The husband she always dreamed of!
Secretary Jane Carmichael has been in love with her boss, single dad Mark Hilliard, for ever. She might have daydreamed about marrying him, but she never thought it could be a reality. Until his little daughter demands a new mummy… and Jane is her number one choice! Nervously, Jane says ‘I do…’
Except life as Mrs Hilliard is not the wedded bliss Jane had hoped for—she loves her husband, but they barely know each other! Now Jane has a new mission: to get Mark to see her as more than his convenient bride!
We’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Betty Neels, who, sadly, passed away last year. Betty was one of our best-loved authors. As well as being a wonderfully warm and thoroughly charming individual, Betty led a fascinating life even before becoming a writer, and her publishing record was impressive.
Betty spent her childhood and youth in Devonshire, England, before training as a nurse and midwife. She was an army nursing sister during the war, married a Dutchman and subsequently lived in Holland for fourteen years. On retirement from nursing, Betty started to write, incited by a lady in a library bemoaning the lack of romantic novels.
Over her thirty-year writing career, Betty wrote more than 134 novels, and published in more than one hundred international markets. She continued to write into her ninetieth year, remaining as passionate about her characters and stories then as she was in her very first book.
Betty will be greatly missed, both by her friends within Mills & Boon and by her legions of loyal readers around the world. Betty was a prolific writer, and we have a number of new titles to feature in our forthcoming publishing programs. Betty has left a lasting legacy through her heartwarming novels, and she will always be remembered as a truly delightful person who brought great happiness to many.
The Editors
Mills & Boon Romance®
LIZ FIELDING was born and raised in Berkshire, U.K. She started writing at the age of twelve when she won a hymn-writing competition at her convent school. After a gap of more years than she is prepared to admit to, during which she worked as a secretary in Africa and the Middle East, got married and had two children, she was finally able to realize her ambition and turn to full-time writing in 1992.
She now lives with her husband, John, in west Wales, surrounded by mystical countryside and romantic crumbling castles, content to leave the traveling to her grown-up children and keeping in touch with the rest of the world via the Internet.
Liz Fielding won the 2001 RITA Award for Best Traditional Romance, for The Best Man and the Bridesmaid.
And you can find out more about the author by visiting her Web site at www.lizfielding.com.
“Liz Fielding creates amazing characters, outstanding scenes and an exciting premise….”
—Romantic Times
About AND MOTHER MAKES THREE:
“Ms. Fielding continues to delight me with her storytelling and rich prose. She is now on my automatic buy-list.”
—Bookbug on the Web
“Liz Fielding…spins a wonderful story.”
—Romantic Times
A Perfect Proposal
Liz Fielding
CONTENTS
‘MARK, what’s happened? You were supposed to be at a meeting with the surveyors first thing. They just called from the site—’
‘Jane…’ Mark Hilliard sounded as if he’d come out of some dark place and needed a moment to gather himself. ‘I’m sorry, I should have called…Ring them back and apologise for me, will you? I’ve got a bit of a crisis at home.’
‘Crisis?’ Jane Carmichael’s heart turned over. ‘Is Shuli sick?’
‘No, she’s fine. But she’s just sacked another nanny.’
‘Shuli sacked the nanny? I know she’s bright, but isn’t that rather advanced behaviour for a three-year-old? What did she do? Call her into the nursery, sit her down on Mr Fluffy and say, “I’m afraid you haven’t lived up to the promise of your excellent references, Mrs Collins. I’m going to have to let you go?”’
‘Mrs Collins was the nanny before last.’
‘Oh, Mark!’ Jane’s amusement evaporated rapidly. She’d interviewed Sarah Collins herself and had been convinced she would be perfect for the job.
‘She left last month. Some excuse about family problems. You tried so hard that I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. The agency has been sending me temps in the meantime. It’s given Shuli plenty of opportunity to practise the art of getting rid of them. This morning she just screamed the place down until the poor woman left the house. I don’t know why; her references were excellent.