by Susana Ellis
Regency Romance
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Release
Date: January 3, 2013
Heat
Level: Sweet
Available at:
Description:
At the
betrothal ball of the man she had expected to marry herself, Lady Theresa
latches on to Damian Ashby, hoping to divert attention from her own humiliating
situation. Of course, she's not seriously interested because he's a useless London
fribble, in her opinion. He is not favorably impressed with her either.
Still, she's
the daughter of an earl, and he's the heir to her father's title and estate, so
they are destined to spend more time in each other's company…sooner rather than
later. And who knew that the two of them would develop an unlikely attraction
to one another?
But can a London swell and a country lady ever make their diverse
lives and interests work together?
Excerpt:
Damian Ashby, Viscount Clinton, looked down upon the
festive ballroom with a critical eye as he waited in the reception line. Greek
statues and scrolled Ionic columns, along with draperies of white and gold and
a profusion of candelabras wrapped in ivy, trumpeted the classical theme. A
brief survey of the guests confirmed his suspicion that the Sedgelys did not
socialize in the first circles of the ton. Except for his cousin, the
Earl of Granville, whose heir he was and at whose behest he had deigned to
attend, Damian himself appeared to be the highest ranked in attendance.
And frankly, he’d rather be indulging in an intimate
dinner and sensual dessert with his mistress than attending a provincial
betrothal ball held for two people he’d never met.
“Charmed, I’m sure” he said disdainfully as he greeted
his hosts. The pudgy Mr. Sedgely, a banker, and his horse-faced wife, second
cousin to a baron, socialized on the fringes of theton, which is why
he’d never encountered them previously.
The balding gentleman waiting to greet him on the next
step down introduced himself as Squire Bromfield, father of the bridegroom. “So
good of you to come,” he boomed, “considering I’ll be your neighbor one day. Or
at least my son will, if I’ve shoved off by then.”
“Indeed,” Damian replied, shuddering inwardly at the
thought of socializing with such boorish people. After he inherited, he planned
to reside at Granville Manor for one week annually during the hunting season.
The rest of the year it would be left under the management of a capable steward
while he continued to enjoy the pleasures of civilized society in London.
He was calculating the most direct path to the card
room when a young lady pounced on him.
“Why, I do believe it’s Cousin Damian! How delightful
to see you again!”
She was passably pretty, he thought, although her
marine-blue gown was not in the first stare of fashion. He could find no fault
with her small waist and full breasts, although he personally preferred a more
voluptuous figure. Her hair was too dark a blonde to be in vogue, and the
simple chignon indicated that she had arranged it herself without the
assistance of a maid. But it was her tantalizing eyes that drew his attention—a
deep cerulean blue that reminded him of the Adriatic Sea and a pleasurable
interlude on a beach with a sultry Greek barmaid during his European tour a few
years ago.
Cousin?
She swatted his arm with her fan.
“You don’t remember me, do you, Cousin Damian? It has
been an age since your visit to Granville at Christmastime. It was five or six
years, perhaps, but I still had no trouble recognizing you!”
His memory yielded the image of a younger version of
the girl before him. Barely out of adolescence, she’d been as provincial as the
others in the tedious party.
“Lady Theresa,” he said. “How delightful to see you
again!”
“Cousin Theresa,” she insisted. “Strict propriety need
not be followed among relations, you know.”
“Although a high-stickler would point out our blood
relationship is somewhat diluted,” he reminded her, “our grandfathers being
merely cousins and all.”
She grinned. “Isn’t it fortunate there are no
high-sticklers here?”
The first notes of a waltz were struck. “What luck!”
she said, pulling him onto the dance floor. “Come dance with me, Cousin Damian.
I do so adore waltzes!”
He could have—should have—cut her for her
impertinence. If he’d been ambushed in such a manner by any other young lady at
a ton ball, she’d have been dealt a severe set-down. But among a roomful
of provincials, Lady Theresa, as the daughter of an earl, outranked everyone
except her father and himself. And seeing as she was the one who would be
displaced when he inherited her father’s estate, he decided to ignore her lapse
in manners. More or less.
“How fortunate that we both have this dance
available,” he said with a hint of reproof.
“Oh la,” she said. “I don’t have so many partners that
I must write down their names. And you just arrived,” she said with a
triumphant smile.
A country bumpkin, thought Damian in disgust. Bruiting
about her own unpopularity so candidly. She would be a pariah at any civilized
ball.
She danced surprisingly well for a country girl, he
thought as they whirled around the room. She felt good in his arms and the
scent of her hair wafted up to his nose. Lavender.
Her astonishing eyes peered up at him, sparkling with
interest. Oh no, he groaned inwardly. Here it comes.
“You are easily the most refined gentleman here,” she
gushed. “Your apparel outshines even Reese’s, and he is the guest of honor.”
Seeing his puzzled look, she explained. “Reese Bromfield, Squire Bromfield’s
son. The husband-to-be.” She nodded toward a hulky blond man dancing with a
pretty redhead. “That’s Eugenia Sedgely, his fiancée.”
Was it only his imagination that her voice shook
slightly when she said that last word?
About the Author:
A former
teacher, Susana is finally living her dream of being a full-time writer. She
loves all genres of romance, but historical—Regency in particular—is her
favorite. There’s just something about dashing heroes and spunky heroines
waltzing in ballrooms and driving through Hyde Park that appeals to her
imagination.
In real life, Susana is a lifelong resident of northwest Ohio,
although she has lived in Ecuador and studied in Spain, France and Mexico. More
recently, she was able to travel around England and visit many of the places
she’s read about for years, and it was awesome! She is a member of the Maumee
Valley and Beau Monde chapters of Romance Writers of America.
Connect with Susana Ellis
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Prize is a gift box of items from England from Susana Ellis.
Contest is barrage-wide, open internationally and ends Aug 21.
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
Thanks for hosting me, Lynelle! I really appreciate it!
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