âPhilippaââ he began, in a raggedvoice.
She didnât give him a chance to beg, to explain, to persuade. âYou have gravely overstepped the boundaries of polite society.â
âI didnât do it alone,â St Just responded, his eyes hot, gleaming dark with unslaked need.
âHow dare you try to implicate me in your base conduct?â Philippa flamed. âLet me remind you that this is not some decadent European court filled with women who are dying of lust for your attentions.â
He had the audacity to give another throaty laugh. âYouâre just angry because you liked it.â
Author Note
I had such a good time writing Philippa and Valerianâs story! I am a fan of reunited loves. But I also thoroughly enjoyed researching the plot surrounding them. This was a perfect opportunity to explore some interesting angles on Cornwall. Here are some:
The mining industry: The fuse Valerian considers investing in was real! It was patented at that time by the gentleman named in the story. Mining was also the perfect backdrop for Lucienâs evil attempt to establish a mining cartel (mining cartels did come to pass about twenty years later).
Trist House in Veryan: Trist House was indeed owned at that time by a man who did re-do the landscaping and remodel the folly where Philippa and Valerian have a very hot kiss. Quarry rock is authentic too. Philippa and Valerian also see a Monkey Puzzle tree there. Research suggests that Trist House was one of the first places in Britain to attempt to grow the Monkey Puzzle tree, otherwise known as a Chilean Pine.
The Balkans: I am a history buff, and absolutely loved creating Valerianâs experience in Negush. The Phanariot-led uprising did occur. I liked the Phanariot backdrop so much that Iâm bringing it back with Lilya and Beldonâs story in a forthcoming novel.
Enjoy this book. I hope you find it to be an entertaining, passionate and informative story.
Readers can stay in touch on my website, www.bronwynscott.com, or at my blog, www.bronwynswriting.blogspot.com. I love hearing from my readers.
BRONWYN SCOTT is a communications instructor at Pierce College in the United States, and is the proud mother of three wonderful children (one boy and two girls). When sheâs not teaching or writing, she enjoys playing the piano, travellingâespecially to Florence, Italyâand studying history and foreign languages.
For Leslie Witwer.
Thanks for supporting The Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes Research. Your contribution will make a difference. Thanks also for your support of me. Your enthusiasm and encouragement is appreciated far more than you realise. Someday I hope to be celebrating the same for you.
London, June 1820
Valerian Inglemoore, the Viscount St Just, had a secret, a dreadful secret that caused him to tremble in guilt and self-loathing as he stood alone on Lady Rutherfordâs veranda, gazing at the paper lantern-lit garden beyond the balustrade, but not really seeing it.
His secret was all consuming, too consuming to spare a glance for the elegant town garden with its fountains and well-laid paths that wound through knot gardens and small privet hedges.
Under normal circumstances, the garden would have been quite enticing. But tonight, his secret was nearly too much to bear. He was twenty-one and he was in love with Philippa Stratten, Baron Pendennysâs daughter, and she was in love with him. She was to meet him here tonight.
But nothing would ever come of it.
That was the secret.
Tonight, he was breaking it off with her, at her fatherâs request. Tonight, he had to convince her after two months of stolen kisses and clandestine meetings that his affections were nothing more than a young manâs fleeting fancy. He didnât know how heâd manage. He loved her so much.
After tonight, heâd never take her in his arms, never feel her run her fingers through his hair, as if it were the rarest silk. The last two months had been heaven. Heâd danced with her at her début in April and every night since. Theyâd made a habit of heated kisses in curtained alcoves, and taking long walks in gardens during Venetian breakfasts and afternoon teas. It had been simple enough to manipulate time alone with her. He was an avid botanist as well as a horseman. It was plausible enough to say they were going off to look at a certain variety of flower or to see a new colt in the stables.
Oh, yes, theyâd fallen madly in love with each other. One could almost say it was love at first sight except that he had known Philippa for years. She was his best friend Beldonâs sister. The threesome had spent school holidays roaming the Cornish coast together. Heâd known since his first visit home with Beldon that his heart could belong to no other.