Having settled his lordly rump to the sofa, she sensed he was as far from quashing the notion of sinking his hardness within her, and all the more determined to achieve his aims. There was a most definite glint in his eyes, a devilish glint, and if she could only cast inner fears of eventual compromise aside, she could be tempted to indulge in a little love play with the handsome earl. Even his relaxed countenance gave sway to sense of familiarity betwixt them, and the mellow tone of his voice stirred a frisson of wicked delight as did the fact he had sought her out as daringly as he had.
“If I were to say my intentions are honourable, would that endear you to my becoming a friend in the first instance, and perhaps you would allow me to secretly escort you whilst riding out. After all, what harm can come from riding horses, hmmm? Be assured dear lady, I am damnably attracted to you, and a long-term arrangement could prove satisfactory for us both.”
Well, he was a man who laid his cards quite matter of fact, and she liked that better than obsequiousness as was the bent of another admirer whom she had no wish to tangle with. “I shall not deny I am as attracted to you now, as I was last eventide. But you can no more guarantee there would be no consequences from wicked indulgences than I can guarantee I would not fall in love with you. And I am of mind the latter would set you to flight sooner than my heart could withstand, so becoming lovers is quite out of the question.”
“Dear lady, my house is but a few miles along the way, and I love the place dearly, thus I shall not be taking flight from the district, nor would I take flight from your arms if you could see your way to trusting in me.”
“I have heard it said; you acquired Endcombe by devious means.”
“Some folk are wont to imply that is so, despite the truth dictates otherwise and that old Charles Hamilton mortgaged the place and squandered a vast inheritance. Might I also enlighten you to the fact I won the house on a wagered gamble and by lieu of unpaid debts owing to me, to which the Duke of Malchester will attest to. But aside from that,” said he, gaining his feet and strolling across to the window next to the escritoire, “is there any chance you will grant me favour of your company in the days and weeks to come?”
Never had she felt so tempted by a man to the extent of wishing herself brave enough to indulge and enjoy more than a little remote flirtation. “You are asking much of me, and while I am tempted, so very tempted, I do fear the consequences should Aubrey discover infidelity for my part.”
“Discretion would be uppermost at all times, I assure you,” said he, whilst clasping her outstretched hand resting to the escritoire’s leather writing pad. “Believe me, if granted permission, this very minute, to pleasure you the like I’ll wager your husband has never bestowed upon you, I would deem it an honour. What is but a kiss or two, a caress or two: hmm?”
I hope you enjoyed this little taster from The Dissolute Rake, which is available in full via Amazon.
whilst it is difficult to imagine a man so given to extremes in lustful pursuits could eventually settle to a contented and faithful married existence, many aristocrats did after having outgrown youth and wild ways, even at a time when it was customary to have a mistress or two. Indeed, there were a good many who found precisely what they were seeking within a wife, and oft not recognising it for what it was until lust was overridden by a love that knew no bounds. Likewise there were those who indulged in illicit affairs as and when outside of the marital sphere, and a despicable few who lodged their mistress and illegitimate offspring within the marital abode alongside the wife. As for arranged marriages, it was a given the majority were loveless matches, barring those where love grew from mere familial relations to passionate romances. After all, Marcus had seen what love, true love could do to a man when the Duke of Malchester fell head-over-heels in love with Liliana at first sighting her, and albeit they didn’t appear in this story, Marcus played a leading role in their love story: The Reluctant Duchess.
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If you are intrigued with the discovery of the deceased Thornes’ within the cellar, you may be interested in the time of the Monmouth Rebellion, as featured within the novel Love & Rebellion, the fourth book in the Royal Series, a 17th – 18th century saga involving two families.
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The Reluctant Duchess is a Regency tale of romance, abduction, murder and mystery. The setting is Exmoor in Somerset, a place made famous by the novel Lorna Doone, of which the local inhabitants refer to as Doone Country.
Devon Howard, the Duke of Malchester, acquires a bride by dubious means. Well aware Liliana is a reluctant duchess, and although his new wife submits to his ardent advances on the wedding night, he cannot be sure, that even if given time, she will ever surrender her heart to him. While his past continues to damn him, he sets out to win Liliana by inciting jealousy and rivalry ‘twixt her and Serenity: a would-be mistress?
Likewise Liliana has a dilemma, for although she despises her circumstances and feigns disinterest in Devon, she cannot deny his desirability. Twice married, rumours abound. Devon has twice bedded and broken a wife. Liliana believes otherwise. Nonetheless, evil does exist within the walls of Calder Hall, and Liliana fears for her life when she’s brutally abducted from her coach whilst en route from Dorset to Exmoor. But it is Devon’s blood that is sought, and while revenge for one person proves bittersweet, for another it proves fatal.
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The Duke’s Gypsy: Steamy/Erotic
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...Dark secrets are lurking within a lakeside grotto and a garden temple...
With a strange mystery surrounding the murder of his brother, Nash Beresford is forced to return to the family fold and assume guardianship of the Enderly Estate. Little does he realise his brother’s evil nature had drawn others to a garden temple, where akin to wasps at a honey pot they enacted despicable acts of a sexual and perverse nature, the ramifications of which slowly unfold and are disclosed by a ravishingly beautiful gypsy.
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The Highwayman’s Mistress – (Steamy)
It is 1793: era of the French Revolution.
Richard Courtenay Viscount Somerton, gallant as heroes come, has agreed to see Miss Diamonta Whitaker, safely delivered to the Palace of Versailles. Half French by birth and daughter of a French countess, Diamonta has more than one reason for accepting a gracious invite to stay at the Royal Court at Versailles. Her heart lies at court, with Francois de Boviere, Count of Saint Mont Marche.
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Unfortunately, tide of revolution has swept from Paris to Versailles and heads of French aristocrats are seriously under threat of Madame Guillotine. With Diamonta's coche still en route to Versailles, strange as it seems a highwayman delivers a message by way of robbery to save her life. Can she, upon return to England, ever recover from her mother's wrath once her relationship with a highwayman is discovered, and can he survive a duel to the death?
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Celeste – Erotic short novella. A Gothic tale of lust and love in the vein of Beauty and the Beast: the classic fairytale with a twist.
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Thus, on Putney Heath in the year of 1783 stands a house renowned for two ghosts of a scandalous bent, none of which deters patronage to Madame DuPont’s infamous abode by wealthy gentlemen. With the sudden death of Madame DuPont, and accrued debts of which her daughter has no hope of paying, Celeste is faced with the horrors of the debtors’ prison or the unspeakable of having to sell her body for monetary gain: as had her mother. But fate intervenes with a guardian angel, and marriage to Captain Wendover is soon the answer to her prayers but not her dreams. Life though has cruel twists and turns and Celeste discovers true love runs deep, much deeper than she had anticipated when a man from her past steps back into her life.
A Devilish Masquerade – (Steamy)
A Coaching Accident, a Regency New Year Fancy Dress Ball, and a Devilish Masquerade will ensue.
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The cynical Melbourne, Earl Standish, has resigned himself to a bachelor existence in which a mistress is a damn si
ght safer than young chits with mother’s who are hell-bent on securing a title for their daughters. Stealing the cherry as sporting game has never been his gambit, until that is, a coaching accident involving his sister and the Danby family, thrusts an irresistible young lady into his sightline. Conventions of hospitality must be afforded to the rescuers of his sister, and with a New Year ball imminent at Norton Priory, Standish is hopelessly smitten, but he has two brothers and the elder of the two is a renowned cherry stealer. Can the Earl overcome his misgivings and rejoin the Marriage Mart – and will the rakish brother let him steal away with Cecily Danby?
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Lady Louise de Winter – (Steamy).
One grave transgression in her past, and Lady Louise de Winter, has accepted all hope for love and romance is but a dream she dare not embrace. Aware her semi-closeted existence on the Harcourt Estate is no more, and a substantial inheritance awaits her pleasure, her friend Count Casarotto suddenly brings his personal troubles to her door and seeks sanctuary. Worse, pursued by officers of his majesty’s regiment of horse, Louise endeavours to conceal his presence despite qualms as to his innocence. What is more, devastatingly attracted to the senior officer, Louise battles to retain sense of propriety as burning desire within takes hold. But despite Major Fitzwilliam’s reassurance he cares not a jot about her past, the truth remains she is not as other young would-be brides. Therefore, dare she give her heart into his care?
The Earl’s Captive Bride- Steamy/Erotic
...she had never thought it was possible to fall in love at first sight...
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An arranged marriage against her will and Erica Townsend is at odds with her father, and worse, he is not the father she had thought he was when friends and acquaintances of his pay visit to the family house. Albeit initially intrigued and voyeuristically mesmerized by an event that unfolds within the garden arbour, she and her younger sister decide they cannot remain within a house where Erica’s betrothed debauches other women at will, as does their father. Desperate in seeking the help of a gentleman neighbour who is sweet on her sister, their chosen escape route is fraught with temptations along the way. Whilst Erica dares to appear bolder than she is, can she truly trust the Earl of Epsom, or is he as much a libertine as her betrothed?
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The Bath Series
Infamous Rival – Regency Romance and Murder Mystery – Book 1 – Sensual/Steamy
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She was once the darling of the beau monde, but Georgette Lady Beaumont’s reputation lies in tatters after the apparent suicide of Lord Brockenbury’s heir. Shunned by society, Georgette embraces a secretive lifestyle in which she endeavours to evade Adam Brockenbury, whom she loathes as much as he desires her. Believing him capable of murder to gain his heart’s desire, she is not alone in thinking his elder brother’s death as somewhat suspicious, and whilst on a clandestine visit to her dearest friends she encounters a stranger of note.
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Her travelling companion, although of charming disposition and of considerable handsomeness, something about him errs dark and secretive but unmitigated mutual attraction exists that neither can deny. Unfortunately he’s a Brockenbury too, and as love, jealousy and hate take precedence, three murders are committed and Georgette quite believes she will be the murderer’s next victim, but who is the real murderer?
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The Dark Marquis – Regency Romance and Murder Mystery - Book 2 – (Steamy)
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Characters from book 1 (Bath Series) feature in this novel
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Despite a dark secret and aware his father the duke will likely disinherit him for marrying below his rank, Rupert Marquis of Ranchester is nonetheless determined to wed his mistress. But Caroline Lady Somerville, an old flame of Rupert’s has returned from India a widow, and has every intention of once again leading him into vices of the flesh, gambling and the dream smoke.
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Nervous but happy about imminent wedlock life becomes Hell for Estelle, when one man’s inner desires lead to blackmail, betrayal leads to revenge, and a string of murders place the duke in the frame as the killer. But what possible reason could the Duke of Leighdon have for terrorising Estelle, for killing the duchess, a portraitist, a whore and Caroline?
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The Damnable Lady Caroline – Murder Mystery – Book 3
A Romantic Gothic Regency Murder Mystery set within a remote Scottish Castle. – (Steamy)
Whilst young Lady Caroline Douglas is plotting to take flight from a disastrous marriage and escape the confines of KilKenneth Castle, betrayal, lust, and the financial bank crisis of 1825 suddenly opens a Pandora’s box of intrigue, murder, and mystery. The newly widowed Lady Caroline faces few choices in light of imminent poverty, the best being to hunt down and marry a wealthy man, the worst to runaway with a penniless lover. Thence unbidden attentions of a would-be laird and with assistance from his strange sister, they conspire to keep Caroline prisoner to his every whim. Thus Caroline turns to essence of the dream smoke to thwart their plans, until a lewd painting leads to dark desires and threat of forced submission to the would-be laird. But romance and escape to love and happiness Caroline had so sought, and never encountered, her fate seemingly lies within a stained glass window depicting a mediaeval knight.
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The Trevellians’ of New-Lyn: Now available as one complete novel or as individual novellas. An emotional and poignant murder, mystery, and romantic family saga.
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The Admiral’s Prize: book/part 1 – (Sensual Romance throughout the books)
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After the dreadful murder of la Comtesse Montacute and her sons, within the grounds of the family château, le Comte and his daughter are mortified by turn of events. Who did it and for what reason? Utterly distraught, they accept the help of an English marquis and return with him to England. But a dreadful dilemma then unfolds. A secret tryst between Adelle and a young admiral leads to untold heartache, when her aunt declares she is spoken for. Thus Adelle would rather risk life on the streets with a fellow countryman than abide to her father and her aunt’s desire to see her wedded to the marquis. But when a man of cold countenance and vengeful nature is hunting her, as he would a fox running ahead of his hounds, she fears the marquis will win the day by means most cruel and dastardly.
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The Admiral’s Sin: book/part 2
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Wanting to believe the past is in the past and that friendship can be reinstated with an old adversary, Admiral Trevellian loses far more than he ever bargained on by trusting Landford, who is now the Duke of Norfleet. Betrayal runs deep, so deep Trevellian awakens to discover his wife has stolen away with her French coachman, and fearing the worst that she’s taken their son, Trevellian is further shocked to discover the boy has been left in his charge. Wielding a sword in battle is quite different than wielding one in pure anger and grievance at another’s insane jealousy. But hold the duke to account, Trevellian will until satisfaction is met with cold steel to flesh. And whilst he believes death will cease his unbearable pain, his son determines otherwise.
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For Love of Captain Jack: book/part 3
It is 1814 Regency England, and Captain Jack Trevellian RN (Royal Navy) has returned home to South Devon. But on the eve of his return, a young woman is murdered. Three more murders occur in quick succession, and Captain Jack is convinced someone wishes to see him dangling from a hangman’s noose. Determined to uncover the identity of the killer, Captain Jack and his army friend Captain Lester Knight, stir more trouble than anticipated when their aristocratic neighbour brings rank to bear in matters of the judicial system. Nonetheless, wilful, bold and daring, and all for love of Captain Jack, Alathea Velvet Hawkesworth attempts to lure the murderer from the shadows at a grand masque ball. The true identity of the murderous villain is not as imagined, and she fears she will die a terrible death whilst laughter, music and heady scent of roses drift on a balmy evening breeze, and all wit
hin a palatial setting.
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Venetian Encounter – (Steamy)
A Georgian Romance & Murder Mystery:
The year is 1800 – Naples/Venice/England.
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Amidst a gathering of nobility and gentry a daring jewel theft occurs. A young naval lieutenant suggests the notorious Venetian jewel thief could well be a woman, but a beautiful Russian countess scoffs at his suggestion albeit in coquettish manner. Determined to unmask the identity of the thief, at the same time intrigued by the countess, Lt Herne covertly follows Therese around Naples. But where the countess treads murders occur with frequency and she suddenly takes flight to Venice. Ordered to the Adriatic on naval business Herne drops anchor in Venice. Tempted ashore by Carnivale a second encounter with the countess proves fatal for both. Madly in love they indulge in pleasurable pursuits but become embroiled in the mysterious death of a Russian count. Therese fears a secret is best kept secret but Herne asks a potent question and she cannot lie for the truth is staring him in the face!
The Dissolute Rake Page 2