Julian Kenneway, Earl of Vinedale, has a secret: he is in love with innocent debutante Angelica Fortney. Sheâs the one thing he desires more than the tenuous peace he has regained since returning from India. Yet everyone, including Julian, believes heâs unsuitable for herâand seducing her could ruin both their lives.
But when a rival for Angelicaâs affections arrives, Julian realizes he canât lose herâand can no longer control his passion for herâ¦.
Book two of the Fortney Follies series.
When I originally sat down to write AN IMPRUDENT LADY, it was with the intent of writing a single story. But as I wrote Charlotte and Danielâs tale, I got to know several key secondary characters and realized that they had a very compelling story to tell, too.
So, when my editor asked me to send more Undones, I went straight to the Fortney family where Angelica and Vinedale were practically begging me to tell their story. Sometimes proximity can breed familiarityâ¦and love.
It is with great delight that I am able to share with you this new Undone short story, A DISGRACEFUL MISS, the second in the Fortney Follies series. Itâs the story of Angelica and Vinedale, the daughter and best friend of our former hero, Daniel. Angelica struggles to find her place in the world, since everything sheâs known about family has disintegrated around her, and Vinedale struggles against his overpowering feelings for his best friendâs daughter.
I hope that you enjoy their story and I would love to hear from you! Visit my website at www.elainegolden.com or email me at [email protected].
Happy Reading!
âThat girl will be the death of me, Vine.â
Julian Kenneway, the Earl of Vinedale, was leaning over his favorite billiards table at Whiteâs, when Daniel Walsh made this declaration. Julian paused in assessing his next shot and glanced toward his friend.
Ten years Julianâs senior, Daniel wasnât one for getting upset about much of anything. But now that Daniel was reunited with his beloved Charlotte, Julian wouldnât sign any vowels betting on it. In fact, Julian couldnât resist the opportunity to goad Daniel. Just a little.
âYour new wife already curtailing your leisure activities?â Julian asked. The scathing look he received nearly caused him to lose the serious expression he was trying to hold.
âI wonât dignify that remark with a response,â said Daniel. âItâs Angelica, not my wife. Howâs a man supposed to maintain his sanity with a beauty like that on his hands? Sheâs catching the eye of every buck in town, and I want to throttle them just for drooling on her glove.â
Careful not to respond, Julian returned his attention to the table, took aim and released. The ivory cue ball hurtled across the felt toward its target, which sunk in the netted pocket with authority. A moment later, the cue ball followed with a dull clack. Disgusted, he yielded the table and stepped away.
âWhat, ho!â crowed Daniel as he eyed the slate field with a gleam in his eye. âThatâs not your usual shot. Donât believe Iâve ever seen you sink the cue like that before.â
Julian ignored him, his thoughts forestalled on Danielâs earlier remark. âSo donât let them drool on her,â he said, the words tumbling out against his will.
âAs if tâwere that easy, Vine. Charlotte wonât let me interfere. Says itâs perfectly natural for a girl Angelicaâs age to encourage the beaus.â Daniel rolled his eyes. âAs if that should make me feel less put-upon.â
Left to hover between them, thick and silent as soot-laden fog, was the knowledge that Daniel didnât have the right to interfere with Angelica. Insofar as the world was concerned, Daniel was Angelicaâs brother-in-law; in reality, he was her sire. Just the prior year, Daniel had returned to England for the first time in nearly two decades and reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Charlotte Fortney. And had discovered Angelica was their child.
Daniel wasnât even her guardian, so he couldnât offer her more than the simple protection of a brother-by-marriage. He was relegated to the impotent role of escort-about-town.
âI swear, if I wasnât there glaring a warning, theyâd be drooling on her bosoms, as wellâwhich, Iâve also noted to Charlotte, are too exposed. She claims the gowns are of a modest cut, but I remain unconvinced. Your turn.â
And lovely bosoms they were, too, Julian couldnât help thinking. He admired them every chance he got, not that he would admit that to his friend. He rather liked his teeth where they were. Julian stepped toward the table, nonchalantly eyeing his next shot.