Wicked Wager
She is the one woman who can reform his wicked ways…Lord Anthony Nelthorpe has committed many sins – including his attempt to seduce well-bred Jenna Montague Fairchild. But now Anthony’s injuries from the Waterloo battlefield are being nursed by the very woman he wronged…Though he’s the last man on earth Jenna wants to see, Anthony shocks the wealthy young widow out of her frightening apathy. Since Jenna has saved his rascal skin, does she not owe it to society to make a better man of him?Now Jenna is to reform him by Christmas, the season of miracles, while Anthony must figure out how to win this wager without wanting her all over again…
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Praise for Julia Justiss
A MOST UNCONVENTIONAL MATCH
‘Justiss captures the true essence of the Regency period in this sweet, gentle romance. The characters come to life with all the proper mannerisms and dialogue as they waltz around each other in a “most unconventional” courtship.’
—RT Book Reviews
ROGUE’S LADY
‘With characters you care about, clever banter, a roguish hero and a captivating heroine, Justiss has written a charming and sensual love story.’
—RT Book Reviews
THE UNTAMED HEIRESS
‘Justiss rivals Georgette Heyer…by creating a riveting young woman of character and good humour…[The] complexity and depth to this historical romance, and unexpected plot twists and layers also increase the reader’s enjoyment.’
—Booklist
THE COURTESAN
‘With its intelligent, compelling characters, this is a very well-written, emotional and intensely charged read.’
—RT Book Reviews
MY LADY’S HONOUR
‘Julia Justiss has a knack for conveying emotional intensity and longing.’
—All About Romance
MY LADY’S TRUST
‘With this exceptional Regency-era romance, Justiss adds another fine feather to her writing cap.’
—Publishers Weekly
Spurring his horse to a gallop, he reached Jenna before her groom even noticed his mistress had fallen.
Quickly he secured his horse and limped as fast as he could to where she lay, still ominously unmoving.
Jenna moved at last. Eyes still shut, she murmured and nestled against him, as if snuggling into his warmth. Or as if, slowly rousing from sleep, she were seeking her lover.
His body stirred at the thought and, despite his worry, he had to grin. Often as he’d dreamed of having Jenna Montague in his arms again, he’d never envisioned it happening quite like this…
About the Author
JULIA JUSTISS wrote her first plot ideas for a Nancy Drew novel in the back of her third-grade notebook, and has been writing ever since. After such journalistic adventures as publishing poetry and editing an American Embassy newsletter she returned to her first love: writing fiction. Her Regency historical novels have been winners or finalists in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart™, RT Book Reviews magazine’s Best First Historical, Golden Quill, National Readers’ Choice and Daphne Du Maurier contests. She lives with her husband, three children and two dogs in rural east Texas, where she also teaches high school French. For current news and contests, please visit her website at www.juliajustiss.com
Novels by the same author:
THE WEDDING GAMBLE
THE PROPER WIFE
MY LADY’S TRUST
MY LADY’S PLEASURE
MY LADY’S HONOUR
A SCANDALOUS PROPOSAL
SEDUCTIVE STRANGER
THE COURTESAN
THE THREE GIFTS (part of A Regency Lords & Ladies Christmas anthology)
THE UNTAMED HEIRESS
ROGUE’S LADY
CHRISTMAS WEDDING WISH (part of Regency Candlelit Christmas anthology)
THE SMUGGLER AND THE SOCIETY BRIDE (part of Silk & Scandal mini-series)
A MOST UNCONVENTIONAL MATCH
Chapter One
AS LORD ANTHONY NELTHORPE, formerly captain in the 1st Royal Dragoons, stepped across the threshold of his London townhouse one foggy fall morning, a giggling, mostly naked woman burst onto the upper landing and fled down the stairs. A balding, half-naked man followed, eyes focused owlishly on his hand clutching the rail as he maneuvered the steps and then lurched off after her.
“So, Carstairs,” Tony remarked to the retainer in threadbare livery who had opened the front portal for him, “I see my father is engaged in his usual pursuits.”
“Yes, my lord,” the man replied, his age-spotted hand trembling as he struggled to close the heavy door. Tony turned to assist him, remembering only at the last minute that this wasn’t the army anymore, where a man in battle helped another man, regardless of rank. Carstairs would be as embarrassed as he was shocked, should his master’s son and heir lower himself to assist the butler.
Curling the fingers he’d extended toward the servant into a fist, Tony turned away. “I expect the earl will be too…preoccupied to receive me this morning. At a more opportune moment, would you tell him I’ve arrived—and have some beef and ale sent to the library now, if you please?”
The butler bowed. “At once. On behalf of the staff, may I say ‘welcome home,’ Master Tony.”
“Thank you, Carstairs.” At his nod, the old man shuffled down the hall in the direction of the servants’ stairs.
Mouth setting in a thin line, Tony watched him retreat, noting the hall carpet was as worn as the butler’s uniform and dirty besides. Shifting his weight painfully, he limped toward the library, noticing as he went the layer of dust that veiled the few pieces of furniture and the ornate arches, which in his youth had sheltered exquisite Chinese vases set on French marquetry tables. Long gone now, of course.
Evidently Tony’s esteemed father, the Earl of Hunsdon, still preferred to squander whatever income could be wrung from his heavily mortgaged estates on liquor and the company of lovelies such as the one who’d recently tripped down the stairs, rather than keep his house in good order.
