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  And don’t miss the next Scandalous Bride in Desperately Seeking Seduction…

  When Lord Stratford finds his new valet is keeping an outrageous secret, discovery could bring shame upon both himself and his brother, the new Duke of Ravenswood, whose duchy is already in dire straits. It will take an unexpected attraction, a long-forgotten painting, and a demanding houseguest to avoid a “Sweet” scandal.

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  Desperately Seeking Seduction

  Stratford smirked. “It’s big, isn’t it?”

  His companion turned obediently to look. “I’ve seen bigger.”

  “I’d like to know where,” Stratford muttered, and then sat back with a grunt.

  “It is impressive,” Mr. Dane Winston offered with an indifferent shrug of his thin shoulders.

  Stratford pursed his lips in annoyance at the faint praise for so grand a view. “Ravensworth Palace is one of the largest homes in all of England. You could get lost in there on the first day.”

  “I’ll do my best not to,” Winston murmured, a faint twist of condescension hovering on the fellow’s lips. “But if I do become befuddled by my surroundings, I will ask for directions, or perhaps a map.”

  Stratford had been forced to hire this replacement for his usual valet, Cuthbert, who’d been injured at the first inn they’d stopped at on this journey home to Ravenswood Palace. Cuthbert couldn’t have carried out his duties with a broken wing and banged up head from his tumble down the staircase, and Stratford couldn’t function without a valet to clean up after him. That way led to chaos and tardiness his brother the duke would not be pleased about. Although this fellow was young, Dane Winston had been eager to escape the inn where he’d been slaving away underpaid, for a better position and wages. Even if it was only to be a temporary position.

  Winston was hard to figure out and even harder to impress.

  Stratford had taken him on despite only having the innkeepers word he was a sensible and dedicated worker and would give him no trouble. But as a traveling companion, Winston left a lot to be desired.

  The young man’s indifference to the things that mattered had begun to irk the longer they were trapped inside the slow-moving carriage. Stratford talked a lot, but Winston seemed to prefer their journey be conducted in near silence. It had already been an hour since their last real conversation. Stratford about ready to toss Winston out to ride on the back of the traveling carriage along with the groom. However, given the man’s small stature, it was obvious he’d risk losing another valet at any rough spot along the way.

  He regarded Winston with a critical eye, yet again wondering if he’d made a mistake plucking him out for the plum role. Stratford was the younger brother of the new Duke of Ravenswood, after all. But given that Winston had performed all the duties expected of a valet exceptionally well so far—save for conversation—he had little choice but to keep him until Cuthbert recovered and appeared at Ravenswood Palace. If only Winston had a more outgoing personality, Stratford would be entirely satisfied with his new employee.

  He sighed and set his preoccupation for getting a rise out of his new employee aside until later. Coming home would be interesting. It was the first time he’d ever looked forward to it, that he could ever remember. “You can trust the butler to set you right. That man knows every nook and cranny in the place. He rose through the ranks from pot boy. As for the other servants, I could not say who you might rely upon.”

  Winston nodded. “I will be guided by your wisdom.”

  “That would be a nice change. I’m sure I told my valet to watch that step and he still blundered into a fall,” Stratford complained. “Cuthbert surely must have noticed the wobble going up.”

  But on the trip down the next morning, he took a tumble and had broken bone. Quite an unsettling howl he’d made, too. By midday, Stratford had known he had to leave the moaning servant behind. It was not every day your beloved elder brother hosted the family for the first time since becoming the Duke of Ravenswood. Stratford was already late.

  He turned to take in the view of his ancestral home. Ravenswood Palace, deep in the heart of Sommerset, was a truly spectacular building. Four floors in total, thirty-five bedchambers. Nestled on a slight rise of land. It commanded a view of many miles in every direction.

  He could not wait to see all those smug faces in the family wiped clean when they were denied the privilege of the new duke’s favor. Their hands outstretched and smiles imploring, and then those same greedy hands closing over nothing but air as their smiles became a mere memory. It was their own damn fault that Ravenswood would never give any one of them a penny. They should have been kinder to him all along, rather than pandering to the late Duke of Ravenswood’s whims because he preferred to foster competitiveness for his attention.

  Stratford’s elder brother, Algernon Sweet, sixth Duke of Ravenswood, did not suffer fools. And the family had a legion of those. He would have to be on his guard, and Stratford had counted on Cuthbert keeping his ear to the ground in the servants’ hall for any potential signs of trouble and unfounded gossip about his brothers. Without Cuthbert’s insights, he would have to face the family at large with more of a disadvantage than usual.

  But he would make the best of a bad situation. The inn really had only the one footman who had dared apply for the position before Stratford had decided he even had need of a replacement. Mr. Dane Winston had seemed the only choice. Quite bold, too. He’d quickly gathered up Stratford’s things strewn about the room, spoke with his moaning valet, and promised Stratford would not regret his hire.

  And he had not, for the first days, but he would wait to pass judgement until he’d spent a few days at Ravenswood. That would surely be a test of his new valet’s mettle.

  When the carriage finally stopped at the front of Ravenswood Palace, he bounded out and rushed toward the massive carved old entrance doors, leaving the servants to do what they normally did when he wasn’t around. It was not strictly a palace, Ravenswood, but the name had stuck, and Father of course would never have diminished the family’s importance by changing it back to merely calling it an overly large manor house.

  The Ravenswood butler, clad in mourning black, stepped out the doors before he could reach them, beaming a smile of welcome. “Lord Stratford. Welcome home.”

  Stratford handed him his hat and gloves immediately. “Good to see you, Seymour. My usual valet fell ill along the way.” Stratford turned to see Winston scrambling out of the carriage. “That fellow has taken Cuthbert’s place temporarily. He’ll explain it all. Where is the duke and my brothers?”

  Seymour nodded. “The duke is in his study, my lord. I believe your brothers are with His Grace there, too.”

  “Good.”

  Stratford hurried inside, his boots ringing upon the marble entrance floors, and hurried toward the ducal study, keen to be reunited with his elder siblings and hear the latest ondit.

  Algernon Sweet, Duke of Ravenswood, clad all in black, stood with his back to Stratford when he rushed into the room, looking out upon the lawn, but Nash and Jasper Sweet faced the door. They saw Stratford and burst to their feet.

  “My apologies for being the last to arrive,” he said in a rush.

  “Trouble?” Jasper asked, coming closer to embrace him. Jasper was just a year older than Stratford but far wiser…and a worse rogue than them all.

  “Only that my valet fell a day out of London. I had to leave him behind to recover his health and composure.”

  “I’ll loan you mine,” offered Nash, the second eldest, holding out his hand to shake.

  “Not necessary. I found a replacement at the inn.” Stratford ignored the hand and embraced his brother. Nash, as usual, was stiff and unyielding and their embrace was awkward and brief. He didn’t know why he continued to hug his second-eldest brother. He’d simply always tried to breach his reserve, and usually failed to close the distance between them.

  He turned his attention to Algernon, the eldest of them all, who had finally turned, and Stratford bowed deeply and theatrically to the new duke. “Your Grace. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

  Ravenswood stepped close, looking down at him with a scowl from his greater height. “You’re not quite the last to arrive for the gathering,” Ravenswood chided, but then ruined the complaint by suddenly scuffing up Stratford’s hair, as he’d always done when Stratford was younger. He stepped back with a laugh before Stratford could attempt to retaliate. “You’ll need better wits about you today,” Ravenswood warned.

  Stratford rushed to straighten his hair again, grinning and pleased that inheriting a lofty title of duke had not affected their bond yet. It was nice to be around family who cared about him. Algernon always had been his favorite brother, not that he wanted anyone to know that. “Who are we waiting for?”

  “You’ll see in due time. But first…” He gave a signal to his other brothers and as one, they closed and locked the study doors and windows, keeping everyone out. “Since you are the last brother to arrive, you are unfortunately the last to know.”

  Stratford stilled. “Know what?”

  Ravenswood threw his arms wide, clearly agitated. “That the estate is in a bloody shambles. Not a penny to spare anywhere!”

  Nash hurried to their brother’s side and placed a restraining hand on the new duke’s chest before he could make a further loud outburst. “Calm yourself, Ravenswood.”

  “I am trying,” the duke said through gritted teeth.

  Stratford shook his head and looked about. Everything that he’d seen since his arrival was exactly the same as when their father had lived. “That’s not possible.”

  “He wasted it all,” Ravenswood growled softly. “Bastard left me with empty accounts and a mountain of debt plus the inevitable embarrassment of trying to pay it back.”

  Stratford glanced at his brothers, seeking confirmation. Neither looked shocked by the news. Though they’d probably had time to calm themselves, unlike Stratford. He struggled to believe it. They had all believed the estate would go on as it always had, just with a kinder duke at the helm. The reading of the will had not alluded to any particular problems for the estate. But the running of the Ravenswood duchy was a costly enterprise.

  And now there was no money to pay for anything.

  Stratford glanced at Ravenswood again and feared for his favorite brother. “What will you do?”

  Ravenswood exhaled loudly, and Nash moved away from the duke. “What I must before the news breaks and the laughter starts.”

  Stratford’s eyes rounded, and he looked to the windows and imagined the awkwardness of meeting his entire family shortly, hiding the burden of a mountain of debt. “Does anyone suspect yet? The cousins and uncles and aunts beyond us four, I mean.”

  “We sincerely hope they do not,” Jasper murmured, clapping a hand on Stratford’s shoulder.

  Stratford took in his brothers’ worried faces and gulped. He was the youngest, but he was one of them. A Sweet. And loyal to his elder brothers and their ambitions. “Well, I’m not going to tell anyone.”

  “We never imagined you would,” Nash murmured, coming up on his other side. “It is vital we all pretend everything is as expected for the duration of the house party and for as long as possible beyond.”

  Stratford agreed. For years, they had all danced to their father’s tune, waiting for this moment to arrive when they would be free. Even though they were all the duke’s legitimate sons and heirs, other parts of the family had been treated far better. And to make matters worse, the late duke had encouraged that family friction and enjoyed their small squabbles. He’d had his favorites, and had always sided with them against his own grown sons. All in an effort to remain in control of their lives. To make them toe his line or risk being cast out of the will.

  Those favored relations would enjoy their embarrassment when the news of the state of their financial affairs became known. Rub the loss in their noses. Ravenswood, particularly, would be placed in an awkward position. He had gained a title but an empty one.

  He might be forever in debt.

  Stratford had always believed that upon the duke’s death, things would improve with Algernon as the head of the family. That they would all have the upper hand for once and live peacefully. But they would likely only have more trouble than before with this development.

  Stratford took in his eldest brother’s face and noticed the tightness of his jaw and high color upon his cheeks. Algernon was understandably humiliated by this turn of events.

  Stratford gulped when Nash made an effort to check the duke’s heart by grabbing his wrist to feel for the pulse. Nash would have been an excellent physician in the family if father had let him go for a proper career. As it was, he had only studied in secret, practicing his doctoring on his brothers and their willing servants. He was utterly devoted to Algernon’s continued good health and happiness, wishing fervently that nothing stand in the way of their elder brother’s inheritance. Nash would be watching him very closely, now he was duke. They all would be.

  “What can I do?” he whispered.

  Nash nodded, leaving the duke be at last. “We have, Jasper and I, given over our entire fortunes to our eldest brother in an effort to keep the estate running smoothly, but even that is not going to be enough.”

  Jasper and Nash stared at him, but Ravenswood glanced away, no doubt embarrassed by their generosity. Ravenswood had always helped them. Paying off any debts incurred beyond their quarterly allowance from his own pocket so father might never know.

  Stratford shuffled his feet, knowing what was being asked of him without it being said out loud. While he wanted to help his eldest brother, what he had saved himself in the last years was not very much at all. He’d never been good at keeping track of where his money went. And it seemed to have slipped through his fingers like water in recent years for one reason or another while living in London. He ought to have paid more attention to his finances.

  But Algernon was his brother and the head of the family now. The man who’d essentially raised him, ensured he was well cared for all his life. Educated him, too, and Stratford had always been clothed in Algernon’s finest castoffs. Father and Mother had not given a damn about their two younger sons, other than receiving regular reports that he and Jasper were still breathing. All their care and attention had gone to Algernon and Nash, the heir and spare. But that had only been to a point, as well.

  He caught his elder brother’s eye. “It’s not much but you can have what I possess.”

  His other brothers exhaled. “So, it’s settled. We’ll sell Freemont Villa, and Highland Cottage, and now Clifford Lodge, along with those cottages you purchased from Barnes recently. That should bring in a tidy sum to keep the worst of the debtors at bay.”

  Stratford raked a hand through his hair and winced. Clifford Lodge had only just become his, a bequest in his late father’s will. He’d spent less than a week there himself since Father’s passing. He had planned to go back soon. Now he no longer could. But then again, Nash and Jasper had inherited Highland Cottage and Freemont Villa, respectively, and they were giving them up as well, so he shouldn’t complain. He wasn’t the only one losing out in all of this.

  “Thank you, but know you won’t remain empty-handed,” Ravenswood murmured to him quietly. “Nash has drawn up a plan of attack and there are contracts between us to be signed. You will receive surplus profits from the ducal estate annually until the value of your sold property is reached, and for three years beyond that. You should end up richer than you are now.”

  “But where will I live?”

  “You will stay here or at Ravenswood House in London.”

  “Surely you don’t want me living with you,” he said, laughing awkwardly. Stratford loved his older brothers, but he also knew he often annoyed them, too. He talked a lot and was somewhat forgetful. Nash was always with the duke, and he had a particularly short fuse for interruptions and conversation.

  “Father may not have wanted us about, but I want my brothers near,” Ravenswood promised. “You will all stay with me. I couldn’t take your money any other way. You will have the advantage of having this duke’s ear, for what it’s worth.”

  Jasper caught Stratford’s eye and grinned widely. “He’s not that fond of us. He just doesn’t want to be left to deal with the family rabble all on his own when they come banging on his door.”

  When Ravenswood’s lips twitched, indicating unspoken agreement with Jasper’s sentiment, Stratford felt a smile forming on his face, too. None of them wanted that, but it had always been easier to deal with the family together. “Our cousins and uncles and aunts are accustomed to preferential treatment.”

  “They are about to get a rude shock,” Nash murmured. “Our new duke will soon have a reputation as a taciturn penny-pincher.”

  “The howls of outrage will be loud when they realize they’ll have to pay their own bills,” Jasper whispered. “And we will have the front-row seats to witness their many hardships.”

  Stratford rubbed his hands together and laughed. “This is going to be such fun.”

  “Don’t get carried away,” Nash warned. “Tread lightly for now. You can break out into song when we have him married.”

  Stratford swiveled to stare at Algernon. His elder brother looked decidedly uncomfortable at the announcement of a wedding for himself. “No!”

  “Yes,” Ravenswood murmured. “Father has given me no choice but to marry a woman for her money. He couldn’t get me to wed his choice while he was alive. In death, the bastard might get his black heart’s desire.”

  Stratford winced. They would all be miserable if Algernon had to marry Lady Stephanie Kent, the heiress father had favored all along. A colder woman could not be found anywhere in England. She had pots of money, pride to match, and wished with every breath to become the next Duchess of Ravenswood.