Rescued From Ruin
WHAT THE TON DOESN’T KNOW…During the years since Randall Cheltenham, Marquess of Falconbridge, last saw Cecelia Thompson he has turned into a dissolute rake. Catching sight of her now, he finds bittersweet memories threaten to shatter his carefully constructed façade.Although in the eyes of the ton Cecelia is a wealthy widow, in reality she has barely a penny to her name. Randall seems to offer a safe haven, but how can she trust a man who has hurt her before – and who seems to have only become darker with the passing of time?
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âEven the life of a marquess has its dark moments.â
Her teasing smile faded and a soft understanding filled her eyes. âEveryoneâs life does.â
Heâd watched stone-faced while mistresses wailed, and had stepped casually to one side to avoid an errant porcelain figure lobbed at him. None of those overwrought reactions had cut him to the core like her simple comment. For the second time in as many minutes the shame of his past gnawed at him before he crushed it down.
âGood.â He smiled with more glib humour than he felt, clasping his hands behind his back. âBecause in London Iâm a very good acquaintance to haveâespecially for someone whoâs left her reputation across the Atlantic.â
âI shall keep it in mind. Good evening, Lord Falconbridge.â
She dipped a curtsy and walked off across the room to join a small circle of matrons standing near the window.
He watched her goâthe boy in him desperate to call her back...the man heâd become keeping his shoes firmly rooted to the floor.
AUTHOR NOTE
The past and the way it influences and affects the present plays a central role in RESCUED FROM RUIN. Randall and Ceceliaâs story has elements of that awkward moment weâve all faced when we run into an old flame or an ex-best friend during a quick trip to the store wearing our yoga pants. No matter what the reality of our lives at that moment, we want to impress that person from our past and show them how much weâve changed for the better since they last knew us.
For most of us an unexpected reunion in the produce aisle is something to laugh at afterwards, while vowing never to leave the house without make-up again. However, for Cecelia and Randall, meeting again after ten years forces them to do more than show off. They have to face demons and heartaches theyâve both struggled to forget.
An unexpected reunion with the past is something we can all relate to, and it was fun channelling my own experiences into the story to make that first moment Randall and Cecelia meet again realistic.
A dedicated history and film buff, GEORGIE LEE loves combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego, before moving to Hollywood to work in the interesting but strange world of the entertainment industry. During her years in La-La Land she never lost her love for romance novels and decided to try writing one herself. To her surprise, a new career was born. When not crafting tales of love and happily-ever-after, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent.
Please visit www.georgie-lee.com to learn more about Georgie and her books. She also loves to hear from readers, and you can e-mail her at [email protected]
A previous novel by the same author: ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE
Did you know that this novel is also available as an eBook? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
DEDICATION
Iâd like to thank my husband, parents and in-laws for all their support, childcare, dinners, and patience while I worked on this book. I couldnât have done it without all of you.
Contents
Chapter One
London 1816
Randall Cheltenham, Marquess of Falconbridge, looked down the length of the salon, his chest tightening as if hit by a low branch while riding.
Cecelia Thompson stood in the doorway, just as she had so many times in his dreams.
When was the last time heâd seen her? Ten years ago? For ever?
Her eyes met his and the image of her standing in a field, the acrid smell of cut grass and damp earth blending with the warmth of the late afternoon sun, overwhelmed him. He was eighteen again and she was here.
Once, he would have sold his soul for this moment. Now, he waited for the tenuous connection to snap and for her soft look to turn hard with disdain. In his experience, it was a rare woman who forgot past slights. Heâd played no small part in her decision to leave England; driving people away was a talent heâd possessed in spades back then.
He stood rock-still, anticipating the sneer, but it never came. Instead her face remained soft, her smile easy and genuine. Her brown hair was a shade darker and her hazel eyes, flecked with green, held something of the girl heâd once known, but with an unmistakable maturity. In other women it made them seem hardened by life, but in Cecelia it increased her beauty, surrounding her with an air of mystery more fascinating than the innocence he remembered so well.
Then old Lord Weatherly shuffled between them to greet her and she looked away.
âYou already know the young woman?â Madame de Badeau gasped, her thick voice pulling his thoughts back to the room. He looked down at the mature French woman standing beside him in her lavender dress, her dark eyes dancing with the thrill of having discovered something new about him after all their years of acquaintance.
