Spotlight & Giveaway: The Earl's Marriage of Convenience by Kristin Vayden

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Kristin Vayden’s new release: The Earl’s Marriage of Convenience

A ruined earl determined to finally be a better man. A lady with a devastating secret. A marriage of convenience could save or destroy them both.

Once the ton’s most charming rake, the Earl of Devon is a man on the brink of social ruin unless he can marry a woman above reproach with a powerful family, and no inconvenient questions. He must find a bride before his past finds him or or his family will pay the price.

Lady Eliza Montford vigilantly guards a secret that jeopardizes her future. The one way to protect herself—secure a titled husband with enough ruthless influence to keep her truth buried. With only half a London season remaining, time’s running out.

When Edwin and Eliza meet, the attraction is immediate and dangerously inconvenient. Under the ton’s relentless scrutiny, one misstep leads to compromise. The solution is marriage but to quiet gossip, they must convince the ton theirs is a love match. For Eliza pretense is second nature, yet every practiced glance and touch begins to feel real and dangerous. Secrets rarely stay buried and Eliza and Edwin jealously protect their hearts.

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from The Earl’s Marriage of Convenience 

Chapter One

Edwin Rosewood, Earl of Devon, tried to ignore the irritating sensation of the ton’s attention on his turned back. It was his due, he understood the penance he must pay, but that certainly didn’t mean he appreciated the attention. His blue eyes scanned the London ballroom, seeing but not truly noticing any details. No, he was simply trying to appear at ease, no reason to cause more talk than he already had.

It was an odd knowledge, to recognize one’s failings and how they had a way of turning back on oneself. Two seasons ago, he had announced his intentions of taking a wife, only to have the very lady he’d decided to court fall for his younger brother, the Viscount Allendale. He had been the source of a scandal the season before, one of Edwin’s fabrication, and now the scandal was on his own head, because of his own choices.

Damn it all. Justice was a bitch.

Edwin resisted the urge to shrug, as if trying to shake off the attention still leveled at his back. The ton was likely asking a million questions all directed at anyone but the one who could answer them: him. No, the whispers were always about the person, never directed to the person.

Delightful little habit of society, that.

Already the society papers had written an article about the prodigal’s return. Of course, they never mentioned his name, just Lord D., but if that didn’t signify, it was certainly implied. The article had raised the question of his hasty return upon the marriage of his sister to the rather notorious rogue, Lord Gabriel Ashford, Marquess of Hawthorne. The article had quickly added that it was a known love match between the two, however it raised the question of whether the union had been a catalyst of the return of the prodigal.

Little did they know that the prodigal came home of his own accord.

And promptly found his sister kissing a notorious rake in his mother’s parlor, all in the first few hours of his return. And, in his own defense, there was no way he could have known that the once rake had been rather miraculously reformed by his sister—of all people—and was honorable in his intentions. It was certainly after that revelation, and a threat of bodily harm, that Edwin had agreed to Lord Hawthorne’s asking of Lady Peregrine’s hand. But it was not without the rather expected family drama of the Rosewood family.

Good lord, it was why he left in the first place. Granted, he was the cause of much of the drama, but that didn’t mean he wanted to wade through the mess he’d created.

He was man enough to admit that.

Edwin took a slow breath and a sip of orgeat.

“Miss this at all?” Henley asked, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

Edwin gave his younger brother a mock glare. “Not at all, not even once.”

“I don’t blame you,” Henley replied. “It is rather mundane. However, it is the best way to put you in a respectable light and to quell the gossip. It’s annoying but effective.”

Edwin nodded once, not turning to his brother. “I know, and I agree, but it doesn’t mean I enjoy it.”

“You used to or at least played the part well,” Henley hedged, and Edwin then glanced to his brother.

Henley studied him openly, but not judgmentally. Edwin deserved his judgment, but he appreciated his brother’s decision to not hold his past sins against him.

“I did, in a way. I enjoyed the sleight of hand, to fool society into believing what I wanted them to believe.”

“The charade.”

“Yes.”

“I see, and now?” Henley asked.

Edwin glanced around, assuring himself that their conversation was at least as private as it could be in a room of a hundred other people. “Now I just wish to … start over.”

When Henley didn’t respond directly, Edwin glanced at him.

“Then start over.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“You’re making it too complicated,” Henley replied succinctly. “Don’t. You have a chance to make a new start. You see…” Henley tilted his head and turned to face Edwin fully.

Edwin regarded his brother, hope teasing his emotions. “Go on.” Edwin nodded.

“You’ve been gone, and the ton is watching your every step. Any change in character, form, or word will be noticed, and they will see it, and wonder why … giving you a chance to rewrite what they think, what they … expect.”

Edwin frowned slightly. “You have a point.”

“I usually do, unfortunately my wife begs to differ,” he teased. “But I am right in this aspect. So, change. Start over. You have a rare opportunity because, oddly enough, everyone is watching to see if you, in fact, did change.”

“I never thought I’d see the day where I’d say you were right,” Edwin pestered, allowing himself to release some of the tension in his shoulders.

“I always knew I was, whether or not you admitted it,” Henley joked. “Now. If I’m not mistaken, the lady accompanying our new brother is heading our way for an introduction.”

Edwin followed his brother’s attention to Lord Hawthorne, their sister’s new husband. He nodded in welcome and then shifted his gaze to the woman on his left side. She was tall, nearly as tall as Hawthorne, with a curvy figure that made her modest dress seem decidedly seductive, even though it was perfectly hiding all the right charms. Edwin blinked, focusing his attention on her face, rather than her form. Expressive, wide brown eyes met his, a flutter of curiosity and polite distance flickering before she turned her attention to Henley.

“Allendale, Devon.” Hawthorne’s voice drew Edwin’s attention from the woman on his arm. “Allow me to introduce Lady Eliza Montford, a cousin.”

Henley was the first to accept her hand. “Delightful to make your acquaintance, Lady Eliza. I hope you’ll save me a dance?”

“Of course, I’d be honored.” Lady Eliza spoke, her tone matched her form, sultry, alluring, and decadent.

Edwin swallowed and watched as her attention shifted to him.

“Lady Eliza.” He offered his hand and deftly kissed the air above her wrist. “I’d be honored if you’d save me a dance as well.” He met her gaze boldly, watching as she nodded.

“Of course, my lord. Thank you,” she answered.

Edwin watched her blush prettily under his gaze, and while it pleased him to see her reaction, he remembered his brother’s words. He had been given the opportunity for a fresh start; he needed to make those changes now. He took a step back, releasing her hand, and turned his attention to Hawthorne.

“It’s quite the well-attended event, is it not?” Hawthorne said.

“It was quite a disaster when we first arrived, the Rymonts’ carriage broke a wheel, and they were holding up the whole line,” Lady Hawthorne whispered conspiratorially.

Edwin turned his attention to Hawthorne’s right and, for the first time, noticed his sister. “Ah, Pere. Good to see you too.”

“And now he notices me,” she badgered. “I was waiting but I shall forgive you,” she pestered. “At least this time. I might not be so benevolent if it happens again.”

Edwin arched a brow. “I’d believe you except we’ve a history that proves your threats null and void.”

His sister gave him a quick assessment and then turned to her husband. “Well?”

Edwin watched as Hawthorne blinked and frowned slightly at his wife, a slightly alarmed expression entering his eyes. “Well?” he repeated, his tone cautious.

Edwin glanced to Henley and noted that he was biting back a smile, as well, as he watched the dynamic between the two.

Pere gave a sigh of impatience. “Aren’t you going to ask me to dance?”

Hawthorne’s answering grin was wolfish, and Edwin decided the entertainment had ended.

“You had me concerned, perhaps I forgot something important again…” Hawthorne grasped his wife’s hand and tugged her close, as if to pull her into a waltz frame when no music surrounded them.

“Again is the key word,” Pere replied, her smile teasing and far too intimate for a ballroom.

Henley cleared his throat.

Edwin glanced away, then to Lady Eliza, who was watching the whole exchange with a curious, somewhat wistful expression.

“And yet, I somehow charm my way out of it.”

“You are rather annoyingly charming. But it was delightful to see you momentarily panic. I saw it in your eyes, don’t deny it,” Pere teased.

“I did, I’ll not deny it, but look how easily you melted into my arms … you nearly already forgot what you asked,” Hawthorne whispered.

Edwin glanced back and decided enough was enough. “If you had forgotten, this is a rather public venue.”

“I hadn’t forgotten,” Hawthorne answered, not sparing his brother-in-law a glance.

“Me either.” Pere reached up and tugged on her husband’s cravat. “When the music starts, you’re all mine.”

“Is that the only time?”

“No, I’m just willing to give you a break to get your sister a glass of lemonade before I monopolize your time.” Pere spoke lowly, as if expecting only her husband to hear.

“Still present,” Henley added.

Pere’s eyes shot to him. “Now you know how it feels. I remember saying the very same thing to you, on multiple occasions. I have no pity for you.”

“I honestly didn’t expect your pity, just a little more … discretion,” Henley all but muttered.

At this, Hawthorne chuckled, lifted his wife’s hand, and kissed her wrist, lingering far too long to be proper, and then slowly released her hand. “I’ll fetch that lemonade so I’m at your disposal when the music starts, dear wife.”

Pere nodded once, her lip pulled up between her teeth.

“Dear Lord, make it stop,” Edwin whispered under his breath.

“I think it’s sweet, far too little of this exists.” Lady Eliza’s voice interrupted Edwin’s thoughts, and he turned to her as Hawthorne made his way toward the refreshment table.

“Oh?” Edwin faced her and waited for her to continue.

He studied her, searching her face for a resemblance to her cousin, rather her half brother, but that was the private story, not the public one. Edwin only hoped it remained the private story. It had the ability to bring them all down if word got around. As he studied her, he saw the resemblance in the hue of her coffee-colored hair, and in the angle of her chin, only softer, more inviting. Her brows pinched slightly, then a hint of a smile teased her lips.

“Ah, the family resemblance. You’re looking for it, am I correct? I assure you, it’s present enough.” She gave a delicate shrug, but there was a hint of uncertainty in the way she cast her expression to the floor for just a moment, enough for there to be a break in carefully crafted confidences.

“Don’t do that,” Edwin whispered; before he even thought the words, they were out in the wild.

She glanced to him and blinked, confusion flickering across her expressive eyes.

He inwardly cursed himself for speaking up, but he needed to now explain himself. Just when had he developed a sense of honor and duty?

He soldiered on. “Don’t … don’t look down, it makes you appear unsure of yourself and in this environ, that is dangerous. Even if you must pretend the confidence, do it. Don’t give them any reason to … question anything.” Edwin glanced around them, noting the way Henley was watching over his champagne glass, curious but not intervening.

Damn, he was certain the brother would have questions about it later.

He’d have questions if the roles were reversed.

“I see.” Lady Eliza’s tone was steady, as if she had already taken his advice to heart and was implementing it.

He turned back to her and nodded, then took a step back, giving additional distance between them. “Very good.”

She gave a quick nod and then glanced over her shoulder as her brother approached with the lemonade he’d been sent to procure.

“Thank you.” Lady Eliza took a small sip, her brows pinching in a wince.

“You’ll get used to it,” Pere chimed in and wrapped her arm around her husband’s. “It’s dreadful but not nearly as sour as Almack’s.”

Eliza arched a brow.

“You’ll find out.” Pere patted her hand and then turned to Henley. “And where is my favorite sister-in-law?”

“Your only sister-in-law, might I add, is resting at home, as one does when late in their confinement.” Henley continued to sip his champagne.

Edwin wondered, absently, if perhaps his brother merely pretended to sip the champagne, simply to keep from being drawn too into the conversation.

He couldn’t blame him.

It was bloody brilliant, and he searched for a footman to procure his own glass. Never did he think he’d be taking notes from his little brother’s playbook.

It was a grand new world.

With scandals coming back from the Continent—him. And buried secrets trying to stay buried, with long lost relatives hoping to change their fortunes—Lady Eliza. They were a grand lot, Edwin decided. And as the music started, he decided that if he were to be a part of the madness that was the London ton, he might as well dance.

“Lady Eliza, would you honor me?” He offered his hand.

A quirk of her full lips bloomed into a small smile before her brother caught her hand before it touched Edwin’s.

“Actually, I believe I must do the proper introductions for the dance since you are, after all, family.” Hawthorne gave a quick nod to Edwin. “I’m sure she’ll save a dance for you soon, Lord Devon.” Hawthorne led his sister away, and she spared him a quick backward glance and shrug before she dove into the fray of the Scottish reel.

“Well, that doesn’t happen every day.” Henley’s words pulled him from watching Lady Eliza dancing.

“Pardon?”

Pere snickered softly and came to stand on his other side. “I’d have to agree.”

“With?” Edwin asked his siblings, already irritated with their antics.

“I remember a time when the debutantes would literally pray for you to ask them to dance, I don’t think you ever have been undermined.”

“I’ve certainly never seen it.”

Edwin gave an exasperated expression to each of them in turn. “I’m also home from my self-imposed exile so … I don’t see anyone lining up at present. That certainly needs to change. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.”

“Give it time, they are calculating,” Pere replied.

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of and yet hoping for at the same time. It’s quite confusing.”

“I’d think you’d be used to the confusion by now,” Henley chimed in.

“And you’re no help. Married right and tight and free from the burden of performance.” Edwin gave him a sarcastic look.

“Oh, I perform.” Henley’s answering smile was devilish.

“And now I want to leave,” Pere groaned.

“Turnabout is fair play, sister,” Henley reminded her.

“It’s more fun when it comes from me.”

“I disagree,” Edwin felt the need to interject.

“You would,” Pere retorted.

Edwin twisted his lips. “They are certain that no one knows?”

The silence that followed let him know they fully understood the context of his question. Words they wouldn’t, couldn’t, say in public somehow were communicated in that simple question.

“I’m certain,” Pere answered. “I’ve asked, and checked, and asked again. He’s just as concerned, but we’re in the clear. Unless we’re the ones that disclose.”

Edwin gave a dry chuckle. “It would be a cold day in hell.”

“Agreed. And she has more to lose—”

“Shhh, just in case,” Pere scolded.

“Regardless, it will be fine. It’s half a season, what could go wrong in that short of time?”

“Famous last words, sister.” Henley took an invisible sip from his champagne.

But Edwin glanced back to Lady Eliza, in her not really cousin’s arms, and silently agreed with his brother.

Maybe it was a cold day in hell.

He was agreeing with his brother.

Which made him wonder what else would change.

What else would come to light.

Excerpt. ©Kristin Vayden. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 

Giveaway: An ebook copy of THE EARL’S MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE + one additional Tule ebook of the winner’s choice

To enter Giveaway, please share this post on your Socials and Leave a comment below to this Q: What did you think of the excerpt spotlighted here? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…

🎉 Giveaway Rules 🎉
✨ Must be 18 years or older to enter.
✨ MUST leave a comment answering the giveaway question.
✨ Bonus Entry:Share this post on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) 
and drop a comment below letting me know you've shared it.
✨ Winner(s) will be selected at random.
✨ No purchase necessary—just enter and cross your fingers!
✨ If you win, I'll need your full name and mailing address to send your prize. 
This information will be shared with the author, publisher, or publicist solely for prize fulfillment purposes.
✨ Giveaway closes 3 days from the date this post is published.  
 

Meet the Author:

Kristin draws inspiration for her heartfelt romance novels from her charming husband, whose striking blue eyes and tall, dark presence spark her creativity. A busy mom of five, she juggles kisses, cooking, and cleaning with joy, embracing the chaos of family life. Tending to her flock of chickens and bees in Eastern Washington, she finds bliss in both nature and nurturing. An avid baker, Kristin whips up sweet treats as passionately as her stories. A lover of coffee, wine, and adventure, she’s never far from her next cup or a scenic stroll.

https://tulepublishing.com/books/the-earls-marriage-of-convenience/#order