Recklessly Yours Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  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

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  OTHER BOOKS BY ALLISON CHASE

  Praise for the Novels of Allison Chase

  Her Majesty’s Secret Servants

  Outrageously Yours

  “Charming. . . . Entertaining vignettes about scientific advancements tested at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution complement the unflinching examination of the increasingly repressive early Victorian culture, making this a real treat for fans of both history and romance.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Chase showcases her talent for creating unique mystery/romances in this Her Majesty’s Secret Servants installment. The mystery is exciting, the romance strong, and Chase’s writing engrossing. Here’s a novel for those who crave an out-of-the-ordinary read.”

  —Romantic Times

  “Extremely entertaining. . . . I found myself not wanting to put down this book . . . a fresh, unique feel to the romantic historical.”

  —Night Owl Reviews (Reviewer’s Top Pick)

  “A little history, a little mystery, a little science, and a lot of passion . . . a great read you will not want to miss.”—Fresh Fiction

  “Nineteenth-century fans will appreciate this engrossing read as the amateur sleuths seek motives and opportunities while chasing after clues and falling in love.”

  —Genre Go Round Reviews

  Most Eagerly Yours

  “This romance has an intelligent heroine and a sexy hero, plots against the queen, intriguing twists and surprises. . . . All of this makes Chase’s first Her Majesty’s Secret Servants novel a page-turner.”

  —Romantic Times

  “A perfect balance of history, mystery, and romance that promises further adventures in this series.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “A wonderful beginning, leaving me eager to know how the other sisters may act as the Queen’s ‘secret servants.’”

  —Romance Reader at Heart (A Top-Pick Rose)

  “Fast-paced. . . . Fans will enjoy the opening act of Her Majesty’s Secret Servants as dueling investigations lead to a traitor and love.”

  —Genre Go Round Reviews

  “Chase creates each scene of this historical novel with vivid and precise words that fill each page by painting the intricacies so well that the reader feels as if they are revisiting an old friend.”

  —Romance Junkies (4¾ Blue Ribbon Rating)

  “I’m going to be eagerly awaiting her next book.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros

  “I thoroughly enjoyed Most Eagerly Yours. Allison Chase is a masterful storyteller. Her plots are intriguing; her talent for crafting a mystery unparalleled; and her love stories are touching as well as sensual. I am now a fan! She is a writer who delivers a book that delights me in every way, interlacing sensuality and romance with stunning detail, gripping mystery, and intrigue, plus fabulous characters who steal into my heart and keep me turning the pages. If you yearn for a story that engages all your senses and makes you sigh with satisfaction at the end, I highly recommend an Allison Chase book.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Catherine Anderson

  “Vivid and evocative, the voice of Allison Chase will whisk you away to a thrilling and sensual world of historical passion and intrigue.”

  —Julianne MacLean, national bestselling author of

  Claimed by the Highlander

  “This book was a delight from cover to cover! I can’t wait to see what happens with the rest of the Sutherland sisters and the adventures they will have as this series continues.”

  —Historical Romance Writers

  The Blackheath Moor Novels Dark Temptation Winner of the Romantic Times Award for Best Historical Romantic Gothic

  “An enthralling adventure. Sophie is a spirited, witty heroine and Chad is a tortured hero who truly has some heavy crimes on his conscience. . . . Allison Chase takes the classic gothic romance style of Victoria Holt or Daphne du Maurier and brings it into the twenty-first century with her addition of some spicy love scenes . . . makes an enthralling read.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “In Dark Temptation, the reader will want to go all the way to the end. . . . An interesting read for both mystery and romance fans. Get cozy and prepare to have an adventure.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Contains a strong amateur sleuth suspense subplot that enhances the lead couple’s romantic relationship. The story line is filled with warm passion and terrifying events that will keep readers on the edge wondering who is chasing whom in this dangerous search for the truth.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “This delightful book is filled with enough fiery passion, mystery, action, and suspense to satisfy any romance fan. Charismatic characters and an eerie setting combine for an unforgettable tale. The conflict in Dark Temptation is real and believable, and the paranormal elements in the book make it deliciously edgy. Readers are kept guessing to the very end of the book.”

  —TwoLips Reviews

  “Allison Chase’s Blackheath Moor series was just the book to bring me back to reading historical romances again.”

  —Manic Readers

  “The windswept, forbidding coastline is the ideal location for Chase’s second Blackheath Moor gothic, where fear, deception, and passion dwell together. She sends chills down your spine as she heats up the pages with passionate love scenes and frightening incidents. Chase’s name is fast becoming synonymous with delicious, heart-stopping thrillers.”

  —Romantic Times (Top Pick)

  Dark Obsession

  “Dishes up a wonderful story in a charming, romantic tradition, complete with a handsome and tortured hero, real conflict, and a touch of mystery! Anyone who loves . . . a well-written historical romance will relish this tale.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham

  “This wonderfully moody and atmospheric tale, with its brooding hero, troubled young child, unquiet spirits, and unfriendly housekeeper, has many of the accoutrements of the classic gothic of the sixties. In fact, except for the ramped-up sensuality . . . it is reminiscent of Victoria Holt. . . . The solid writing, riveting opening, and clever plot twists recommend this worthy debut.”

  —Library Journal (starred review)

  “A compelling and exquisitely written love story that raises such dark questions along the way, you’ve no choice but to keep turning the pages to its stunning conclusion. Allison Chase is a master at touching your heart.”

  —Jennifer St. Giles, author of Silken Shadows

  “In this first book in the Blackheath Moor series, Allison Chase delivers a gothic tale complete with a house filled with secret passages and a ghostly presence. Impending danger permeates the tale, capturing readers’ attention as the dra
matic struggles between Nora and Grayson escalate. The tale ends in a dramatic and thrilling conclusion on the cliffs where it all began.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  OTHER BOOKS BY ALLISON CHASE

  Her Majesty’s Secret Servants Series

  Most Eagerly Yours

  Outrageously Yours

  The Blackheath Moor Series

  Dark Obsession

  Dark Temptation

  SIGNET ECLIPSE

  Published by New American Library, a division of

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

  New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,

  Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,

  Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,

  Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,

  New Delhi – 110 017, India

  Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632,

  New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,

  Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

  80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  First published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  First Printing, December 2011

  Copyright © Lisa Manuel, 2011

  ISBN : 978-1-101-55907-9

  All rights reserved

  SIGNET ECLIPSE and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  To my sister-in-law, Holly, whose love of horses helped inspire the heroine of this book. And to the young women who inspire me: our daughters, Sara and Erin; our nieces, Heather, Liz, and Theresa; and our grandnieces, Savannah and little Maggie. Always believe in yourselves, ladies, and always stick to your guns—no matter what!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you to the Carriage Association of America for helping me sort out the Windsor Mews, specifically what existed, and, more important, what didn’t yet exist, in the spring of 1839.

  Thank you to my parents for all those riding lessons I took as a kid—see, they finally paid off.

  And a huge thank-you to my editor, Ellen Edwards, for her continued support, guidance, and patience (she knows what I mean).

  Chapter 1

  Windsor, England

  Spring 1839

  A violent jolt clacked Holly Sutherland’s teeth together and shocked her out of a fitful doze. Her eyes flew open, and she spied high stone walls and an open gate just before the brougham she’d traveled in throughout the night rolled to a halt on a cobbled drive.

  The carriage listed as the footman stepped down from his perch on the rear footboard, but Holly swung the door open before he’d come round to assist her.

  “Are we here?” She leaned out, eager to be free of the dim and confining carriage, and just as eager to see what the next minutes held in store.

  “We are, miss. Please wait while I set down the step.” Roger, a towering youth with a head of dark, wavy hair and the handsome features typical of many young footmen, unfolded the step and offered an arm to assist her down.

  The sight that greeted her took her aback. The morning mist shrouded a grim, two-story edifice sporting several pairs of closed double doors; above them, a row of dingy windows struggled to reflect the first glimmers of dawn. A stale air of neglect hung over the place, lending it as much cheer as a prison.

  Is that what it was? Had the queen sent for her because an inmate had escaped, and it would be Holly’s task to track him down? The villain might be some deranged brute who had threatened England’s twenty-year-old monarch. There had been several attempts against Her Majesty’s life in the two years since she had ascended to the throne. . . .

  The notion should have frightened Holly, but, on the contrary, exhilaration raced up her spine. A weight in the reticule dangling from her wrist provided a heady boost in confidence that sent her chin inching upward. Could she pull the trigger of the repeating revolver she had brought along for added protection?

  Most certainly, if it came down to protecting the queen’s life, her own, or that of an innocent bystander. And if she held the weapon in two hands and braced her feet firmly, she could even aim it fairly straight.

  Behind her, the gates whined and then clanged as a pair of guards pushed them shut. The stark sound sent her forward with a spring in her step, while over her shoulder she asked the footman, “Where is here, exactly? And how do we get in?” The doors all appeared to be locked up tight.

  “We’re at the Windsor Mews, miss. Her Majesty’s stables. And not that way, miss. That is merely the carriage house.”

  She stopped a few feet shy of the first set of doors, a ripple of disappointment dousing her excitement. Stables were rather less spine-tingling than a prison, though perhaps Victoria wished to supply her with a speedy mount on which to pursue her quarry.

  Glancing up, she caught a glimpse through the mist of Windsor Castle’s Round Tower poised high above the landscape like a monarch on her dais. She regarded the seedy brick structure before her. “These mews are rather less grand than one would expect for England’s queen.”

  “There are plans for new ones to be built later in the year,” he replied in a bored tone. “Now, if you’d follow me please.”

  “Is the queen to meet me here?”

  Of course he didn’t answer. He had tolerated her questions long enough. His job was not to supply information, but simply to deliver her to her destination. “If you please, miss, follow me.”

  They threaded their way through a maze of courtyards, stables, and outbuildings, Roger’s steady pace prompting Holly to grit her teeth to keep from asking him to please hurry. Voices reached her ears, along with the clanging, clunking, and sweeping of the stable hands beginning their morning tasks. She rounded a corner into another enclosure, where a team of workers scurried back and forth carrying buckets, brushes, rakes, and armfuls of snaking tack. They seemed to have reached the very heart of the mews. The footman stopped before a heavy-looking door, reached into his pocket, and brought out a jangling set of keys.

  She was surprised to step into a cozy room furnished with a faded but comfortable-looking settee and a small oak table and chairs; a cheery fire flickered in a small brick fireplace. The effect was of a slightly shabby retreat, the furniture too worn to remain in a drawing room but adequate enough to accommo
date the queen’s hunting parties.

  “Her majesty’s private salon, miss,” Roger explained, confirming Holly’s guess. “Do make yourself comfortable, if you please.” With that, he turned on his heel and left her alone. She had no choice but to contain her impatience and wait.

  It was all very puzzling. But even more puzzling had been the note Roger himself had delivered, only hours ago, to the Knightsbridge Readers’ Emporium, the London bookshop owned jointly by Holly and her sisters.

  Dearest Holly,

  I need you—and only you. You must come to me at Windsor at once! Tell no one. Except your sisters, of course. But please make no delay!

  Yours,

  V

  She’d barely had time to comprehend the note’s meaning—that, like her sisters Laurel and Ivy before her, she was being called to the service of her country—before she had found herself scurrying to pack a bag, bid her sisters good-bye, and board the waiting brougham. Without further explanation, she had been whisked out of the city and across a moonlit countryside.

  A clatter of footsteps echoed in the hall. Just before the door swung wide, Holly jumped up from the settee. A petite figure swathed in a cape of sumptuous forest-green velvet swept through the doorway, and England’s queen flipped back her hood and stretched out her hands. “My dearest Holly, thank goodness you are here!”