The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (London Highwaymen, #2)

by Cat Sebastian

There had been a time when Marian would have described herself as an intelligent woman, or at least not an idiot. Or, if an idiot, certainly not the most benighted fool in the kingdom. Now she was quite certain that even the greatest simpleton in all the world could not have bungled things to the extent that she had done. She was coming to believe that she had an unprecedented talent for catastrophe, a rare and legendary gift. When she and her daughter found themselves destitute and friendless, perhaps Marian could earn her living by penning her memoirs, a cautionary tale for young ladies who might think themselves clever enough to solve all their family’s problems through the simple expedient of marrying up in the world. Marriage: Far More Trouble Than You Might Think would be the title of her treatise. Although, even that probably wouldn’t be of much use to anybody, as she had to believe that marrying bigamous dukes was not a problem that afflicted too many women. At least, she hoped it wasn’t, because she wouldn’t wish it on her worst enemy. Not that she knew who her worst enemy was anymore—at this point one could people a village with contenders to that title. No, that was inaccurate, and even in desperate times one must resist the urge to resort to self-deception: her worst enemy was the duke, second was herself, and third was her blackmailer. Now, that was a fortifying thought, and one she would be sure to include in her next letter. “Dear Sir, Under ordinary circums...