About the Book
Blurb-
The past has come back to haunt Lord Mathew and Lady Jessica. Even with extra precautions to keep them both safe from someone who was supposed to be dead their plans quickly change. With family and friends, they retire to the Winsome estate to await the countess’s annual Valentine Eve Ball.
What Lord Matthew doesn’t realize; this excursion will be rather costly for him as Lady Jessica insists on a proper gown for the ball. While she and the other ladies shop Lord Matthew and Lord Justin, the newest peer, search out where the person could be hiding. What they find is even more disturbing-a body. Immediately Lord Matthew knows who murdered the old man. Another individual who shouldn’t be living as he and Lady Jessica watched her die.
After passing this information on to their friends the men set about to hunt these people down. Will the persons be found in time so Lord Matthew and Lady Jessica can marry without worry?
Excerpt-
Stepping in, Matt was more focused on the powerful peer than anything which wasn’t his norm, considering his former duties to the Crown. Several feet from the desk, behind which the duke sat glaring at him, Matt stopped and gave a deep bow.
“Take a seat,” the duke ordered, or so it seemed to Matt.
Immediately, this gave him a hint as to how this interview would go. Interrogation. The only chair available, was a hard-seated, straight-backed one which reminded Matt of his youth and being called into his father’s office for a dressing down.
Knowing he wasn’t to speak until addressed by His Grace, Matt tried to calm his increasingly quaking nerves, but to very little avail. The stare he was getting could have rivaled any from the Grand Dames of the ton. Finally.
“So, you’re here to seek my approval in marrying my goddaughter, Lady Jessica? Can you give me one valid reason why I should give my consent?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I love Lady Jessica to the point of distraction and have ever since we met a year or so ago,” Matt barely got out.
“Then, I ask, why has it taken so long for you to approach me? Before you answer, I am well aware of your reputation within the ton and duties to the Crown.”
“As you said, Your Grace, you know of my past indiscretions but since I was formally introduced to Lady Jessica, not once has my eye strayed to another. As for my work with the Crown, many times I have been called away. Only now have I tendered my services with them, much to their displeasure,” Matt explained.
“If you receive my nod, what are your plans if Lady Jessica agrees to be your wife? Will you keep her shuttered away in some faraway estate thus not permitting her to come to London?”
“Your Grace, as I’ve no estate of my own until I, someday in the distant future, become the Earl of Winsome, we will reside either in the earl’s townhouse or the country estate. As for coming to London during the Season, I will be more than happy to accompany her that way we may keep acquainted with her and my friends.”
He could feel himself becoming more panicked that the duke wouldn’t give his permission to speak with the earl. When the office door opened, it was all Matt could do to keep from jumping up. Not hearing anyone approach but knowing someone had entered, it took all of his fortitude to keep his attention focused on the duke.
“Dearest husband, why on earth are you giving this boy such a hard time? You’ve known all along he would receive your permission, so just give it, and let him be on his way.” Matt heard the duchess declare.
Matt jumped to his feet, turned, and bowed deeply to the grand lady.
“Because I wished to see him squirm. After all, he’s about to depart on the most amazing adventure of his life, and I wanted to make sure he was ready,” the duke stated.
Buy Links:
US- http://tinyurl.com/hqf3uec
UK- http://tinyurl.com/gmbvofu
CA- http://tinyurl.com/jcuqcb7
AU- http://tinyurl.com/h7nvo5a
IN- http://tinyurl.com/jzqpb2g
The past has come back to haunt Lord Mathew and Lady Jessica. Even with extra precautions to keep them both safe from someone who was supposed to be dead their plans quickly change. With family and friends, they retire to the Winsome estate to await the countess’s annual Valentine Eve Ball.
What Lord Matthew doesn’t realize; this excursion will be rather costly for him as Lady Jessica insists on a proper gown for the ball. While she and the other ladies shop Lord Matthew and Lord Justin, the newest peer, search out where the person could be hiding. What they find is even more disturbing-a body. Immediately Lord Matthew knows who murdered the old man. Another individual who shouldn’t be living as he and Lady Jessica watched her die.
After passing this information on to their friends the men set about to hunt these people down. Will the persons be found in time so Lord Matthew and Lady Jessica can marry without worry?
Excerpt-
Stepping in, Matt was more focused on the powerful peer than anything which wasn’t his norm, considering his former duties to the Crown. Several feet from the desk, behind which the duke sat glaring at him, Matt stopped and gave a deep bow.
“Take a seat,” the duke ordered, or so it seemed to Matt.
Immediately, this gave him a hint as to how this interview would go. Interrogation. The only chair available, was a hard-seated, straight-backed one which reminded Matt of his youth and being called into his father’s office for a dressing down.
Knowing he wasn’t to speak until addressed by His Grace, Matt tried to calm his increasingly quaking nerves, but to very little avail. The stare he was getting could have rivaled any from the Grand Dames of the ton. Finally.
“So, you’re here to seek my approval in marrying my goddaughter, Lady Jessica? Can you give me one valid reason why I should give my consent?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I love Lady Jessica to the point of distraction and have ever since we met a year or so ago,” Matt barely got out.
“Then, I ask, why has it taken so long for you to approach me? Before you answer, I am well aware of your reputation within the ton and duties to the Crown.”
“As you said, Your Grace, you know of my past indiscretions but since I was formally introduced to Lady Jessica, not once has my eye strayed to another. As for my work with the Crown, many times I have been called away. Only now have I tendered my services with them, much to their displeasure,” Matt explained.
“If you receive my nod, what are your plans if Lady Jessica agrees to be your wife? Will you keep her shuttered away in some faraway estate thus not permitting her to come to London?”
“Your Grace, as I’ve no estate of my own until I, someday in the distant future, become the Earl of Winsome, we will reside either in the earl’s townhouse or the country estate. As for coming to London during the Season, I will be more than happy to accompany her that way we may keep acquainted with her and my friends.”
He could feel himself becoming more panicked that the duke wouldn’t give his permission to speak with the earl. When the office door opened, it was all Matt could do to keep from jumping up. Not hearing anyone approach but knowing someone had entered, it took all of his fortitude to keep his attention focused on the duke.
“Dearest husband, why on earth are you giving this boy such a hard time? You’ve known all along he would receive your permission, so just give it, and let him be on his way.” Matt heard the duchess declare.
Matt jumped to his feet, turned, and bowed deeply to the grand lady.
“Because I wished to see him squirm. After all, he’s about to depart on the most amazing adventure of his life, and I wanted to make sure he was ready,” the duke stated.
Buy Links:
US- http://tinyurl.com/hqf3uec
UK- http://tinyurl.com/gmbvofu
CA- http://tinyurl.com/jcuqcb7
AU- http://tinyurl.com/h7nvo5a
IN- http://tinyurl.com/jzqpb2g
About the Author
I’ve been an avid reader ever since I was old enough to hold a red leather bound first edition copy of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake in my lap.
So it only seemed natural at some point in my life I take up pen and paper to start writing. Over time my skills slightly improved which I attribute to my English teachers.
My breakthrough came about in the mid 1970’s when I read a historical romance written by Sergeanne Golon, Angelique. This French husband and wife team opened my eyes to the real world of fiction. Stories about romance, beautiful damsels, handsome heroes and plots which kept me hooked. Of course, being a man, I had to keep my reading hidden from others as that wasn’t appropriate reading for men.
With this new found appreciation of the written word I took up other books and devoured them as a starving person would a plate of food. I them attempted to write again. I still wasn’t satisfied so I put it aside for years as other events entered my life.
Finally, in the early years of the new millennium I tried again to write and once again met with limited success. At least now I was able to get past the first page or two. Then, in 2006 a life changing event brought me back to my love, I took a job as a security officer. This allowed me plenty of time to read different genres.
My favourite was regency. As I poured through everyone I could get my hands on I knew this could be something I wanted to attempt.
Since 2012 when my debut regency romantic suspense released I was hooked and have, except for a few contemporaries, focused on this genre.
Since 2012 I’ve lived in central Texas. I’m also a member of Romance Writers of America and their local chapter.
Where you can find Lindsay Downs-
Facebook- http://tinyurl.com/pgq8vzz
Facebook Page- http://tinyurl.com/nresq5j
Twitter- @ldowns2966
LinkedIn- http://tinyurl.com/e8t56
Goodreads- http://tinyurl.com/prcdmml
Lindsay Downs-Romance Author- http://tinyurl.com/kvfz468
Amazon- http://tinyurl.com/ktem76c
So it only seemed natural at some point in my life I take up pen and paper to start writing. Over time my skills slightly improved which I attribute to my English teachers.
My breakthrough came about in the mid 1970’s when I read a historical romance written by Sergeanne Golon, Angelique. This French husband and wife team opened my eyes to the real world of fiction. Stories about romance, beautiful damsels, handsome heroes and plots which kept me hooked. Of course, being a man, I had to keep my reading hidden from others as that wasn’t appropriate reading for men.
With this new found appreciation of the written word I took up other books and devoured them as a starving person would a plate of food. I them attempted to write again. I still wasn’t satisfied so I put it aside for years as other events entered my life.
Finally, in the early years of the new millennium I tried again to write and once again met with limited success. At least now I was able to get past the first page or two. Then, in 2006 a life changing event brought me back to my love, I took a job as a security officer. This allowed me plenty of time to read different genres.
My favourite was regency. As I poured through everyone I could get my hands on I knew this could be something I wanted to attempt.
Since 2012 when my debut regency romantic suspense released I was hooked and have, except for a few contemporaries, focused on this genre.
Since 2012 I’ve lived in central Texas. I’m also a member of Romance Writers of America and their local chapter.
Where you can find Lindsay Downs-
Facebook- http://tinyurl.com/pgq8vzz
Facebook Page- http://tinyurl.com/nresq5j
Twitter- @ldowns2966
LinkedIn- http://tinyurl.com/e8t56
Goodreads- http://tinyurl.com/prcdmml
Lindsay Downs-Romance Author- http://tinyurl.com/kvfz468
Amazon- http://tinyurl.com/ktem76c
RSS Feed