“I need your help.”
Cam started to hear Peter speak. Spidery hands plucked fretfully at the threadbare covers drawn high on this cold night. If Cam thought it would do an ounce of good, he’d shift his friend to the best inn in town. But even without the doctor’s warning, he saw that Peter’s time was measured in hours, perhaps even minutes. Relocating him would be cruel rather than kind.
“It’s Pen.”
The moment he’d received Peter’s summons, Cam had harbored a sinking feeling that it might be. “Your sister?”
“Of course my damned sister.” Another coughing attack rewarded Peter’s irritable response.
Cam slid his arm behind Peter’s back to support him while he caught his breath. “The doctor left laudanum.”
Peter coughed until Cam thought surely he must suffocate. The cloth pressed to his mouth came away bloody. Rage at a fate that turned a once-vital young man into a barely breathing skeleton clutched at Cam’s gut.
When Peter could speak again, it was in a whisper. Cam leaned close to hear.
“I don’t want to sleep.” He winced as he drew a breath. Cam saw that every second was excruciating. “I’ll have rest enough soon.”
Staring into his friend’s face, Cam recognized the futility of a comforting lie. They both knew that Peter wouldn’t see the dawn.
“Pen’s in trouble.” Peter fumbled after Cam’s hand, gripping with surprising strength. His clasp was icy, as though the grave already encroached into this room.
Cam’s expression hardened. He hadn’t seen Pen in nine years, since his proposal. The only proposal he’d ever made, as it had turned out. If the chit was in trouble, she probably deserved to be. “I’m sure that she’s been in tight spots before.”
Penelope Thorne had never had the chance to make a splash in London society. Instead, she’d joined her eccentric aunt on the Continent and stayed there. She hadn’t returned to England even after her parents’ death in a carriage accident five years ago. Cam gathered she’d been somewhere in Greece at the time.
He hesitated to admit that her refusal had undermined his confidence to such an extent that he only now seriously contemplated marriage again. He needed a wife to help restore his family’s reputation, which was even more appalling than the Thornes’, and at last he’d found the perfect candidate. His recently chosen bride was as dissimilar to his hoydenish childhood playmate as possible.
Thank God.
By all reports, Pen had become rather odd. There had been nasty rumors from Sicily about her sharing a shady Conti’s bed, and of a liaison with a Greek rebel. Goya had emerged from seclusion to paint her both clothed and naked in imitation of his famous majas. Not to mention her week’s sojourn in the Sultan’s harem in Constantinople.
She’d published four volumes of travel reminiscences, books Cam had read over and over, although he’d face the stake before confessing that publicly. A man would rather be flayed than claim a taste for feminine literature.
Peter’s hand tightened. The desperation in his old friend’s face was unmistakable. Unfortunately. “Lady Bradford died last October. Pen’s gone from disaster to disaster since. She’s on her way north to Paris to meet me, but she’s a woman alone on a dangerous journey.”
Serves the hellcat right, Cam wanted to say, then wondered at his spite. He was accounted an equable fellow. The last time he’d lost his temper was when Pen had refused him. If she’d lost her chaperone, however inadequate, Pen should easily find alternative protection. And he meant that in the Biblical sense.
“Peter, I—” Cam began, not sure how to respond. He guessed that his friend meant to charge him with rescuing Pen from her irresponsibility. Although, hell, after a lifetime of friendship, how could he say no?
As if reading Cam’s reluctance, Peter spoke quickly. Or perhaps he knew that he had too few breaths remaining to waste any. His urgency seemed to suppress his cough so he managed complete sentences. “In her last letter, she was in Rome and running out of money. That was a month ago. God knows what’s befallen since.”
“But what can I do?”
“Find her. Bring her back to England. Make sure she’s safe.” Peter regarded Cam like his last hope. Which made it damned difficult to deny him. “Elias will have his hands full inheriting and Harry’s not up to the job, even if I could get him away from the fleshpots.”
Peter forestalled Cam’s suggestion that another Thorne brother could undertake this task. Cam rose to pace the tiny room. “Confound it, Peter. I’ve no authority over Pen. She won’t pay a speck of attention to me.”
“She will. She’s always liked you.”
Not last time they’d met. “I can’t kidnap her.”
Shaking, Peter shoved himself higher against the pillows. His black eyes, so like his sister’s, burned in his ashen face as if all the life concentrated in that blazing stare. “If you have to, you must. I won’t have my sister bouncing all over Europe, called a whore by ignorant pigs who should know better.”
Bloody hell.
His stare unwavering, Peter clawed at the blankets. He gulped for air and gray tinged his skin now that brief vitality faded. “There’s no man I trust more than you. If you’ve ever considered me a friend, if you’ve ever cherished a moment’s affection for my sister, bring Pen home.”
A moment’s fondness for his sister? Aye, there was the rub. Until she’d treated him like an insolent lackey, he’d been fond of Penelope Thorne.
Pausing by the window, he stared into the stormy night. An endless forest of masts ranged against the turbulent sky. It was a night for making deals with the devil. Except in this case, Cam would wager good money that the devil was the woman at the end of the wild goose chase.
He caught his reflection in the glass. He looked like he always did. Calm. Controlled. Cold. The habit of hiding his feelings had become second nature. But he was sorrowing and resentful—and that resentment focused on one troublesome woman. Behind him, hazy in the glass, he saw Peter watching him, suffering stoically through his last hours.
How could Cam refuse? Futile as the quest was. Pen would go her own way, whatever her dying brother asked, whatever pressure her childhood friend placed upon her.
Cam leveled his shoulders. Duty had guided him since he’d been old enough to understand the snide whispers about his mother’s affair with her brother-in-law. Duty insisted that he accept this task, however unwillingly. Slowly he faced his friend. “Of course I’ll do it, Peter.”
And was rewarded by an easing in Peter’s painful tension and a hint of the formerly brilliant smile. The Thornes were a famously handsome family and fleetingly, Cam glimpsed his rakish old companion. “God bless you, Cam.”
God help him, more like.
ALSO BY ANNA CAMPBELL
THE SONS OF SIN SERIES
Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed
Days of Rakes and Roses (novella)
A Rake’s Midnight Kiss
What a Duke Dares
Praise for Anna Campbell and Her Novels
“Truly, deeply romantic.”
—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author, on Tempt the Devil
“Anna Campbell is an amazing, daring new voice in romance.”
—Lorraine Heath, New York Times bestselling author
“Regency noir—different and intriguing.”
—Stephanie Laurens, New York Times bestselling author, on Claiming the Courtesan
“No one does lovely, dark romance or lovely, dark heroes like Anna Campbell. I love her books.”
—Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
What a Duke Dares
“Romantic fireworks, the constraints of custom, and witty banter are combined in this sweet and successful story.”
—Publishers Weekly
“4½ stars! Top pick! Campbell’s vibrant voice rings out in another touching, humorous, and utterly delightful story. Her multidimensional characters’ dialogue sparkles with wit, and the sensual
ity blazes across the page.”
—RT Book Reviews
“This book is engaging, sometimes heartbreaking, but thoroughly enjoyable… What a Duke Dares is a winner.”
—FreshFiction.com
A Rake’s Midnight Kiss
RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist
“4½ stars! Known for her sexy, smart, and often scandalous romances, Campbell doesn’t disappoint… Her intelligent characters, and their sensual cat-and-mouse games, add to the mystery and poignant emotions… Campbell knows how to set hearts aflutter with simmering sensuality, tortured heroes, and a passionate path to happily ever after.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Ms. Campbell writes with intelligence and humor, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading Cam’s story in the next book.”
—All About Romance (LikesBooks.com)
“Highly romantic… Genevieve and Richard’s banter and escalating courtship make A Rake’s Midnight Kiss a delight.”
—HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
“4½ stars! A vivid story of love and lies… I enjoyed the wit and emotions that flowed through the characters… I now urgently want to read the entire series.”
—LongandShortReviews.com
Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed
“Following a classic Beauty and the Beast theme, and adding her own sexy twist, Campbell creates an engaging story that sparkles with witty dialogue.”
—RT Book Reviews
“An entrancing, evocative romance… All of Ms. Campbell’s books are on my keeper shelf.”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
“A beautiful love story with an unforgettable hero. This is a must-read story for those readers who enjoy darker historical romances and beastly heroes.”
—RomanceNovelNews.com
Midnight’s Wild Passion
“4½ stars! It isn’t just the sensuality she weaves into her story that makes Campbell a fan favorite, it’s also her strong, three-dimensional characters, sharp dialogue, and deft plotting. Campbell intuitively knows how to balance the key elements of the genre and give readers an irresistible, memorable read.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Readers beware: do not start reading Midnight’s Wild Passion late at night. You’ll stay up, as I did, telling yourself you’ll only read one more chapter before putting it down for the night. Next thing you know, you’ve finished this marvelous book and discovered that it’s nearly dawn.”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
My Reckless Surrender
“4½ stars, Top Pick! The enthralling story is complex and passionate… Quite a book!”
—RT Book Reviews
“Prepare yourself for Anna Campbell’s most sultry, tempting tale yet! My Reckless Surrender wraps itself around readers like the most sensual of silks, Ms. Campbell’s gorgeous writing a true thing of beauty.”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
Captive of Sin
“Smart Regency romance… Readers will cheer for these lovable and well-crafted characters.”
—Publishers Weekly
Tempt the Devil
“4½ stars! Vibrantly refreshing and sizzling with sensuality and a depth of emotion that takes your breath away.”
—RT Book Reviews
Untouched
“Reminiscent of early Laura Kinsale. Her flair for sensuality and darkness, wounded heroes, and strong women appeals to readers yearning for a powerful, sexy, and emotionally moving addition to their keeper shelves.”
—RT Book Reviews
Claiming the Courtesan
“4½ stars! This fresh, vibrant novel launches an exciting new historical voice: a don’t-miss author whose talent… ensures her place as a fan favorite.”
—RT Book Reviews
Fall in Love with Forever Romance
A SCOUNDREL BY MOONLIGHT
by Anna Campbell
Justice. That’s all Nell Trim wants—for the countless young women the Marquess of Leath has ruined with his wildly seductive ways. But can she can resist the scoundrel’s temptations herself? Check out this fourth sensual historical romance in the Sons of Sin Regency series from bestselling author Anna Campbell!
SINFULLY YOURS
by Cara Elliott
Secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble… The second rebellious Sloane sister gets her chance at true love in the next Hellions of High Street Regency romance from bestselling author Cara Elliott.
A GOOD ROGUE IS HARD TO FIND
by Kelly Bowen
The rogue’s life has been good to William Somerhall, until he moves in with his mother and her paid companion, Miss Jenna Hughes. To keep the eccentric dowager duchess from ruin, he’ll have to keep his friends close—and the tempting Miss Hughes closer still. Fans of Sarah MacLean and Tessa Dare will fall in love with the newest book in Kelly Bowen’s Lords of Worth series!
WILD HEAT
by Lucy Monroe
The days may be cold, but the nights are red-hot in USA Today bestselling author Lucy Monroe’s new Northern Fire contemporary romance series. Kitty Grant decides that the best way to heal her broken heart is to come back home. But she gets a shock when she sees how sexy her childhood friend Tack has become. Before she knows it, they’re reigniting sparks that could set the whole state of Alaska on fire.
SUGAR ON TOP
by Marina Adair
It’s about to get even sweeter in Sugar! When scandal forces Glory Mann to co-chair the Miss Sugar Peach Pageant with sexy single dad Cal MacGraw, sparks fly. Fans of Carly Phillips, Rachel Gibson, and Jill Shalvis will love the latest in the Sugar, Georgia series!
A MATCH MADE ON MAIN STREET
by Olivia Miles
When Anna Madison’s high-end restaurant is damaged by a fire, there’s only one place she can cook: her sexy ex’s diner kitchen. But can they both handle the heat? The second book of the Briar Creek series is “sure to warm any reader’s heart” (RT Book Reviews on Mistletoe on Main Street).
OWN THE WIND
by Kristen Ashley
Only $5.00 for a limited time! Tabitha Allen is everything Shy Cage has ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. When Tabby indicates she wants more—much more—than friendship, he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn… The first book in the Chaos series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley!
FIRE INSIDE
by Kristen Ashley
Only $5.00 for a limited time! When Lanie Heron propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-ashell biker. She gets more than she bargained for, and it’s up to Hop to convince Lanie that he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to her… Fans of Lori Foster and Julie Ann Walker will love this book!
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
&n
bsp; Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Epilogue
A Scoundrel by Moonlight Page 34