His sisters stared at him in acute shock while his mother sighed in resignation.
“Nanna!” they cried, whirling on her.
She scowled and tossed down the cane she had been using for the last few months and stiffened her spine. The change was remarkable. Before she could say anything, Phineas snapped, “You manipulative, vexatious, devious, old battle-ax, you’ve fewer principles than the most pox-riddled abbess; how dare you gull me with your wasting away airs? I should damn you to blazes, you despicable harridan, confining you to a dower house on your jointure is too good for you. I should have you committed to Bedlam!”
Nanna started to complain that he had dared disrespect her, but he continued on. “You won’t turn me up sweet with your mawkish, missish ways, all to catch me in parson’s mousetrap!”
His grandmother held out a placating hand. “Phineas, I only did it because I love you…”
“I don’t want any more of your Spanish coin, old woman. You are a disgrace to the family. If you were younger, I’d take my belt to your backside, you wicked old crone. Now I am off to Scotland, and I won’t return to London for a bit.”
“Phineas,” she cried. “Surely you will not let her get away!”
Ignoring her, he turned around and faltered. Felicity had entered, holding a bouquet in her hands.
“What about the plan, woman?”
She laughed, her eyes gleaming with rich humor. “I could not do it, my lord.”
“What plan?” his grandmother groused. “Whatplan?”
“I was about to leave in my carriage, marry my love on the way and stay in Perth Castle for the year and perhaps only return when Felicity was pregnant.”
His family muttered about his wickedness, and he stared at them in astonishment. “Iam wicked? Did you see what the old harridan did? She let us all think she was dying. She deserves to be banned from my happiness.”
His nanna laughed. “But you are happy, my boy, aren’t you?”
He stared at her, then held out his arms. She walked into his arms, and as he hugged her, he realized how small she was, the top of her head barely reaching his chest. “I love her, Nanna, more than I will ever be able to express.”
She squeezed him and then held out her hand to Felicity, who joined them. “You are a good girl,” she said, squeezing Felicity’s fingers. “Now, let’s have us a wedding, and I will have to come up with some reason to explain why our few guests are outside the chapel and not inside.”
“Tell them of your wickedness,” he said drily.
Felicity pealed with laughter, and Phineas grinned, hugging her to his side and kissing her on the mouth with a deep passion for all his family to see.
Dearest Perdie,
Today as I write to you, it is as Felicity Lambton, the Countess of Wyndham. Should I tell you the full tale of our unconventional courtship, you would crow in delight, for it is in fine form as all the marriages so far from our Wagers and Wallflowers club. I love Phineas more than I will ever be able to express, and when I see the same love mirrored in his eyes, it leaves me breathless.
Mama is still beyond herself with happiness that I have suitably wed, and to such a man of esteem and with a great title. She can now walk about town with her head held high, and I am pleased that I have made her proud. I might not visit 48 Berkeley Square for a while, as I am taking the time to know my new family, a bunch of wonderful eccentrics, especially Nanna. I cannot wait for you to eventually meet her. I am certain she will delight and frighten you in equal measure.
I have told Annabelle, a self-declared bluestocking, about 48 Berkeley Square, and I hope everyone will enfold her in welcome one day. I hurry to finish my letter to scandalously snuggle back in bed with my husband.
I will write again soon.
Your friend,
Felicity, Countess of Wyndham.
Thankyou for readingTempt me, If you dare!The next book in the series isWrong Earl, Right Dare.
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I would also liketo introduce you to my new seriesThose Very Bad Fairbanks,a novel series.
Book 3: Get it Now!
Meet the Fairbanks—a family struggling to adjust to becoming newly rich when they have been naughtily doing whatever they wanted their whole lives! This scandalous middle-class country family hadn’t expected their eldest sibling to inherit an Earldom and their grand aunt who intends to transform their no good, dissolute reputations into models of propriety!Those Very Bad Fairbanks tell stories of a family as they navigate the intricate waters of the ton! Some will yearn for the excitement and wonder of tonnish life; others will be determined to stay true to their wild and scandalous life. But all will find love that will bring them to their knees!