Excerpt of Music For My Soul by Lauren Linwood

"Madeleine knew with certainty that the nobleman would recognize her. They spent too much time in one another's company for him not to know her upon first sight.

Madeleine groaned aloud. Where Sir Ashby was, she was positive his friend, the brooding Lord Montayne, would soon appear. She did not care to see that one face to face, especially since he had been so angry at her when they parted.

She decided to skirt the crowd and make her way back to the performance area. She would plead a sore throat and have Farley allow her to take York's place in the play. Just as she thought she'd made her way unseen, she heard shouts headed her way.

"Stop, thief! Stop!"

The cutpurse ran by her swiftly, throwing a cursory glance over his shoulder. She despised those who preyed upon others' misfortune, and she was ready to see this shabby scoundrel caught. Madeleine stepped out, ready to give chase after the fellow when she was blind-sided, being thrown to the ground, the wind knocked from her.

Who had attacked her? She looked up into the blinding summer sun but could not see who stood above her. Then the shadow moved, covering her face from the harsh light.

"Why if ‘tis not Lady Montayne," said a familiar voice. "And where the hell is my favorite cloak?"