The Lady And The Outlaw
Antoinette Huntington Was On The RunHer husband had been murdered. And the British duchess had fled her native land, hoping to disappear into the vast American West. But nothing she knew about "The Colonies" had prepared her for the wild, open land or characters like Nate Bishop.A man with a past, who was determined to become her future! One look at Ann Huntington and Nate knew he was in for trouble. The lady was obviously not what she said she was. Yet the more she kept her distance, the more he wanted to uncover all her secrets and find out just what kind of a woman Miss Huntington really was… .
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Holy Mother. He was pulling her skirt up!
“You can’t do this!” she gasped.
“I assure you, your maidenly honor is quite safe. I’m only searching for weapons. I don’t trust anyone, especially women as wily as you, my dear. Perhaps a knife strapped to your leg?”
His hand moved up one leg, then another. Her pulse quickened. “How dare you?” she whispered.
Nate removed his hand from beneath the folds of her skirts, then turned her loose.
Ann spun around, ready to give him a piece of her mind. But seeing his raised hand, she backed away. “I don’t care who finds me in your room. If you strike me, I swear I’ll scream.” He brushed back the hair that had fallen into his eyes, and Ann realized her mistake. There had been no blow intended.
Nate leaned against the door. “What’s wrong, duchess? Guilty conscience?”
Dear Reader,
What a perfect time to celebrate history-the eve of a new century. This month we’re featuring four terrific romances with awe-inspiring heroes and heroines from days gone by that you’ll want to take with you into the next century!
Antoinette Huntington is the unforgettable heroine in The Lady and the Outlaw, a new Western by DeLoras Scott, which also happens to be the longawaited sequel to her very first Harlequin Historical novel, Bittersweet. Here, the pragmatic and English-bred Antoinette has a romantic run-in with a rugged outlaw on a train headed to the Wild West. Don’t miss it!
In Suzanne Barclay’s new medieval novel, The Champion, knight Simon of Blackstone will leave you breathless when he returns from the Crusades to right past wrongs. In doing so, he rekindles a love that was lost but not forgotten. Wolf Heart is the fascinating, timeless hero from Shawnee Bride by Elizabeth Lane. He’s a Shawnee warrior who rescues a young woman from certain death. Can the deep love that grows between them transcend the cultural barriers?
Corwin of Lenvil, a Saxon knight, is the handsome hero in Shari Anton’s exciting new medieval tale, By Queen’s Grace. Corwin infiltrates a rebel camp in order to rescue a kidnapped royal maiden who long ago broke his heart. There’s passion and danger at every turn!
Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.
Happy holidays,
Tracy Farrell
Senior Editor
To Tracy Farrell, a very special lady
England, October 1875
Having heard the baying of the duke’s hounds, the small hunting party spread out. The duke’s cousin, Matthew, moved to the left, while Edmund Huntington, the duke of Gravenworth, veered off to the right. The duchess chose to remain in the center. If all went well, the dogs would soon flush a worthy stag from the protection of the forest, momentarily disturbing the morning fog still clinging to the edges of the meadow.
A superb horsewoman, Antoinette set her frisky gray splendidly. As always, her mohair riding habit and hat mirrored the current Parisian fashion. However, her thoughts were not on horsemanship, fashion or the hunt.
As Antoinette drew her rifle from the confines of the saddle scabbard, a momentary frown creased her smooth brow, the only indication of the pain the effort caused. At least her clothes hid the bruises Edmund had inflicted last night.
Resting the weapon across her lap, the duchess glared at her husband’s back. Before Edmund had pulled ahead, she had seen his nostrils flare. He was already anticipating the kill. Antoinette’s full mouth spread into a contemptuous smile as she curled her finger around the trigger. Finally she raised the weapon to her shoulder and waited for the stag, already desperate to elude the dogs and death. But as if guided by some unknown force, she slowly moved the tip of the barrel until the back of her husband’s head came within her line of vision.
Five years of mistreatment flashed through her mind. From Edmund she had learned the meaning of loathing. How many nights had she prayed that some misfortune would befall him? She could end his tyranny here and now. All she had to do was squeeze the trigger.
A stag suddenly leaped into the clearing, not six feet from where Edmund had positioned himself. He fired his weapon, but the magnificent beast didn’t falter. The duke had again missed his target.
An unusual calmness befell Antoinette. as she looked back down the barrel of her rifle…still pointed at her husband. Could she kill him? Was she capable of such a monstrous act? It would be so easy.
A shot exploded in her ear. Her eyes became large green orbs as she watched Edmund sway in the saddle then slowly slide to the ground, the blood from the hole in his back already staining his yellow hunting jacket.
