A Lady of Expectations and Other Stories: A Lady Of Expectations / The Secrets of a Courtesan / How to Woo a Spinster
From acclaimed authors Stephanie Laurens, Nicola Cornick and Kasey Michaels come three enchanting tales to exceed expectations.A Lady of Expectations Jack Lester seeks the perfect bride—one who is attractive and kind, but who also loves him in spite of his wealth. Which is why he keeps this trifling detail hidden. But when Sophie Winterton enters his life, believing he must marry into wealth to run his family’s estate, how will he convince her that she is the woman he desires—and that he can be the husband she deserves?Secrets of a Courtesan Eve Nightingale thought she had put her past as mistress to the Duke of Welburn behind her. But when the handsome duke strolls into her small village, she finds it hard to keep her secrets concealed…and to keep her heart from stirring for him once again.Missives & MistletoeGoverness Maggie Stover is outraged when she is coerced into harboring a pirate in her home, lest her family face eviction. Though she may have a change of heart when she realizes the pirate is in fact the long-lost, and devilishly alluring, Duke of Trevere.
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From acclaimed authors Stephanie Laurens, Nicola Cornick and Kasey Michaels come three enchanting tales to exceed expectations.
A Lady of Expectations
Jack Lester seeks the perfect bride—one who is attractive and kind, but who also loves him in spite of his wealth. Which is why he keeps this trifling detail hidden. But when Sophie Winterton enters his life, believing he must marry into wealth to run his family’s estate, how will he convince her that she is the woman he desires—and that he can be the husband she deserves?
Secrets of a Courtesan
Eve Nightingale thought she had put her past as mistress to the Duke of Welburn behind her. But when the handsome duke strolls into her small village, she finds it hard to keep her secrets concealed…and to keep her heart from stirring for him once again.
How to Woo a Spinster
Governess Maggie Stover is outraged when she is coerced into harboring a pirate in her home, lest her family face eviction. Though she may have a change of heart when she realizes the pirate is in fact the long-lost, and devilishly alluring, Duke of Trevere.
Praise for #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens
“All I need is her name on the cover to make me pick up the book.”
—New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard
“Laurens’s writing shines.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Superbly sensual…elegantly written…splendidly entertaining.”
—Booklist
Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Cornick
“Her books are fabulous.”
—New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn
“A rising star of the Regency arena.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A wonderfully original, sinfully amusing and sexy Regency historical by the always entertaining Cornick.”
—Booklist on The Confessions of a Duchess
Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author Kasey Michaels
“Kasey Michaels aims for the heart and never misses.”
—New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts
“The historical elements…imbue the novel with powerful realism that will keep readers coming back.”
—Publishers Weekly on A Midsummer Night’s Sin
“One of the finest Regency writers does it again… Wit, humor and cleverness combine to create an utterly delicious romance, just the kind readers relish.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Taming of the Rake
A Lady of Expectations and Other Stories
A Lady of Expectations
Stephanie Laurens
The Secrets of a Courtesan
Nicola Cornick
How to Woo a Spinster
Kasey Michaels
A Lady of Expectations
Stephanie Laurens
Readers can contact Stephanie at [email protected]. For information on all of Stephanie’s books, including updates on novels to come, visit Stephanie’s website at www.stephanielaurens.com.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
“LADY ASFORDBY, OF ASFORDBY GRANGE, requests the pleasure of the company of Mr. Jack Lester, of Rawling’s Cottage, and guests, at a ball.”
Ensconced in an armchair by the fireplace, a glass of brandy in one long-fingered hand, the white card of Lady Asfordby’s invitation in the other, Jack Lester made the pronouncement with ill-disguised gloom.
“She’s the grand dame of these parts, ain’t she?” Lord Percy Almsworthy was the second of the three gentlemen taking their ease in the parlour of Jack’s hunting box. Outside, the wind howled about the eaves and tugged at the shutters. All three had ridden to hounds that day, taking the field with the Quorn. But while both Jack and his brother Harry, presently sprawled on the chaise, were clipping riders, up with the best of them, Percy had long ago taken Brummel’s lead, indefatigable in turning out precise to a pin but rarely venturing beyond the first field. Which explained why he was now idly pacing the room, restless, while the brothers lounged, pleasantly exhausted, with the look about them of men not willing to stir. Pausing by the fireplace, Percy looked down on his host. “Lend a bit of colour to your stay, what? Besides,” he added, turning to amble once more, “You never know—might see a golden head that takes your eye.”
“In this backwater?” Jack snorted. “If I couldn’t find any golden head worth the attention last Season—nor during the Little Season—I don’t give much for my chances here.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Unconsciously elegant, Harry Lester lounged on the chaise, one broad shoulder propped against a cushion, his thick golden locks rakishly dishevelled. His sharply intelligent green eyes wickedly quizzed his elder brother. “You seem remarkably set on this start of yours. As finding a wife has become so important to you, I should think it behoves you to turn every stone. Who knows which one hides a gem?”
Blue eyes met green. Jack grunted and looked down. Absent-mindedly, he studied the gilt-edged card. Firelight glinted over the smooth waves of his dark hair and shadowed his lean cheeks. His brow furrowed.
He had to marry. He had inwardly acknowledged that fact more than twenty months ago, even before his sister, Lenore, had married the Duke of Eversleigh, leaving the burden of the family squarely on his shoulders.
