Five years ago scandal ruined Danielle Fuval and she was
ostracized by society. That in its self wouldn't have been
that bad but the one person she expected to believe her
cries of innocence also turned his back on her. Now, just
days before she's to embark on a journey that takes her to
America, Dani steps back into society only to have to face
Rafael Saunders.
Rafael, Duke of Sheffield, can't believe that after what
she did to him Dani would ever show her face in polite
society again. He lets his anger get the best of him and
he confronts her only to hear her deny any involvement
again. Wondering if perhaps there's truth to her denial,
Rafe has the old scandal investigated and discovers that
Dani was indeed innocent and an old friend had tricked him.
Before he can make amends with her, Dani is on her way to
America to marry another man. Rafe follows her there and
manages to trap her into marrying him instead. In order to
prove to her that she can trust him again, Rafe presents
Dani with a necklace rumored to hold great power for the
person who wears it. However, Dani has a secret, which, if
revealed, could mean the end to her and Rafael's happiness
forever.
THE HANDMAIDEN'S NECKLACE is a dazzling conclusion to Kat
Martin's The Bride's Necklace Trilogy. I could not put
this book down. Rafael and Danielle are the kind of
characters that will stay with you long after you've
finished the book. You'll want to come back to them again
and again. If you haven't experienced this trilogy yet, I
urge you to run to your nearest bookstore and get it. You
won't regret a minute of it.
Five years ago Rafael, Duke of the Sheffield, believed he
was betrayed by the woman he loved and the pain haunts him
still. When Rafe discovers that he was cruelly tricked,
and that Danielle Duval was never unfaithful, he's
desperate to win her back. But Dani is already on a
steamer bound for America to marry another man.
Impulsively, Rafe follows her and, trapping her in a
compromising situation, quickly makes her his wife.
Promising her that with time he can prove his love and win
her trust, Rafe presents her with a stunning necklace
rumored to hold great power. As much as Dani wants to
believe it can right the wrongs of the past, she fears
there is one truth it cannot conceal, a truth that could
cost her this second chance with Rafe, the only man she
has ever loved ...
Excerpt
The brandy arrived and Rafe sipped it slowly, searching
for a friendly face, seeing his mother and Aunt Cornelia
in conversation with a group of other women, glancing past
them to the round, powdered face of Flora Duval
Chamberlain. His gaze lit on the woman to her left, a
woman with flame-red hair and the face of a goddess.
Rafe's stomach contracted as if he had suffered a powerful
blow.
He told himself he hadn't come because of her, that it was
his duty to attend, but seeing her now, he recognized the
lie for what it was. For an instant, Danielle's eyes met
his and widened in shock. Rafe felt a shot of
satisfaction as the color drained from her lovely,
treacherous face.
He didn't glance away, certain that she would.
Instead her chin shot up and she gave him a look meant to
burn right through him. His jaw clenched. Long seconds
passed and neither of them looked away. Then Danielle
rose slowly from her chair, flicked him a last seething
glance, and walked off toward the rear of the garden.
Fury engulfed him. Where was the humility he had
expected? Where was the embarrassment he had been certain
he would see in her face?
Instead, she walked the gravel path with her head held
high, ignoring him as if he weren't there, making her way
past a group of children played at the back of the garden.
***
Inwardly shaking, Dani fixed her gaze on the children
playing tag at the rear of the garden, determined not to
let her unnerving encounter with Rafael Saunders show in
any way. She had taught herself that after The Scandal,
learned to take rigid control of her emotions. Never let
any of them know the power they held, how badly they could
hurt you.
Managing a smile, she waved at the children and made her
way deeper into the garden. She didn't hear the footfalls
approaching behind her until it was too late. She knew
who it was before she turned. Still, she couldn't help
the gasp of surprise as she stared into Rafe's handsome
face.
"Good afternoon, Danielle."
Her heartbeat thundered. Anger made rosy circles appear
in her cheeks. She turned away, rudely ignored him,
caught the look of shock that appeared on his face, and
simply started walking.
But the Duke of Sheffield wasn't used to being ignored,
and she felt the pressure of his fingers as they wrapped
around her arm. His grip was firm enough to stop her
forward motion and spin her around to face him.
"I said good afternoon. I expect at least a civil reply."
She clamped down on her temper, told herself not to let
him bait her. "Excuse me. I believe my aunt is calling."
But he didn't let go of her arm. "I think your aunt is
otherwise engaged at the moment. Which means you have
time to greet an old friend."
Her fine thread of control stretched to the breaking point
and then completely snapped. "You are no friend of mine,
Rafe Saunders. You are, in fact, the last man on earth I
would think to call a friend."
Rafe's jaw hardened. "Is that so? If not a friend, then
how, may I ask, should I think of you?"
She lifted her chin, the knot of anger in her stomach
almost painful. "You may think of me as the biggest fool
you have ever met. A woman foolish enough to trust a man
like you. Stupid enough to fall in love with you,
Rafael."
She started walking but Rafe's tall figure stepped into
the path of her escape. His jaw was set, his intense blue
eyes diamond hard.
"I believe it was you, my dear, I found with one of my
closest friends. You who invited Oliver Randall into your
bed, under my very nose."
"And it was you who was eager to believe your friend's
lies instead of the truth!"
"You betrayed me, Danielle. Or perhaps you have forgot."
Dani looked up at him, her eyes snapping with fire. "No,
Rafael. It was you who betrayed me. If you had loved me,
as you said, you would have trusted me, you would have
known I was telling you the truth." She gave him a thin,
bitter smile. "On second thought, as I think of it,
certainly it is you who are the fool."
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