MARRYING THE WRONG EARL
Lords and Ladies in Love #2
Callie Hutton
Releasing April 17th, 2017
Entangled Scandalous
Nash, the Earl of Clarendon has determined it is time to take a wife. He has selected a woman to whom he intends to propose. However, the annoying Lady Arabella has stumbled into his life at the wrong time, and in the wrong place.
But he of all people should know if Lady Arabella is involved, plans will go awry.
Clarendon’s
dark blond curly hair hung a bit more over the back of his cravat than was
fashionable, but it suited him well. It appeared his valet had attempted to
tame the curls but a few stubborn locks had sprung free and brushed his broad
forehead. An aristocratic nose and full lips left no doubt he was descended
from generations of nobility. His crystal blue eyes bore into her as he
released her hand when they joined the line. They stood across from each other
as the music began. He bowed, she curtsied, and they came together. She would
be the bigger of them, and clear the air. “I do wish to apologize for the
trouble I caused you today, my lord.”
They
switched places. “’Tis nothing, I assure you.” He extended his hand, and they
moved together with the other dancers for a few steps.
“I
disagree, my lord. You ended up muddy, with your clothes torn.”
His jaw
flexed as they moved around each other and joined the line of dancers again.
“Of course, you disagree, but I assure you, my lady, ’twas nothing.”
As they
weaved in and out of the other dancers, she mumbled, “What do you mean ‘of
course I disagree,’ and why cannot you accept an apology freely given? Are you
always so disagreeable, then?”
They joined
hands once more. “Perhaps because I do not wish to be reminded of the
incident.”
Separating,
they moved around each other, dipping with the music. “I believe you are merely
being stubborn.”
Nash closed
his eyes. “And I believe you are being stubborn.”
“I am not
being stubborn. I simply want to extend my apologies for the mishap this
afternoon.”
They joined
hands again and moved in a circle. “Fine. Your apology is accepted.”
Another
couple switched places with them, eyeing them with curiosity. “There, now. Was
that so very hard?”
“My dear
lady, do you wish to dance, or converse?”
They
stepped forward, hand-in-hand to the head of the line. “Can we not do both?”
“Perhaps I
lose count if I talk and dance.”
Her
eyebrows rose and she offered a tight grin. “Cannot do two things at once, my
lord? Is that why you had such a difficult time rescuing a poor cat?”
Nash came
to an abrupt halt, causing the couple behind them to stumble. “I did not have a
difficult time of it.” He bent close to her ear and murmured. “Furthermore, I
am finished with this conversation.”
Callie
Hutton,
the USA Today bestselling author of The Elusive Wife writes
both Regency and western historical romance, with “historic elements and
sensory details” (The Romance Reviews). Callie lives in Oklahoma with
several rescue dogs and her top cheerleader husband of many years. Her family
also includes her daughter, son, and daughter-in-law, and twin grandsons “The
Twinadoes.”
Comments
Post a Comment