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Available for Pre-Order: Lord Misrule

 

Juliana, Lady Courtenay, is no stranger to scandal. Not after her late husband died in the bed of another man. Now that the mourning period for her unwanted marriage is over, she is impatient to celebrate her freedom—and what better way than with a love affair during the most festive time of year? Finally she can experience the excitement of spending the entire night with a man completely devoted to her pleasure. Except that when she asks Lord Misrule to be her very first lover, the rogue declines.

Lord Misrule is eager for a diversion that will banish the regrets that always resurface during the Christmas season. Yet he cannot accept the desirable widow's tempting offer. If he did, it would be impossible to adhere to his strict rules for affairs—no debutantes, no innocents, and no attachments—all of which are necessary to prevent future misfortune.

But when it seems Lady Courtenay will choose a less-than-honorable man to be her lover, Lord Misrule's chivalrous nature insists he charge to her rescue. He offers her a twelve-day affair, intent on providing her a fortnight of pleasure without causing her heart, or his, a lifetime of harm.

~~Previously published in the A Very Wicked Christmas anthology~~

 

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Coming soon: Lord Misrule

Juliana, Lady Courtenay, is a widow whose husband caused quite the scandal when he died in another man's bed.

Now that her mourning period is over, she is eager to have her very first love affair, and the man she wants is the rogue known as Lord Misrule.

He has rather strict rules for affairs, mainly to keep anyone's heart from becoming attached--it's the only way he can handle the regrets from his role in a past Christmastime tragedy.

This story was originally published as part of the A Very Wicked Christmas anthology. Now it will be available on its own for the very first time.

Lord Misrule is the first in The Matchmaking Earl series. The second story -- Truly, My Love -- is currently in the Fool for Love anthology.

Here's an excerpt, to tide you over until Lord Misrule is released on October 15th:

Juliana had missed out on so much already. Did she want to miss out on even more?

Before she could answer her own question, there was a discreet knock at the door. Her butler, Sanders, entered, proffering a letter on a silver salver.

She stood up, grabbing it, knowing already who had written it. She walked to the window overlooking the garden, opening the missive while trying to settle her heart into a normal rhythm.

It was impossible once she read Lord Blaise's brief note:

My Christmas gift to you –

Twelve entertaining days.

Twelve sleepless nights.

I await the pleasure of your response.

Juliana plopped into a nearby chair, fanning herself so briskly with the letter her curls fluttered wildly. Lord Blaise had taken a simple everyday salutation and imbued it with a meaning that could not be mistaken.

Was it madness to accept such an offer? Perhaps it was. She should pack her belongings and head this instant to Bedlam, taking up permanent residence there.

Yet how could she resist? The few moments she had spent in Lord Blaise's proximity had been impossibly arousing. It was not difficult to imagine what the man could accomplish in twelve days and twelve nights.

Juliana dropped her head against the back of the chair, staring at the ceiling, wishing it contained the answers to her dilemma.

"I have no idea what I should do," she muttered. "Which decision will prove to be the mistake? Which choice will be the one filled with lifelong regrets?"