Those Scandalous Ravenhursts Volume Two: The Shocking Lord Standon
Outrageous RegencyLords and Ladies!THE SHOCKING LORD STANDONRumours fly that Gareth Morant, Earl of Standon, is to be wed. He cannot deny them, but he won’t be forced into marriage. So encountering a governess in scandalising circumstances, Gareth demands her help—to make him ineligible. He wants to create a stir and will educate the prim Miss Jessica Gifford in the courtesan’s arts. But Gareth hadn’t bargained on such an ardent pupil!THE DISGRACEFUL MR RAVENHURSTMeeting his dowdy cousin Elinor on the Continent, Theo Ravenhurst can’t believe his luck. His dangerous lifestyle has finally caught up with him, and her family connections could be really useful… Soon Theo is convinced Elinor’s drab exterior disguises a fiery, passionate nature. He gives her the adventure she’s been yearning for—and discovers his new accomplice has great talent!
Читать Those Scandalous Ravenhursts Volume Two: The Shocking Lord Standon онлайн беплатно
Those Scandalous Ravenhursts Volume 2
The Shocking Lord Standon
The Disgraceful Mr Ravenhurst
Louise Allen
Table of Contents
Join favourite author
Louise Allen
as she explores the tangled love-lives of
Those Scandalous Ravenhursts
First, you travelled across war-torn Europe
with THE DANGEROUS MR RYDER
Then you accompanied Mr Ryderâs sister,
THE OUTRAGEOUS LADY FELSHAM, on her quest for a hero.
Now be scandalised by
THE SHOCKING LORD STANDON
Coming soonTHE DISGRACEFUL MR RAVENHURSTTHE NOTORIOUS MR HURSTTHE PIRATICAL MISS RAVENHURST
LOUISE ALLEN has been immersing herself in history, real and fictional, for as long as she can remember, and finds landscapes and places evoke powerful images of the past. Louise lives in Bedfordshire, and works as a property manager, but spends as much time as possible with her husband at the cottage they are renovating on the north Norfolk coast, or travelling abroad. Venice, Burgundy and the Greek islands are favourite atmospheric destinations. Please visit Louiseâs websiteâwww.louiseallenregency.co.ukâfor the latest news!
Gareth Morant, Earl of Standon, is upright, eligibleâand a bachelor who views the chancy business of falling in love with alarm.
Marriage just isnât for him, and certainly not to his wild childhood friend Maude. But Maude is going to be in deep trouble if she doesnât marry the highly respectable Earl, so what is a gentleman to do but create a scandal?
It isnât easy to become a rake overnight, as Gareth and I discovered, but finding a naked governess in a brothel certainly helped and, with the enthusiastic support of his cousins Eva and Sebastian Ravenhurst (THE DANGEROUS MR RYDER) and Bel and Ashe Reynard (THE OUTRAGEOUS LADY FELSHAM), Gareth succeeds in shocking Society.
But by then Gareth has dug himself into a moral, emotional and social hole, and he has to climb out of it, greatly hindered by his own treacherous heart, Maudeâs appalling acting and the surprising allure of the chaste Miss Gifford, who just wants to get back to teaching the piano and the Italian tongue. Or so she says.
I do hope you enjoy the progress of this reluctant rake as he discovers that falling in love is perhaps the most shocking experience of all.
My exploration of the life and loves of Those Scandalous Ravenhursts takes me to France next, where bluestocking spinster Elinor is assisting her scholarly mama amidst ecclesiastical ruins, quite unprepared for the eruption into her orderly life of THE DISGRACEFUL MR RAVENHURST, her black sheep of a cousin Theo. Heâs the last thing she needsâunfortunately she soon discovers heâs the one thing she wants.
Londonâlate February 1816
âMy lords, your honours, gentlemen! Your attention, please! At midnight, upon the stroke of the hour, Madame Synthiaâs School of Venus presents our famed Parade of Beauty. Ladies of rich and varied experience! Exotic creatures of every hue! Country-fresh innocents willing and eager to learn their business at the hands of dashing London beaux! Posture girls of amazing flexibility and ingenuity for your delectation! In half an hour, my lords and gentlemenâtake your places early and do not be disappointed!â
The ex-town crier employed at considerable expense by Madame Synthiaâformerly known as Cynthia Wilkins of Camden Townâshouted himself to a stop and left the platform at the end of the Grand Assembly Lounge. Footmen began to set chairs around the stage and keen patrons jostled to fill the front row, despite there being half an hour to go before the start of the performance.
âMorant, come on.â Gareth Morant, Earl of Standon, winced as Lord Fellingham nudged him sharply in the ribs. âThose posture girls are all the go, but you need to be close up to get a proper eyeful.â Fellingham licked his rather full lips. âThey hold up a mirror and there are candlesâ¦â
âI doubt they have any feature that any other woman you have had congress with was lacking, Fell.â Gareth set down his almost-full champagne flute and regarded the scrimmage around the stage with bored distaste. âThis place is a vulgar dive, I cannot imagine what we are doing here.â
