“That’s enough,” she protested half-heartedly. “Come along. You must get ready. Widdy will have your guts for garters if you make her spoil dinner. Besides which, I have something for you.”
“Oh?” he said, waggling his dark eyebrows at her suggestively.
“Not that,” she said, tsking at him. “There’s not time for that though… later.”
He sighed heavily, shaking his head with a mournful expression.
“Well, what is it, then? Nothing else will be half so exciting.”
Bunty waited until he had closed the bedroom door before setting down her bouquet and handing him the letter which had been burning a hole in her pocket. Ludo stared at it and his eyes met hers.
“Well, open it, then,” she said, praying it gave him the news he had been longing for.
Ludo tore open the seal and Bunty held her breath as he read, not daring to breathe until he looked up, his excitement palpable.
“It’s from him… from my father. He… he wants to meet me.”
Bunty gave a little shout of joy, for she knew what this meant to him. He laughed and pulled her close before turning his attention back to the letter.
“He’s been travelling the past few years, which is why we’ve had such trouble finding him. He says….” Ludo swallowed and tried again. “He says my mother was the love of his life, and he is overjoyed to discover he has a son, and… he can’t wait to meet me.”
“Oh, Ludo, that’s marvellous. I’m so happy for you.”
Ludo nodded and set the letter down before tugging her back into his arms. “He says he’ll come as soon as the weather improves.”
“He’ll be so proud of you, love,” Bunty said, hugging him. “I know I am.”
She watched him as he nodded, believing in himself now in a way he never had when she’d first met him.
“Do you believe in luck or fate?” he asked, frowning a little.
Bunty shrugged. “Perhaps, a little at least, but I think we make our own luck on the whole. Perhaps fate gives us a nudge now and then, but it’s what we do with it that counts.”
Ludo nodded and reached for one of the roses he’d picked, carefully threading it into her dark hair, behind her ear.
“Everything changed that night in the library. I’d never wanted anything like I wanted you, Bunty, so badly I could taste it. I’d have done anything to get you to marry me. When you practically landed in my lap….” He laughed, shaking his head. “I don’t know if it was fate, or luck, but whatever it was I thank my lucky stars, every day, and certainly every night.”
“I love you, Ludo,” Bunty said, holding him tightly, staring up at him, her own heart echoing everything he had just said.
He touched his finger to the flower in her hair and smiled. “And I you, my own Christmas rose.”
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About Me!
I started this incredible journey way back in 2010 with The Key to Erebus but didn’t summon the courage to hit publish until October 2012. For anyone who’s done it, you’ll know publishing your first title is a terribly scary thing! I still get butterflies on the morning a new title releases but the terror has subsided at least. Now I just live in dread of the day my daughters are old enough to read them.
The horror! (On both sides I suspect.)
2017 marked the year that I made my first foray into Historical Romance and the world of the Regency Romance, and my word what a year! I was delighted by the response to this series and can’t wait to add more titles. Paranormal Romance readers need not despair however as there is much more to come there too. Writing has become an addiction and as soon as one book is over I’m hugely excited to start the next so you can expect plenty more in the future.
As many of my works reflect I am greatly influenced by the beautiful French countryside in which I live. I’ve been here in the South West for the past twenty years though I was born and raised in England. My three gorgeous girls are all bilingual and the youngest who is only six, is showing signs of following in my footsteps after producing The Lonely Princess all by herself.
I’m told book two is coming soon ...
She’s keeping me on my toes, so I’d better get cracking!
KEEP READING TO DISCOVER MY OTHER BOOKS!
Other Works by Emma V. Leech
(For those of you who have read The French Fae Legend series, please remember that chronologically The Heart of Arima precedes The Dark Prince)
Rogues & Gentlemen
The Rogue
The Earl’s Temptation
Scandal’s Daughter
The Devil May Care
Nearly Ruining Mr. Russell
Winter’s Wild Melody (A Christmas Novella)
One Wicked Winter
To Tame a Savage Heart
Persuading Patience
The Last Man in London
Flaming June
Charity and the Devil
A Slight Indiscretion
The Corinthian Duke
The Blackest of Hearts
Duke and Duplicity
The Scent of Scandal
The Christmas Rose (A Christmas Novella)
Melting Miss Wynter
The Winter Bride, a novella
The Rogue and The Earl’s Temptation Boxset
The Regency Romance Mysteries
Dying for a Duke
A Dog in a Doublet
The Rum and the Fox
Girls Who Dare
To Dare a Duke
To Steal A Kiss
To Break the Rules
To Follow Her Heart
To Wager with Love
To Dance with a Devil
To Winter at Wildsyde
To Experiment with Desire
To Ride with the Knight
To Hunt the Hunter
To Dance until Dawn
Daring Daughters
Dare to be Wicked (February 19, 2021)
Dare to be Brazen (tba)
Dare to be Wild (tba)
Stand Alone
The Girl is Not for Christmas (A Regency Christmas)
The Book Lover (a paranormal novella)
Audio Books!
Don’t have time to read but still need your romance fix? The wait is over…
By popular demand, get your favourite Emma V Leech Regency Romance books on audio at Audible as performed by the incomparable Philip Battley and Gerard Marzilli. Several titles available and more added each month!
Click the links to choose your favourite and start listening now.
Rogues & Gentlemen
The Rogue ***
The Earl’s Tempation
Scandal's Daughter
The Devil May Care
Nearly Ruining Mr Russell
One Wicked Winter ***
To Tame a Savage Heart ***
Persuading Patience
The Last Man in London
Flaming June ***
The Winter Bride, a novella ***
Girls Who Dare
To Dare a Duke
To Steal A Kiss ***
To Break the Rules ***
To Follow her Heart
The Regency Romance Mysteries
Dying for a Duke ***
A Dog in a Doublet **
The Rum and the Fox **
The French Vampire Legend
The Key to Erebus (coming soon)
** Available on Chirp
*** Available on Chirp and Audible/Amazon
Girls Who Dare– The exciting new series from Emma V Leech, the multi-award-winning, Amazon Top 10 romance writer behind the Rogues & Gentlemen series.
Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen.
Eleven girls – Eleven dares in a hat. Twelve stories of passion. Who will dare to risk it all?
To Dare a Duke
Girls Who Dare Book 1
Dreams of true love and happy ever afters
Dreams of love are all well and good, but all Prunella Chuffington-Smythe wants is to publish her novel. Marriage at the price of her independence is something she will not consider. Having tasted success writing under a false name in The Lady’s Weekly Review, her alter ego is attaining notoriety and fame and Prue rather likes it.
A Duty that must be endured
Robert Adolphus, The Duke of Bedwin, is in no hurry to marry, he’s done it once and repeating that disaster is the last thing he desires. Yet, an heir is a necessary evil for a duke and one he cannot shirk. A dark reputation precedes him though, his first wife may have died young, but the scandals the beautiful, vivacious and spiteful creature supplied the ton have not. A wife must be found. A wife who is neither beautiful or vivacious but sweet and dull, and certain to stay out of trouble.
Dared to do something drastic
The sudden interest of a certain dastardly duke is as bewildering as it is unwelcome. She’ll not throw her ambitions aside to marry a scoundrel just as her plans for self-sufficiency and freedom are coming to fruition. Surely showing the man she’s not actually the meek little wallflower he is looking for should be enough to put paid to his intentions? When Prue is dared by her friends to do something drastic, it seems the perfect opportunity to kill two birds.
However, Prue cannot help being intrigued by the rogue who has inspired so many of her romances. Ordinarily, he plays the part of handsome rake, set on destroying her plucky heroine. But is he really the villain of the piece this time, or could he be the hero?
Finding out will be dangerous, but it just might inspire her greatest story yet.
To Dare a Duke
From the author of the bestselling Girls Who Dare Series – An exciting new series featuring the children of the Girls Who Dare...
The stories of the Peculiar Ladies Book Club and their hatful of dares has become legend among their children. When the hat is rediscovered, dusty and forlorn, the remaining dares spark a series of events that will echo through all the families... and their
Daring Daughters
Dare to be Wicked
Daring Daughters Book One
Two daring daughters ...
Lady Elizabeth and Lady Charlotte are the daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Bedwin. Raised by an unconventional mother and an indulgent, if overprotective father, they both strain against the rigid morality of the era.
The fashionable image of a meek, weak young lady, prone to swooning at the least provocation, is one that makes them seethe with frustration.
Their handsome childhood friend ...
Cassius Cadogen, Viscount Oakley, is the only child of the Earl and Countess St Clair. Beloved and indulged, he is popular, gloriously handsome, and a talented artist.
Returning from two years of study in France, his friendship with both sisters becomes strained as jealousy raises its head. A situation not helped by the two mysterious Frenchmen who have accompanied him home.
And simmering sibling rivalry ...
Passion, art, and secrets prove to be a combustible combination, and someone will undoubtedly get burned.
Pre Order your copy here
Dare to be Wicked:
Acknowledgements
Thanks, of course, to my wonderful editor Kezia Cole.
To Victoria Cooper for all your hard work, amazing artwork and above all your unending patience!!! Thank you so much. You are amazing!
To my BFF, PA, personal cheerleader and bringer of chocolate, Varsi Appel, for moral support, confidence boosting and for reading my work more times than I have. I love you loads!
A huge thank you to all of Emma’s Book Club members! You guys are the best!
I’m always so happy to hear from you so do email or message me :)
[email protected]
To my husband Pat and my family ... For always being proud of me.
The Christmas Rose: A Rogues & Gentlemen Novella Page 10