{"product_id":"marry-in-scandal-isbn-9780425283820","title":"Marry in Scandal","description":"\u003cb\u003eA shy heiress and a well-known rake face a scandal-forced marriage that might be true love in the latest irresistible romance from the national bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eMarry in Haste\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShy young heiress, Lady Lily Rutherford, is in no hurry to marry. She dreams of true love and a real courtship. But when disaster strikes, she finds herself facing a scandal-forced marriage to her rescuer, Edward Galbraith, a well known rake. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eDespite his reputation Lily is drawn to the handsome Galbraith. In the gamble of her life, she agrees to marry him, hoping to turn a convenient marriage into a love match. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs heir to a title, Galbraith knows he must wed, so a convenient marriage suits him perfectly. But there is a darkness in his past, and secrets he refuses to share with his tender-hearted young bride. All Lily's efforts to get close to him fall on stony ground, and in desperation she retreats to his childhood home--the place he's avoided for nearly a decade.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eMust Lily reconcile herself to a marriage without love? Or will Galbraith realize that this warm-hearted, loving girl is the key to healing the wounds of his past--and his heart?\"[A] confection that brims with kindness and heartfelt sincerity...you can’t do much better than Anne Gracie who offers her share of daring escapes, stolen kisses, and heartfelt romance in a tale that carries the effervescent charm of the best Disney fairy-tales.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I never miss an Anne Gracie book.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJulia Quinn\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“For fabulous Regency flavor, witty and addictive, you can’t go past Anne Gracie.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eStephanie Laurens\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With her signature superbly nuanced characters, subtle sense of wit, and richly emotional writing, Gracie puts her distinctive stamp on a classic Regency plot.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eThe Accidental Wedding\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Anne Gracie’s writing dances that thin line between always familiar and always fresh.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Journal of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Will keep readers entranced…. A totally delightful read!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eMarry in Haste\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnne Gracie\u003c\/b\u003e is the award-winning author of the Marriage of Convenience Romances and the Chance Sisters Romances. She spent her childhood and youth on the move. The gypsy life taught her that humor and love are universal languages and that favorite books can take you home, wherever you are. Anne started her first novel while backpacking solo around the world, writing by hand in notebooks. Since then, her books have been translated into more than sixteen languages, and include Japanese manga editions. As well as writing, Anne promotes adult literacy, flings balls for her dog, enjoys her tangled garden, and keeps bees.Chapter One\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ah! there is nothing like staying at home        for real comfort.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e -Jane Austen, emma\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e London, 1818\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I have secured a duke for the opera tonight,\" Agatha, Lady Salter      announced with an air of triumph. Bone thin and immensely elegant,      her steely silvery hair intricately coiled, piled high and bound      into a kind of turban, she fingered her lorgnette with long      fingers and eyed her three nieces with a critical gaze.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily Rutherford, Lady Salter's youngest niece, swallowed. She sat      with her sister, Rose, on the chaise longue facing the old lady.      George, technically a great-niece rather than a niece, lounged      casually on the armrest of a nearby chair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Do dukes sing?\" Rose idly twirled her fan. \"I had no idea.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Don't be facetious, Rose,\" Aunt Agatha snapped. \"You know very      well why I have arranged this opportunity-it's for you in      particular.\" She added, \"As well, he is bringing two friends, one      of whom-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She broke off, her eyes narrowed. Lily tensed as the old lady      raised her lorgnette. It was a warm day and Lily's thighs were      sticking together, but she didn't dare move. Aunt Agatha despised      fidgeting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But her gaze came to rest meaningfully on George, who gave the      elderly dowager a bland smile in return and stayed where she was,      one leg swinging in an unladylike manner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Georgiana! Are you wearing breeches under that habit?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e George shrugged, entirely unrepentant. \"We're just back from our      morning ride.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The old lady closed her eyes in a heaven-help-me expression,      muttered something under her breath, took a deep breath and      continued, \"As I said, the duke is bringing two of his friends,      and one of them might be interested in you, Georgiana-though not      if you sit like that! Or wear breeches. No gentleman of taste-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And one of them might be interested in Lily.\" Rose smiled warmly      at her sister.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha glanced at Lily. \"Perhaps,\" she said dismissively. She      raised her lorgnette and raked it critically over the person of      her youngest niece.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily, knowing what was coming, sucked in her stomach and held her      breath. But it did no good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I see you have failed to follow my advice about the diet that was      so effective for Lord Byron, Lily. You're as fat as ever.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Lily isn't fat,\" Rose flashed angrily. \"She's lovely and rounded      and cuddly. But not fat!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And besides, she did try that dreadful diet,\" George said. \"For      two whole weeks and it made her quite sick for no result. Potatoes      drenched in vinegar? Ghastly.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A small sacrifice for the sake of beauty,\" Aunt Agatha said with      all the complacence of a woman who had never had to diet in her      life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Lily is beautiful as she is.\" Rose squeezed her sister's hand      comfortingly. \"We all think so.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha snorted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Better to be sweet-natured and cuddly than a nasty, well-dressed      skeleton.\" George gave a meaningful glance at Aunt Agatha.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily tried not to squirm. She hated this, hated people quarreling      over her, hated it when Aunt Agatha examined her through her      horrid lorgnette-as she did every time she visited. Under that      cold, merciless gaze, Lily always felt like a worm-a fat,      unattractive, stupid worm. And she couldn't bear another evening      of it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm sorry but I can't come to the opera tonight,\" she found      herself saying. \"I have a-a previous engagement.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There was a short, shocked silence. Rose and George blinked and      tried to conceal their surprise.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha's gaze, her eyes horribly enlarged through the lens of      her weapon of choice, bored into Lily. \"What did you say, gel?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily swallowed but held her ground. \"I said, I have a prior      engagement.\" She pressed her lips together. She was hopeless at      arguing; she always gave in eventually, so it was better to say      nothing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha gripped her carved ebony stick in a bony grasp and      stamped it on the floor. The floor being covered by a thick      Turkish rug, the effect was rather lost. \"Did you not understand      me, you stupid gel? A duke and two of his friends have agreed to      join our party at the opera. A duke! And two other eligible      gentlemen. And you say you can't come? What nonsense! Of course      you will come!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily eased her fingers out of her sister's grasp. Now her hands      were sweaty, as well as her thighs. She wiped them surreptitiously      on her skirt and said with as much dignity as she could muster, \"I      was under the impression you had issued an invitation, Aunt      Agatha, not an order.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Beside her, Rose gasped. It was usually Rose or George who      answered Aunt Agatha back. Lily was supposed to be the meek,      biddable one. But she wasn't going to be bullied, not this time.      Aunt Agatha didn't really want her company tonight-she just hated      being crossed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In any case, Lily wasn't very fond of opera-she had no ear for      music, she didn't understand it and she had a tendency to fall      asleep. And the kind of men that Aunt Agatha always found to      accompany them were, frankly, terrifying-cynical, world-weary and      too sophisticated for words.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha's mouth tightened. \"Do you have any idea what it took      to get this duke to agree to join myself and you three gels at the      opera tonight? And to bring two of his Very Eligible Friends for      you and Georgiana.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e George, who loved music but hated being called Georgiana, said,      \"Blackmailed his mother, I suppose.\" If Lily hadn't been so tense,      she might have smiled. It was probably true. Half the ton was      terrified of Aunt Agatha; the other half was merely nervous. But      dear George was frightened of nothing and nobody, certainly not      Aunt Agatha.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha stiffened and directed the Lorgnette of Doom at her      great-niece. \"I beg your pardon!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Apology accepted,\" George said provocatively and with mock      innocence, \"Isn't that what you usually do? Blackmail or bully      them into doing what you want?\" Apparently oblivious of Aunt      Agatha's swelling outrage, George strolled over to the      mantelpiece, lifted a posy of violets and inhaled the fragrance.      \"Gorgeous. Don't you adore violets? So small but so sweet. They      used to grow wild at Willowbank Farm.\" Her old home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily envied George's cool assurance. Despite her refusal to buckle      under Aunt Agatha's insistence, Lily was shaking in her shoes. And      trying desperately not to show it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How clever of you to secure a duke, Aunt Agatha,\" Rose said      quickly. \"Which duke would that be?\" Oil over troubled waters. Not      Rose's usual approach.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha shot a last vitriolic glance at George and another at      Lily, before turning to Rose. \"At least one of you appreciates the      trouble I go to, to ensure you gels make suitable marriages. The      nobleman who will join us in my box tonight is . . . the Duke of      Everingham.\" She waited as if expecting applause.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily said nothing. She'd never heard of the Duke of Everingham,      but she knew what he would be like. Since the start of the season      Aunt Agatha had been throwing eligible gentlemen at all three      girls, and not one of them had looked twice at Lily. Not that Lily      wanted them to.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha had a taste for sophisticated, jaded, rakish gentlemen      who invariably looked bored and uttered the kind of witticisms      that always had some hidden meaning, a meaning that everyone      except Lily seemed to get. She always felt hopelessly out of her      depth with Aunt Agatha's \"eligible gentlemen,\" and she was sure      this duke and his friends would be just the same.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He was, of course, intended for Rose, the eldest of the three of      them and the most beautiful. Aunt Agatha was determined that Rose,      at least, would become a duchess. Whether Rose wanted it or not.      Rose herself was indifferent to marriage and planned to put it off      as long as she could. Not that Aunt Agatha knew that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily didn't reply, George twirled the violets under her nose,      inhaling the perfume with a blissful expression, so it was left to      Rose, who had no ambition to become a duchess, to make a vaguely      appreciative sound.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha, irritated by their lack of understanding, explained,      \"Everybody is desperate for Everingham to attend their balls and      routs. A hostess is in alt if he so much as condescends to accept      an invitation-and even then there's no guarantee he will turn up.      But his mother-to whom I am godmother, Georgiana, a woman who      values my advice-has promised faithfully that he will come to the      opera tonight, and join us in my box, and bring a couple of      friends.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How very delightful,\" Rose said brightly. \"I do so admire a man      who does what his mother tells him.\" There was a muffled snort      from George, and Rose hastily added, \"What a shame Lily has a      prior engagement. But you set such store on correct behavior, Aunt      Agatha, you would surely not wish her to renege on an invitation      she has already accepted.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The old lady's lips thinned. Her expression showed that she      thought nothing of the sort. In her view the opportunity of a duke      trumped everything, and good manners depended wholly on the      situation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She directed a basilisk gaze at Lily. \"What is this engagement you      set so much store on keeping?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm going to a party with Emm and Cal.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha's thinly plucked brows rose. \"The Mainwaring rout?\"      She gave a contemptuous snort. \"An insipid gathering of mediocre      nobodies.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Emm and Cal are going too,\" Lily pointed out. The Earl and      Countess of Ashendon, her brother and his wife, were hardly      nobodies, and as for being mediocre, well, Cal was magnificent-a      war hero. And Emm was a darling-a darling who could parry Aunt      Agatha's horrid stabs without turning a hair. Unfortunately Emm      and Cal had gone out for a walk before Aunt Agatha had descended      on them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Your brother and sister-in-law felt obligated to accept the      invitation,\" Aunt Agatha corrected her. \"Sir George was your      brother's commanding officer at one time. But given Emmaline's      interesting condition, they would have been able to make a token      appearance and leave early. However if you attend, Emmaline will      be obliged to stay longer.\" Her tone suggested that by staying      late, the succession of the Earls of Ashendon would be endangered.      And if Emm lost The Heir, Aunt Agatha would know whom to blame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I don't mind if we leave early.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha sniffed. \"Your sister and Georgiana, frivolous as they      are, understand a golden opportunity when it is offered to them.      They had no difficulty in writing to Lady Mainwaring to make their      apologies for this evening. Why can you not do the same?\" Her lip      curled. \"Apart from the obvious.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's not fair-\" Rose began hotly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Before another argument about her deficiencies could begin, Lily      said, \"Because I promised someone I'd meet her there. A girl I      knew at school.\" Rose gave her a curious look, which Lily avoided.      \"She's new to London and I said I'd introduce her to some of our      friends. I don't want to let her down.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It wasn't exactly true. She hadn't made a promise, but when Sylvia      had asked whether she was going to the Mainwaring rout, she'd said      she was. As an excuse to avoid an evening suffering the slings and      arrows of Aunt Agatha's company, it would do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha's brow arched higher. \"You would dismiss a duke and      his friends for the sake of some gel you knew at school? Pfft! Who      is this gel, and who are her people?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Nobody of any significance. You won't have heard of her.\" Lily      shot Rose a warning glance, a silent plea for her to say nothing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rose frowned but remained silent.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Aunt Agatha sniffed. \"Why does that not surprise me? You have no      ambition, do you, gel?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Not much,\" Lily admitted. \"I just want to be happy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Pshaw! I suppose by that you mean you want to fall in love!      Tawdry, sentimental middle-class nonsense! When will you gels      learn? Marriage is for position, advantage and land.\" The old lady      got to her feet. \"Since you're determined to waste the      opportunities I make for you, Lily, I wash my hands of you. Rose,      Georgiana, my carriage will collect you at seven.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ÒWell done, Lily. You were very brave, standing up to Aunt Agatha      like that,Ó Rose said as the girls trooped upstairs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Positively heroic,\" George agreed. \"I thought the old tartar      would burst when you said that about it being an invitation, not      an order.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily gave a shaky laugh. \"I was terrified.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You didn't look it. You did well, young 'un.\" George opened the      door to her bedchamber. \"Hello, my darling boy. Were you waiting      for me?\" She ruffled the ears of Finn, the great shaggy wolfhound      who'd bounded out to meet them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Young 'un?\" Lily said in mock indignation. \"You're only eleven      days older than me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e George grinned. \"And therefore I'm older and wiser. Aren't I,      Finn? Yes, so much older and wiser.\" Finn squirmed with delight,      his tail madly scything the air.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ah, but I'm your aunt. And you, therefore, owe me respect.\" Lily      gave George a playful smack as she passed. She'd stood up to Aunt      Agatha, and not only had she survived-she'd won. She bounced onto      the bed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rose tugged on the bellpull. She'd arranged for tea and buns to be      brought up after Aunt Agatha had left, and that was the signal.      She sat on the bed, curled her legs around and said, \"So, who is      this school friend for whose sake you braved Death-by-Lorgnette?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lily grimaced. \"It wasn't really about her,\" she admitted. \"She      was just an excuse. The truth is, I couldn't bear to spend another      evening out with Aunt Agatha. The way she looks at me . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rose leaned forward and gave her a hug. \"I know. It's horrid. Just      ignore the old witch-you're not fat, you're curvy. Aunt Agatha is      one of the thin Rutherfords! George and I take after      her-physically, George, not in any other way, I'm glad to      say-whereas you're like darling Aunt Dottie.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Who never married,\" Lily reminded her. \"Whereas Aunt Agatha      married three times.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. It's a mystery.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e George snorted. \"Yes, but all three of Aunt Agatha's husbands died      on her-which I think is perfectly understandable. What else could      you do once you found yourself married to a vitriolic dragon?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They all laughed. \"But why would they marry her in the first      place?\" Lily wondered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Probably too terrified to refuse.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There was a knock at the door, and George went to answer it. A      maid brought in a tray with a pot of tea, three cups and a plate      containing six iced fruit buns and two thin, dry wafers. George      poured the tea, handed the cups around and placed the plate of      buns on the bed between the two sisters. She took a bun and bit      into it with a blissful expression.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303228821733,"sku":"NP9780425283820","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425283820.jpg?v=1767732287","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/marry-in-scandal-isbn-9780425283820","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}