December 2018
On Sale: November 27, 2018
352 pages ISBN: 149267432X EAN: 9781492674320 Kindle: B07FJQNTHJ Mass Market Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
Alone in her bedchamber later in the day, Gwendeline
thought over what the countess had told her. Why had such a sought-after gentleman, the
type her father had called a real out-and-outer, taken an interest in her? Why had he been the
one to come and fetch her, or the infant he said he’d expected? If he was a leader of the
ton, and Gwendeline saw no reason to doubt his mother’s description of his position,
what
was his interest in her? Friendship with her parents seemed the only possible explanation, but
he never spoke to her of them or appeared eager to answer when she tried to do so. Quite the
opposite, in fact.
This thought reminded Gwendeline of a series of odd
remarks she’d caught since coming to town. Both Lady Merryn and her son had made
references she didn’t understand to her “situation.” Gwendeline hadn’t been aware that she
possessed a situation in the sense that they used the word; seemingly, it was an awkward one.
And she was becoming more and more interested in finding out exactly what it involved. She
didn’t relish the thought that the people surrounding her knew more of her circumstances
than she, especially since the knowledge must be widespread. Gwendeline’s chin came up.
She was determined to find out the truth and not to flinch from it if it turned out to be
unpleasant. Anything was better than this uncertainty.
But no opportunity presented itself in the following days,
and thus, as Gwendeline stood beside Lady Merryn in the drawing room doorway three weeks
later, ready to meet their guests, she felt rather nervous.
She thought she looked well in a dress of white sarsenet; her
hair was newly cut and dressed in a cloud of curls called a Sappho by Lady Merryn’s
hairdresser. A silver ribbon was threaded through it, and she wore a new silver filigree
bracelet, a gift from the countess for her debut, on her wrist. But as Allison called out the first
names, and an elegant couple strolled languidly toward them, she wondered what these
world-weary Londoners were thinking about her and what she would find to say to them.
An hour later, she was just as uncertain. The countess had
introduced her to what seemed scores of people, and she had said “how do you do,” and
smiled a great many times. The guests and their names were jumbled together in her mind,
and she knew she would never remember what to call anyone. She thought that they’d looked
at her with sharp curiosity; indeed, sometimes she’d felt ready to sink under a particularly
piercing glance. She longed to sit down for a moment away from the crowd and gather her
thoughts.
“I think we can leave the door now, Gwendeline,” said Lady
Merryn. “I can greet latecomers inside, and we must give you a chance to become better
acquainted with our guests. Come along.” But as they were turning, the Earl of Merryn was
announced, and they held back to greet him.
“Alex,” cried his mother. “I’d nearly given you up. You
promised you’d come early tonight.”
The earl raised his eyebrows. “But Mother, I am come early. I
haven’t arrived at an evening party before ten in years. Your guests will consider it a great
compliment.”
His tone annoyed Gwendeline. “Perhaps we should be
grateful that you came at all.”
“Indeed you should, Gwendeline,” he replied. “I never attend
come-outs. They are uniformly dead bores.” She stifled a tart rejoinder as he went on. “You’re
looking delightful. You’ve done an excellent job of fitting her out, Mother.”
Lady Merryn smiled complacently. “She does look well,
doesn’t she?”
“I chose my own clothes, sir,” Gwendeline snapped. “I’m not
a child.” She faltered. “Of course, I’m very grateful for your help, Lady Merryn, I didn’t
mean…”
“Shall we go in?” said the earl, smiling. He offered each lady
an arm. His mother accepted, smiling. Gwendeline hesitated but could see no way of avoiding
entering the party on his arm. As usual, she was forced to fall in with his plans.
They paused just inside the drawing room doorway. The
large space seemed completely filled with people. Heads had turned to look at them, and she
knew that the subject of many conversations must be herself, a daunting thought.
The countess stopped to speak to a friend, and Gwendeline
continued into the room on Merryn’s arm. A couple left the sofa against the near wall as they
advanced, and the earl guided her toward it. “Shall we sit for a moment?” he asked, handing
her to a seat. She sank gratefully onto the cushions. He sat beside her and smiled. “You look a
trifle uneasy,” he said. “You don’t find your first London evening party altogether
pleasant?”
“To be honest, it’s more frightening than pleasant,” said
Gwendeline. “Your mother has been so kind and gone to such trouble for me, but I have no
idea what to say to any of these people, and the thought that they have all come to see what
I’m like is terrifying.”
The earl laughed. “Many of them would be very pleased and
flattered to hear you say so.”
“Are they such horrid people,” wondered Gwendeline, “that
they enjoy frightening strangers?”
“They enjoy their power to do so, a great many of them.” He
looked over the crowd with some contempt. “However, you needn’t fear the ton. It will
find you
charming.”
“Because you tell it to, my lord?” asked Gwendeline,
remembering what his mother had told her.
“Yes,” replied the earl simply. “And there is no conceivable
reason for you to look daggers at me because of it. I never asked anyone to care what I
thought. Perhaps that’s why they do so.”
Who needs a knight in shining armor when there's an
earl at your side...?
Gwendeline Gregory doesn't know what to think when she
encounters the dashing Alex St. Audley, Earl of Merryn.
She's in over her head in London Society, trying to fend off
a scoundrel who will stop at nothing to ruin her. On the
brink of a devastating scandal, the earl arrives just when
she needs him most. But are his motivations trustworthy? And
can he avert ruin for both of them?
Romance Historical [Sourcebooks Casablanca,
On Sale: November 27, 2018, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492674320 /
eISBN: 9781402276767]
Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was entranced by
the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight was part of what led
her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Born in Ohio, she has
lived in New York, Boston and LA, her writing life punctuated by breaks where the fates
intervened and swept her off in different directions.
Jane has written historical and contemporary romances. Her books have been published in
Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia and Spain, as well as the U.S. She has
been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by Romantic Times Magazine.
Gwendeline sounds like a sweet young woman, one who definitely feels like she is being thrown in amongst the wolves. The excerpt gives enough information to make me wonder just what has been said about her and what her situations is. Also, how are the Earl and his mother involved. Excellent hook. (Patricia Barraclough 1:03am November 28, 2018)
I would like to read this book! (Melanie Rosen 3:33am November 28, 2018)
I would like to know the mystery surrounding Gwendeline and why doesn't she know about it? (Jane Komppa 4:02am November 28, 2018)
sounds like a book id love to read (Vickie Couturier 9:10am November 28, 2018)
Sounds like a great book (Emily Stemp 8:04pm November 28, 2018)
I chuckled at the last sentences by the hero, in the excerpt. Enjoyed reading the snippet. (G. Bisbjerg 9:27pm November 28, 2018)
I love your Dukes Sons' series and am eagerly looking forward to reading your latest book, Earl to the Rescue. Thanks! (Kt C 9:34pm November 28, 2018)
Earls, lords and royalty are very appealing in historical fiction. (Alyson Widen 11:28pm November 28, 2018)
sounds like a great read, will it on my schedule (Peter Patel 2:03am November 29, 2018)
The earl sounds like a good fellow! (John Smith 10:19am November 29, 2018)
Great excerpt! I'm intrigued! (Sharlene Wegner 1:55pm November 29, 2018)
I have recently added historical romances to my list of genres and your novels sound like great reads that will add to my wish list. I am a Retired disabled R.N. Who has turned a passion for reading to what my husband calls a compulsive reader. I always loved to read and knit and fortunately I can do those things when I am not loving on my grandsons.Wishing you a lovely and healthy holiday season. (Denise Walsh 3:18pm November 29, 2018)
what a wonderful story. I look forward to reading it. (Catherine White 3:19pm November 29, 2018)
Historical Romance is the reason I fell in love with reading. Kathleen E Woodiwiss was the author and Shanna was the book. This book is very intriguing and the cover is one of your more beautiful. Even the title is catchy and already has me asking what could have possibly happened?! (Candy Voisine 6:01pm November 29, 2018)
This sounds enjoyable! (Janie McGaugh 10:16pm November 29, 2018)
Loved the excerpt. Looking forward to reading. Thanks. (Sharon Extine 1:44am November 30, 2018)
Thanks for the chance (Cynthia Brooks 10:07am November 30, 2018)
Ooh, I love a sassy heroine and a cocky hero! This sounds fun! (Sue Galuska 10:50am November 30, 2018)
Makes me wonder just what is going on and what Gwendeline's "situation" really is. I have added it to my TBR list. (Linda Harrison 12:02pm November 30, 2018)
Looks like a great story. Thanks for the chance to win. (Nancy Reynolds 12:10pm November 30, 2018)
I am intriqued now, can't wait to read on... (Lorena Keech 6:14pm November 30, 2018)
I like the location of this book. Great story in London. (Barbara Ryan 6:35pm November 30, 2018)