Lord de Bhere's Lady: Naughty Fairytale Series, #3

By Sophia Poe

Isabella knows her husband is hiding secrets. But she has no clue just how bad things are until he shows up with two gentlemen . . .  and an offer she can't refuse.

 

If she lets these men have her, all of her husband's debts will be forgiven. It's scandalous, it's terrifying–and it's utterly delicious. 

 

Lord de Bhere's lady knows she shouldn't want more and yet she does . . .

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuscumbia Hill Press
• Release date: Jun 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224967124

Book preview

One

ISABELLE

Lady Isabelle woke when the chambermaid drew back the damask curtains on the tall windows of her bedchamber. The fabric was thick enough that it effectively blocked out most, if not all, of the daylight. If there weren’t standing orders to wake her, she might sleep until afternoon.

As the light peeked through her windows, she forced herself to sit up. It was indeed a good idea to get started with her day. Even here in the country estate outside of Saint-Malo, there was typically plenty to do daily for the lady of the manor. Isabelle would need to have breakfast and then dress before any callers or expected visitors arrived, especially taking her husband’s frequent absences into consideration.

Is Lord Henry awake? Isabelle asked her chambermaid. It wasn’t unusual for her husband to be up and about his day before her, but lately, he had been behaving quite unlike himself. He might not have slept at all.

He seemed more anxious. On edge. He had taken to walking the property alone except for a couple of hounds for company, which struck Isabelle as odd. Once upon a time, it had been their favorite activity to engage in. At least out of their bedchamber.

When the weather did not permit his strolls, he paced the manor in an agitated state. And yet, he would tell his wife nothing when Isabelle pressed him for an answer. She worried he was in trouble of some sort, but the servants, taxes, and other debts of the estate were paid so it couldn’t be their finances. Isabelle would have overheard the servants grumbling to each other otherwise. Everything was seemingly in perfect order, but Henry would simply not find any peace. She had tried, again and again, to reach him, to soothe his worries, but each time, she had been met with nothing but rejection.

She had grown quite tired of the behavior and mystery. Isabelle was determined to discover the cause of it all. Unlike other marriages, theirs was intimate in more ways than the marriage bed. Lately, even that had become cold along with their conversations, and she missed the warmth of his body next to hers.

Most importantly of all, though, she disliked him keeping secrets from her. Today, she decided she would seek him out specifically and insist that he talk to her about whatever occupied his mind so thoroughly.

Yes, madame. His lordship rose before the sun and has already left the manor.

Isabelle sighed. Gone. Again. She was left to manage the manor for the day alone, and if recent habits held, she wouldn’t have any chance to corner Henry.

Another maid entered bearing a tray with Isabelle’s breakfast. The lady of the manor rubbed her temples as she tried to contain her rampant emotions over her husband. The chambermaid piled pillows behind her, and then the breakfast was set in place over Isabelle’s lap as she settled into place. The maid bobbed a curtsy and then left the room as silently as she came.

As Isabelle ate, the chambermaid began to draw out Isabelle’s clothes for the day. The lady paused and wagged a hand at the girl. "No. The orange one, I think. The robe à la française with the brocade skirt."

The chambermaid inclined her head down before she returned the blue pastel dress she’d chosen for Isabelle back into the wardrobe.

The dress ensemble had been a gift from Henry this past Christmas. He’d had it made special. The silk was a tawny orange, his favorite color, that was echoed in the pattern of the bronze brocade skirt. Even the lace of the stomacher that