Insatiable, p.1
Insatiable, page 1
Insatiable
The Phoenix Club
Book Eight
Darcy Burke
Insatiable
Copyright © 2023 Darcy Burke
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9781637260937
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Book design: © Darcy Burke.
Book Cover Design: © Erin Dameron-Hill at EDHProfessionals.
Editing: Lindsey Faber.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
Created with Vellum
For my amazing and inspiring daughter
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Some of Kat is based on her, and I’m thrilled to give an autistic heroine a happy ever after.
* * *
Quinn, thank you for teaching and loving me, and making me prouder than I could ever imagine. I love you, Bunny!
Contents
Insatiable
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Also by Darcy Burke
About the Author
Insatiable
Society’s most exclusive invitation...
Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances.
After Miss Kathleen Shaughnessy is seen kissing a gentleman in a Gloucestershire garden, she’s sent to London to avoid scandal. She doesn’t, however, plan to abandon her research of mating rituals, and she knows the perfect person to provide assistance: her brother’s best friend, Lord Lucien Westbrook, who is renowned for helping others.
Disdained by his haughty father, Lucien runs the Phoenix Club, an inclusive community where no one is ostracized or overlooked. It’s also a secret rendezvous for the Foreign Office, where important connections are made, and information is passed—until a scandal ricochets through the club and threatens Lucien’s position with his superiors.
As Lucien works to maintain control of the club, his best friend’s sister seeks his personal expertise and assistance with researching the “science” of mating. He can’t possibly say yes, but the more time he spends with the genuine and captivating Kat, the weaker his resistance. He’s soon battling his desire for her as well as the powerful forces who wish to push him out of his club. When Kat is thrust into real danger, Lucien will stop at nothing to protect the woman who has stolen his heart.
Don’t miss the rest of The Phoenix Club!
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Chapter 1
London, February 1816
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“I…would like to participate in the Season.” Kathleen Shaughnessy perched on a chair in the drawing room of her brother’s house, her hands folded demurely in her lap and her gaze fixed placidly on her brother and sister-in-law who occupied the settee opposite. She knew her request would shock them, but that wasn’t why she was making it.
Her sister-in-law, Cassandra, or Cass as Kat, and most other family and friends called her, spoke first. “You would?”
“You’re surprised,” Kat said.
Cass’s dark brows arched briefly. “Given how vehemently you opposed attending nearly every Society event you were invited to last Season, yes, I’m surprised.”
Ruark, Kat’s older half brother and the Earl of Wexford, narrowed his blue eyes at her. “Why do you want to participate in the Season?”
Kat expected his skepticism. He knew her better than almost anyone and was well aware of her aversion to large social gatherings, because he cared to. She was not an easy person. Or so her mother told her.
There was no way she could tell him the truth, that it was the best, if not only, way she could conduct her research. What better place to observe human mating rituals than the London Marriage Mart? Actually, in the past, she would have told him precisely what she planned, but she’d learned that could get her into trouble. Besides, Ruark was married now with a child on the way, and she wouldn’t involve him in her schemes.
Schemes? That was something her and Ruark’s mother would say.
It was good their mother wasn’t here, that she’d allowed Ruark and Cass to take Kat in. Nothing Kat did was what her mother wanted or hoped for. Kat was far too interested in wildlife and documenting her observations in both writing and drawing. Mother would say, “You’ll never find a husband doing that.” To which Kat would respond, “Then I won’t find a husband.”
Lifting a shoulder, Kat tried to appear indifferent while answering Ruark’s question as to why she wanted a Season. “It will make Mother happy.”
A sharp laugh bolted from Ruark’s throat. “That is not why you’re doing this, so don’t try to sell me that nonsense. Have you decided to wed?”
That seemed the best answer, and if she said yes, hopefully, he’d let the issue rest. “I’m considering it.”
“That is quite a change,” Cass said. Now her gaze had turned dubious.
Kat threw up her hands. “I thought it would please you that I wished to join the Season, but if you’re going to interrogate me and be suspicious, then perhaps I shouldn’t bother.”
Ruark waved his hand. “No, it’s fine. It’s quite good, in fact. You’re right that our mother will be pleased, especially since we had to convince her to let you return to London with us.”
“I don’t understand why she required persuasion,” Kat said. “My reputation in Lechlade isn’t exactly pristine.” That was because she’d moved on from observing the mating rituals of wildlife to humans and conducted an experiment in which she’d kissed a gentleman who was betrothed. Since he was already spoken for, Kat had deemed him the perfect research object. She certainly didn’t want to wed anyone.
However, despite Kat’s careful planning to kiss him in the dark garden at the assembly, they’d been seen. Mother had whisked her away from Gloucestershire before scandal could bloom. Not that it hadn’t taken root—indeed, while the gentleman was now wed to his bride, Kat was still not entirely welcome by everyone back home.
“It’s not ruined either,” Cass pointed out. “But I do understand why you prefer to be here.”
Kat loved London. After the “scandal,” her mother had dragged her here in order to marry her off. Instead, Kat had spent last Season with Ruark and his new wife, Cass. “There are endless entertainments,” Kat said. As well as a much higher likelihood of conducting her research more anonymously.
“Do you want to be presented to the queen?” Ruark asked. He looked to Cass. “Does she need to be?”
“Ideally, but it’s not completely necessary,” Cass replied. “Your mother ought to come for that, but I can act as sponsor.”
Kat’s insides somersaulted. “Must I? I don’t feel a need to meet the queen.” She offered them what was probably a tepid smile. Alas, it was the best she could muster. The thought of garbing herself in a ridiculously old-fashioned costume and curtseying to the queen was vastly unappealing in every way.
“If you’re invited to do so, you’ll have no choice, I’m afraid,” Cass said sympathetically. She was the best sister-in-law Kat could have hoped for. She was kind, witty, and incredibly supportive of Kat’s…quirks. She didn’t care that Kat didn’t enjoy dancing or shopping for clothing or that she adored museums and bookstores. She also didn’t harangue Kat if her fingers were stained from sketching or writing. “But we’ll do our best to keep you from drawing notice.”
“That means you’ll need to be on your best behavior,” Ruark said. “No clandestine meetings in gardens with gentlemen who are already betrothed.” His tone wasn’t one of scolding but of pleading.
Kat looked him in the eye. “I promise I will be a model of grace and propriety.”
“Then I suppose we must go shopping,” Cass said, smiling. Unlike Kat, she loved to visit the modiste. And the milliner. And everything in between.
&n bsp; “Must we?” Kat already knew the answer.
“I’ll have the modiste come here.” Cass gave her an understanding smile. “Would that make you more comfortable?”
Again, Kat appreciated her sister-in-law’s kindness. “Yes, thank you.”
“We’ve been invited to a soirée tomorrow evening,” Cass said. “Do you want to come with us?”
So soon? Kat had thought she’d have a few days to acclimate herself to the idea of being amongst crowds of mostly simpering people. While she wanted to do this for the sake of research, she also knew she’d be uncomfortable, at least some of the time.
“If you tire early, we can send you home in the coach,” Ruark offered. He knew Kat could grow weary of social events, especially large ones.
“Then yes, I’ll go with you.” Kat would make sure she was ready. She glanced toward Cass. “Surely I have something to wear that will suffice?”
“More than likely. If not, my maid may be able to alter something of mine.”
“Really?” Kat was a couple of inches taller than Cass’s five feet and four inches.
“Stenby is a master with a needle,” Cass assured her with a smile.
“That’s settled, then.” Kat started to rise, but the butler came in and announced they had a visitor—Lord Lucien Westbrook.
“Send him in, Bartholomew,” Ruark said.
Kat pressed herself back into the chair. If the guest had been nearly anyone else, she would have left. However, she liked Cass’s brother. Everyone did.
Lord Lucien was nearly thirty, two years older than her brother, Ruark, with dark hair, thick brows, and captivating sable eyes. Kat didn’t use that description—captivating—lightly. She employed it for certain animals she studied, those with an aura of confidence and demonstrable intelligence. It was sometimes difficult to gauge those attributes in a goat or a cow, but not impossible. Kat was nothing if not a patient and thorough observer.
It did not take patience to assess Lord Lucien. At first glance, he was aggressively attractive and charming. There was simply no ignoring the magnetism he possessed—everyone could sense it. If one couldn’t, they ought to make sure they were still breathing. Tall and white, he possessed alluring laugh lines around his eyes and mouth that lured all he encountered into his orbit. She tried not to fixate on the latter of his features and failed. Ever since the abysmal kiss with Hickinbottom, she’d focused on men’s mouths—well, some men’s mouths—and wondered if any of them could perform better. Or perhaps it was just that Kat hated kissing. She rather assumed that was the case, since every woman she’d asked about kissing had told her how thrilling it could be.
Could be.
And that was why Kat needed to conduct more research. So, it was perfectly fine that she was staring at the contour of Lord Lucien’s lips, at how the lower was slightly plumper than the upper. She licked her own lower lip as if to determine whether hers might be the same.
One of Lord Lucien’s brows ticked slightly up, his gaze fixing on hers for a fleeting moment. Had he noted her attention? Did that matter? Some would say yes, but Kat didn’t care about such things. She did have a good reason for studying him, and she’d tell him so if necessary.
Because she was inspecting him, she noticed something she hadn’t seen before—a faint pucker between his brows. Was he troubled about something? She’d presumed he was impenetrable to worry.
“I apologize for intruding,” Lord Lucien began, “but I’m afraid I need to speak with Wexford.” He gave his sister an apologetic glance.
“Phoenix Club business.” Cass pressed her lips together. “That I cannot be privy to.”
“Or me, apparently,” Kat added, not that she cared. Lord Lucien owned a popular membership club, and while it was probably the one place in London where Society gathered in which she felt most at ease, it was still typically full of too many people. But then she was only allowed to visit the weekly assemblies on Fridays during the Season because she was not a member and those were a crush.
As a young unmarried lady, she was not allowed membership. However, if she became a spinster, it seemed she could garner an invitation. If the membership committee deemed her appropriate. Or something like that. Kat didn’t follow the specifics very closely, not like Cass and her friends did. Her closest friend, Fiona, was married to another of Lord Lucien’s friends, Lord Overton. He was also involved in the club, as was Ruark. Which was why Lord Lucien was here. While Kat didn’t follow gossip or Society happenings, she was aware that there was some sort of scandal surrounding the club.
That had to be the source of Lord Lucien’s consternation.
“Forgive me,” Kat said, pinning her gaze on Lord Lucien. “Is something amiss with the club? I’m afraid I’m not up on the latest news.” They’d only just returned to London about ten days ago after spending the holidays and the entire month of January in Gloucestershire.
“It’s, ah, complicated,” Lord Lucien said.
Kat ticked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to say I wouldn’t understand? Or that you’d rather not share the particulars?”
“I would never insult your intelligence, Miss Shaughnessy,” he said quickly—and earnestly. “I rather assumed you would find this, dare I say, boring?”
He knew her that well? Perhaps he was also an excellent observer. He rose in her esteem. “Typically, yes, but I know how much this club matters to my brother and to Cass. And to you, I’m sure.”
He laughed softly. “Yes. It is of critical import to me. Unfortunately, there are problems.” He flicked a glance toward Ruark. “But I’m certain we’ll overcome them.”
Ruark frowned. “Did something else happen?”
Lord Lucien made his way to a chair angled near the settee where Ruark and Cass sat and lowered himself to the edge of the cushion, as if he didn’t plan to stay long. Or was, himself, on edge. “Evie left town today. She and Gregory are traveling to Oxfordshire where they will wed.”
Cass’s eyes sparked and her mouth rounded before spreading into a happy grin. “Truly?”
“Yes, and I convinced her to remain at the club.”
“Good,” Cass said firmly.
Evie—rather, Mrs. Renshaw, as Kat knew her—managed the Phoenix Club and was a close friend of Lord Lucien’s. Kat now recalled that she was the reason for the club’s current notoriety—or at least part of the cause. “Again, I haven’t paid close attention,” Kat said. “Why did you need to convince Mrs. Renshaw to stay?”
Ruark exhaled. “It’s a somewhat unseemly story. I’m sure Lucien would prefer we didn’t discuss it now. Cass can explain later.”
“Well, that makes me feel like a bothersome child,” Kat muttered. She rose. “I shan’t burden you with my presence, then.”
“Don’t be like that,” Ruark said, scowling. “You’ll lose interest halfway through the story. This isn’t the sort of thing you give two figs about.”
That was true, so why was Kat even asking? “You’re right. I suppose I was just trying to be supportive.” Her mother often told her she should take an interest in other people’s concerns, and once in a while, Kat remembered to do so. She started toward the door, stopping at Lord Lucien’s chair. “I’m sorry you’re having trouble with your club. I’m sure things will improve.” She offered him a smile before leaving the drawing room.
Kat climbed to the second floor, where her bedchamber was located, her mind quickly moving on from Lord Lucien and the Phoenix Club and returning to the matter foremost in her mind—her research. Tomorrow, she would attend the soirée and begin.
