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Chapter One

London, April 1883

Lady Constance Thornton stood apart fro, watching Lucan Devlin Wynwood, Duke of Mondvale, with the uterous and unpredictable Constance thought he …except, of course, he was a degenerate, a dangerous libertine a young lady of virtue should stay away from

But then, that was one of the things that drew her—Mondvale was even more notorious than she

She watched his dark head dip as he whispered in Lady Shrewsbury’s ear, and suspected he was arranging a clandestine lanced up Her breath seized Cold silver eyes captured hers before insolently caressing the length of her body He see jaw, sensual h cheekbones, and thick raven-black hair

Heat flushed her body, but she could not look away Why was he looking at her? She prayed Lady Shrewsbury was not gossiping about her Constance glanced at theand noted she clung to his dark jacket sleeve as if enraptured by whatever he murmured in her ear

Mondvale had the ued Constance Unlike her, he was uncaring of what society thought about hi club, Decadence He titillated some, repulsed others, yet they were all too fascinated to banish him from their circles Mondvale was fawned over, revered even, and Constance wanted to kno he did it It could not be by virtue of hi a duke alone Her brother, Sebastian, ruled one on the land; her family’s wealth was unmatched Yet all that had faded in the disdain society currently showed her The only testament to her family’s wealth and poere the few invitations to the Season’s social events

Constance lowered her lashes and turned away froaze that stared at her

“She is indeed a bastard! Look at her, the very ie of Viscount Radcliffe himself How did we not notice the likeness? They have the sareen eyes” The loud whisper of Lady Daphne, the Earl of Wakefield’s daughter, clearly designed to reach Constance’s ears, had the desired impact

A sharp treh her She refused to show any e to draw upon the coldness she had seen her brother display on numerous occasions She feared she failed abysmally when tears pricked behind her eyelids She sed, but the lue itself, iulps

God, why am I here? Why did I not tell Mother no?

Constance had been in town for the past several weeks, and after a number of e to attend the ball tonight, knowing the condemnation that awaited her She felt so branded, cut off, and isolated from the very people who had fawned over and loved her last season

Only a year ago, she had been one of theht after by both young men and ladies She had been so thrilled when shea well- all offers for her last season It was a decision she had no doubt he now regretted Then the ruht she had become a pariah—the Beautiful Bastard The haute monde had deemed her imperfect, and had moved with swift and brutal efficiency to cut off the one who offended their sensibilities Friends had turned cold, and her laughter and joy had withered

Even though the ruitiivable Yet her eshe was being seriously considered by any suitors What lord would want to marry a lady with such inferior circu her favor

She had believed after rusticating in Dorset for alossip would have reater scandals But she had been in London now for almost three weeks, and not one of her many former friends had presented themselves at the townhouse in Grosvenor Square Even her dearest friend from last season, Lady Annabelle, had been notably absent Constance had written to Lady Annabelle while in the country, but after her reply de to know the truth of the rumors, no further correspondence had followed

Shame burned in Constance’s veins, because despite her elder brother’s efforts, even a duke’s influence could not coerce people to actually speak with her The only people at tonight’s ball who had conversed with her, apart from her sister-in-law, Lady Phillipa, were the host and hostess And their reluctance had been clearly evident

A deep ache burgeoned inside her Her life had beco others enjoy themselves

“What was Lady Lawrence thinking, inviting her?”

“Her brother is the Duke of Calydon Lady Lawrence may have had little choice,” another voice muttered

Constance wanted to turn around to identify the speakers, but she focused instead on the dancing couples

“Don’t you mean half-brother?”

Her breath hitched The rated on her nerves She wanted to lash out and hurt them as they had hurt her But she knew a lady did not behave in such a manner And while her e, the viscountess had raised a lady

With deliberatetoward the refreshment table She did not haveto do She selected a plate and put a few bite-sized morsels on it She stiffened as she heard another cackle of whispers fro idly by Her shoulders relaxed when she realized for once they were not discussing her

“He is so devilishly handsoushed

“Shhh!” Lady Felicity giggled “Not so loud” Then she imparted her own juicy titbit “They say he killed a man in the Orient”

The gossiping ladies gasped in unison, then went silent as if they could hardly breathe

“I do not believe it,” the unknown voice proclai it to be so would ood catch”

They gasped again, scandalized

“Oh Maryann, only you would dare adood reason”

So”

Constance gritted her teeth, for while they whispered about them both, the haute monde hated her, yet reluctantly loved hi to deserve their disdain, while Mondvale actively flouted the dictates of polite society It was so unfair

Lady Felicity continued caustically, “Mother says he is a degenerate, and if any young lady were to dance with hiambler He is not fit for the title But look at him, one would think he had inherited the title at birth rather than by accident”