He must resist temptation or risk losing his honor as a
gentleman and the friendship of those he holds dear.
gentleman and the friendship of those he holds dear.
SCANDAL OF THE SEASON
Liana LeFay
Releasing May 30 2017
Entangled Select Historical
Five years
ago, Lord Sorin Latham fled England’s shores to avoid heartbreak and scandal in
the form of one Lady Eleanor Cramley. On returning home, he finds the young
miss he used to scold for lack of decorum is now a stunning woman who fires his
blood. But he must resist temptation or risk losing his honor as a gentleman
and the friendship of those he holds dear, including Eleanor.
Lady
Eleanor is determined to be the paragon of propriety Sorin urged her to become.
But now that he’s back, the man she once thought of as an older brother makes
her long to be anything but proper. She must make Sorin see her as worthy of
his heart and his desire without losing his good opinion, or her Season will
end in disgrace.
Excerpt
“Eleanor,
Charles has told me of your many rejected suitors. You have, to his utter
bewilderment and despair, refused to consider any and every gentleman that has
expressed interest in you, and I cannot help but feel that the fault is in some
way at least partly mine. While it is true that I’d hoped to impart to you a
sense of decorum, I never intended that you should withhold yourself so
entirely as to become isolated.” In the silence that followed, Sorin braced
himself.
But
in spite of her reddening face, she spoke with chilling calm. “You confuse
reserve with a lack of feeling. Reserve is the veil behind which we conceal
those sentiments inappropriate to display, is that not what you said?”
“It
was indeed,” he replied, now regretting the fact that he’d ever broached the
subject.
“Then
consider it fortunate that I maintained my reserve, because to have displayed
my true feelings for those so-called suitors would have been insulting to their
dignity and very likely ruinous for me.” Her eyes flashed, belying her cool
tone. “I’ve given every gentleman before which Charles has paraded me an
opportunity to prove himself worthy of my regard. It’s not my fault that all
have failed to meet my standards. If I’ve been reserved, it is because I have
yet to find a gentleman possessing the qualities necessary to engender my trust
and affection.”
Prudence
warred with curiosity—and promptly lost. “Might I inquire as to these…standards
you’ve set forth? Because it seems to me you’ve set some lofty requirements, if
indeed no less than four—six if you count the good reverend’s repeated
attempts—proposals of marriage have been turned down due to lack of their
fulfillment. Are you certain the fault lies with the gentlemen?”
In
an instant, he knew he’d gone too far. Her eyes widened, and the flags in her
cheeks brightened to a cherry red that spread to the tips of her ears.
“Perhaps
I am too harsh a critic,” she said a bit unsteadily. “My only excuse is that my
expectations have been set by the examples with which I was provided in my
youth. My father, Charles, and…” A suspicious brightness rimmed her lower
lashes for a bare instant before she averted her gaze.
Comprehension
dawned. “If you mean to say that I am at fault for—”
“Who
else was there?” she snapped, glaring at him through leaf-green eyes that
glittered with unshed tears. “Had I been exposed to lesser men, I should
perhaps be more willing to accept such a one. However, as I was not, I shall
continue to hope for better. Had you been here to see what has presented itself
thus far, I would like to think that you would agree with my decision.”
The
words had been spoken softly, and yet they cut like the sharpest steel. He took
a step toward her, intending only to offer comfort and reassurance, but she
quickly edged away.
Liana
LeFey delights in crafting incendiary tales that capture
the heart and the imagination, taking the reader out of the now and into
another world. Liana lives in Central Texas with her dashing husband/hero and
their beautiful daughter. She’s also privileged to serve one spoiled rotten
feline overlord. Liana has been devouring romances since she was fourteen and
is now thrilled to be writing them for fellow enthusiasts.
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Thank you for hosting!
Allisia
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