All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess
Page 22
“Did you miss me?”
Dreadfully. “Yes.” And she could almost hate him for it. She had endured too many nights, her heart aching for this one man. “Was this your revenge for my making plans to leave London without telling you?”
He took her hand and kissed it. “I’m pleased you viewed my absence as a punishment. However, that was not my intention.”
“Then where were—” Her voice trailed off, her question forgotten as Hunter and her father ascended the stairs and joined them once they reached the top.
“Lord Greenshield, I was not aware you had received an invitation to Lord and Lady Rainecourt’s gathering,” she said, curtsying as he bowed.
“I have Sainthill to thank,” the earl said, nodding at the marquess. “I have missed too much in your life to miss my own daughter’s wedding.”
Catherine glanced at the people who had become her friends, and everyone was smiling as if they had all played a part in leading up to this moment. Her gray eyes shifted suspiciously to the man she loved.
“What are you about, Sainthill?” she demanded.
“Did you hear the latest gossip?”
Baffled by his deliberate attempt to change the subject, she said, “I have no patience for gossip.”
“Very admirable of you. It’s a pity most young ladies do not follow your sterling example.”
Catherine heard Regan cough to conceal her laughter.
Saint brushed her cheek with his fingers to gain her attention. “This tidbit might interest you since it involves our dear friend, Madame Venna.”
“Madame Venna!”
“According to the rumors, the woman has departed England for good. ’Tis a pity, really. I, for one, will miss her,” Saint said, his blue eyes twinkling in merriment.
“Who told you this?”
“Oh, I was not really paying attention,” he confessed, clapping a hand on her father’s shoulder. “I had more important matters to address, such as asking Lord Greenshield for his daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Catherine’s gaze shifted from Saint to the earl. “It took you ten days to sway my father?”
Her acknowledgment that Lord Greenshield was her father brought tears to the older gentleman’s eyes.
Saint looked pleased with himself. “Among other things.”
Lord Greenshield cleared his throat. “Not to worry, daughter. I’ve settled a generous dowry on you. If you decided not to marry this scoundrel, every bachelor and fortune hunter in London will be seeking your hand in marriage.”
A dowry?
Suddenly, Catherine felt light-headed. She glanced helplessly at Saint. It had taken him ten days to convince everyone that Madame Venna had departed for greener pastures. With the help of her father, they had transformed Miss Deverall into a respectable heiress. She was free to put her past behind her and marry the man she fallen in love with six years ago.
The choice was hers.
Saint held out his hand. “Do you trust me?”
Tears of happiness slid down her cheeks as she linked her hand with his. He already knew the answer, but like her, he needed to hear the word from her lips.
“Yes,” her voice rang out without any hesitation, much to the approval and applause of their good friends.
Don’t miss the previous Lords of Vice novels by
ALEXANDRA HAWKINS
SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD
AFTER DARK WITH A SCOUNDREL
TILL DAWN WITH THE DEVIL
ALL NIGHT WITH A ROGUE
And look for the next two titles in the series
DUSK WITH A DANGEROUS DUKE
Coming in March 2013
TWILIGHT WITH A FORBIDDEN EARL
Coming in September 2013
Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Also by
ALEXANDRA HAWKINS
Sunrise with a Notorious Lord
After Dark with a Scoundrel
Till Dawn with the Devil
All Night with a Rogue
Praise for the Lords of Vice novels
After Dark with a Scoundrel
“I absolutely loved After Dark with a Scoundrel. It is an amazing read and I could not put it down … I can’t wait for the other Lords of Vice.”
—Night Owl Romance
“Those sexy Lords of Vice return as another member is caught in a maze of love and danger. Hawkins’s talents for perfectly merging gothic elements into a sexually charged romance are showcased along with the marvelous cast of characters taking readers on a thrill ride.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 stars)
“A ‘must-read’ … After Dark with a Scoundrel is a fast-paced Regency historical romance with a new and exciting surprise just about every time you turn a page … as stunning as it is riveting. This story has it all … scorching.”
—Romance Junkies Reviews
“The sparks between Regan and Dare are beautifully written, so that you can almost feel them coming off the pages.”
—Book Reading Gals
“4½ stars. The intensity between Regan and Dare sizzles on the pages.”
—Romance Dish
“Ms. Hawkins knows just how to pull the best from her characters to make you care for them, love them, get irritated with them, and all those other delicious emotions we romance readers need in our books.”
—The Good, The Bad, and The Unread (A+)
“Perfect explosion of emotional fireworks blasted off the pages and set the rest of the tone for the book.”
—Romantic Crush Junkies (4½ quills)
“Poignant, sweetly romantic, and sexy as can be.”
—Reader to Reader
Till Dawn with the Devil
“Till Dawn with the Devil’s romance is first-rate with unusual characters and an underlying mystery that will intrigue readers.”
—Robin Lee, Romance Reviews Today
“A terrific second book in this series. I had it read in a day and then bemoaned the fact it was over.”
—The Good, The Bad, and The Unread (A+)
“Hawkins cements her reputation for bringing compelling, unique, and lush romances to fans eager for fresh storytelling.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 stars)
“Delightful and [I] enjoyed every delicious minute of the book.”
—Single Titles (5 stars)
“You will devour every sexy and intriguing morsel of this divine read.”
—Romantic Crush Junkies (4½ quills)
“An absolutely tantalizing read!”
—Huntress Reviews (5 stars)
“Her characters are vibrant, sincere, and will surely steal your heart.”
—Romance Dish (4½ stars)
“Alexandra Hawkins is making a splash in historical romance and fans of the genre who haven’t read the Lords of Vice series should sit up and take notice.”
—The Season
“Promises an intoxicating journey, and delivers with an exciting series of twists and turns that leaves the reader disoriented and begging for more.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Alexandra Hawkins did a splendid job of weaving believable characters, palpable attraction, and a soundly satisfying plotline that will leave you panting for more!”
—Not Another Romance Blog (5 red roses)
All Night with a Rogue
“Sizzling, smart, and sophisticated.”
—New York Times bestselling author Gaelen Foley
“Wickedly sensual and entertaining! Alexandra Hawkins is an exceptional talent.”
—New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath
“A romantic and erotic tale of social intrigue vs. steadfast hearts. This first story in the Lords of Vice series is hot enough to curl your toes!”
—New York Times bestselling author Celeste Bradley
About the Author
An unrepentant Anglophile, ALEXANDRA HAWKINS discovered romance novels as a teenager and knew that one day she
would be writing her own stories. Alexandra has combined her love of English history, mythology, and romance to create sensual character-driven stories that she hopes will touch readers’ hearts.
Alexandra lives in Georgia with her husband and three children. You can contact her through her website at www.alexandrahawkins.com or by mail at: P.O. Box 2192, Woodstock, GA 30188.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ALL AFTERNOON WITH A SCANDALOUS MARQUESS
Copyright © 2012 by Alexandra Hawkins.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 9781466820531
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / August 2012
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.