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WICKEDLY EVER AFTER
MICHELLE MARCOS
PROLOGUE
Not yet twenty years old, and she was dying.
She lay on a street in London, its wet cobblestones perfumed with the ages. Empty and abandoned, the
chill night echoed her loneliness.
NoteveryonewouldmissherMostwomenwouldn’tespeciallywivesndsomerespectablemen
wouldn’teither
But in her day, she was beloved by men of affluence and influence, men of high birth and low morals.
And she loved them back . . . for the right price.
She was a place that had exhaled the air of pleasure. In her salons, the queens of leisure gathered, open
totheentertainmentofmen’sfantasiesInherroomsdelightsweresoughtandbestowedWithinher
walls, the women ruled the men.
But now her time was at an end. The FOR SALE sign was nailed to her door.
The Pleasure Emporium had enjoyed her last customer.
Like an unmade bed after a night of passion, the bordello now lay desolate and forgotten. Her
furnishings were covered in white cloth, her windows were shuttered, and her once open door was
tightly shut. Her courtesans were long gone, her clients vanished. All the vivid people with their vivid
lives had disappeared.
But she herself refused to go away. Like the wooden sign that swayed back and forth on the rusty nail,
there would be a pendulum swing to her life as well. As with all scorned women, the Pleasure Emporium
would not keep silent for long.
ONE
Twice upon a time, Athena McAllister thought she had found the man of her dreams.
The first time it happened she was fifteen years old. He was sixteen, blond-haired, and beautiful, the
second son of a viscount who was on holiday from boarding school abroad. He spoke to her politely, as a
proper young gentleman should, but stared over her ginger-colored head at a lovelier young woman at
the ball.
At nineteen she met another man, a viscount in his own right. He was twenty, blond-haired, and
beautiful, and he expressed nothing but admiration for her fiery coloring. He spoke of his travels to Italy
and America, and when the music started, stepped around her generous form to dance with a lovelier
young woman at the ball.
It was, therefore, with some trepidation that she regarded the blond-haired and beautiful Calvin
Bretherton, whose manner and clothes bespoke generations of wealth that she now lacked. At twenty-
eight, Athena was well past marrying years, and everyone expected her to live out her life in aristocratic
penury. But the earl was looking for a wife, and Athena gave in to that frustrating yet lingering hope that
he might be her final chance to marry well—let alone marry at all.
Hesterlookedoveratherfriendasshehandedheraglassofwine“You’vegotthelookofacatthat’s
spottedanunsuspectingbirdWhoareyoustaringat?”
thenatookasipandthesweetwineburstflavorintoherdrymouth“Noone”
Hester pursed herlipsashereyesscannedtheclusterofmenacrosstheballroom“There’sGeneral
ThomasonLordRyebrookthebishopcan’tbethebishop”
thenasmiledandrolledhereyes“Behindhim”
Hestersquintedherdarkeyes“HmmLordStockdaleVery handsome indeed. I know his family well. He
getshislooksfromhismotheryouknow”
thenasmirked“Ibethegetslooksfromlotsofwomen”
Hesterchuckled“I’vealwaysbeenpartialtomenwithblueeyesLet’ssitdownPerhapshe’llcomeover
andintroducehimself”
Athena took her place beside Hester in the knot of chairs near the fireplace—the potpourri corner, she
called it—where the dowagers, spinsters, and other dried-out women congregated. She smiled wanly at
the conversation between the Baroness Basinghall, a great turtle of a woman, and her unmarried last
daughter, an equally grating bore, on which teas are the best cures for headaches and how to make
poultices for bunions.
But her own eyes kept drifting to the object of her growing aspiration. Calvin threw his head back and
laughed at something the general said. She smiled. His cheeks curled over a row of perfect white teeth,
and just for a moment, Athena pictured them smiling at her. The burgundy coat hugged his form,
revealing long, muscular arms that would feel heavenly wrapped around her. And those sky-blue eyes,
so charismatic and beautiful, gazing at her in smoky desire . . . Athena exhaled, reveling in the imagined
pleasure.
Suddenly, Calvin glanced in her direction, and her heart missed a beat. Dream materialized into reality
as he broke away from the group of men and walked toward her. Time seemed to slow as she watched
him stride over, her pulse racing. Her breath came out in nervous gasps.
His smile widened as he neared, and Athena blinked shyly. He was utterly delicious . . . like a thick slice
of marchpane cake. All her confidence dissolved under that assertively handsome gaze. Her customary
proud boast that she needed no man, flung to clucking matrons, evaporated in the flame of anticipation
asCalvin’sperfectbodyapproachedher
ndinablinkofherbashfulgreeneyesCalvin’sperfectbodypassedhercompletelyHestoppedin
front of two willowy French ladies on the opposite end of the ballroom and bowed before them.
thena’sheartsanksanadolescentbeingoverlookedlikethatmighthavepuncturedherfragile
confidence for months. But she was a woman now. Her confidence was no longer rooted in beauty. She
was, after all, a well-read and intelligent woman. If Calvin Bretherton would just speak to her, maybe
she could persuade him that she was worthy of his attention.
“Pleaseexcusemeladies”thenasetdownherglassandstoodup
“Whereareyougoing?”whisperedHester
“He’snotcomingovertomesoIshalljusthavetogoovertohim”
Hestermovedinfrontofherblockingherescape“reyoumad?Youcan’twalkuptoamanand
introduceyourself!Youmustn’tbesoforward”
“Ican’tverywellhopetosnagahusbandifIremainshovedupagainstawalllikeanoldragmop”
“thenait’sbeentoolongsinceyou’vebeenataballinLondonTherearecertainrulesofconductyou
must observe. You must behave with the decorum befitting your years and reduced circumstances”
“YoumakemesoundlikeanoldcarthorseThere’slifeinmeyetHester”
Hester’sdelicateblackeyebrowsdrewtogetherasheranxiouseyeslookedaround“Ijustaskthatyou
considerwhatpeoplemightsayForsomeonelikeyouit’sonlyawhisperfromspinstertoprostitute”
Athena sighed. Hester was right—reputationwasmonumentallyimportanttleastasaspinstershe’d
still be asked to parties like this one. If she lost her claim to respectability, life would be even lonelier
than it was at present. Good manners demanded that she sit quietly in the company of other widowed,
single, and unescorted ladies until a gentleman approached her. It so seldom happened, and never by
the gentlemen she truly wanted to meet. And that had become her lot in life . . . condemned by
propriety to inexperience.
She watched the two brunette sisters, charming Calvin with their singsong zh-zh’dwordsstheybatted
their thick black eyelashes at him and giggled co-quettishly behind their mother-of-pearl fans, she sat
back down among the black-clad, bunioned gaggle of women.
Prostitute indeed.
If only.
TWO
“You’rescowlingMason”
Her Grace the Duchess of Twillingham perched her cup delicately inside the saucer. Her flinty brown
eyes had snapped to Mason Royce, the Baron Penhaligan, and it was enough to make a man of his
advanced years feel as uncomfortable as a schoolboy.
“IknowmygranddaughterYourGrace”Hispaperyhandsflickedopenthebookandsiftedthroughthe
pages“Togethertoreadthis willbelikedrawingacattoabarrelofwater”
The duchess swung a disapproving glance around the room, her eyes resting on the worn carpet, the
unlitfireplaceandabookonthefloorthatwasproppingupacrippledsideboard“Shemorethan
anyoneIknowstandstobenefitfromitsteachings”
Mason sighedintothefrayedarmchairacrossfromtheduchess“thenahasverystrongopinionsofher
own”
“llthemorereasontoobligehertoconformShemustachievealevelofsophisticationIfyouleave
heroutinthecountrymuchlongerit’llbetheruinofherHeavenknowsshe’llprobablyletherself
becoveredbysomefarmerorother”
“thenaisn’tlikethatMaggie”
“Letmehaveatalkwiththegirl”
“Shedoesn’trespondtocoercion”hewarned
A nest of wrinkles appeared at her mouth“YoualwaysweresoftheartedMasonNowonderthat
granddaughterofyoursissoindomitableYou’vedonehernofavorsbybeingsolenientLookather
now . . . twenty-eightandperilouslyunwedThere’sonlyyoutoblameforthat”
“She’snotlike othergirlsMaggieShe’sdifferent”
Theduchessjerkedherheadupwardmakingthecurloffeathersinherbonnetwave“She’sno
different from any other woman. If she desires to marry into the nobility, she must learn how to behave
in polite society. No man will shackle himself to a waspish woman. But if she should desire my
sponsorship, she must first gain a measure of modesty, delicacy, and humility. Bring her to me. I know I
cangethertoseereason”
Mason shook his grizzled head but rang for the servant anyway.
Out in the field, the servant whispered something to Athena. With a brief shake of her head, Athena set
down her paintbrush in front of the half-finished canvas and stood up.
Moments later, Athena appeared in the morning room, herartist’spinaforealivewithcolors
“YousentformeGrandfather?”
Theoldmanrose“thenaYescomeinsideMayIpresentMargaretDuchessofTwillinghamYour
GracethisismygranddaughterthenaMcllister”
Her Grace was a regal-looking woman, even in her sixties. Tight curls in streaks of black and gray peeked
out from underneath her bonnet. Her eyebrows had almost disappeared, leaving only a wide swath of
forehead lined in multiple directions. But when her dark eyes alighted on Athena, the duchess looked at
her as if she had suddenly grown a third arm and an extra pair of legs.
“Whatinheavenhashappenedtoyourdress?”
thenalookeddownathersmearedfrocksmilingsheepishly“I’msorryIwasinthefieldfinishinga
paintingofadyingtree”
“Wasitnecessarytogetintosuchastate?”
“I’msorryIhadn’texpectedanyonetocalltoday”
The duchess adjusted the ruff of her primrose-coloredspencer“IcanseethatIhavecomenotasecond
too soon. You see, Mason, this is exactly the sort of fatal carelessness to which I was referring. Miss
McAllister, in polite society, a lady should always be prepared to receive visitors between the hours of
threeo’clockandfiveYouontheotherhandlookpreparedtoserveasapigfarmer’shiredhand”
thenarecoiledherfulllipsthinning“IhavefoundYourGracethatinpolitesocietypeopleareeither
charminglysuperficialortediouslysoIaspiretobeneither”
“I’llthankyoutoholdaciviltongueMissMcllisterdirtyfrockdoesaladynocreditwomanthat
does not demonstrate concern for her appearance may as well be dismissed out of hand. As, apparently,
youhavebeen”
Masonclearedhisthroat“thenaHerGraceisaverydearfriendofmineWe’veknowneachother
since we were children. Because of that long friendship, Her Grace has very graciously offered to help
make a match for you. She has agreed to sponsor you in Society, and help find a suitable husband for
you. Dresses, entertainments, social engagements—she is willing to support you in all facets of this
endeavorndgivenourlimitedresourcesI’msureyouwillbeasgratefulasIam”
Athena crossed her paint-smearedhandsinfrontofhersuspiciousofsuchunsolicitedgenerosity“Of
courseThankyouforthatkindheartedgestureYourGrace”
Masoncollectedthebookfromtheteatableandplaceditintothena’srainbowedhands“ndshehas
alreadybroughtyouagift”
thenalookedatthecoverandhereyebrowsdrewtogether“FeminineExcellenceorEveryYoung
Woman’sGuidetoLadylikeComportment”
“Ifyouaretofindahusband”saidtheduchess“Iinsistthatyoureadandlearnthatbook”
thenabristled“ThankyouforthegiftYourGracebutIthinkitmaybewastedonmettheriskof
soundingimmodestIdon’tbelieveIaminneedoflearningexcellence”
The older woman rested both hands on the knob ofhercane“ThatismorethanimmodestThatsounds
absolutely prideful. Especially when it is apparent how many qualities you have which are in need of
refinement. If it will make you feel any better, you are not the only one being given this book. All the
unmarried ladies this Season are being required to learn the principles outlined by Countess Cavendish
inherbookTheLadiesPatronessesoflmack’shavegiventhisbooktheirsealofapprovalIrealizeyou
did not have a proper come-out, and that cannot be helped. But because of the great personal regard I

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