Table of Contents
“Why are you here?”
Lucy asked, her pulse speeding to double time.
“Not to claim my marital rights, if that’s what you presume.” Drake swept her a casual glance, a glint of amusement in his dark eyes. “If our marriage is to serve its purpose, everyone must believe I sired your child. En route to get here, five of the servants saw me, as well as lady Phyllipa—an unexpected bonus. With any luck, tales of my ardent regard for you will spread far and wide.”
“I see. But was it necessary to arrive in quite this state of undress?”
Drake leaned back on the chaise with an air of polite indifference that enraged her. “Merely useful costuming in our charade of a marriage. I did not want to take the chance of anyone mistaking my intentions.” One dark brow cocked expressively. “Why all this virginal prudery, my dear? Surely it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
Dear Reader,
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and Harlequin Historicals has four terrific books this month that will warm your heart and put a twinkle in your eye!
If you haven’t yet discovered Deborah Hale, you’re in for a treat with her second book, A Gentleman of Substance. Viscount Drake Strickland is just that—and so much more—in this juicy, three-hankie Regency-era tale. The taciturn viscount offers a marriage of convenience to the local vicar’s daughter, who is pregnant with his deceased brother’s child. Their unexpected yearning for each other eventually proves too strong to be denied!
Western lovers have two great books in store for them this month. In Jake Walker’s Wife by Loree Lough, a good-hearted, caretaking farmer’s daughter finally finds the man to cherish and take care of her—only, he’s running from the law. And in Heart and Home by Cassandra Austin, a young—and engaged—physician starts anew in a small Kansas town and finds himself falling for the beautiful owner of the boardinghouse next door.
And don’t miss our special 3-in-l medieval Christmas collection, One Christmas Night. Bestselling author Ruth Langan begins with a darling Cinderella story in “Highland Christmas,” Jacqueline Navin spins an emotional mistaken-identity tale in “A Wife for Christmas” and Lyn Stone follows with a charming story of Yuletide matchmaking in “Ian’s Gift.”
Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.
Happy Holidays,
Tracy Farrell,
Senior Editor
Please address questions and book requests to:
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A Gentleman of Substance
Deborah Hale
DEBORAH HALE
After a decade of tracing her ancestors