Laurette and Con grew up together and fell in love during their teenage years. As they make plans to marry, Con learns that all their plans will never happen as his family is deep in debt. The only way he can take care of them is to marry money, and his father has already made the arrangements.
Laurette convinces Con to exchange vows with her one night. They promise to always love each other, and thenconsummate their relationship.
Con marries the daughter of a rich banker. She is a rather managing woman who eventually drives Con out after she produces the requisite heir. He travels the world and makes a fortune of his own. He returns to England on the death of his wife and proposes to Laurette, who promptly refuses.
Laurette still loves Con but she lives with the knowledge of the wrongs she committed in her life and the guilt she bears. When Con proposes to her, she is torn between the love she bears and the the guilt she feels.
When Con tries to seduce her into marriage, she finds herself unable to resist his efforts and becomes his mistress. Con is convinced that he can push Laurette to accept his proposal.
This story was engrossing but I found it very hard to read. The cynicism of the hero and his having to blackmail Laurette into any kind of relationship puts the relationship in an uncomfortable light for me. Laurette swings from love to hate so many times. As secrets are revealed we do see a gentler, kinder Con but the relationship between the two remains volatile.
First comes seductionโฆ
As children, Desmond Ryland, Marquess of Conover, and
Laurette Vincent were inseparable. As young adults, their
friendship blossomed into love. But then fate intervened,
sending them down different paths. Years later, Con still
canโt forget his beautiful Laurette. Now heโs determined to
make her his forever. Thereโs just one problem. Laurette
keeps refusing his marriage proposals. Throwing honor to the
wind, Con decides that the only way Laurette will wed him is
if he thoroughly seduces herโฆ
Then comes marriageโฆ
Lauretteโs pulse still quickens every time she thinks of Con
and the scorching passion they once shared. She aches to
taste the pleasure Con offers her. But she knows she canโt.
For so much has happened since they were last lovers. But
how long can she resist the consuming desire that demands to
be obeyed?
EXCERPT
Prologue
Dorset 1808
Despite it being high summer, Con was so pale he looked ill.
But he had come to her at the ring of stones, and that was
the important thing.
In a few days time, he would belong to some other woman. He
would stand in front of the altar at All Saints and pledge
his troth to Marianna Berryman, that sleek stranger who
looked very like a cream-fed cat.
Laurette understood this intellectually. It was something he
had to do for the sake of his estate and all the people who
depended on him. There were two villages in his purview
which had suffered year after year from neglect. The
prosperity of the local populace rested upon the shoulders
of a nineteen year old boy. When others his age were out
carousing, he was promising his future away.
What she planned for the twilight was foolish. It would mean
nothing in the wider world, but it meant everything to her.
She smoothed the fabric of her beaded blue dressโthe dress
she had worn for her hopeless come-outโand almost enjoyed
the shock on Conโs face when he saw her. She had lowered the
necklineโif her chest were the heavens, infinite
constellations of stars were twinkling brightly.
But Con loved her freckles.
โI am considerably underdressed, I see.โ He wore a homespun
shirt and breeches, clean but worn. New clothes were filling
his closets, but she was glad he didnโt come to her wearing
Berryman largesse.
โThis is a special occasion.โ
Con laughed a bit bleakly. โYes, itโs Wednesday evening.
Bring out the fireworks.โ
โI didnโt think of those. But I do have a bottle of
champagne I pinched from my fatherโs cellar.โ
โIโm not thirsty, Laurie.โ He collapsed onto the ground, but
made no motion for her to join him. She could feel his
retreat as though it were a living thing. Carefully she
spread her skirts and sat beside him.
โYouโll ruin that dress.โ
She shrugged. โIโll never wear it again. But I wanted to
wear it for you tonight. So you would remember.โ
โIโll never forget you, Laurie, and thatโs the problem.โ
She grabbed a hand. โItโs to be my wedding dress, Con. Iโm
going to marry you tonight.โ
He pulled away. โDonโt be daft. Iโve signed all the papers.
Berryman will send me to jail if I renege now.โ
โYouโll marry on Saturday, just as they planned. But your
heart will always belong to me.โ
โYou know it will, but what good is even saying it? This is
over, Laurie. We are over.โ
His words were brutal. He looked angry, his thick black
brows drawn into a frown.
โPlease give me tonight, Con. I want us to stand in this
magical place under Godโs sky. To speak whatโs in my heart.
To be your wife of the heart, if not in a church register.โ
She searched his face for a reaction. At first there was
none. Then residual anger turned to incredulity, and,
eventually, a faint smile.
โA pagan wedding for my pagan girl. Itโs not much to cling to.โ
โItโs all Iโll ever have,โ she said simply.
He kissed her then, too gently. She stole control and pushed
him on his back, eating him up as if she were starving. If
she didnโt stop she would make love to him before she said
the words she had labored over so long. She broke the kiss,
leaping to her feet.
โWe shall continue all that in a moment, my Lord Conover.
First I want you to stand up with me before the altar stone.โ
He shook his head. โYou really are serious.โ
โI am.โ
โAll right.โ Con got to his feet, brushing off his
threadbare pants. โI wishโโ
Laurette placed a finger on his lips. โNo regrets. We have
tonight, as the sun is sinking and the shadows loom. Now,
hold my hands.โ
โYes, madam.โ He brought them to his lips.
โThatโs soon to be Lady Conover to you. Oh, donโt look so
stricken. I know this is all pretense. But when winter
comes, the thought of this summer evening will keep me warm.โ
โItโs not enough.โ
โIt will have to be. Now then.โ She squeezed his hands. โI,
Laurette Isabella Vincent, do take thee, Desmondโโ
โThee?โ
โQuiet. Your turn will come. Do take thee, Desmond Anthony
Ryland, seventh Marquess of Conover, to be the husband of my
heart and keeper of my soul and body for all eternity.
Though circumstances may part us, nothing will ever break
the bonds of our friendship and love.โ
The next part was tricky. She certainly was not going to
promise to obey. Not Con or anyone.
โI do solemnly promise to be mindful of thy wishes in all
things, even if I do not always agree. I will love
youโtheeโand support thee until I cease to draw breath. I
pledge this to thee before the altar of the Ancients, in the
sight of God our Father, whose ways may be a mystery at
present.โ
There had been more, but her throat was becoming thick as
Con looked down on her, his black eyes somber. โAmen.โ
He kissed the tear from her cheek. โI, Desmond Anthony
Ryland, seventh Marquess of Conover, take thee Laurette
Isabella Vincent as my wedded wife of the heart. I shall be
true to thee until death. I love you so much, Laurie, my
heart is breaking.โ
They held each other as the sun dipped behind the megalith,
casting its last light on the sparkles of Lauretteโs dress.
The champagne was forgotten, but the consummation of their
union was not.
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