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Category:
Romance
Publisher: Beyond The Page
ISBN-10: 1946069368
Type: Fiction
Pages: 399
Copyright: October 1 2006
ISBN-13: 9781946069368
Price: $0.79 (eBook)
A Regency History Romance, from friends to lovers
Carolyn Torrington’s romantic dreams of her childhood friend Lucas Rivers are shattered when the wily lord offers her a marriage of convenience to gain his inheritance. While it breaks her heart to say yes to the arrangement with a man she’s always loved, it’s the only way to secure her sisters’ futures.
To the world, Lucas, Lord Foxhaven, is an irrepressible rogue, and wedded bliss is the furthest thing from his mind. But he’s been forced up to the mark by his father, and he’s certain the demure Carolyn won’t give him an iota of trouble—if only her voluptuous body weren’t driving him to distraction.
As Carolyn struggles to keep her true feelings hidden, Lucas is drawn ever more powerfully by thoughts of unbridled passion, and he’s stunned by his burgeoning feelings for a woman he’s always seen as a friend. When a scheming Parisian relative threatens to take her from him for good, Lucas realizes he must stand up and be the man Carolyn always knew he could be—even as he suddenly comes to know he wants their marriage in name only to become quite real . . .
Excerpt
Where on earth was Lucas? Caro glanced at the tall case clock beside the front door, again. Almost half-past-three. If he didn’t arrive soon, she would have to leave without him.
Perhaps he’d met with an accident on the road. Caro’s breath caught as if her corset had shrunk and her lungs were squashed.
Beckwith hurried to open the door at the sound of a carriage outside.
Not injured then. Just late. She should have known better than to worry.
He crossed the threshold and tossed his hat to the butler. Hair tousled, his jaw dark with stubble and his coat covered in road dust, he looked more like a gypsy than a viscount.
Her stomach gave a happy little lurch of welcome. She couldn’t think why, when he looked so disreputable.
“Where have you been?” she asked “You promised to be here at quarter-past three to take me to Lady Audley’s.” It sounded shrewish, but with her nerves stretched to breaking, she couldn’t keep silent.
A haughty expression transformed his face from cheerful to frigid in the blink of an eye. “My business took longer than expected.”
The pressure on her chest increased as an image of the dazzling Lady Caradin took shape. He certainly wouldn’t have rushed from that woman’s side to escort Caro to tea. She failed an attempt at a smile. “I didn’t want to be late and create a bad impression.”
“Then we will leave immediately.”
“You can’t go dressed like that.” The words were out with the thought.
One hand on the knob, he turned to face her and raised a brow. “Tisha won’t care, I assure you.”
A hot buzz of anger released the band of iron compressing her chest. “I care. No gentleman would arrive in a lady’s drawing room in all his dirt.”
His expression darkened. “Are you implying I’m not a gentleman?”
Oh heavens. She’d insulted him. Hot and cold chills followed each other in quick succession. “Of course not. But it’s improper to make a call dressed like a....”
“Like a what?” His voice held danger.
Dash it, he was in the wrong, not her. She met his challenging gaze. “Like a groom.” Or rather a pirate from a Minerva novel.
One shoulder against the doorframe, his lean body emanated the challenge of a cocked pistol ready to trip at a touch. An arrogant smile pulled at one corner of his mouth. “Do you want to leave now, before it’s too late, or do you want me to change?”
Impossible choices and he knew it.
“I want you to behave in a gentlemanly fashion.” Startled by her bravery, she eyed him askance.
He pushed upright, brushing his coat back, hands on narrow hips. “It wasn’t included in our bargain, I’m afraid. You got me exactly the way I am.” He swept a glance from her head to her toes. His voice lowered.. “Just the way I got you.”
The words delivered in deep husky male tones sounded sensual, but their meaning was clear. Anger drained away, leaving her feeling shriveled and parched inside. For all her new clothes, she hadn’t changed anymore than he had. She wasn’t even a proper wife. She bit her lip.
“Nor,” he continued, his face set in hard lines, “did I agreed to squire you about like a leashed dog. Had I known you would turn into a prosy bore, I would have left you in Norwich with your sisters. In fact, I’ve a good mind to send you back.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You can’t. My coming to London is part of our agreement.” She pasted a smile on her lips and waved an airy hand. “You should have told me you didn’t want to go. I am quite content to go alone and I prefer not to be late.”
Something like regret flickered across his face. He heaved a sigh. “I’ll change and meet you there.”
She kept her tone light. “Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“Dash it, Caro. I really meant to be back earlier.” Genuine concern rang in his voice.
Sure he would see right through to her heart-pounding fear at the thought of entering the fashionable Lady Audley’s home alone, she kept her smile fixed in place. “It is a simple afternoon call. And it wouldn’t do for people to think you are under the cat’s paw.”
An appreciative grin dawned on his face. “Doing it rather too brown, I think, my dear. Besides, I plan to meet Bascombe there afterward. He promised me a drive in his new phaeton. I’ll join you and spend a few minutes in Tisha’s drawing room before we leave.”
She flipped him an teasing glance. “A true sacrifice indeed, my lord.”
The tension snapped on his sudden crack of laughter. He made a dash for the stairs. Two steps up, he stopped and turned as if to speak.
Caro waited, her pulse speeding up as his dark gaze locked with hers. He frowned. “I honestly didn’t intend to leave you in the lurch, you know. I am glad I haven’t put you out.” He didn’t look the slightest bit glad. In fact, he looked thoroughly irritated, as if she’d done something wrong, then he turned and continued on his way.
Didn’t he want her to be independent? She swallowed a shaky laugh and a dry lump in her throat. This whole thing was just too confusing.
“The carriage is at the door, my lady,” Beckwith announced and opened the door.
She drew in a deep breath, braced to take her first step into fashionable society.
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