by Claudy Conn
She laughed out loud. “Oh, now I know you are jesting and playing with me.”
“Well, about me, yes, but in truth … your situation is … well, it might get the gossipmongers wagging their hungry tongues.”
“As though I give a rap for such things.” Kitty frowned.
“But, honestly, Kitty, you can’t go about dressed like an urchin, and you must have a chaperone, if only to honor your guardian’s memory.”
That stopped her in her tracks. Kitty didn’t like the notion of people gossiping about her uncle or criticizing anything he had done. As she frowned over the problem, Harry hurried on.
“Also it is time you were presented,” he said and coughed into his hand.
Kitty looked at him from the top of his thick waves of auburn hair to his clear hazel eyes and then to his mouth spread wide with a grin. “Is that so? And who should present me? Who, Harry?”
“Well, as to that, I haven’t got it all worked out yet, but I will …” He played with his lower lip as he gave this some thought.
She picked at the dirt on her breeches, “Well, you are right about one thing, I am a woman full-grown.”
She looked up and burst out laughing at the expression of horror on his dear face.
She had been infatuated with Harry when they were youngsters, but that soon turned into something else since she had been seven and he nine, and a very clear friendship had ensued instead.
He could have treated her as his inferior—she was younger than he by two years, and he was heir to a healthy estate and a title—but he had never done that to her.
He was certainly opinionated, but she had often found that, in his own way, he made good sense. He was, in fact, quite like family, and she did think of him as a brother as much as a friend.
People, however, did gossip, and the talk, Nanny had told her, was that Kitty Kingsley and Harry Brentley were destined to walk down the aisle together. That had sent her into a fit of mirth. The thought of that now made her smirk, but people were always talking about something.
“Woman grown?” he countered. “Well, I didn’t quite say that.”
She wiggled her shoulders saucily. “Oh … then I am not a woman grown? I can name a few young men who definitely think I am.”
He laughed. “I would bet on that, but … look here, you don’t quite have the knack of wiggling your shoulders. If you wish to entice a man in that manner, you should daintily dip in … and bring up your gaze … like so.”
Watching him sent Kitty into convulsive laughter before she settled down and mimicked him quite successfully.
His brow rose, and he said, “Indeed … that is enough. You have the hang of it now.”
“How did you learn the knack of it?” Kitty bantered playfully.
“Sarah Anne is forever flirting with me, and that particular move is a favorite of hers. She is forever at it …”
“Sarah Anne?” Kitty laughed. “Upon my soul!” Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t fall for that one. She is a bit of a tart with a mean streak.”
He opened his eyes wide and said, “Kitty Kingsley, what an unkind thing to say!”
“I wouldn’t say it to anyone else, but, Harry, it is true.” She shrugged and then glanced at him calculatingly.
“Oh, you look like a cat when you do that with those green gems of yours. Kitty, you have no idea how beautiful your eyes … you are.”
“Never mind,” she said, wagging a finger at him. “I will tell you roundly, I don’t mean to copy Sarah Anne’s style of flirtation because I don’t like her, and you should stay out of her clutches.” She put up her chin. “When I choose to use my shoulder to lure a man, I shall do so boldly as I do everything else.”
He laughed outright. “And even with dirt smudged across your face, your yella hair a complete mop and in boys’ clothing, there is no one I know, not even pretty Sarah Anne Wrigley that can outshine you.” He hesitated. “And, perhaps, Henrietta.”
Kitty blushed at that and giggled. “Absurd fellow, but you are right about Ree. She is stunning in a fashion all her own.” She sucked in her bottom lip and eyed him naughtily. “One minute you are raking me over the coals and the next filling my head, as Uncle Edwin would say, with balderdash.” She then looked down at her lap and said, “I do miss him ever so much.”
Harry patted her shoulder. “I know, Kit … I know.” He got to his feet, put out his hand for her, and said, “Nearly forgot. When I stopped by the house, your nanny asked me to look for you and fetch you home.”
Kitty opened her eyes wide. “Did she? But, why?” .
“I don’t know, but she did seem anxious … well, she is always anxious, who could blame her with you as their charge?” He grinned wickedly at her and puzzled over the problem with a raised brow. “Though I must say, she was more flustered than usual.”
Kitty laughed. “Nanny is always in a fluster.”
He smiled but said a bit more seriously, “Aye, but she did seem … more upset than her norm.”
“However could you tell?” Kitty teased.
Harry snorted and said, “Years of experience with the both of you. Lord, but the capers you have put the poor woman through, ’tis a wonder she doesn’t have a permanent twitch. Now, come on, my girl, or she’ll break out in hives.”
“Hives? No, really, is she that upset?” Kitty’s hand fluttered. . “I wonder if it is because Henrietta’s father is due this afternoon. But she didn’t seem upset about it before.”
“I’m not sure what it is, but I rather thought she was concerned,” he clucked. “Come on, let’s not keep her waiting any longer. I’ll ride with you and lend my support, if you like.”
“I do like, and it is the price you have to pay for having found me,” she bantered.
“Aye, and for my curiosity,” he said ruefully as he watched her mount her horse. He then hoisted himself up on his and said, “Come on, let’s make short work of it.”
About Claudy Conn
Claudy Conn, a native New Yorker, now lives with her husband, Bob; their wolf, Cherokee; and Cherokee’s son, Rocky Man, who weighs in presently at 190 pounds.
She loves horses and riding and raised her ten-year-old gelding Southern Pride from the moment he was born. She also loves gardening, swimming, skiing, hiking, and travel—and of course, reading, writing, but no, she says, no arithmetic!
To get her monthly news, her reviews for all her new paranormal romances, and excerpts, come on and visit her at her website: http://www.claudyconn.com
To see pictures of Cherokee—and her shepherd-wolf son!—have a look at her Facebook page:
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Myriah Fire
Myriah meets Kit under the worst circumstances and their meeting was an explosion of wills, and actions, and it was what finally set Myriah on fire …
Oh, Cherry Ripe
Cheryl Elton has been in London for three seasons and refuses to be courted. When her mother takes matters into her own hands, Cherry runs!
Rogues, Rakes & Jewels
What happens when an eligible marquis pretends to be a rake and a gambler, and the woman he is supposed to be courting disguises herself as a masked French card dealer? Find out in this spicy, risqué Regency romance.
Taffeta and Hotspur
Hotspur wants Taffeta—how far will he go to make her his? Taffeta has a secret—will it land her in trouble?
Wildfire Kiss
Lady Babs is a rule-breaker, but has she met her match in Lord Wildfire?
After the Storm
Jenny insisted she would never fall in love again, but she found herself drawn to the handsome Earl of Danfield. She also knew about his wild reputation, but it didn’t matter. His proposal would give her what she wanted. Peace.
Runaway Heart
Chels
ea takes London by storm, but the only man she wants thinks she is no more than a child.
Lady Bess
Lady Bess has fallen hard for the Earl of Dunkirk, but she has also fallen into a bevy of secrets. Evil hovers. Although Bess doesn’t look for it, she finds it—and Bess is not your average, simpering female. She takes on danger and mayhem like she does everything else: full throttle. Adventure ensues as we travel with Bess through romance and the battle of her life.
Lady Star
Sir Edward meets his match when he meets Star, but is there too much keeping them apart?
Serena
Lord Daniel Pendleton has met his match in Serena. A game of twists and misunderstandings ensues, and a lively romance begins
Mandy
Mandy’s brother, Ned, is in trouble, accused of murdering the woman who had been clearly trying to seduce him. Their guardian, the Duke of Margate, is summoned to help. Mandy had always assumed he was an old man, but the duke is far from old. But, first things first—they had to prove Ned innocent.
Disorderly Lady
A chance encounter with the Earl of Magdalen, a confirmed bachelor whose female acquaintances run to women of dubious reputation, results in Arabella Cullingham appearing to be a light-skirt. Bella, for her own reasons, decides to play along, never thinking that the game might cost her the man she truly loves.
Witches, Warlocks, and Dark Magic
Dark Love
One goal consumes Chazma Donnelly: find the dark sorcerer who murdered her parents. The trail takes her Ireland and Jethro McBain, but will it take her soul?
Netherby Halls
Matters at Netherby are not what they seem, and neither is the handsome marquis. Unsure whom to trust, Sassy has to find her way through a maze of evil and magic.
Lady X
Exerilla has to run from her Dark Warlock father. Her mother sends her into the past to escape him and the marriage he plans for her. What is a modern American miss to do in 19th century England?
Journey
What would you do if the man of your dreams walked into your life and you knew, absolutely knew, that one day he would leave because he was from another realm with secrets you couldn't discern? Would you seize the moment? Riley Doogan decided to seize the moment, and it cost her all the normalcy she had ever hoped to have in her life—a life that was now fraught with terror.
Hungry Moon Series
Hungry Moon: Quicksilver
Ravena is running from who and what she is, but the more she runs away, the further she falls.
Hungry Moon: Destiny
Luke says Kelsey isn’t his type, and Kelsey is sure Luke is a heart-breaker, but the hybrid and the wolf shifter must find a way to work together to fight a threat of unthinkable proportions.
Hungry Moon: Jodi
Jodi is a witch with formidable powers fighting a battle against an insidious dark force. She meets Shane MacGrath and needs him in so many ways, but she doesn’t know if she can trust him. Can she trust him, and will she survive this battle?
Legend Series
Spellbound—Legend
Maxie is a reluctant heroine who travels to Scotland to find and save herself. Julian is a Druid priest in a modern age, and he is full of guilt—Can Maxie turn to him? Or will she turn to Prince Breslyn, a Royal Fae hunk offering her everything?
Shee Willow—Legend
Half-human, half-Fae Willow Lang has never felt she truly fit in either world, but she’s doing her best to ignore her Fae nature. But when she finds herself in the middle of a conflict between the Seelie Fae and the evil Dark Fae, she must embrace her Fae powers in order to protect the Human world.
Prince in the Mist (Novella)
Fact one: By tradition and treaty, Fae do not interfere with the human world—it is against the rules. Fact two: For a Royal Fae prince who suffers from the ennui of immortality, watching and interacting with humans—especially lovely, spirited human females—can be entertaining. Fact three: When entertainment changes to affection, and affection becomes love, rules will be broken.
Prince Prelude—Legend
In this stand-alone tale and the backstory for the Legend series, we find ourselves in 1814. Gais and the prince come head to head over a woman. We will see Lamia DuLaine when she first sees Julian Talbot, and we will meet the first Maxie Reigate. Come along and see their world unfold …
Aaibhe—Shee Queen (Novelette)
This is a love story but it is fringed with envy, jealousy, and bitterness—oh and more. It is laced with the havoc those devastating emotions can bring. It is about the seeds of hate born of love, and what havoc that hate can wantonly roar over even immortals. This is a story of Aaibhe, Queen of the Seelie Fae, because she deserves that it be told.
Trapped—Legend
Magical powers, a castle, and a charming prince sound like the ingredients for a fairy-tale life, but for BJ Mulroy, reality turns out to be a whole lot more complicated. The war between the Seelie and the Unseelie is heating up, BJ has been drawn into the fray … and there’s the matter of the seventeenth-century hunk in the painting.
Free Falling—Legend
They call her Z, and she is a handful ready to explode. She has entered the war against Gais and the Dark Fae and means to take him on all by herself. She is driven. Aaibhe, Queen of the Seelie Fae, has other plans, and she sends in Prince Danté to execute and preserve her wishes. When Z and the prince meet, hackles go up on both sides.
Catch & Hold—Legend
Half-human/half-Daoine Fae Radzia MacDaun—Z to her friends—finds herself in the Dark Realm, where she’ll have to fight Gaiscioch on his own turf. Danté, Prince of the Tuatha Dé and Z’s lover, is not about to let her face this danger alone, however, and the two of them are thrust on a ride that takes them to the edge of life as we know it …
Through Time Series
Through Time-Pursuit
Revenge is the driver. Will love be the equalizer in Through Time-Pursuit? Chance LeBlanc and Princess Royce are about to find out in this contemporary fantasy romance, picking up where Catch & Hold—Legend left off.
Through Time-Whiplash
Four Dark Royals are about to march out of the Dark Realm with an army of monsters at their back. The Queen of the Seelie Fae is in jeopardy with the Council because of her love for Morgan LeBlanc, a Milesian. Enter, unexpectedly, Jazmine Decker, a Fios (Fae seer) who finds herself unwittingly thrown into the past with Trevor. Chaos lies ahead.
Through Time—Slamming
Book 3 in the Through Time series takes us on a battle filled ride with Jazz and Trevor as Frankie comes into her own.
Through Time—Frankie
Meet Frankie of Sluagh now all grown up and ready to take on the world. She wants the Dark Prince and goes against her family … but he turns away. All the while, his brother plots to take over the world once again.
Through Time—Compulsion
Through Time-Compulsion finds a new demon on the loose, and this one thinks he is a god. He isn't, but he is powerful beyond the Faes’ imagination.
Shadow Series
ShadowLove—Stalkers
Shawna Rawley has no choice but to run when Pentim Rawley, one of the most evil vampires who has ever lived, discovers she is his daughter. Chad MacFare has an offer for Shawna he thinks she can’t afford to refuse: he’ll protect her from Pentim and his minions. But Shawna doesn’t trust the sexy immortal. She knows he has his own agenda—he wants to kill her father, and he wants to set her up as bait …
ShadowHeart—Slayer
Damon Drummond and Nikki Walker are on opposite sides. He is a potent vampire—she is a skilled and powerful vampire slayer. Problem right there … but when they look at each other, sparks of all kinds fly. Too much stands between them: He will live forever, she will not, and yet …
ShadowLife—Hybrid
WB and his clan have moved in, and section by section Dublin is going dark. When the team needs help, they turn to a shapeshifter, Rox
ie MacBran.
Multi-book Bundles
The Complete Legend Series
Containing all eight books in the series, The Complete Legend Series will take you to a place where anything is possible, where strong and beautiful men and women—both human and Fae—must use all the skills and magic they possess to save their shared worlds, and where the path to love winds through intrigue and danger.
Claudy Conn's Bestselling Regencies
Claudy Conn’s Bestselling Regencies take you into a time of romance and passion, humor and intrigue: the time of the Regency, when England’s King George went mad and his beautiful son became Regent. Contains the full text of Wildfire Kiss, Taffeta and Hotspur, And Oh Cherry Ripe.