A troublesome miss and an unadventurous Earl are forced into marriage – can physical desire overcome their aversion to an unwanted union?
Renowned for her tendency to get into mischief, Miss Patience Bingham flees her home to escape a marriage of convenience. The last thing she expects when she sets out is to find herself thoroughly compromised and engaged to a singularly handsome but conventional Earl! Will her strong physical attraction to this man be enough to overcome her fear of being trapped in a loveless marriage?
Lord Julius Rutherford, Fifth Earl of Hawkridge, thinks he has his future all laid out until he accidentally comes upon the hellion that nearly burned down his house ten years before. Although Patience has grown into a desirable woman who now has the ability to set his blood on fire, Julius soon discovers her mere presence can still spell disaster. But can Julius succumb to his burning need for Patience and marry her, knowing full well it will mean the end of his well-ordered existence?
“Stan’ an’ deliver!” shouted the rider, waving his gun wildly in their direction.
“Oh look! A highwayman!” Patience grabbed the Earl’s sleeve. “This is so exciting! But whoever heard of a highwayman attacking during daylight?”
The Earl threw her a strange look as if trying to decide whether she was completely daft. His attention quickly returned to the prancing horses, who had taken an instant dislike to this sudden apparition. His team finally under control, the Earl called, “Stop brandishing that thing about, you fool, before you shoot someone by mistake!”
The highwayman had made a poor show of it. Patience watched the man struggle to keep the scarf in place and his beat up hat out of his eyes while holding on to the reins and trying to point the gun at them all at the same time. His sturdy mount looked more suited for ploughing fields than making quick getaways. The way the horse kept sidling and fidgeting seemed to show its disapproval of such an activity. Patience would have laughed out loud had she not felt sorry for the highwayman.
“I think he must be new at this,” Patience said.
“That’s what makes him so dangerous,” replied her companion in curt tones.
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, an explosion ripped the air. Patience let out a deafening scream as the Earl slumped onto her. The horses took fright and bolted. Trapped and almost crushed under the weight of the senseless man, there was nothing Patience could do to stop the horses from careening madly down the road. One moment they were seated in the phaeton and the next, they were sailing through the air.
- Word Count: 64,731
- Author: Pascale Duguay
- Website: Pascale Duguay
- Heat Level: 1
- ISBN: 978-1-61937-011-1
- Cover Artist: Kelly Shorten
- Editor: Kathy Teel
Sizzling Hot Reviews
Reviewer: Vicki
Rating: 5.0
Review: Patience is not having any part of her father’s scheme. She has been running his country estate too long to suddenly meekly fall in with…
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Long and Short of It
Reviewer: Camellia
Rating: 3.0
Review: A troublesome miss and an unadventurous Earl are forced into marriage - can physical desire overcome their aversion to an unwanted union?
Renowned for her…
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