Scarlett Scott - Lady Clarissas Seduction

Lady Clarissas Seduction

Scarlett Scott

Lady Clarissa Darlington is shocked to discover her wastrelfather has gambled away the familys meager fortune. When notorious gaming hellbaron Pierce Foster arrives on her doorstep to collect payment, shes even moreshocked at the passion he awakens within her. Abandoned by her father, Clarissafalls headlong into Pierces arms and succumbs to his daring seduction. Hernights with him become a blur of intense desire as he brings her innocent bodyto life.

But as deception threatens to tear them apart, Clarissa mustuncover some long-kept secrets and decide whether or not she can entrust herheart in the hands of her lover forever.

An Elloras Cave RomanticaPublication

www.ellorascave.com

Lady Clarissas Seduction

ISBN 9781419931932

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Lady Clarissas Seduction Copyright 2010 Scarlett Scott

Edited by Grace Bradley

Cover art by Syneca

Electronic book publication November 2010

The terms Romantica and Quickies are registered trademarks ofElloras Cave Publishing.

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may notbe reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without writtenpermission from the publisher, Elloras Cave Publishing, Inc. 1056 HomeAvenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons,living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. Thecharacters are productions of the authors imagination and used fictitiously.

Lady Clarissas Seduction

Scarlett Scott

Chapter One

The day her father came home at six oclock in the morningand summoned the household staff was the day that changed Lady ClarissaDarlingtons life inextricably. Shed known their straits were dire for sometime as she took note of the dwindling number of paintings in the drawing room,the mysteriously disappearing candlesticks and silver. Even her mothers jewelshad been taken from Clarissas own bedchamber. Credit was refused them at thebutchers the week before, the wine merchant had been calling daily for fundsowed him and an assortment of ruffians had all begun appearing at NumberThirteen Grosvenor Square, requesting audiences with her father.

It was Daisy, her ladys maid, who shook her awake earlythat morning to the terrible news of their continued fall from grace. LadyClarissa, youd best rise quick and come downstairs. Its the master!

Clarissa had been waltzing in the arms of a handsome earluntil Daisys unceremonious disruption. She blinked, blinded by the candlelightshining into her eyes. Daisy, you know we havent the funds to waste tapers inthe morning!

Its sorry I am, my lady, but candles are the least of yourworries now. Your fathers gone and dismissed the lot of us! Daisys broad facereflected her worry.

Dismissed you? She sat up, her bedclothes falling unheededaround her even in the chill of the morning.

Aye my lady, dismissed us! The maid-of-all-work has alreadypacked up her things and left, and the footman isnt far off. Its dreadful, itis. He tells us were to leave straightaway. He hasnt got the blunt to feed somany mouths and its best if we be on our way.

Dear God. Had it come to this? She held a hand to herheart and tried to calm its startled beats. Every last one of you?

Its that horrible, my lady, when Ive been with you sinceyou were a wee little girl and I love you same as were you my own daughter.Ive got no home to go to save for my mothers in the East End, but I doubtIll even get a bed there, I do. Daisys words gave way to thunderous weeping.

Clarissas head began thumping. Something had to be done.She patted her maids back and wondered just what it was. Help me to dress,Daisy, and Ill speak with him.

* * * * *

Her father, as it turned out, had locked himself in hisstudy and refused to materialize. As Daisy looked on, crying with enough forceto propel an indelicate stream of snot onto her bodice, Clarissa attempted toinduce him to emerge.

Papa, I do wish you would rethink your position on thestaff, she tried. It shall be impossible for us to run a decent householdwithout them.

Havent got the blunt for it, he called back, his wordsslurred. Tell that spot-faced maid of yoursh to bugger off!

Oh dear. Daisy gasped at his insult. It wasabundantly clear he had not only been gaming all evening but had been indulginghis love of whiskey as well. Before Mamas death, the Viscount had been such awonderful, dependable man. But grief had sent him spiraling to a dark place,turning him into a virtual stranger. Gone was the happy family shed onceknown. He attended clubs all day and night, gambled on a daily basis andconsorted with the worst sort of ruffians and cutthroats. He was, in short,ruining them and she had never felt more alone.

Papa, can you not see that Daisy, at least, should stayon?

Cant countenansh it, he replied with a belch.

She tried the door again. Wont you let me in?

Nothing for it. Cant come out now. That rottersh cominghere thish afternoon to take all from me. Youll have to hold him off,Clarisha. Shee if you cant.

Daisy blew her nose loudly into a handkerchief. Weredoomed, we are, all of us!

Clarissa held her fingers to her temples and took a calmingbreath. What rotter, Papa?

That bloody Pierce Foshter.

Pierce Foster! Daisy gasped. Oh, hes a black one. Werewell and truly done in now. Ill go and pack my things. Its sorry I am to sayit, but youre on your own, my lady.

* * * * *

Clarissa was able to glean from her fatherthrough thelocked study door, no lessthat Pierce Foster was the owner of several gaminghells, one of which, dubiously called The Painted Lady, her father had beenfrequenting. At The Painted Lady, there were, of course, the requisite paintedladies, whist tables and whiskey. Lots and lots of whiskey. Last evening,Pierce Foster himself had sat in on a card game and insulted her father to hisface, questioning whether or not he was well enough in funds to even play.Naturally, or so Papa would have it, he had been forced to defend his honor byengaging in a game he went on to lose. While he would not let on precisely howmuch hed squandered, the mere fact he was removing every servant from theirhouse remained both troubling and telling.

Pierce Foster was notorious in less-than-savory circles.Certainly shed never have met him at Almacks or even passed him on RottenRow, but Clarissa had read of him in the scandal sheets. He was not of thefashionable set. Few members of the peerage knew him or received him unlessthey were in his debt.

His immense wealth was as well known as his peccadilloes.Rumor had him gambling and buying his way through society, attempting to stealinto the upper echelons. He was not a gentleman and it was said he had no lessthan five lady birds, one of whom was a married countess. The franticallypacking Daisy suggested Clarissa run and hide to save herself from the dangerof the gaming barons lecherous company.

Clarissa, however, vowed to do no such thing. Her couragewould not fail her. After she exchanged tearful goodbyes with her ladys maid,she headed to her bedchamber with great purpose, choosing her most formidablegown. Unlike many dresses from her come-out three years gone, this was a deep,dark emerald to complement her green eyes and mahogany tresses. Its dcolletagewas a bit lower than proper for the daytime, but she was in no position to fretover proprieties. On her neck she wore a pearl necklace, one of few preciousitems shed been able to hide from her father.