Sabrina Jeffries - Beware a Scots Revenge (The School for Heiresses)

Praise for Sabrina Jeffries

and her sparkling, sexy series

The School for Heiresses

Never Seduce a Scoundrel

Jeffries carries off this cat-and-mouse game of mutual seduction so cleverly that youll be turning the Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html pages at lightning speed. Warm, wickedly witty and brilliantly plotted, this is a must for anyone who just wants a fast, intelligent read.

Romantic Times

Jeffries delivers lively lovers in an entertaining, sensual historical romance.

Booklist

Acclaim for Sabrina Jeffries

and her previous works of fiction

Anyone who loves romance must read Sabrina Jeffries!

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas

The Royal Brotherhood Series

One Night with a Prince

Jeffries not only beguiles readers with scenes of passion and vivid characters but steadily builds the storys tension to an exciting conclusion. The details of gambling, mistresses, and scandalous conduct further enrich the tapestry against which this emotionally satisfying story plays out. Jeffriess readers will be royally pleased.

Publishers Weekly

To Pleasure a Prince

Jeffriess sparkling dialogue takes center stage in an emotional, highly sensual and powerfully romantic story. All the characters have such depth they simply leap from the pages.

Romantic Times

[The] parallel courtships of the Tremaine and North siblings engages throughout. Readers will eagerly await the third brothers story.

Publishers Weekly

In the Princes Bed

A traditional Regency told with sparkle and energy. The chemistry among all the charactersnot just the hero and heroineensures that theres never a dull moment in this merry romp. Fans of historical romances will find the simple pleasures of this novel irresistible.

Publishers Weekly

Delightful, sensual, and poignant, Jeffriess latest brings humor and pathos to a richly peopled tale. This is a delightful start to a new series featuring a trio of heroes to die for.

Romantic Times

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Also by Sabrina Jeffries

The School for Heiresses

(with Liz Carlyle, Julia London, and Renee Bernard)

Only a Duke Will Do

Never Seduce a Scoundrel

One Night with a Prince

To Pleasure a Prince

In the Princes Bed

An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon &

Schuster, Inc.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 1230 Avenue of theAmericas ,New

York,NY10020

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2007 by Deborah Gonzales

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of theAmericas ,New York,NY10020 ISBN: 1-4165-6154-4

POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Visit us on the World Wide Web:

http://www.SimonSays.com To Dougie MacLean, Capercaillie, Keltik Elektrik, Peatbog Faeries, Ashley MacIsaac, and countless other Scottish bands and musicians whose music inspired me through the writing of this book.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Sally Avelle, for her invaluable

travel books and firsthand tales ofScotland .

I used every single one doing my research.

Prologue

London

May 1822

Dear Charlotte,

I hear that your former pupil, Lady Venetia, has once again refused a perfectly good suitor.Speaking as a disinterested observer, I believe the lady may have taken your rules for heiressestoo much to heart. If she isnt careful, it will gain her nothing but a lonely spinsterhood.Your cousin,

Michael

Daughtersare a plague upon men.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html So thought Quentin Campbell, the Earl of Duncannon, whose twenty-four-year-old daughter was giving him fits. Hed hoped that Mrs. Charlotte Harriss School for Young Ladies would teachVenetia to be malleable, but it had just made the lass more impudent. Apparently shed inherited not only her mothers lovely features, but also her stubborn temperament. And hed damned near had enough. He found her in the kitchen of theirLondon town house, preparing that vile medicinal concoction she loved to pour down his throat. How dare you refuse the viscounts suit after I gave him leave to court you? he blustered.

Cool as a Highland loch,Venetia continued pounding a purplish flower into powder. If youd consulted me before you gave him leave, Papa

Consulted you! And given you a chance to pick apart yet another fine fellow? He stifled an oath.

What offended you this time? His charming manner? His too broad smile? His well-groomed appearance?

I dont like him, she said with her usual maddening half-smile.

Dont like him! Hes fashionable and handsome, with fortune to spare

So is my reticule. She poured the purple powder into a glass of water and stirred. Unfortunately, it also has more personality, and nearly as much intelligence.

This was the troublehis daughters wit ran men off.

My lord? said a voice from the doorway.

He glanced at his butler. What is it?

A Mr. Sikeston and some other men are asking to see you.

He tensed.Sikeston and his men were here , inLondon ? Something must have gone horribly wrong. Ill meet with them in my study.

As the butler hurried off, Quentin shot his daughter an exasperated glance. Youve gained a reprieve, lass. Well discuss the viscount further at dinner.

Concern shone in her eyes. Are these men here about the Scottish Scourge, Papa? You know what the physician saidyou mustnt let yourself be provoked.

Physicians, ha! Fools, all of them. What do they know?

They know enough. She held out the glass. You should drink your tonic before you see anyone.

I dont want my tonic, damn it! She was always trying to coddle him. He needed to be firmer with her, as he hadnt been with her late mother, but on days like today, when she reminded him so powerfully of Susannah, it was damned hard. Leave the men to me, ye ken? And dont be worrying your head over them.

She turned stubborn. At least let me help you up the stairs.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html When she tried to take his arm, he wrenched free, horrified by the very thought of his pretty daughter going near the blackguards awaiting him. It has naught to do with you, so stay out of it!

His vehement protest made her wince. Fine, do as you please.

He started to apologize, then caught himself. This was important. He couldnt let her stick her nose in his business this time.

Pausing every few steps for breath, he made his slow way up the stairs. Damn Sir Lachlan Ross and his shenaniganswhy couldnt the divil leave him be?

He should have known he was in trouble from the day Ross first appeared inLondon . The young baronet had demanded what he thought was due his family and the Clan Ross, and Quentin had dismissed the lairds claim, determined never to reveal the ugly secrets of his past, to Ross or anyone else.

Since then, hed paid dearly for his silence. The insolent young clan chief had begun riding the roads as the Scottish Scourge. Stirring up trouble, Ross was, trying to force Quentins hand. He robbed Quentins friends when they strayed intoScotland , telling them to turn for recourse to Lord Duncannon. Though hed repaid their losses, it was humiliating that he couldnt explain why the man might be robbing them, not without raising questions he refused to answer.