Excerpt Book 1
Ellen joined her aunt in the front
hall and they walked out to their waiting carriage together.
“Will Mr. Fairfax and Jonathon be
joining us this evening?”
“I fear not my dear. He and your
brother have both deserted us for the gaming clubs I believe.”
Ellen was disappointed to find that
he would not be joining them in their box at the Opera that evening. Ever since
she had realized her true feelings for him earlier that morning, she had hoped
to run into him and start repairing their relationship. “Oh. I see.”
“I am sure that we shall have a
fine time without them my dear. Countess Olivia and Lord Sinclair are sure to
join us.”
Ellen glanced down the street as
she climbed aboard the carriage. She noticed an unfamiliar equipage parked down
the block, but in the streetlight, she could not make out the crest. Something
about it disturbed her, however she was unsure what. “Aunt Kate, do you know
whose carriage that is?”
Kate glanced in the direction Ellen
had indicated and studied the crest upon the door. “Why, if I am not mistaken,
I believe that those are the Duke of Avebury’s colors, though I cannot be sure,
my dear.”
Feeling worried, Ellen frowned, for
the Duke lived on the opposite side of Paris. “What could he possibly be doing
over here?”
“I would not worry about it, love,
for if it is he, he shan’t bother us.”
They rode to the south of the city
where the opera house was located. Jean opened the carriage door and helped
them to descend. They entered the exquisitely decorated building and made their
way through the throng of patrons to their box on the second floor. Ellen sat
down in one of the front seats so that she might take everything in, and looked
around in excitement. The stage, hidden by gold brocade curtains, would be easy
to see from their seats. She glanced up with delight at the gorgeous tapestries
hanging upon the walls. Everything looked so inviting.
Picking up her opera glasses, Ellen
gazed about the room, waiting for the Opera to start. Her eyes caught on the
box directly across from her and she gasped.
Christopher sat across from the
Well’s box with a stunning raven-haired courtesan. At least that is what Ellen
suspected her to be. The woman wore a dangerously low cut gown of ruby red
silk. She had a positively gaudy diamond necklace around her throat and the
seductive way she leaned into Christopher made Ellen sick with jealousy.
She felt as if she had been
slapped. “How dare he!” Positive that her cheeks were as red as the Cyprian’s
gown, Ellen covered them, willing herself to be calm. She turned at once to
Lord Sinclair, who had just entered the box. “Lord Sinclair, how lovely it is
to see you. Will you be joining us for the entire performance, Milord?”
Sinclair smiled. “If you wish, my
dear Miss Montgomery, it would be my pleasure. I had hoped to be invited to sit
with you for a while.” He took the seat next to her.
Ellen turned her fiery gaze back to
Christopher. If he thinks I am going to behave the proper lady with him
sitting with a harlot, then he has another think coming. She leaned in
closer to Lord Sinclair with determination and her most charming smile. “Have
you seen this opera, Milord?”
“I am afraid not, however I am told
that it is quite delightful,” he answered, a roguish grin lighting his face.
“You do look very lovely this evening Miss Montgomery.”
“La Sir! You will put me to the
blush!” she exclaimed as she tapped him playfully with her fan, her eyes
twinkling with naughtiness.
“So what has put you into such high
spirits this evening?” he asked.
“Why, it is your company, of course,
my Lord,” she answered with an amused smile.
“I could not possibly take all of
the credit for your mood. Perhaps it is the…atmosphere.” Sinclair arched an eyebrow and cast a look
across the room with a smile.
“A lady would never admit to that,
Milord.” Ellen brushed her fan against
her left cheek and felt her cheeks heat at his look.
Excerpt Book 2
Alex
opened the terrace door and re-entered the room, picking up a glass of lemonade
as he did so. He studied the room and noticed that Lady Colby had indeed
returned and without her diamond necklace. “Damn it.” Alex swore under his
breath as he searched the room for Lord Trevers, but he was nowhere to be
found.
“Alex, the second waltz is about to begin,” Joanna said
as she reached his side, still curious about why he had rushed away as he had.
“You had better find Arianna if you still want to dance with her.”
“You are right my sweet.” Alex smiled at her. “Thank
you,” he replied as he went in search of Arianna. Someday he would have to
explain himself to her, he knew that she would start asking questions soon.
“My dear Miss Channings, it is our dance I believe,” Alex
said as he approached her, a twinkle in his smoky blue-gray eyes.
“I thought you had forgotten me Milord. I was just about
to accept Lord Crenshaw’s offer of a lemonade.” Arianna smiled at her current
swain. “I am sorry Lord Crenshaw, perhaps later.”
“I will be waiting right here with a lemonade when you
return Miss Channings,” Crenshaw said with devotion.
“Thank you, Milord.” Arianna gave him a devastating smile
as she walked gracefully to the dance floor with Alex.
“You have him trained well Miss Channings,” Alex said
sardonically.
“I have done nothing of the sort,” Arianna replied
huffily. “Lord Crenshaw is totally devoted to making sure that I am
comfortable, I never asked it of him. He volunteered.”
“And they call me a Rake,” Alex whispered in her
ear as he pulled her closer, demanding her full attention.
Arianna looked up at him breathless. He really was a most
exciting man, she thought to herself. She would never tell him she thought so
though. “If you do not loosen your hold on me Milord, I shall have to do
something drastic,” Arianna said instead.
“Such as my dear?” Alex asked with a grin as he pulled
her even closer.
Arianna narrowed her eyes, and instead of answering,
kicked him in the shin with her slippered foot.
Alex laughed and loosened his hold, but not too much. “Is
that more to your liking my dear?” He grinned down at her. She looked extremely
tempting in her sapphire blue silk gown that was so low-cut he could
practically see down the inside of it. She made his head spin with thoughts of
her in his bed. He shook his head to clear the images from his mind.
“No, but it shall have to do,” Arianna replied, thinking
that she had actually preferred being held as close to him as she could get.
“Would you care to go for a walk upon the terrace
Arianna?” Alex asked, hoping that she would say yes and he could steal a kiss.
“I think not Milord,” Arianna said, knowing that he had
something else in mind and she was not ready to put herself in that position
with him. “For I do believe that could quite ruin my reputation,” she said, but
continued as she saw his eyes narrow, knowing he thought she was referring to
his rumored reputation. “For I never leave the ballroom with just one
gentleman, all of the others would get quite jealous.” Arianna smiled wickedly.
Alex laughed and acknowledged the truth of her statement.
“Ah but it would be worth it dissuade all of your swains, my little temptress.”
“And what would I do without them Milord? For I should be
quite lonely with not one gentleman to dance with,” Arianna said teasingly.
“Oh but my dear girl, you would have me to dance with.”
Alex’s eyes turned even greyer with desire and Arianna caught her breath at his
duel meaning.
“I fear that would truly ruin my reputation Milord,
dancing with only you. For I should never be invited to another ball again.”
Arianna gave him a devastating smile.
“Hmmm, then I suppose I shall just have to lead you back
to your entourage.” Alex grinned as he escorted her off the dance floor.
Arianna gave him another devastating smile and his heart
flipped in his chest. “Until next time Milord.”
“Enjoy your evening Miss Channings.” Alex grinned and
bowed over her hand. He regretfully left her in the hands of her court who were
immediately fawning over her. He caught her eye and winked before going in
search of Joanna.
Excerpt Book 3
Jessica
smiled curiously up at the knight that she was dancing with. She still had not
gotten his name. “Sir, how is it you know my name, but I do not know yours?”
“As
I said, Miss Farrington, I have admired you from afar for quite some time now.
I have only now gotten up the courage to speak to you because we are
disguised.”
“Then
what shall I call you?” Jessica smiled incredulously.
“Call
me…the servant of your heart, for whatever you desire; it is my only wish to
give it to you.” He held her close and whispered in her ear.
His
softly spoken words took her breath away. “Milord, I cannot….”
“Then
what do you wish to call me?” he asked. “For that is who I shall be,” he said
intensely.
Jessica
took a deep breath to clear her head. “I suppose that I shall call you my Lord
Knight.”
“Then
that is who I shall be.” He smiled softly down at her, wishing that he could
kiss her.
“Now
my Lord Knight, how will I know it is you when next we meet?” Jessica looked up
at him breathlessly.
“You
shall know me my dear Aphrodite, have no fear about that.” As he smiled down at
her, it struck her that it was familiar, as was the way he held her in his
arms.
“Then
I shall look forward to when next we meet.” Jessica’s eyes sparkled like china
blue jewels in a mask.
“Until
then, my darling Aphrodite.” He bowed over her hand and kissed it softly before
disappearing into the crowd.
“Who
was that you were just dancing with Jessica.”
“I
am not at all sure Mother; he would not tell me his true name. Though there is
something about him that reminds me of…” Jessica paused, a puzzled look upon
her face. “But it is not at all possible.”
“Reminds
you of who my dear?” Lady Farrington asked, slightly distracted as she looked
around the ballroom for her husband.
“It
is nothing Mother, just a feeling that I know that man quite well, and yet…”
Jessica frowned.
“Well,
if you do not know his name, then how can you know him well?”
“I
do not know, Mother. But let us not worry about it anymore, for I am not going
to think about it in the least,” Jessica lied to herself and her Mother.
“All right, my dear,” Lady Farrington replied
still distracted, but upon seeing her husband she smiled. “Ah, look there is
your Father, dancing with Lady Whitborne. My goodness, she is dressed as
Cleopatra!”
“Ah
so that explains Lord Whitborne’s costume. He must be Anthony.” Jessica
grinned. “You do have to admit, if anyone can carry off Cleopatra, it is
Arianna. It must have taken Sally hours to braid her hair like that.”
“Who
are you looking at Jess?” Joanna asked when she returned with Lord Mayberry.
“Arianna,”
Jess replied. “Look she even has a gold bracelet on her upper arm, and is it…
my goodness it is shaped like a snake!”
“And
who is this mysterious Arianna you are both talking about my little
shepherdess?” Thomas asked with curiosity.
“Arianna
is Lady Whitborne, Alex’s wife and one of our best friends,” Joanna replied
with a smile. “She is dancing with Lord Farrington, right over there, by the
orchestra.”
“Ah,
Cleopatra, so that would make Alex… Anthony?” Thomas grinned.
“So
it seems.” Jessica smiled. “So Thomas, are you not even going to say hello?”
“My
lord Jess, I did not even recognize you!” Thomas replied with a grin. “You have
grown up since I saw you last.”
Jessica
grinned. “Well it has been several years.”
“So
it has.” Thomas took her hand and brought it to his lips. “You look even more
charming now than you did when you were ten.”
Jess
blushed. “Oh do be quiet, you know that you thought me quite dreadful at ten.”
She laughed.
“Never.”
Thomas teased her.
“Do
not listen to him Joanna, he truly did think me dreadful at ten. I used to tag
along after him whenever he went anywhere.” Jessica grinned up at him.
“Well
it was only because I was sixteen at the time and well…” Thomas grinned. “I
suppose that I had sixteen year old things on my mind.”
“Do
say that you will come by sometime soon so that we can catch up with each
other.” Jessica smiled.
“I
will.” Thomas smiled. “Now, my dear little shepherdess, I shall bid you good
night.” Thomas took her hand as he bowed.
“Good
night Lord Mayberry.” Joanna smiled as he walked away.
