What An Earl Wants (Scandalous Ladies #1)

What’s a lord to do?

Benjamin, Earl of Sinclair, is living in chaos. So many of his well-trained servants are pairing up and running off to be wed that his friends begin calling him The Matchmaking Earl. Fortunately, his talented new secretary, J. Quincy, begins setting the household to rights. But imagine Sinclair’s surprise when he discovers the “J” stands for Josephine. His favorite employee is a lady in disguise!

Jo desperately needs this position, and never actually lied about her gender … though she didn’t expect Sinclair to figure out her secret so soon. If the ton finds out, the scandal could be devastating. She’s only going to stay long enough to earn sufficient money to move her ailing sister away from London. Can she succeed before word gets out and scandal brings them both down? And after working so closely with the handsome, charming Sinclair, can she leave with her heart intact … even if the earl now wants Jo as a match for himself?

Originally published in 2005. Lightly edited for 2021 as Book 1 of the Scandalous Ladies four-book series.

Sample from What An Earl Wants:

Sinclair entered the library, noting that Quincy barely looked up as he sat on the sofa. He grabbed the folio with the latest report from his solicitor and again pretended to read it as he studied his new secretary. He had every intention of continuing their earlier discussion, but first he wanted more time to think about his conversation with Mama.

The lad was absorbed in his work as he moved from the desk and knelt on the floor, organizing papers and stacking ledgers. Still kneeling, his back to Sinclair, Quincy stretched to reach another pile, the tails of his coat falling to either side. Quincy was wearing new trousers in addition to a new coat, as Sinclair had requested. The tailor had done fine work, despite any misgivings Sinclair might have had.

But something was wrong.

Quincy sat back on his heels, studying a piece of paper. Then he leaned forward to drop it onto a pile of receipts, his trousers stretched taut across his backside. Normally Sinclair paid little attention to other men’s clothing other than to confirm that his own attire was appropriate for the occasion. But he couldn’t take his eyes off Quincy.

And then Sinclair recognized what was wrong. Though very circumspect, Sinclair was no monk. His last dalliance had been long before Waterloo, but he hadn’t lost his appreciation for a fine female derriere ¼ and that’s exactly what he was staring at.

Mr. Quincy was actually a Miss.

Without thinking, Sinclair sprang forward, kneeling on the floor beside Quincy, and grabbed her wrist as she set down a receipt. The spasm of pain in his leg made his voice harsher than he’d intended. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Miss Quincy?”