too late for Worthington. He had already stated his intentions, and Uncle Theo wouldn’t let him withdraw his offer. To make matters worse, her family also heard Worthington’s opinion of Evelyn.

  Her cousin, Lucas Gray, had kept Worthington’s hateful comments secret from Jacqueline, Gemma, and Abigail. At least she didn’t have to suffer through their pity before she left. To them, they believed Worthington had fallen as deeply in love with Evelyn as she had with him. Uncle Theo, Lucas, and Charlotte were the only ones who knew the truth. Also, her sister’s soon-to-be husband, Jasper Sinclair. At least her sister had found love at the house party. The love between Charlotte and Jasper had been in plain sight for months, but they had been too blind to see it. Her family didn’t hold pity for Evelyn, only fury at Worthington’s disregard toward her.

  A disregard Evelyn accepted and planned to change over the course of the next few months.

  Oh, it would be no easy feat. Her husband was bound and determined to make her regret her past actions. However, Evelyn planned to seduce her husband at every opportunity she got. When Reese Worthington least expected it, Evelyn would strike. Then he would have to succumb to the passion they shared. Soon Reese Worthington would declare his love for Evelyn.

  Then Uncle Theodore could declare his success at two matchmaking attempts. A madness they had all declared, yet it made perfect sense.

  REESE WATCHED THE DEVIOUS smile spread across his wife’s face. He knew she wasn’t reading her novel. If so, she was a swift reader. She flipped a page every minute. Also, Evelyn’s eyes weren’t focused on the pages. They strayed away and became lost in thought before she blinked again. Reese wondered what she planned for him next. Since her sister could no longer help her, it wouldn’t be anything Reese couldn’t handle. Charlotte had been the mastermind of their deceit and Evelyn only a puppet. Without her sister’s devious mind, Evelyn would be no match for Reese. From what he knew of his wife, she was timid, biddable, and unadventurous....and also seductive, passionate, desirable, and very kissable.

  Even in this instance, Reese wanted to kiss those lips spread in a smile that would surely be his demise. He needed to get his lust under control...

  Or did he? Reese had already decided he would bed Evelyn until she grew with child. Why not take her when he wanted to and purge her from his system? He had wanted her since he first kissed her over the holidays last year. Granted, he’d thought she was Charlotte, but it still hadn’t stop him from fantasizing about her since then.

  On the last evening of the house party, Evelyn had fulfilled every fantasy of his and created more he wished to experience. What reason did Reese have for not enjoying their wedding night at the next inn? Other than he’d been hell-bent on continuing home to rid himself of her presence. Instead, why not consummate the marriage and leave no doubt of their marriage vows? Reese wouldn’t receive the dowry from Colebourne until Evelyn sent word of their marriage. He needed that money to ease his family’s hardship.

  Why not romance and seduce his wife this evening and every evening until she wrote to her uncle? Perhaps the old man would find it generous to send a substantial settlement. By then Evelyn might carry their child and he would have tired of her.

  Reese rapped his walking stick on the carriage ceiling and informed his driver to stop at the next village.

  “I thought we were continuing to your estate?” Evelyn asked.

  “I realized that would be insensitive to your needs. Someone of your delicate nature should spend the night in a bed, not a carriage seat.”

  “Lord Worthington, I am not a delicate flower. I can handle the current accommodations if you have a need to return home immediately.”

  “Lady Worthington, I disagree. Your fragile frame is used to the comforts of leisure. We might have had cause for haste the past few days, but we no longer do. I have decided we can take our time before reaching your new home.”

  “That is very generous. My aching body thanks you.” Evelyn’s smile held her gratitude. A smile Reese had to harden his heart to.

  At the mention of her body, Reese took in her slumped shoulders, her hair falling loose, and the dark circles under her eyes. His brutish treatment over the last few days showed on her bedraggled appearance. She had changed into a new dress before their ceremony, but there had been no one to help Evelyn with her hair. Reese had woken her before dawn from the inn and told her they were to leave in ten minutes.

  Evelyn hadn’t made him wait. She’d dressed hurriedly and joined him in the carriage for the hour ride into Gretna Green. It hadn’t taken him long to find someone to perform the ceremony. Then he hustled her into the carriage, bent for home.

  Evelyn may have been wrong with her deceit, but Reese had no reason to treat her in this manner. Not once had she complained, making his comments on her delicate nature ring false to his ears.

  Reese raised his head and blew out a breath. “I am sorry for my harsh treatment. I hope a hot bath, a warm dinner, and a comfortable bed this evening might right my wrong.”

  If Evelyn’s smile of gratitude had affected him, it held nothing compared to the smile she gifted him now. Forgiveness shone from her eyes, which also displayed her love. Reese gulped. Even though Evelyn never spoke the words, he knew the truth. It would have been the only reason Evelyn let Reese make love to her. Evelyn Holbrooke loved him. It was an emotion Reese must destroy. But not now.

  Now, he would use his charm to make her believe he loved her, too.

  Chapter Two

  Once they arrived at the inn, Reese played the attentive husband. He procured them a suite of rooms that held its own dining area, toiletry room, and a bed fit for a king. In fact, the King of England had used it many times on his annual trip to Scotland. A more romantic atmosphere for their wedding night Evelyn couldn’t have asked for. The arrangement made their hasty marriage to Gretna Green worth it. Reese announced their recent vows to the innkeeper, and they rolled out the royal treatment.

  The innkeeper’s wife sent a maid to help Evelyn freshen up for dinner, while Reese saw to the accommodations for the driver and the carriage. A bath awaited her when she walked into the room. She luxuriated in the bath, letting the warm water soothe her scattered emotions. Evelyn soon calmed and readied herself for a night she eagerly awaited since she pledged herself to Reese that morning.

  Evelyn waited nervously by the window for Reese’s arrival. A spread sat on the table for dinner with a bottle of wine ready to toast their marital bliss. A small cake sat in the center of the table. The innkeeper’s gift. The older lady had gushed over what a fine couple they made. She told Evelyn how romantic Reese was when he requested their dinner and the romantic setting. She had never met more of a thoughtful husband before Reese. That Evelyn was a lucky lady indeed.

  Was she? Had Reese had a change of heart since they left Uncle Theo’s estate? Or would he seek his revenge another way?

  In truth, Evelyn felt helpless to Reese’s emotions. Even though her husband had stated what he thought of her, it still didn’t stop Evelyn from loving him. Because underneath his hatefulness, she knew he desired her. And with desire came love. Evelyn held faith that the passion they shared could be nothing but love. Tonight, she would use that passion to strengthen their connection.

  Reese stood in the doorway, staring at his wife. Evelyn hadn’t noticed his arrival yet. He’d used another room in the inn to bathe in after their long carriage ride. He noticed his wife had made use of the luxury herself. She stood near the window, wearing a robe. From the firelight’s glow, he saw not much lay underneath. Evelyn’s midnight black hair cascaded to the middle of her back. A tempting package for his grounds of seduction.

  By morning, his wife would understand the status of their relationship.

  For now, Reese must admit that no ot
her lady held the beauty of his wife. Not even her twin sister. After much reflection during their journey, Reese saw the differences between the sisters. Evelyn’s every movement exuded gracefulness, and she held a gentleness to her touch. How did he not see the differences before? Or had he and he wouldn’t admit to them? When he tried to corner Charlotte, she would brush him aside like an annoying insect. On other occasions, Reese coaxed her into sharing the sweetest of kisses, her innocence weakening his control. When he thought Jasper Sinclair and Duncan Forrester wanted her too, it’d driven him mad.

  Even now a madness hovered in the air. He longed to take her. To hell with the dinner set for them. There would be time to dine later. Reese wanted to make this a wedding night Evelyn would never forget. He needed her to see what their marriage could have been if she hadn’t deceived him. Reese intended to make Evelyn crave his lovemaking and understand that she would only ever receive it if he deemed it so.

  Evelyn turned to find Reese standing in the doorway holding flowers. However, the flowers weren’t what took her notice, but the heat flaring in his eyes. The same heat from before that melted her resistance to the pull of attraction between them. Ever since the kiss under the mistletoe, Evelyn had been unable to deny Reese.

  Evelyn stepped toward him, but in three strides, Reese was before her. He threw the flowers on the chair and wrapped her in his embrace. He lowered his head and gripped her face, staring deeply into her eyes. His grip tightened, and she watched the turbulent emotions darken his gaze. Reese tried to resist the pull, but like Evelyn, he wouldn’t be able to. Evelyn trailed her fingers across his cheek, her touch soft. Gentle. Coaxing.

  Reese closed his eyes, trying to bring himself under control. But when he opened them again, he lost himself in Evelyn. Her entire essence surrounded him, completing him. For some unknown reason, Evelyn had felt like home to him since their first kiss under the mistletoe. A home he wanted to sink himself into and never rise from again. The madness he held onto unleashed itself at the gentle touch of her hand.