SEDUCTION ENG LADY MM

by MAXWELL CATHY

• ISBN13: 9780060092979
• ISBN10: 0060092971
• Format: Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

To seduce an English lady, a gentleman must always remember to . . . Gaze longingly into her eyes while declaring her beauty . . . Colonel Colin Mandland has wealth, power . . . everything but a bride. But although there is no mistress of his newly purchased manor, Maiden Hill, there is certainly a resident maiden: Lady Rosalyn Wellborne, a stubborn beauty who steadfastly refuses to leave the place she has always called home. Hold her hand just a fraction longer than necessary... Tantalizing Rosalyn proves to be far more difficult than any enemy he's ever met on the battlefield. She attacks by declaring Colin an upstart who is unfit for local society. He shockingly counters by offering for her hand in marriage-and she surprisingly accepts. Or, when all else fails, conquer her. Although this genteel lady has vowed never to succumb to unbridled passion, she quickly learns that theirs will be no marriage in-name-only, but rather a slow, sensuous and alarmingly effective seduction . . . that turns her world upside down.

Excerpts

The Seduction of an English Lady

Chapter One

Lancashire, England
April 5, 1816

The faint scratch at the front-door keyholecaught Lady Rosalyn's attention as shepassed through the center hall on the way to herfront parlor. She paused, listening.

There it was again ... as if someone were tryingto unlock the door, which was not locked.

Rosalyn had just left her companion, Covey,as she was finishing her breakfast in the backmorning room. Cook was in the kitchen andBridget, the maid, was upstairs gathering thelaundry. The other member of their small household,Old John, Cook's husband and the gardener,never used the front door, nor did anyof them, Rosalyn herself included. The frontdoor was for company, and she wasn't expectingany.

She put her hand around the brass candlesticksitting on a table by the door.

Whoever was there realized the door was unlocked.The handle turned.

She lifted the candlestick over her head. Thestub of the candle in the stick fell out, bouncingoff her shoulder and onto the floor. She wouldusually chase it down -- there wasn't enoughmoney to waste anything, including candlestubs, in her household -- but this time, she hadother concerns.

The door started to open. A swirl of damp,chilly air swept around her skirts. She musteredher courage, held her breath, ready to swing --and stopped.

It was no disreputable rogue who stood in herdoorway, rather a well-dressed gentleman. Hehad to remove his hat and duck to come in hernarrow door without bumping his head. Hisshoulders were so broad that he temporarilyblocked out the light of the first good sunnyspring day they'd had in April.

The gentleman looked startled to see her.There was a day's growth of stubble on his jaw.Buff leather breeches hugged horseman's thighs,and his marine blue coat was cut to perfection.He was a Corinthian, a Fashionable.

What was he doing at Maiden Hill?

His gaze followed up her arms to the candlestickshe wielded with wicked intent. He held upa hand, warding her off. "I'm sorry. I see I'vestartled you."

Rosalyn had two instantaneous thoughts: thefirst, that she'd never met this gentleman before,and the second, that in spite of a shadow of unshavenwhiskers, he had to be the most undeniablyhandsome man she'd ever laid eyes on. Themud splattering his boots, the tangled curls ofhis dark hair, and the loose, devil-may-care knotin his neck cloth told her she was right in thinkinghe was not from the Valley. He'd apparentlybeen riding hard and for some distance.

Suddenly self-conscious of her own country-madedress in a serviceable gray broadcloth, shedemanded, "Who are you?"

"I'm the new owner of this house. I say, do youmind putting down that candlestick. You lookready to crack my skull with it."

"The new owner--?" Rosalyn started to lowerthe candlestick and then raised it back up again asher common sense rejected his claim. He couldn'tbe the owner—she was! "Leave now peacefullybefore I-I-" She hesitated, at a loss for words. Beforeshe did what to such a giant?

Nor was he afraid. "Before you beat me aroundthe ears until I'm bloody?" he suggested helpfully,his tone amused. "Or grab me by the scruffof the neck and toss me out?"

Rosalyn didn't answer. She couldn't. The rich,deep masculinity of his voice sparked somethinginside her she'd thought long dead or at least putin its proper place -- a very definite interest in theopposite sex.

He took the candlestick from her hands andsmiled. She was blinded into dizziness. No manshould have a smile so devastating.

Then he brought her to her senses by asking,"So, are you one of the servants?"

Rosalyn didn't know if she could believe herears. Yes, she was wearing the dress she reservedfor household tasks and one, like most of herwardrobe, that was long out of fashion. And, yes,this morning, she'd done little more than toss herhair up in a quick knot at the nape of her neckand fasten it in place with a pin or two. Still, hisquestion was a douse of cold reality. His appealevaporated.

"I beg your pardon," she countered with everyounce of aristocratic hauteur bred into her. "Whoare you?"

His brows rose as he realized his mistake. He set the candlestick on the side table before saying, "Colin Mandland, Colonel Colin Mandland."

She knew the surname. Reverend Mandlandwas the vicar of St. Mary Magdalene's Church."Have we met before?"

"I don't know. Are you going to tell me whoyou are?"

The abrupt response from someone who hadjust walked into her house set Rosalyn's back up."I am the woman who owns this house. Not you.Now, sir, I will ask you to take yourself and yourrude manners elsewhere. If you don't, I will takeaction." She reached out to close the door, irritatedenough to push even a big ox like himselfout of the way if necessary, but he blocked thedoor's closing with his arm, his next words stoppingher cold.

"I bought this house from Lord Woodford. Ieven have a key." He held it up for her to see.

Rosalyn froze at the mention of her cousinGeorge. She met Colonel Mandland's gaze, prayinghe was jesting. He wasn't. She took the key,wanting to touch it to prove it was real.

Alarm ripped through her. She dropped herhand from the door. "George wouldn't? ... Atleast, not without saying something--?"

The Seduction of an English Lady. Copyright © by Cathy Maxwell. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

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Excerpted from The Seduction of an English Lady by Cathy Maxwell
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.