Widow Julia Partridge is desperate. To repay a debt, sheâs forced to sell herself in an auction at the most exclusive bawdy house in London. Julia only has to get through one night with one manâthough she never imagined that man would be Alistair Crawford, the dissolute Duke of Dunstan! Alistair has the face of a fallen angelâ¦and a reputation for vice to match. Yet when he turns his attentions to Julia, he unexpectedly arouses more passion in a few moments than sheâd felt in her entire marriageâ¦
This story is dedicated to my steadfast hero, Keith.
ANN LETHBRIDGE has been reading Regency novels for as long as she can remember. She always imagined herself as Lizzie Bennet or one of Georgette Heyerâs heroines, and would often recreate the stories in her head with different outcomes or scenes. When she sat down to write her own novel, it was no wonder that she returned to her first love: the Regency.
Ann grew up roaming England with her military father. Her family lived in many towns and villages across the country, from the Outer Hebrides to Hampshire. She spent many memorable family holidays in the West Country and in Dover, where her father was born. She now lives in Canada, with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and a Maltese terrier named Teaser, who spends his days on a chair beside the computer, making sure she doesnât slack off.
Ann visits Britain every year, to undertake research and also to visit family members who are very understanding about her need to poke around old buildings and visit every antiquity within a hundred miles. If you would like to know more about Ann and her research, or to contact her, visit her website at www.annlethbridge.com. She loves to hear from readers.
Enjoy more passion through the ages with the sensual Mills & Boon Historical UNDONE titles on sale now:
The Samuraiâs Forbidden Touch by Ashley Radcliff
The Taming of Mei Lin by Jeannie Lin
Delight and Desire by Joanna Maitland
A Scandalous Liaison by Elizabeth Rolls
Pleasured by the Viking by Michelle Willingham
Arabian Nights with a Rake by Bronwyn Scott
Bitten by Desire by Marguerite Kaye
The Virginâs Pursuit by Joanne Rock
Innocent in the Harem by Michelle Willingham
Taming Her Gypsy Lover by Christine Merrill
The Laird and the Wanton Widow by Ann Lethbridge
Craving something a little longer? Find more historical romantic adventure from Mills & Boon Historical at www.millsandboon.co.uk or your local bookstore.
Interested in writing for Harlequin Historical UNDONE? Send your submission to [email protected].
Dear Reader,
People often ask where my ideas come from, and for once I have a really good answer. When I visited Bath and heard about Jane Austenâs aunt being arrested for stealing lace, shoplifting in fact, I knew I would write this story when the right heroine came along. A very respectable woman, the aunt was eventually found innocent of the crime, but spent some very uncomfortable days in prison.
In this story, Julia is in a very different position, being down on her luck, but she seemed like someone who would try to solve such a problem her own way. You will also see that you have met some of the characters in this story before. Harry, from The Laird and the Wanton Widow, Undone, and Garrick, just before his story starts in Wicked Rake, Defiant Mistress.
Want to know more about me and my books? Visit me at http://www.annlethbridge.com
Tossed out on his ear, by Jove. Alistair Crawford, Duke of Dunstan, glowered at the Marquess of Beauworthâs front door as it closed. Not only had Beauworthâs Scottish cousin Godridge interrupted the game of cards Alistair had been sure of winning, Beauworth had actually welcomed his relative and shown Alistair the door
His lip curled in derision. No doubt about it, families were an utter bore.
He took the three steps down to the pavement with a leisurely stride. His coachman drove around the corner to retrieve him like some lost puppy. Farkey had an odd sixth sense around Alistairâs comings and goings.
Very much aware of the velvet pouch in his pocket and the fortune in jewels it contained, he started for his coach. His stepmotherâs furious words still rang satisfyingly in his ears. If it wasnât for Godridge, he and Beauworth would be celebrating their recovery.
Damn it all, the night was young. Why should he head home? There was nothing there for him. Nor did he need Farkey to ferry him around. The poor old fellow would be better tucked up in his nice warm bed. Alistair signaled the coachman to return home.
Past midnight, his evening barely started, and here he was at a loose end. Whiteâs? Too stuffy. Or Brooksâs? The stakes were high enough. The members, on the other hand, were far too predictable. Dull. Something earthier appealed. Something of a darker nature to beat back the ennui. He turned his steps east. A gambling den where men killed at a sideways glance might suit his mood. He might even wager the cursed family jewels and send his stepmother into a nervous decline.
