Page 1

Chapter One

London, 1st November 1822

The rain stopped its lazy drizzle the moment Miss Maria Giuditta Sontag's gloved hand emerged from the carriage.

Edward Everly, the Earl of Sutton, offered his hand and helped her out.

The night air was heavy and damp, smelling of wet earth and horsehair.

Yellow light from flickering streetlamps glinted off the wet cobblestones, casting long reflections across the dark London street.

Marie, as everyone close to her called her, was the best soprano on either side of the English Channel. A gorgeous brunette with large, expressive brown eyes and the voice of an angel, she had an almost mystifying effect on people. Sutton had often seen men and women stop whatever they were doing, fall silent, and simply stare when she appeared.

This was the first time, however, that he noticed the same reverence paid to her by the weather itself.

There was no rain, no wind, no sound.

Just a quiet November night.

Or perhaps the weather had an odd sense of humor, deciding to stop raining every time Sutton was outside, as if to punctuate his sulky mood.

More likely, the weather had no interest whatsoever in people's moods or even their existence. Sutton, however, couldn't help but concentrate on its whims; otherwise, he would have to confront the overwhelming thoughts plaguing his mind.

Marie rose on her tiptoes, her silk skirts rustling against the cobblestones, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Edward darling," she said. "Though you were very quiet tonight."

The scent of roses—Marie's perfume—wafted around him and clung to his coat.

The side of his mouth kicked up in a half-smile. "I think the rowdy couple in my carriage were loud enough for all of us. Married people can be quite tiresome."

"Hmm..." She pursed her lips and tapped his chest lightly. "You are terrible at being disingenuous. You miss having someone to quarrel with."

"I have you." Sutton crinkled his eyes in an attempt at a smile.

"Yes, but you do not quarrel with me."

"Aren't we a perfect pair then?"

Marie chuckled and shook her head. "Are you sure you don't want to stop in for a cup of chocolate?"

Sutton let out a snort. "Chocolate?"

He hated the bitter drink.

She raised a brow. "Brandy would be more to your liking?"

A long-suffering sigh left his lungs. "It would. Unfortunately, I have to escort the Duke and Duchess of Tyrone home."

Marie made a show of peeking into the window of his carriage, where the glow of the carriage lantern illuminated the dark velvet interior.

She scrunched her nose. "I don't think they would mind if you left them to finish the journey on their own."

"And that is exactly why I am not going to do that." Sutton patted Marie's hand, then released her.

Marie let out a throaty laugh. "Good night then, my lord."

She turned to her waiting footman and disappeared inside her townhouse.

Sutton turned on his heel but hesitated, watching his carriage and listening to the giggles coming from the open door. He cleared his throat loudly and ascended into the carriage.