Lu_Shui

[A Regency Era novel, #vengeance #weaktostrong #heiress #loveaftermarriage #noblefamily #dramatic #betrayal]

"Lady Blanchard," the Marquess of Canterbury announced, his voice carrying a hint of surprise as he swept off his cocked hat and handed it to the waiting butler. He then stepped into the drawing room, his eyes immediately falling upon her.
The cup of tea and a plate of pastries on the coffee table suggested that she had been waiting for his arrival for some time.
"What a surprise," he continued, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone. "Do you require anything from me?"
"Indeed, Your Grace," Maggie replied, her voice steady despite the weight of her proposition.
The Marquess's amusement vanished, replaced by a flicker of suspicion. He crossed his arms in a haughty manner, his posture demanding an explanation. "And what might that be?" he inquired, his voice laced with a cool formality.
"I would like to propose," Maggie began, meeting his gaze directly, "a marriage alliance between us."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Upon her father's untimely demise, Lady Marguerite “Maggie” Delaney Antoine Blanchard was betrayed by the man he loved, Nicholas Cunningham, and the only other relative she trusted, Nicholas' father, Lloyd Cunningham.
She found much-needed support in the Marquess of Canterbury, Percival Clement Duane Locksworth, whom she did not care for due to the unfortunate nature of their first meeting, but who turned out to be the lifeline she needed to exact his revenge and regain the Countess of Huntington title.
When Maggie offered the Marquess a beneficial deal in exchange for his hand in marriage, would the not-so-charming gentleman say yes?
And if he did, would Maggie be able to win the claim for the Earldom of Huntington and retain it within the Blanchard family's ownership? Or would she crumble under the storm of the Marquess's gaze, his presence a churning sea threatening to engulf her whole?

Marguerite's Pledge for Redemption

The bed chamber was empty the moment Maggie awoke.

The previously moonlit space was now illuminated by a sliver of morning sunlight peeking through the curtain.

Maggie did not remember the curtain being closed last night. Percy must have closed it this morning to allow her to sleep a little longer.

She crept off the bed, her movements soft, and padded towards the adjoining bathroom. Its convenient location suggested a thoughtful design, perhaps anticipating the needs of a sore and limping lady after a night of passionate relation.

As she leaned against a porcelain counter, she could not help but be ashamed of herself.

She might not be well-versed in the relation between a man and a woman, but to her knowledge -- and she was pretty sure about it --, men were supposed to be the chasers and women the ones being chased.

So why must she march into his bedroom and literally demand him to perform his duty as a husband on a wedding night?

Chapter 38 - Visiting The Late Earl of Huntington