An Unwilling Conquest
A Comfortable Wife
The Designs of Lord Randolph Cavanaugh
Stephanie Laurens
Copyright
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2018
Copyright © Stephanie Laurens Proprietary Limited 2018
Stephanie Laurens Proprietary Limited asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © April 2018 ISBN: 9781474082969
INTERIOR ARTWORK
IS LOCATED
BETWEEN CHAPTER 3 AND CHAPTER 4
and also can be accessed via the TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Cover
About the Author
Other Titles from Stephanie Laurens
Title Page
Copyright
Artwork Note
Introduction
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
Interior Artwork
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
EPILOGUE
About the Publisher
The Designs of Lord Randolph Cavanaugh
Shed been kissed before, but never like thiswith such direct and compelling mastery that she and all her senses had surged in response. Her lips parted beneath the temptation of his; she quelled a delicious shiver as his tongue teased the slick softness, then slid between and settled to explore.
To engage and expand her senses.
Her wits had gone wandering; to where, she didnt care.
Instinctively, she came up on her toes the better to participate in the enthralling exchange; she leaned into him, her hands coming to rest, palms flat, on his chest.
Even through the fabric of his coat and shirt, she felt the alluring heat of him. Beneath her hands, she sensed the reality of a flesh-and-blood man.
Desire bloomed. Shed never felt it before, yet she knew it for what it was and embraced it.
PROLOGUE
June 1843
London
Im prepared to pay off all your debts provided that you complete a particular task for me.
The pale-faced, neatly dressed gentleman elegantly seated in one of the Antium Clubs armchairs blinked, then stared through the fug of the smoking room at the older gentleman in the armchair oppositehis uncle. Whatall of them? His tone suggested he was having difficulty believing his ears.
His uncle nodded portentously. Indeed. And yes, I comprehend thats a significant sum. I also understand that you owe most if not all of that amount to... Shall we say a somewhat notorious lender-of-last-resort? The older gentleman paused, then continued, I assume you appealed to me because youre desperate, and you know your brother and brothers-in-law wont lend you a sou regardless of any threats to your continuing good health.
The younger gentlemans lips tightened. Just so. He hesitated, then asked, What task do you need attended to?
What could possibly be worth that much to you? The unvoiced question hung in the smoky air between them.
The older mans expression eased, and he waved a manicured hand. Nothing too onerous. He paused as if ordering his thoughts, then went on, Youre aware that I invest in various projects, that I lead syndicates who fund enterprises such as railways and gas companies and the like. All very much above board. Unfortunately, these days, theres a welter of upstart inventors pushing wild ideas and making a lot of noise. He frowned. Steering investors away from such ideasideas that will never amount to anythingisnt always easy. Men with money but little sense often behave like childrenthey get excited over the latest new thing. At present, theres a great deal of talk about improvements to steam engines, the sort that might make steam-powered horseless carriages into a commercial reality. All balderdash, of course, but its making my life much harder. His frown darkened to a scowl.
After several moments of, apparently, dwelling on the iniquities of any situation that dared to make his life more difficult, his voice lowering, the older man said, Theres one particular invention that Ive heard is nearing completion. Its due to be unveiled at the exhibition to be held in Birmingham on the twenty-second of July.
The older mans eyes, their expression shrewd and hard, cut to his nephews face. I need to be assured that that invention will failor at the very least, that it will not be successfully demonstrated at the exhibition, which will be attended by Prince Albert. I need to be able to hold that failure up to my investors as an example of the dangers of putting their money into such ill-envisioned, poorly designed projects. Projects that are not simply speculative but that have next to no chance of success.
The younger gentleman steepled his fingers before his face. He studied his uncle for several long moments, then murmured, I assume youre asking me to interfere withto sabotagethis invention. When his uncles jaw set, and he returned the younger mans gaze levelly, the younger man asked with patently sincere curiosity, How do you imagine I might do that?
His uncle sat back and fussily straightened his trouser legs. As to that... I can tell you where the inventor lives. His workshop is at his house. As to how you gain access or exactly how to...thrust a spoke in the inventions wheels, I will leave that to you to decide. The older gentleman met the younger mans eyes. You are, apparently, a creative personIm sure youll think of a way.
Despite his current situation, the younger gentleman was no fool. The sum of money his uncle was offering was substantial. To pay so much for tampering with a piece of machinery seemed a poor deal. Yet his uncle was known as a shrewd, ostentatiously rigid businessman, one who held on to his coin with a tight grip, and although he was a childless widower, hed never previously shown any mellowness or warmth toward the members of his wider family.
The younger man leaned forward, his gaze on his uncles face. What is it about this particular invention that makes it sothreateningundesirable?
His uncles face hardened. Anger flared, readily discernible in his brown eyes, yet it was not directed at his nephew but, apparently, at the invention in question. Its...a travesty of an investment project. It shouldnt be allowednot as a syndicated investment. We dont need bally horseless carriageswe have perfectly good horses, and theres nothing wrong with the carriages they pull. These machinesthese newfangled enginesare full of not just cogs and gears but valves and tubing and gauges and pistons. How they work is incomprehensiblefor my money, deliberately so.
He drew in a breath. Steam locomotives were one thing. Even steam-powered looms were straightforward enough. But this latest round of contraptions! He flung up his hands in a gesture of either incomprehension or defeator perhaps both. Although he kept his voice low, he was all but ranting as he continued, How am I supposed to deal with my investors? They rattle on about pressures and inclines, and because I cant explain why its wrong, they wont listen to my advice that weall of societydont need these things, and they shouldnt invest in them.
Aha. Youre losing investors to those who are running the syndicates for these new inventions. Youre a Luddite, and you dont understand, so... The younger man hid a smile. Now he understood that, the deal seemed much more even-handed. His life and his livelihood were under threat from his principal creditor, and this invention, the success of it, threatened his uncles livelihoodhis uncles reason for being.
He might be about to undertake to do something not entirely above board, but at least, to his way of thinking, the exchange seemed fair enough.
His gaze still on his uncles now-distinctly choleric face, the younger man slowly nodded. I see. He paused, then quietly said, Very well. Ill do it. Ill take care of this matter for you, and you will take care of my debts for me. He held out his hand.
His uncle studied his eyes, then grasped his hand, and they shook.
Retrieving his hand, the younger man said, Youd better tell me all you can about this invention.
His uncle complied, revealing the inventions location, the inventors name, and that the invention was some sort of steam engine purported to incorporate several improvements on Russells reworking of Trevithicks original of 1803.
The younger man had less notion of what that description meant than, he suspected, his uncle did. However, he nodded. After rapidly replaying their earlier conversation, he asked, Am I correct in thinking that, regardless of whether this engine actually runs or not, as long as its not unveiled to any fanfare at the exhibition in Birmingham, you will be satisfied?
His uncle frowned slightly. That should suffice. If the invention isnt successfully demonstrated therehe smiled tightly, coldlyno one will believe it works. After a second, he nodded decisively. Yes. That will be enough.
Good-oh. The younger gentleman pushed to his feet.
His uncle looked up at him. I will, of course, be attending the exhibition myself, so Ill be present to view the outcome of your efforts first-hand.
The younger man inclined his head. Ill endeavor to please. And now, Id best be on my way.
His uncle murmured a farewell, and the younger gentleman made for the Antiums main door.
He paused on the clubs front steps and looked up at the cloudless summer sky.
How hard could it be to rearrange a lever or two, or unscrew a few bolts, or swipe the notes of some absentminded inventor?
He suspected he could satisfy his uncle easily enough, after which his life and his future would be his again.
Yet as he descended the steps and set out for his lodgings, he could feel uneasiness over what hed agreed to do swirling inside. But...
When it came down to it, he was desperate. Truly desperate. And at least, this way, no one would die.
CHAPTER 1
July 1843 Berkshire
Lord Randolph CavanaughRand to his family, friends, and associatestooled his curricle down the leafy lanes and reveled in the fresh country air. After spending the past four months in London, he was more than ready for a change, and a long-scheduled visit to Raventhorne Abbey to catch up with his brother and sister-in-law and their children had provided the perfect excuse to leave the steadily escalating heat of the capital behind.
However, as matters had fallen out, the trip to the Abbey in Wiltshire had coincided with an unexpected need to check up on one of the projects Rands firm, Cavanaugh Investments, had underwritten. For the past five years, ever since hed reached twenty-five and come into his full inheritance, Rand had worked steadily and diligently to carve out a placea life and a purposefor himself. He wasnt content to simply be Raventhornes half brother. Hed wanted something moresome enterprise to call his own.
Through RyderRands older half brother, now the Marquess of Raventhorneand Ryders marchioness, Mary, Rand had come to know the Cynsters. Gabriel Cynster, one of Marys older cousins, had long been a renowned figure in investment circles. Rand had shamelessly apprenticed himself, albeit informally, to Gabriel. After several years of learning from the master, Rand had struck out on his own. Hed made managing investments in the latest inventions his particular area of expertise.