“Are you ready for visitors, highness?”
“Of course,” she whispered, her voice a little raspier than usual after the long morning’s efforts.
Their boys came in a slow procession, both of them holding their flowers outstretched in their fists.
“Come and meet your sister, my loves,” she said, peeling back the blanket just enough to reveal the tiny head covered in dark, wispy curls. “What do you think of her?”
Matthew frowned. “She looks old, like the Duchess of Holliford.”
“You’re not supposed to say it even if it’s true,” Arthur added, nudging him with his elbow.
Ainsley laughed softly. “You both looked wrinkly, too. That’s just how babies are for a few days. Just wait. In a little while, she’ll blossom and be just as pretty as the pair of you.”
“Mum,” Matthew said, rolling his eyes but with a crooked grin on his lips.
Arthur peered closer, considering. “She is sort of scrunched together like a flower bud. What do we call her?”
“Hmm . . . I was thinking of naming her after a flower,” Ainsley said, lifting her gaze to Reed. He nodded, having a sense of what she would say.
But the boys were too eager to share their thoughts first. “You should name her Galahad, like my pony.”
“What about Geranium or Daisy? At least those are both flowers,” Arthur said.
“He actually wants her to be called Violet. Don’t you, Arthur?”
“Well, Galahad is a stupid name even for a pony.”
“Boys,” Ainsley said softly, lifting her finger to her lips, the baby squirming in her arms. Then she slid a smiling glance up to Reed. “Such a noisy life you’ve given me, Mr. Sterling.”
And you’ve given me the best life, he thought. Better than he’d ever imagined.
They lived in Harrowfield during the summer months and each winter at Christmastide. The Bourne Matrimonial Agency was closed during that time, too, with most of the ton away at their own country houses. However, that did not stop the influx of applications by post, or the local villagers dropping by to see if his wife could find them their perfect match.
As for Sterling’s, it was not the legendary gaming hell that he’d once imagined it would become. It was more a gentleman’s club now, but Reed still gave boxing lessons upstairs on occasion. He didn’t mind at all.
His dream was still the same, only now, he was able to look at his true legacy and watch them grow, day by day.
Standing with his family, he felt something brush against him and saw a scraggly cat wend her way around his trousers. A bit grayer in patches than she used to be, she blinked up at him and sank her claws into his leg. He reached down and picked her up.
“I think someone else is curious about the newest member of the family,” he said, stroking her soft fur. “Seymour, I’d like you to meet”—he paused, holding his wife’s gaze—“Primrose Sterling.”
Acknowledgments
Sometimes it takes a village, a miracle, and a mobile office.
As with every story, the expedition to Ainsley and Reed’s happily-ever-after encountered a few bumps and surprises along the way. And I’d like to thank the people who shared the journey with me.
Many thanks to my editor, Nicole, for your patience and helpful insight. To my agent, Stefanie, for being ready with a quick word of support and advice. To Pam, Kayleigh, and the entire (wonderful) Avon team for everything you do. And to the incomparable Jon Paul Ferrara, Amy Halperin, and Michel Legrou for the stunning artwork on the cover.
Hugs to my friends—our Saturday morning chats and cups of caffeine refill my soul. And extra hugs to Cyndi for being this book’s first reader and for sending impatient emojis when I didn’t get pages to you quickly enough.
I also want to thank my readers for welcoming these characters into your hearts, for sending emails and leaving comments, and, most of all, for your warm smiles whenever we meet.
Unending love to my boys—my heroes, my heart.
Because of you, I am truly blessed.
Announcement
Keep an eye out for
LORD HOLT TAKES A BRIDE
The Mating Habits of Scoundrels, Book 1
The first in a charming, witty regency series about three friends who set out to write a primer on the marriage habits of aristocrats to help other debutantes avoid ruin . . . but discover more than they bargained for when it comes to scoundrels!
Coming Spring 2020
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author VIVIENNE LORRET transforms copious amounts of tea into words. She is an Avon Books author of works, including: The Wallflower Wedding series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall series, the Season’s Original series, and the Misadventures in Matchmaking series. For more information on her books, sign up for her newsletter at www.vivlorret.net.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
By Vivienne Lorret
The Misadventures in Matchmaking Series
How to Forget a Duke
Ten Kisses to Scandal
The Rogue to Ruin
The Season’s Original Series
“The Duke’s Christmas Wish” (in All I Want for Christmas Is a Duke and A Christmas to Remember)
The Debutante Is Mine
This Earl is on Fire
When a Marquess Loves a Woman
Just Another Viscount in Love (novella)
The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series
The Elusive Lord Everhart
The Devilish Mr. Danvers
The Maddening Lord Montwood
The Wallflower Wedding Series
Tempting Mr. Weatherstone (novella)
Winning Miss Wakefield
Finding Miss McFarland
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Lyrics from “The Lass of Richmond Hill,” by Leonard McNally and James Hook, public domain.
the rogue to ruin. Copyright © 2019 by Vivienne Lorret. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition AUGUST 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-268553-7
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-268552-0
Cover design by Amy Halperin
Cover illustrations © Jon Paul Ferrara
Cover photograph © Michel Legrou/Media Photo
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
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