The courtesanâs courtship
Pursuing a role in Parliament, Christopher Lattimar needs a virtuous marriage to make society overlook his roguish past. When beautiful and disarming Ellie Parmenter offers to reform and refine him, heâs too tempted to say no.
Once a courtesan, Ellie knows a thing or two about polishing a diamond in the rough. She has no designs on Christopherâor any man in search of a wifeâbut their best-laid plans begin to tumble once lessons in respectability turn to seduction...
Hadleyâs Hellions
Four friends united by power, privilege and the daring pursuit of passion!
From being disreputable rogues at Oxford to becoming masters of the political game, Giles Hadley, David Tanner Smith, Christopher Lattimar and Benedict Tawny live by their own set of unconventional rules.
But as the struggle for power heats up so too do the lives of these daring friends. They face unexpected challenges to their long-held beliefs and rigid self-control when they meet four gorgeous independent women with defiant streaks of their ownâ¦
Read Giles Hadleyâs story in
Forbidden Nights with the Viscount
Read David Tanner Smithâs story in
Stolen Encounters with the Duchess
Read Benedict Tawnyâs story in
Convenient Proposal to the Lady
Available now!
This is the final book in Hadleyâs Hellions, Christopher Lattimarâs story: Secret Lessons with the Rake
Author Note
Itâs difficult for the modern reader to understand how limited the world was for a âgently bornâ nineteenthcentury girl. Her sole occupational choice was marriage, her behaviour was held to an exacting standard, and any serious lapse of conduct meant permanent exile from her class and her family.
Cast into the demi-monde, my heroine must survive in a world for which sheâs had no preparation. Ellie Parmenter is particularly grateful for the friendship of a scandalous matron of her own classâand for her son, who treats Ellie like the lady she was when she was born. When the opportunity arises to repay that kindness by teaching Christopher Lattimer how to court a girl with the wealth and connections to advance his Parliamentary career she welcomes itâeven though success will mean terminating her association with the man whoâs become so dear to her.
Christopher realises itâs time to end his wandering ways and take a wife, as all his friends have. But after an adulthood spent among the demi-monde he knows nothing about how to behave around a proper young virgin. Though heâd rather woo the lovely and now available Ellie, an affair with a famous courtesan might harm his careerâand marrying her is impossible.
But love has a way of breaking all the rulesâ¦
I hope youâll enjoy Christopher and Ellieâs story.
JULIA JUSTISS wrote her ideas for Nancy Drew stories in her third-grade notebook, and has been writing ever since. After publishing poetry in college she turned to novels. Her Regency historical romances have won or been placed in contests by the Romance Writers of America, RT Book Reviews, National Readersâ Choice and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives with her husband in Texas. For news and contests visit juliajustiss.com.
Books by Julia Justiss
Mills & Boon Historical Romance
Hadleyâs Hellions
Forbidden Nights with the Viscount
Stolen Encounters with the Duchess Convenient Proposal to the Lady Secret Lessons with the Rake
The Wellingfords
The Wedding GambleThe Proper WifeA Most Unconventional MatchRegency Candlelit ChristmasâChristmas Wedding WishâFrom Waif to Gentlemanâs WifeSocietyâs Most Disreputable Gentleman
Ransleigh Rogues
The Rake to Ruin HerThe Rake to Redeem HerThe Rake to Rescue HerThe Rake to Reveal Her
Silk & Scandal
The Smuggler and the Society Bride
Visit the Author Profile page
at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.
Who else could I dedicate my âson and dogâ story to but Eve Gaddy? Brainstorming and critique partner, conference travelling buddy and friend who has shared so much of this up-and-down writerâs journey with me. Youâre the best.
Prologue
LondonâMarch 26th, 1832
Laughing and energised, Christopher Lattimar, Member of Parliament for Wiltshire, led his friends into the small private room at the Quill and Gavel, a tavern on a quiet street near the Houses of Parliament. âTime to celebrate our achievement. Iâd say itâs a night for wine, women and song!â
âOr at least wine and women,â Ben Tawny agreed with a grin.
âTwo of my favourite things,â Christopher said.
âAs we well know,â Ben replied.
âYou should,â Christopher tossed back. âSince until recently, you outdid me in enjoying both.â