DARE TO LOVE
By ALLEIGH BURROWS
LYRICAL PRESS
An imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp.
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my family. To my mom for introducing me to romance novels. To my dad for inspiring me with his creative writing skills. And most importantly, to my husband for tolerating both of these inexplicably “odd” habits, even when they came at the expense of family time. I couldn’t have written this without your unflagging love and support.
Since my kids never really believed I’d get published, they’ll have to wait until the next book to get recognized. Don’t worry, I still love you.
Acknowledgements
While I always considered writing to be a simple, solitary endeavor, I quickly discovered that writing a novel is very complex. I could never have made it to print without the advice and support from the Valley Forge Romance Writers, Written Remains, and the New Jersey Romance Writers’ Put Your Heart in a Book conference.
I’m certain my editors at Lyrical Press would say that I should have solicited even more advice. To you, I offer my most sincere thanks for helping to bring Dare and Nivea to life, by correcting my appalling punctuation, adverb fixation, and filtering obsession.
And finally, I’d like to acknowledge my friends, family, bunco players, and coworkers, for continually asking, “How’s your book coming?” Your unintentional pressure ensured I could never give up. Thank you all. I hope it lives up to your expectations.
“My Lord”
I know
that he’s entered the room
without even seeing
his form.
How? I do not know.
Perhaps a change in the air,
a jolt to my heart,
or a skittering up my skin.
But I am certain, when I look over,
he will be there.
Tall and proud, aloof and cool,
hair sleek, lip curled,
heads will turn.
How can they not
when he arrives?
I pray tonight he will see
Me. And know
he is mine.
My lord.
Then he dances by
without a glance,
and I am lost.
Nivea Horsham
Chapter 1
Adair Landis braced himself on the bed as he gulped in a lungful of air. The scent of perfume and passion spurred him on, and with a few satisfying thrusts, he collapsed onto the quivering body of an obliging, young widow.
That had been a pleasant treat.
He lay there motionless for a minute or two until his heart rate settled, and then he rose from the bed. It was time to go.
He fumbled across the darkened room to find his shirt thrown over the nearby chair, and drew it over his head. Through the cloth, he heard his partner’s muffled sigh. “Oh, Adair, you were wonderful. I never dreamed it could be like that.”
Of course she hadn’t. But she’d been hoping. Dropping hints for several weeks, as a matter of fact. It wasn’t until today that he’d decided to accommodate her.
“I’m glad you were pleased.”
She hummed her agreement. Then, in a tentative tone asked, “Can you untie me now?”
Dare sat on the chair, thrust his feet into his breeches and yanked them in place. Once he was covered, he answered, “Certainly, darling.”
With a satisfied stretch, he strode to the large, four poster bed, leaned over and untied the black silk ribbons from her wrists.“Thank you for indulging me in my little fantasy. I hope you found it to be as scintillating as I did,” he said, offering a vague kiss in the direction of her forehead. Then he crossed to a brocade chair, grabbed his boots, and tugged them on.
The woman’s voice quavered as she sat up, rubbing her wrists. “Oh, Adair, are you leaving so soon?”
He nodded, turning his attention toward his cravat. With a few efficient folds, he’d tied it into a complicated knot with a skill most valets would envy.
“But when will you come back? Will I see you again upon your return?”
He spared her a brief glance as he pulled on his coat. “No, Victoria, I shan’t be back. But thank you for the delightful diversion.”
“But, Adair? I thought—I thought—” she sputtered.
“You thought wrong.” With that, he pulled open the door and strode out. At the sound of her indignant shrieks, Dare smiled. Victoria was his sister’s best friend. A well-bred, gently reared woman from a good family. His sister would be furious not only that he’d bedded her, but jilted her as well. Sometimes, life could be surprisingly sweet.
Content, he headed out onto the street, climbed into his carriage, and settled into the soft velvet seat. Reaching into his waistcoat, he withdrew a jeweled snuffbox and took a pinch.
That dalliance should hold him for a few days—at least until he arrived at the Horsham’s summer estate. No doubt there would be a few women there to entertain him. William’s sisters were no great catch, but they were sure to have an attractive friend or two he could trifle with.
The only downside was he had to make the tiresome journey with William’s sister, Nivea. Why he had agreed to convey Nivea to her family’s house in Durham was a mystery. One minute, he was congratulating his best friend on the engagement of his younger sister, and the next, he was trapped into escorting the elder sister to the wedding. While riding in a carriage with a young lady for a few days did not normally fill him with dread, this trip could prove the exception. As round as she was plain, it was no wonder Nivea was still on the shelf at her age.
While most men would not even consider allowing Dare to ride unescorted with their unmarried sister, William had no cause to worry. After all, Dare did have standards.
Chapter 2
Unaware of the scornful musings of her escort, Nivea continued to fuss with her appearance. Knowing she would be spending the next several days in the presence of Adair Landis, the future Marquess of Raynsforth, she had been making special preparations.
Nivea had developed a tendré for her brother’s friend when she was a young girl, and now, almost fifteen years later, she still felt no other man could compare. When she’d been informed she would be spending several days with him, she and her stepmother set out to finally make Dare notice.
Since her mother had died when she was a child, Nivea had never benefited from a woman’s guidance. Most of her upbringing had been dominated by her father and brother. Much as she loved them, she could hardly expect them to help her navigate the challenges of ton fashion. In fact, the very thought made her laugh.
Fortunately, her father had remarried a few years ago and her stepmother, Amelia, was happy to help