Praise for Christi Caldwell
“Christi Caldwell writes a gorgeous book!”
—Sarah MacLean, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“In addition to a strong plot, this story boasts actualized characters whose personal demons are clear and credible. The chemistry between the protagonists is seductive and palpable, with their family history of hatred played against their personal similarities and growing attraction to create an atmospheric and captivating romance.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Hellion
“Christi Caldwell is a master of words, and The Hellion is so descriptive and vibrant that she redefines high definition. Readers will be left panting, craving, and rooting for their favorite characters as unexpected lovers find their happy ending.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Hellion
“Christi Caldwell’s The Vixen shows readers a darker, grittier version of Regency London than most romance novels . . . Caldwell’s more realistic version of London is a particularly gripping backdrop for this enemies-to-lovers romance, and it’s heartening to read a story where love triumphs even in the darkest places.”
—NPR on The Vixen
“Exceptional . . . an intoxicating romp sure to delight fans of historical romance.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on In Bed with the Earl
“Sizzling, witty, passionate . . . perfect!”
—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author on In Bed with the Earl
OTHER TITLES BY CHRISTI CALDWELL
Wantons of Waverton
Someone Wanton His Way Comes
The Importance of Being Wanton
Lost Lords of London
In Bed with the Earl
In the Dark with the Duke
Undressed with the Marquess
Sinful Brides
The Rogue’s Wager
The Scoundrel’s Honor
The Lady’s Guard
The Heiress’s Deception
The Hellion
The Vixen
The Governess
The Bluestocking
The Spitfire
All the Duke’s Sins
Along Came a Lady
Scandalous Affairs
A Groom of Her Own
Taming of the Beast
My Fair Marchioness
Heart of a Duke
For Love of the Duke
More Than a Duke
The Love of a Rogue
Loved by a Duke
To Love a Lord
The Heart of a Scoundrel
To Wed His Christmas Lady
To Trust a Rogue
The Lure of a Rake
To Woo a Widow
To Redeem a Rake
One Winter with a Baron
To Enchant a Wicked Duke
Beguiled by a Baron
To Tempt a Scoundrel
To Hold a Lady’s Secret
The Heart of a Scandal
In Need of a Knight (A Prequel Novella)
Schooling the Duke
A Lady’s Guide to a Gentleman’s Heart
A Matchmaker for a Marquess
His Duchess for a Day
Five Days With a Duke
Lords of Honor
Seduced by a Lady’s Heart
Captivated by a Lady’s Charm
Rescued by a Lady’s Love
Tempted by a Lady’s Smile
Courting Poppy Tidemore
Scandalous Seasons
Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride
Never Courted, Suddenly Wed
Always Proper, Suddenly Scandalous
Always a Rogue, Forever Her Love
A Marquess for Christmas
Once a Wallflower, At Last His Love
The Theodosia Sword
Only For His Lady
Only For Her Honor
Only For Their Love
Danby
Winning a Lady’s Heart
A Season of Hope
The Brethren
The Spy Who Seduced Her
The Lady Who Loved Him
The Rogue Who Rescued Her
The Minx Who Met Her Match
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel
>Brethren of the Lords
My Lady of Deception
Her Duke of Secrets
Nonfiction Works
Uninterrupted Joy: A Memoir
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2021 by Christi Caldwell Incorporated
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Montlake, Seattle
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781542032148
ISBN-10: 1542032148
Front cover design by Juliana Kolesova
Back cover design by Ray Lundgren
To my special girls:
You forever make Mommy smile. You are spirited and strong and have the most clever wit. You are never afraid to speak your mind and challenge whatever you believe is unfair, and you defend those who need and deserve to be defended.
Annalee’s story is for you.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
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
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Prologue
“Sylvia is deaaaadd.”
It was hard to say just which lady of the Mismatch Society that wail belonged to. After all, there were some number of young women making that same ominous declaration about Sylvia, the Viscountess St. John, their fearless leader and founder.
Lady Annalee, her friends Lila and Clara, and Valerie, her roommate on Waverton Street, exchanged looks.
Unlike the majority of their members, the four of them—five, if one included the unconscious Sylvia—were no innocents. Either married or in possession of scandalous pasts, they were all too aware of the ways of the world. The innocent young women who largely made up their society had been oblivious to the details which hadn’t escaped Annalee and the mature set: The slight increasing of Sylvia’s neckline. The lady’s sudden aversion to chocolate when she quite adored that treat. Her fatigue.
Several of the ladies had remarked upon that bone-weary exhaustion as a sign of Sylvia’s being overworked with the society.
Nay, to those as innocent as the ladies around them, the reason for Sylvia’s current state proved so very foreign as to be mistaken for death.
Valerie leaned in close to Annalee and, cupping a hand around her mouth, whispered, “Do you suppose we should . . . ?”
“No.”
“But they think she is dead,” the other woman said in hushed tones.
“It is hardly our place to reveal Sylvia’s private affairs.” Annalee brought her flask up in salute. “Furthermore, they’ll learn soon enough that she’s very much alive.”