“This isn’t a dream. It’s really happening,” Benjamin replied. “I don’t know why you can’t believe it. You told me how much you loved riding and wanted a horse while we were foxhunting.”
“Yes, but you didn’t realize it was me saying that at the time.”
“While that’s true, you showed me your true identity later that day.”
Her face warmed at how she showed him her identity. Thank goodness he was discreet. No one who passed by would think anything of his words if they overheard their conversation.
“I’m very fortunate to have you as my wife,” Benjamin continued. “I thought my heart might burst when you said you loved me.”
“I only thought I loved you then. Now that you gave me this horse, I know I do,” she teased. “You should have come to our wedding day with a horse and said it was all mine.”
He laughed. “That would have been a sight if I had led a stallion into the drawing room.”
She laughed along with him. “Yes, it would have been. I wonder how many people would have run out of the townhouse. I have an aunt and a couple of cousins who are scared of them. They say they will fall off a horse, but they never rode one, so how can they know for sure? It’s just as well you didn’t show up with a horse, though I would have enjoyed it immensely. The thing that matters is that you let me have this marvelous animal.” She patted the horse affectionately. “I doubt there’s a lady in London who’s as happy as I am.”
“Good. I want you to be happy.”
“I want you to be happy, too.”
“Oh, I’ve been that way from the moment I realized you’d taken a fancy to me. I’ll be honest. I didn’t think any lady would. I had just hoped that one might be content to have me because I’m a titled gentleman who has money. I used to think a title and money were the only things I could offer.”
“You have much more to offer than a title and money. You are worth loving for who you are.”
It was a shame she hadn’t realized that sooner. It was also a shame it had taken Lilly’s slip of the tongue to get him to approach her father about arranging a marriage. But she had come to her senses since then, and she knew exactly how deserving he was of her love and respect. And really, that was all that mattered.
“I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you,” she told him.
“I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you, too,” he replied.
She smiled at him then turned her attention to the path in front of them as they continued with their outing down Rotten Row, thinking of how perfect her life was.
Want to read Kitty and Aaron’s romance?
It’s coming next in this series!
A Deceptive Wager
Miss Kitty Farrow is under no illusion that her guardian cares anything about her, but when she finds out he wagered her in a gentleman’s bet. Not only has her choice in picking her own husband been taken away from her, but the earl her guardian is going to have her marry hates the very idea of having a wife at all.
Aaron Henry, Earl of Northton, doesn’t trust ladies. Any of them. From a young age, his mother taught him that all a lady is good for is an heir. If they’re sweet, it’s only to trick the gentleman into doing what they want, and once they get it, they’re on to the next gentleman. So when he discovers the money he expected to win in a wager turns out to be the dowry of his future bride, he wants nothing to do with his future bride.
But whether Kitty or Aaron want the marriage or not, it’s going to happen. And heaven help anyone who tries try to make the marriage a love match.
You can join my email list to be notified as soon as it comes out by going to this link: https://ruthannnordinauthorblog.com/sign-up-for-email-list/
***
If you haven’t read Lilly’s romance yet, here it is…
Breaking the Rules
They say a proper lady follows the rules. She lets the gentleman take the lead. She obeys her chaperone. She is soft spoken and careful in everything she says and does. She doesn’t intrude into a gentleman’s business. And she most certainly doesn’t become the object of scandal.
Miss Lilly Lowell has been careful to follow the rules all of her life. But the rules aren’t helping her now when she needs it most. She made the terrible mistake of spurning Mr. Morris’ attention, and now he’s looking for someone else to marry. Determined to get him back, she hatches a plan to make him fall in love with her again. And doing so will require her to start breaking some rules.
Hurt by Miss Lowell’s rejection, Mr. Roger Morris is seeking out another lady to court. But after endless social engagements, it starts to become clear to him that no one can take her place. Whether he likes it or not, he is doomed to love her. She is the perfect lady for him. But the last thing he wants to do is give in, especially when she creates a scandal that forces him to marry her.
This might just be a match made in hell. Or maybe, quite possibly, heaven…as long as Lilly can figure out a way to make things right.
***
I mentioned Captain Egan a couple of times in this book. I wrote his book a couple of years ago. If you’d like to read it, here’s the information on it…
Taming the Viscountess
Sebastian Egan, Viscount Erandon, needs a significant amount of money in order to pay off his brother's debts. The sooner he gets it, the better. But he's not exactly what ladies are looking for. Having lost half of his right leg while at sea, most ladies consider him to be a useless cripple, and in London where things are all about appearances, they don't want to be seen with him. Traditional means of finding a wife are not open to him. He will need to find a creative way of marrying a lady who comes from a wealthy family.
As it just so happens, such a way opens up to him. Miss Celia Barlow, nicknamed Miss "Shrew" Barlow, has upset her brother for the last time. Her brother has had enough of her manipulative ways, and he's offering a large dowry to the first gentleman who is willing to take her. Sebastian, seeing his chance, takes the bait, and the wedding is set.
At once, he's drawn to Celia's fiery spirit. Yes, the others in London consider her to be a shrew, but that's because they're afraid of a lady who knows what she wants and goes for it. His new wife is no timid wallflower. She is full of passion, and, to his pleasure, that passion extends to the bed.
But soon, just having her body isn't enough. He wants to claim something much more precious. He wants her heart. He used to think that being the captain of a ship was the most challenging thing he could do. Now, he's about to discover that being the husband of a lady with a fiery, independent spirit is far more challenging...and far more rewarding.
***
In Nobody’s Fool, I also reference Lord Pennella. Benjamin had commented that Lord Pennella was looking for an argument. Lord Pennella got his wish in a book that’s already available. Here’s the information about it:
The Earl’s Secret Bargain
Lord Davenport and Lord Pennella have just made a bet for the hand of Miss Regina Giles. The gentleman she chooses wins the loser’s estate.
It’s the most daring wager at White’s, and quite possibly the most foolish.
Toby York, the Earl of Davenport, knew it was a mistake to make the wager when Lord Pennella stormed into White’s bragging that he could get any lady he wished. Toby really should have kept his mouth shut. But he didn’t.
And now there are only three things he can do to protect Miss Giles. One, he must get her to choose him instead of Pennella. Two, he must make sure she never finds out about the wager. And three, he must quietly break off the engagement so that she is free to marry a gentleman worthy of her. As long as he doesn’t fall in love with her, there should be no problems.
Too bad things never work out the way they’re planned.
All Books by Ruth Ann Nordin
(Chronological Order)
Regencies
Marriage by Scandal Series
The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife
A Most
Unsuitable Earl
His Reluctant Lady
The Earl’s Scandalous Wife
Marriage by Design Series
Breaking the Rules
Nobody’s Fool
A Deceptive Wager – coming soon
Standalone Regency
Her Counterfeit Husband (happens during A Most Unsuitable Earl)
Marriage by Deceit Series
The Earl’s Secret Bargain
Love Lessons With the Duke
Ruined by the Earl
The Earl’s Stolen Bride
Marriage by Arrangement Series
His Wicked Lady
Her Devilish Marquess
The Earl’s Wallflower Bride
Marriage by Bargain Series
The Viscount’s Runaway Bride
The Rake’s Vow
Taming The Viscountess
If It Takes A Scandal
Marriage by Fate Series
The Reclusive Earl
Married In Haste
Make Believe Bride
The Perfect Duke
Kidnapping the Viscount
Marriage by Fairytale Series
The Marriage Contract
One Enchanted Evening
The Wedding Pact
Fairest of Them All
The Duke’s Secluded Bride
Historical Western Romances
Pioneer Series
Wagon Trail Bride
The Marriage Agreement
Ingrid (a short story)
Groom For Hire
Forced Into Marriage
Nebraska Series
Her Heart’s Desire
A Bride for Tom
A Husband for Margaret
Eye of the Beholder
The Wrong Husband
Shotgun Groom
To Have and To Hold
Forever Yours
His Redeeming Bride
Isaac’s Decision
Misled Mail Order Brides Series
The Bride Price
The Rejected Groom
The Perfect Wife
The Imperfect Husband
Husbands for the Larson Sisters
Nelly’s Mail Order Husband
Perfectly Matched – coming soon
Suitable for Marriage – coming soon
Wyoming Series
The Outlaw’s Bride
The Rancher’s Bride
The Fugitive’s Bride
Chance at Love Series
The Convenient Mail Order Bride
The Mistaken Mail Order Bride
The Accidental Mail Order Bride
The Bargain Mail Order Bride
South Dakota Series
Loving Eliza
Bid for a Bride
Bride of Second Chances
Montana Collection
Mitch’s Win
Boaz’s Wager
Patty’s Gamble
Shane’s Deal
Native American Romance Series
Restoring Hope
A Chance In Time
Brave Beginnings
Bound by Honor, Bound by Love
Virginia Series
An Unlikely Place for Love
The Cold Wife
An Inconvenient Marriage
Romancing Adrienne
Nebraska Prairie Series
The Purchased Bride
The Bride’s Choice
Interview for a Wife – coming soon
Standalone Historical Western Romances
Falling In Love With Her Husband
Kent Ashton’s Backstory
Catching Kent
His Convenient Wife
Meant To Be
The Mail Order Bride’s Deception
Contemporary Romances
Omaha Series
With This Ring, I Thee Dread
What Nathan Wants
Just Good Friends
Across the Stars Series
Suddenly a Bride
Runaway Bride
His Abducted Bride
Standalone Contemporaries
Substitute Bride
Online Proposal
The Cowboy’s Wish (a short story)
Thrillers
Return of the Aliens (Christian End-Times Novel)
Late One Night (flash fiction)
The Very True Legends of Ol’ Man Wickleberry and his Demise - Ink Slingers’ Anthology
Fantasies
Enchanted Galaxy Series
A Royal Engagement
Royal Hearts
The Royal Pursuit
Royal Heiress
Nonfiction
Writing Tips Series
11 Tips for New Writers
The Emotionally Engaging Character
Writing for Passion
Where To Find Ruth
There are several ways you can find me! I’ll list them below, and you can pick the one that most interests you.
My Monthly Blog (https://ruthannnordinnewsletter.com/) Once a month, I’ll give updates on books I’m working on, and I will include new release information.
My Author Blog (https://ruthannnordinauthorblog.com/) For anyone who would like to read my ramblings about books I’m working on, updates I’m making to books (such as new covers for boxsets), trivia about past books, and what my thoughts are in the writing and publishing world, this is the blog for you.
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/authorruthnordin) I focus on my books or anything related to the author community. Facebook has been after authors for promoting themselves all the time, but that is how I’m using this site since I don’t want to get tangled up in the political drama over there. From time to time, I might throw in a cute and funny picture.
Email List (https://ruthannnordinauthorblog.com/sign-up-for-email-list/) If you want to receive an email only when I have a new book out, this is a good option. I never spam. MailChimp holds your emails, not me. I value people’s privacy and time.
Nobody's Fool (Marriage by Design Book 2) Page 18