Charmed by Knight

Knowing it’s up to her to save her family from poverty, she must trap a duke into marriage…but instead, she kisses her father’s enemy. He struggles to harden his heart against the beauty, even though he doesn’t mind creating a scandal just to get back at her father. Perhaps their answer lies in having a fake relationship.

Forced to play the strumpet was certainly not what she expected to be encouraged to do by her parents, so Megan takes her future into her own hands.

Megan, daughter of Lord and Lady Rosemond, is pressured by her parents to entrap a husband, but she refuses to comply with their uncouth plan. Faced with the threat of her family being kicked out on the streets, she flees into a storm, only to be rendered unconscious by a falling tree limb. Instead of trapping a duke, Megan finds herself in a compromising position with Edmund Knight, a bitter rival of her father’s.

Edmund Knight, the ton’s untitled rogue, seeks revenge against Lord Rosemond, who stole the deed to his goldmine. When Megan unwittingly falls into his hands, he tries to seduce her, suspecting she wants something from him as well. Despite the strong attraction between them, Edmund remains focused on reclaiming his treasure.

Tired of her father’s schemes, Megan devises her own plan to seduce Edmund, hoping it will lead to marriage and freedom from her uncaring parents. But will it truly bring her happiness?

Immerse yourself in this enchanting Victorian romance, where delicate passion is gently woven, inviting your imagination to bring the story to life.

Trapping a duke into marriage was hard work.

Literally.

Megan Rosemond gripped the horse’s reins and rode the animal hard. Tightening her leg around the horn of the sidesaddle, she leaned lower, focusing on her destination. Or at least the way toward where she headed. The mare’s breaths grew labored, matching hers perfectly.

She frowned. The trail ahead was the very same one that the Duke of Saxton had taken about an hour ago. So her mother told her.

Confusion throbbed in Megan’s head, bringing with it a dull ache. What am I doing? She was sent on this journey for one purpose—one she could not agree with. But being an obedient daughter, she did as requested, even if she knew it was so very wrong.
Irritated, she grumbled and yanked on the reins. Once the horse stopped, she sat straighter to survey the unfamiliar land. Anger continued to grow inside her. She couldn’t possibly do what her parents wanted her to. It was unethical, but more than that, if she accomplished trapping a duke into marriage, the guilt would eat away at her for as long as she lived.

Megan glanced back toward where she had traveled. The dowager duchess’ estate was now out of view since she was in a thicket of trees. A cool wind picked up, hinting that the upcoming storm was approaching faster than she wanted. Branches danced in sporadic rhythms now, and she ducked to keep from getting scratched.

Although she wanted to ride far away from this place—and especially her parents—she didn’t have the courage, and she didn’t dare return to the dowager’s estate without accomplishing the plan her parents laid out for her. She was supposed to track the duke while he was on his morning ride and come upon him just as the storm hit. Being a gentleman, he would suggest finding shelter, and as luck would have it, the closest place was the dowager’s woodman’s cottage. According to Megan’s mother, this was how the duke would fall in love with her and ask for her hand in marriage.

She grumbled louder and rubbed her forehead, knowing it wouldn’t make her headache disappear. She doubted her mother’s plan would work, but arguing with the woman was like talking to the horse for all the reasoning it would do. In fact, the horse was better company since the mare didn’t complain constantly. Regardless, Megan followed her mother’s instructions and set out on horseback to find the duke.

Another gust of wind blew from between the trees, almost knocking her from her sidesaddle. She glanced up and studied the dark clouds growing thicker by the second. Her stomach churned as dread washed over her. She couldn’t do this, but disobeying her parents would cause Father to drink… and he was not a pleasant person when foxed.

Tears formed in her eyes, recalling his mean and degrading words, and especially his punishing hand. No, she didn’t dare make that man cross.

Deep in her heart she knew if she didn’t marry a wealthy man soon, her family would be forced out of their home and required to live on the streets like common beggars. Grandmama couldn’t abide having a gambler for a son, so she took out her frustration by punishing him and his family. Megan wished her father wasn’t in debt, but there had to be another way to find the money to pay off debtors besides forcing her to marry a wealthy man.

The horse neighed and shifted. Apparently, the animal didn’t appreciate the gusts of wind coming from everywhere at once, just as she didn’t.

She patted the mare’s head. “I need just another moment so that I can decide what to do about the mess I’m in. I must obey my parents, even though I feel they are wrong.”

Megan gritted her teeth. Father, it’s all your fault!

If only he hadn’t started gambling. If only he had made wise choices in his business dealings and paid his debtors. And if only he hadn’t met up with Edmund Knight, the very lowlife miscreant responsible for leading Megan’s father to the gaming tables. She hadn’t been introduced to Mr. Knight, but rumors about his sordid reputation spoke volumes. Perhaps it was a good thing she had not met him. She would be sorely tempted to forgo her manners and spit on the lout.

Lightning flashed overhead and another clap of thunder resounded through the trees. The animal skidded nervously, and Megan stroked the horse’s head again, cooing soft words. “Forgive me for not thinking of you. Perhaps we should head back to the dowager’s estate. I shall inform Mother we could not find the duke, and that will be that.”

At least she hoped that would be that. But she knew Mother would have something to complain about. However, returning was the wise thing to do in this weather, and she felt good about the decision. As she tried to guide the animal around, she realized the poor mare was frightened to death.

By now the duke must have turned back toward the estate so he wouldn’t get caught in the storm. Any normal person would have done that. Even the riding party that had left this morning would be finding shelter or going back as well. So, maybe her mother wouldn’t be upset when Megan returned without trapping a man into marriage.

Although Megan had never met James Hartley, the Duke of Saxton, her mother assured her of his good breeding and exceptionally good looks. At this point, Megan didn’t care if he were the kindest or most handsome man in the world. Once he discovered she meant to trick him into marriage, he would loathe her. How could she be happy then? She for certain didn’t want a marriage like her parents.

Megan quickly kicked her heels into the mare’s belly, pushing the animal into a run. Within seconds, the first drops of moisture fell on her face. Groaning, she shook her head and urged the horse faster. The wind picked up and heavy moisture slapped against her face, hindering her vision through the torrent. Wetness suffused her clothes, making her seat on the sidesaddle slippery. She squeezed her legs—the right downward and left upward—creating a strong grip as she used her whip to cue the horse.

A crash of thunder pierced the air and her horse reared. She slipped on the saddle and leaned forward, holding on as tight as she could to the reins, but they were even slippery.

“Easy girl.” She tried to soothe the animal, although she had to lift her voice to a yell this time since the wind was too strong, as it mixed with the trees’ branches smacking together.

When the horse relaxed for a second, Megan tightened her legs once more. Another blast of wind ripped off her bonnet, the strings flapping wildly. She pushed her horse faster, not caring about the branches whipping against her face and tangling in her hair. A damp lock blew into her vision, but she dared not remove her hand from the reins to wipe it away.

She glimpsed another trail off to the side and steered the horse in that direction. Perhaps the overgrowth would provide more shelter from the raging downpour. The narrow path became rocky and difficult to travel. Tree limbs hung lower, and thick foliage made it impossible to see more than ten feet ahead. The rain continued to pound, penetrating through the trees, which gave her little relief from the storm. Her teeth chattered from the cold, and her fingers were already numb. Needing to seek shelter soon, she prodded the animal faster, eager to get into a clearing so she could estimate her location.

Wind whistled past her, and she shielded her face with her arm against the low hanging branches. Thunder echoed all around, getting louder by the second. The animal reared and Megan clutched the reins. Her bottom slipped again in the wet sidesaddle.

A tree limb over her head cracked and fell toward her. She tried to duck, but the weathered wood struck her head before hitting the horse, making the animal stumble.

Dizziness consumed her as she fought the blackness. Pain rushed through her skull. Ahead, a larger tree limb lay in the road, one her horse must jump, but since the animal was injured as well, Megan feared this wouldn’t happen smoothly at all.

She pulled on the reins as hard as she could and screamed for her animal to stop. The horse didn’t respond, and instead sped along the path until it darted away from the fallen branch.

A sudden jerk sent her flying through the air to land in the mud. Her breath jarred from her lungs, and she struggled to take in air. As darkness beckoned, she gave in to its tempting nothingness with a defeated groan.