An Unconventional Miss
A woman like no other Miss Jessica Beresford is headstrong, impetuous and poorly-dowered.Benedict Ashcroft, Earl of Wyvern, knows he should steer well clear of her, no matter how dazzling her beauty. His late brother has seemingly lost the family fortune, and Ben's last hope is to marry a well-behaved heiress! Jessica's exquisite loveliness is matched by her kind heart, and Ben is soon torn between duty and desire.So when she unlocks a secret that embroils them both in mystery and danger, Ben must secure both his family's future–and Jessica as his bride!
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“I apologize for that appalling scene, your lordship, but I could think of no other way to oblige you to dance with me!”
At her unexpected words, Wyvern’s heart hammered almost to a stop, causing him to miss his step and necessitating the nearest couple to swing hurriedly out of harm’s way.
Stifling his exasperation, the earl corrected his error and guided Jessica to a less populated area of the floor, whilst racking his brains to conjure up some non-committal remark.
“I had not noticed that you were suffering from a dearth of dancing partners, Miss Beresford,” he managed eventually.
“I cannot imagine how you would know that!” she flung back at him. “You only turn up when it suits you to do so!”
When he did not immediately respond, Jessica’s indignation increased. “Do you dislike me so much that you cannot even bring yourself to converse with me, sir?” she challenged him.
“I do not dislike you, Miss Beresford,” he replied heavily as, doing his utmost to ignore the tantalizing feel of her soft, warm body beneath his fingers, he strove desperately to focus his attention on the maneuvers of the dance.
An Unconventional Miss
Harlequin>®Historical
DOROTHY ELBURY
lives in a quiet Lincolnshire village, an ideal atmosphere for writing her historical novels. She has been married to her husband (it was love at first sight, of course!) for forty-five years, and they have three children and four grandchildren. Her hobbies include visiting museums and historic houses, and handicrafts of various kinds.
DOROTHY ELBURY
An Unconventional Miss
TORONTO • NEW YORK • LONDON
AMSTERDAM • PARIS • SYDNEY • HAMBURG STOCKHOLM • ATHENS • TOKYO • MILAN • MADRID PRAGUE • WARSAW • BUDAPEST • AUCKLAND
Available from Harlequin>®Historical and DOROTHY ELBURY
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Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter One
‘No luck, I’m afraid, Jess!’
His face a picture of utter dejection, Nicholas Beresford hurried into the tiny parlour of the wayside inn where, for the past half-hour, his sister had been anxiously awaiting his return.
‘The pole is totally shattered,’ he went on, flinging his slight form into the seat beside her. ‘And it seems that they can’t get a replacement until tomorrow. Added to which, it would appear that there’s not a single decent carriage for hire in the whole blessed place!’
Casting yet another uneasy glance at the clock on the mantelshelf, Jessica’s wide green eyes clouded in despair. ‘But what on earth are we to do, Nicky?’ she queried. ‘It is almost five o’clock and Harry promised Imo that we would be back well before six. Matt will just about crucify me if she starts to worry.’
Leaping to his feet, her young brother began to pace the floor. ‘Not you, Jess,’ he groaned. ‘It was my fault that we left Hampton Court so late—if only I hadn’t wasted all that time in the maze…!’
‘If only you had listened to Harry’s instructions, you mean,’ began Jessica crossly, but then, seeing her brother’s disconsolate expression, she sighed and, for the umpteenth time that afternoon, reminded him that it was hardly his fault that the carriage pole had snapped. In any event, surely they should just be thankful that none of them had been more seriously injured.
‘The doctor told Harry that a good night’s sleep will soon put Olivia back to rights,’ she then informed him. ‘And, thank heavens, Cartwright’s wrists are not broken after all—merely badly strained.’
