Sleeping Engagement - J.D. Ruiz - Wattpad

Sleeping Engagement

Reads 3,479,710
Votes 182,956
Parts 43
Time 7h 26m

Reads 3,479,710
Votes 182,956
Parts 43
Time 7h 26m

balls carriages cole dystopian everard family gentries gowns historical historicalromance ladies lords margaret mystery regency romance secretaffair spy texttospeech theonethatgotaway thetown victorian wattys2016

When Margaret Everard is asked to investigate the man she once loved for the murder of the Prime Minister, she knows he's innocent, until clues start to prove otherwise.

*****

Years ago, Margaret Everard was engaged to be married to Cole Devitt, but a series of tragic events ruined it all. Now, ten years later, she's forced to infiltrate his life for reasons other than romance. Cole Devitt is the prime suspect to the murder of the Prime Minister and Margaret can hardly believe it. But as a member of a secret elite group of spies, she's given one difficult task: spy on him. Taking on the challege, Margaret has to fight old feelings buried in layers of pain of the past. But when she stumbles upon more clues, she realizes that the case she's working on is more complicated that it seems.

As secrets of the past and their feelings start to unravel, Cole and Margaret have to learn how to trust again. However, one of them is bound to betray the other.

Trigger warnings: abuse, violence, mental trauma, sexual assault, mental health illnessAll Rights Reserved

balls carriages cole dystopian everard family gentries gowns historical historicalromance ladies lords margaret mystery regency romance secretaffair spy texttospeech theonethatgotaway thetown victorian wattys2016

Table of contents

43 parts

Sign up to add Sleeping Engagement to your library and receive updates

or

Content Guidelines

You may also like

COLD by Queensladyxxx

Loosing her mum in an accident and being drugged and pushed into a room in a club by her two stepsisters wasn't the only thing Stella Brooks suffered. She was chased out of her home after losing the first thing she thought she would give to her husband. Her father didn't want her neither did her stepsisters, stepmom and grandmother. Stella had to fend for herself before she eventually got pregnant with a girl child, her baby's father, unknown. Unfortunately, she didn't remember the man she slept with her that night so she took all the responsibility upon herself. Reagan Brighton, the big business lord that was feared by everyone had a calm and gentle mood whenever he was around children. He's a lover of children and he can do anything to protect them and keep them safe. He could have married different wealthy ladies and make lots of children but he didn't because he was in search of the girl he slept with one night. Meanwhile, Stella started working in one of his companies and they both became attracted to each other. Stella lived her life with hatred for the man who got her pregnant and never came back. While falling in love with her boss, they both discovered a secret, finding out that they had met each other in a club and they finally reunite after going through a series of misunderstanding, betrayal and hatred. Join Stella as she scales through the journey of love, hate and betrayal before finding herself in the embrace of a billionaire who could kill to have her to himself alone.

Love & Murder: An Eliza Winter Mystery by edenae22

Lady Eliza Winter has one friend in the world and she happens to go missing. And when Eliza goes to report the disappearance to the police they won't hear a word from Crazy Eliza Winters. Determined to find her friend Penelope, Eliza reaches out to the new detective in town, Lord Colin Bradshaw, but in order to find Penelope, he needs to know everything that led up to her going missing. Unfortunately, there are some things Eliza isn't willing to tell. Will Eliza be able to find Penelope without giving away all her secrets? Or will Lord Bradshaw be a match Eliza wasn't ready for. HIGHEST-RANKED: #1 HISTORICAL FICTION #1 EDWARDIAN #1 MURDER MYSTERY #1 MYSTERY THRILLER #1 VICTORIAN AN EDITED AND UP TO DATE VERSION OF THIS BOOK CAN NOW BE FOUND ON AMAZON. $.99 FOR KINDLE, FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED AND $6.99 FOR PAPERBACK. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SWJ9RH8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Love+%26+Murder+Kindle+erin+st+james&qid=1610517381&sr=8-1

Dear Past, You Suck! by eMMy-aNN

Alice is lost. Lost in time and not figuratively. Alice is thrown unexpectedly into 1756, armed with nothing but her phone and her wit. When an aristocratic family mistakes her for their missing daughter, she has to decide to tell them her true identity or to keep it a secret and play along. Can she get home safely? Or ever? *Currently being edited

Remember Then by greenwriter

SHE IS DIFFERENT... Sophia owes her life to none but one man: Marcus Durley. After saving her from hell, he took her to Rock'oles, the most affluent and sophisticated brothel in the Town, where women are given more freedom, a far cry from the brothel slum Marcus rescued her from. But unlike the others, her role is not to service men in bed, instead, she serves them to serve Marcus. She does what Marcus wants for she knows of his secrets and shares his pains. He has always been the only true man in her life. A PLAN... Marcus is part of the illegal slave trade in the Town and Sophia is helping him achieve his true goals with loyalty and trust. The Town Guards, particularly Ralph Everard, has been making things difficult. But Marcus has a plan and Sophia is a willing participant. UNTIL HE CAME ALONG... Nicholas has always been curious about the mysterious woman behind one of the most wanted chambers inside Rock'oles and he is not the only one who tried to get an invite and failed. The woman only allows entry to selected gentlemen, men who make his Town Guard brother, Ralph, raise a brow in suspicion. Nicholas is urged to court an invite into the mysterious woman's chamber with the belief that she is the key to solving the slavery case. And as if by some miracle she welcomes him into her dark, quiet world. He is there to spy on her, but the more he learns of her secrets, the more he discovers things that put his playful, tender, and seductive reputation to its greatest test thus far. Still set in the fictional place of the Town, this sixth book in the Everard Family series follows two people determined to protect those they value most. And in their quest to help those they love to escape failure, they find themselves a victim of their own plans and of the undeniable passion and love that will never ebb even after the certain tragedy of which they are heading to. (This story is a title in the Everard Family series.)

Mission: Undercover by ann2ktheauthor

📖Featured by @adultfiction on "Kills and Thrills" reading list📖 Previously known as "Undercover: Fake Identity" *** "What are you running away from, Vanessa?" he asked, looking at her with deep, dark eyes. Those icy yet fiery eyes. And hers. Hers, full of tears, flashed in the darkness. "I'll tell you everything the day I'm ready to lose you." *** Vanessa Blake, also known to some as X, is a professional assassin whose services the Main National Intelligence Agency Special Operations Division often uses in certain and special cases. Whether outright eliminating a target or working undercover, she executes every task with precision and unmatched ability. What she doesn't suspect, however, is that her latest assignment will change her life completely. Going undercover into the life of the handsome billionaire Cole Willker will confront her with a constant struggle with waves of feelings unknown to her. Their damaged souls, fighting their demons, will collide, and one epic love will be born. *** Mysteries, secrets, conspiracies. Action, drama, romance. Friendships, love, hate, denial. A story about one big, explosive love. Love that changes. People. Fates. Worlds. Love that comes where no one expected it. Where no one believed it could even exist. *** * Dark Romance * Mature themes * Strong language * Murders, gore, and violence descriptions

A Lady's Guide to Courtship by greenwriter

"A love not shown is more painful than a love rejected." SHE IS DETERMINED... The town of Wickhurst sees Ysabella Everard as a spoiled, rich young girl. What Ysa believes on the other hand is that she will someday get the man of her dreams and that is no other than the elusive rake William Hayward, the Lord of Wakefield. He also happens to be her brother's friend and the man she had been secretly writing letters to for years as Lady Weis, letters that started in a foolish wager with a friend. But one problem is at hand: he does not know she is Lady Weis, the woman he has fallen in love with, in letters. HE AVOIDS HER AT ALL COST... Wakefield has many rules, but one stands out the most: never dally with a friend's sister or relative, most particularly Ysabella Everard. As the sister of his friend, she is not to be touched at all costs. She has never been on his list from day one and he is quite determined to keep it that way. But years of her obsessive chasing and his desperate attempts to avoid it have not tired the woman at all. She has suitors she ought to focus her attention on and Wakefield cannot understand what she sees in him to waste her precious time over. He cannot be with her for many reasons and one of them was the fact that he was utterly in love, for the first time in his life, with one woman: Lady Weis. THE CHASE BEGINS... Her chase for the man she loves continues. His chase for the identity of the woman he is willing to sacrifice everything for begins. It is merely a matter of time for the truth to be revealed and how they face it has great potential for yet another Wickhurst scandal. Still set in the fictional place of the Town, this fourth book in the Everard Family series follows one heroine who is determined to win her game and her love for the man who might very well be her first ever failure. (This story is a standalone title in the Everard Family series.)

The Enchantment of Lady Ice by greenwriter

The Ice Lady... She is not the most charming. In fact, she is too cold, too frank, and too flat. Worse, the only home she has known all her life has been taken away from her and she has to find a way to keep it. Upon her mother's strong suggestion, she has to at least try to seduce the next Lord of Langworthy. The Cursed Friend... He is charming and rich. He is handsome and smart. Women wanted him. If only he was not cursed. For now, having everything leaves him with nothing to do but be the friend to help the future Lord of Langworthy escape from Lady Ice. When these two completely opposite individuals cross paths, sparks fly. (This story is a standalone prequel title in the Everard Family series.)

The Forgotten Duchess by MoonlightHunter3

After fleeing her burnt village, a woman with a mysterious past takes refuge in the home of a reticent duke. Soon, feelings develop, but secrets that link them threaten their fragile trust. ***** Vivienne, a young woman from Flaxpool, is on the run after her village burns to the ground. On a chance encounter, she meets James, the stoic and reserved Duke of Lennox, at his countryside manor and he agrees to keep her safe. James offers Vivienne the chance to make her debut in society to land a husband. Between the soirees, operas, and balls of the season, the two grow closer, neither resisting the invisible tug that pulls them together. Regrettably the Duke of Lennox is already betrothed, and his station as a gentleman requires him to uphold the promise. James will need to choose between his mind, his sense of duty, and his heart. Will the two star-crossed lovers come together, or will their secrets tear them apart? (#1 in Historical Fiction) (#7 in Historical Romance) © 2020 MoonlightHunter3 All Rights Reserved.

The Accidental Duchess by littleLo

When the arrogant stranger Bess is forced to marry unexpectedly becomes a duke, she'll find herself at odds with her growing feelings as he hunts for a killer. ***** Sharp-tongued Elizabeth 'Bess' Jones is perfectly content living on her lonesome in a tiny village south of Derbyshire. She works as a nurse, owns a small home, and finds the label of 'spinster' an agreeable trade for her independence. But when her entire life is uprooted in an instant, she only has one person to blame: her new husband, Emmett Wilde, who was caught in a compromising situation with her. And now, despite his promise to fake a death certificate after their wedding--to free her of any duty to him or their marriage bed--he sends for her in the dead of night with startling news: his father has been murdered, and he is now the Duke of Ascot with a wife he can no longer deny... [[Word Count: 60,000-70,000 words]] [[Cover designed by Ren Tachibana]]

His Lady in Breeches by greenwriter

"They may see you as how you try to be, but what I see is what you try not to be." SHE IS A BASTARD... Maxine Theobald hid from the rest of society to protect her father's name. But as she grows tired of her role-playing games every year during the famous Theobald weekend parties, she starts to question how she has been living her life. She starts to wonder about the other part of her that she was deprived of--her mother and why she left her. A DISGUISE... Having finally found the courage to search for the one thing that she believes can help her understand her true nature, Maxine cuts her hair, puts on her breeches, and runs away from the only home she has ever known. She travels to the affluent town of Wickhurst and found herself employed as the valet of the famous rake Nicholas Everard, a game she will later find to be quite dangerous. SOMETHING DIFFERENT... Maxine set out into an adventure with none but one goal, yet found herself stumbling upon an unlikely find for the search of something else--romance. Still set in the fictional place of the Town, this fifth book in the Everard Family series follows one heroine who has chosen to defy the norm and her own fears in an attempt to understand her own nature, the first step to a discovery of not just about her lineage, but of love so unexpectedly, irritatingly and undeniably powerful. (This story is a standalone title in the Everard Family series.)

The Reluctant Marchioness by littleLo

After a disastrous first season in London, Rose Wilde finds herself torn between two men who love her -- but who both hide secrets that could ruin her. ***** Rose Wilde has always considered herself plain, especially when compared to her beautiful older sister Charlotte, and has practically given up on the idea of being romanced. But when American hotelier Derek Montgomery comes to revolutionise her little, sleepy English village of Ascot, Rose starts to revisit the idea of falling in love. However, Derek brings with him many secrets and obligations, some that might prohibit him from pursuing Rose -- and push her into the arms of her friend, Michael Cornell, the Marquess of Juniper. Will fate allow Rose and Derek to marry for love? Or will she indeed become the reluctant marchioness? [[Word count: 70,000 - 80,000 words]] Cover designed by Ashley Bandy (The Reluctant Marchioness is the sequel to The Coveted Countess, but can also be read as a standalone)

The Poisoner's Game by BeatrixWritesProse

As the London Season of 1877 opens, Lady Margaret Savoy wants nothing more than to be invisible and devour "Penny Dreadfuls" to avoid the cruelty of her aunt and cousin. When she finds a letter from her grandfather warning her about a man called the Poisoner, a powerful crime boss who killed her parents, her wallflower days come to an abrupt end as she falls into a deadly investigation. Literally. Out a window, in fact, and right into the path of Lord Alexander Rocque, a young detective. Alexander offers his assistance-with the Poisoner, and the window-and together they set out to discover the Poisoner's plans. But Lord Alexander has plans of his own. Recently ordered home from the Royal Navy to assist his father, a spymaster for the Crown, with the Poisoner case, Alexander is determined to earn his father's respect by catching the criminal through any means necessary. The perfect tool falls into his lap in the form of Lady Margaret, the Poisoner's next target, but using Margaret to draw out the crime boss has Alexander examining his moral compass. As Margaret learns about her heritage and Alexander uncovers his father's affiliation with the East Indian Company, they discover that their families are not so innocent after all. To stay alive in the Poisoner's game, they must find the key to the dying Opium trade-a key Margaret may, in fact, possess herself. If they don't find it, the Poisoner will escape yet again, but even worse, Margaret will become the next victim.

Devout Deception by cradle_life

Abigail Havisham has a carefully hidden secret - she suffers from amnesia and can remember little of her life prior to an accident that wiped her memories three years back. A winter ball puts her between a rock and a hard place when she is introduced to Lord David Righton, a man who claims they were sweethearts cruely separated four years ago Abigail has her suspicions - but she also has her curiosity. Could she really once have loved this man who was now a perfect stranger to her? She decides to investigate Lord Righton, hoping to find out what their connection truly was. The results turn out to be not only surprising but also life changing.

Pretending You're Mine by MarieHiggins

Portraying her twin sister is the only way she can get close to her brother-in-law to learn his traitorous secrets-as long as she doesn't betray her own heart. **** Mercedes Maxwell is devastated when her twin sister is driven to take her own life by none other than her husband, William Braxton. Determined to make her brother-in-law pay for the injustice, Mercedes travels to Dorchester, England to find him. She is shocked to find that William is unaware of his wife's death. When Mercedes is mistaken for her sister, she decides to pose as her twin to glean some answers. Mercedes embarks on an adventure she never dreamed of in hopes of bringing justice to her sister. Instead of justice, Mercedes uncovers a plethora of secrets and mystery. As she works to unravel the mystery, Mercedes finds that all is not as it seems, and that William Braxton may be the one man she can trust. Content warning: This story contains a mild amount of violence, a kidnapping scene, mental illness... along with plenty of falling in love.

A Grace of Crowns | ☑ Queenkiller, Kingmaker #1 by AM-Prabeswar

❖ QUEENKILLER, KINGMAKER Book 1 ❖ Feudal Southeast-Asia filled with magic, daemons, and a royal conspiracy. This is Isla's quest for the truth, and her slow spiral into becoming her very own worst nightmare. When the gods ascended thousands of years ago, they left behind the divine gift of theurgy. Its powers still echo amongst men, but run fiercer yet in the blood of kings and queens. And one of them will stop at nothing before Isla is dead. A betrayal lures her out of refuge and into her journey home, where she must unmask her enemies before they unmask her. The theurgy that she has had to keep hidden for many years can be her greatest ally or her most lethal foil. Only her wits can guide her through the dangerous politics of the Surikh court. But amidst the plots and schemes bubbling around her, she uncovers something far more sinister than the identity of her enemies. Something that can change her entire life; indeed, entire kingdoms. ↝ this work contains violence, profanity, and sexual references ↜ ↝ Winner of Wattys 2016 HQ Love Award ↝ Winner of FANTASCI's first Chosen One ↝ Winner of The Cryptic Awards 2018 ↝ Featured in Fantasy as of 18-01-2017 ↝ Wattpad Editor's Pick January 2021

D is for Deception: A Langley & Porter Mystery by ANHorton1227

This story will become free on July 5, 2023. They will stop at nothing. So Charlotte won't either. Desperate to save her family from the organized crime syndicate that is the Keene family, our heroine has devised a plan. One which requires shipping all of her new friends halfway across the world and distancing herself from everyone she cares about. Dying her hair and taking on the role of the rich heiress lost in London, she infiltrates the city's most powerful family in an attempt to bring them down from within. Though, despite the knowledge she's gained of the elite from living with the Langley's for months, she soon realizes that nothing could have prepared her for George Keene or, perhaps worse, his deceptively handsome son, Camden. Alone and with only her wits to get her through, will she manage a feat no one has attempted before? Or will she fall prey to the dangerous charms of the Keenes once and for all? This is book four of the Langley & Porter Mystery Series. Content warning: This story contains violence.

Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1) by amelierhys

In hiding as a maid, Princess Adelaide must resist the charms of the devilishly handsome Duke of Kingfield. But could he help her if she told him her secret? ***** Two years ago, Princess Adelaide was forced into hiding after her father, King William IV, was killed in a carriage accident that also took the life of her mother and brother. She suspects that the despicable man now on the throne of England--her uncle, Ernest--is responsible for her family's death, so she avoids his watchful eye by working as a maid for the aristocratic families of London. However, when she's employed by the dashing Duke of Kingfield, she soon discovers that he not only believes that the princess is alive, but also that she could be the key to saving England. Is Adelaide willing to come out of hiding in order to prove him right? Or are her growing feelings for him worth giving up her claim to the throne? [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by Holly Thurston

Masterful Trickery by greenwriter

THE BANDIT She merely meant to steal and get away with it. She did not mean to find a dying woman and be chased for it. She merely meant to help. She did not mean to be dressed in a gown and be a target for murder. THE GUARD He was tasked to chase them. He was not expected to work with them. He merely meant to pay for an oddly professional service. He was not expecting it to be complicated and sexually dangerous. (This story is a title in the Everard Family series.)

To Bewitch A Beast by greenwriter

"Deliciously captivating! It's the perfect amount of laughs, love and drama. You won't be able to put this book down!" - Grace K @ HQ. When Agatha becomes the Everard's governess, she's grateful for a way to escape her dark past. That is until her growing feelings for the mysterious Lord of the house begin to present an even greater risk. ***** The Everard's are one of the most esteemed families in Wickhurst. And Benedict, the Lord of Devonshire and the eldest of the clan, is as mysterious and brooding as anyone The Town has ever seen. His face is marked with scars, and no one dares to speak on how he got them. Known to all as 'the beast,' the townsfolk tremble in his wake. But little does he know that he is about to meet his match in Agatha Blair, his sisters' new governess. Agatha is witty, smart and gives him a run for his money when he tries to peel back the layers of who she really is. She truly intrigues him more than any woman he has met but she is a governess and he is a Lord. The Town would shun the union of two people from different stations and any romance between them is surely a recipe for social disaster! But what can they do when the burning hot feelings refuse to relent? And when Benedict uncovers that Agatha is hiding a secret far more dangerous than anything he could have imagined, will love save the day and will Agatha finally tame the beast? *This story is a standalone title in the Everard Family series. [Now a Hachette Audiobook!] [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

Regency Romance: An Unexpected Duke's Invitation (A Historical Romance Book) by Eleanormeyers

( COMPLETED STORY) What happens when the rakish Lord in the whole of London is truly falling in love with a simple, plain, and most ordinary girl, something he has been avoiding- his innermost fear. True love? Miss Amy Ott is London's newest riddle. . . She's the mysterious niece of one of England's wealthiest dukes, and is about to encounter her first season. Knowing nothing about the workings of corsets and country dances, she's looking for any help she can find... even when it comes from the most unlikely source... London's infamous rogue-an older Duke. Duke Wardington's face transformed into something... dark . "Don't fear, Miss Ott. I have no desire of you. What if I told you that I could make you the belle of the ball? In every ball. The entire season." Amy chuckled. "Me? The belle of the ball? Impossible!" ... Or was it? This catches the attention from the most unlikely, most alluring man in all of London. Lord Nathaniel Dawnton knows what he wants. Amy Ott. And... this is definitely not in a way that he could speak of in public. The scoundrel, who blackened his own soul, had met all sorts of women throughout his years, but none like Amy. He's intrigued and won't stop until he has her. When Nathaniel's pursuits meet the walls of Amy's strength, the young lord is ready to jump those walls blindly... But... he doesn't realize that a jump toward Amy might mean a fall toward love... something he has been avoiding-his innermost fear ... true love. Find out NOW!

You may also like

Slide 1 of 20

Love & Murder: An Eliza Winter Mystery cover

Dear Past, You Suck! cover

Remember Then cover

Mission: Undercover cover

A Lady's Guide to Courtship cover

The Enchantment of Lady Ice cover

The Forgotten Duchess cover

The Accidental Duchess cover

His Lady in Breeches cover

The Reluctant Marchioness cover

The Poisoner's Game cover

Devout Deception cover

Pretending You're Mine cover

A Grace of Crowns | ☑ Queenkiller, Kingmaker #1 cover

D is for Deception: A Langley & Porter Mystery cover

Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1) cover

Masterful Trickery cover

To Bewitch A Beast cover

Regency Romance: An Unexpected Duke's Invitation (A Historical Romance Book) cover

COLD

Loosing her mum in an accident and being drugged and pushed into a room in a club by her two stepsisters wasn't the only thing Stella Brooks suffered. She was chased out of her home after losing the first thing she thought she would give to her husband. Her father didn't want her neither did her stepsisters, stepmom and grandmother. Stella had to fend for herself before she eventually got pregnant with a girl child, her baby's father, unknown. Unfortunately, she didn't remember the man she slept with her that night so she took all the responsibility upon herself. Reagan Brighton, the big business lord that was feared by everyone had a calm and gentle mood whenever he was around children. He's a lover of children and he can do anything to protect them and keep them safe. He could have married different wealthy ladies and make lots of children but he didn't because he was in search of the girl he slept with one night. Meanwhile, Stella started working in one of his companies and they both became attracted to each other. Stella lived her life with hatred for the man who got her pregnant and never came back. While falling in love with her boss, they both discovered a secret, finding out that they had met each other in a club and they finally reunite after going through a series of misunderstanding, betrayal and hatred. Join Stella as she scales through the journey of love, hate and betrayal before finding herself in the embrace of a billionaire who could kill to have her to himself alone.