Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample. My great thanks to all who’ve been coming by the past couple of weeks. I appreciate your comments very much. And any newcomers, let me thank you as well for sampling my work.
This week I’m continuing to post from my Georgian historical novel Only Scandal Will Do, which is out with an editor and an agent. This week we meet the hero, Duncan Ferrers, Marquis of Dalbury, and find out his woes. His best friend is trying to tempt him to go out carousing and Duncan tries awfully hard to resist. Please enjoy!
Duncan shook his head. “But what invitation are you talking about, Tom? My aunt’s masquerade?”
“God, no!” Tommy grimaced. “The one to Madam Vestry’s latest auction.” His smile widened into a leer. “The madam has hit upon a fresh idea for an auction. Tableaux.”
Duncan doubted he had heard right. “She’s auctioning off tableaux? Of what? And why?”
Tommy’s bright blue eyes glittered with excitement. “Tableaux of your deepest desires or darkest fantasies. Haven’t you imagined having a fantasy come true, Duncan? A slave to your master? A pirate with a captured maid? A Roman soldier and a vestal virgin?” The young man chuckled at that. “I doubt you’ll find a virgin there tonight, though I understand some of these girls are new.”
Duncan’s smile widened at the images suggested, but shook his head. Perhaps if things had been different. “What time’s the auction?”
“Due to start at eight, as usual. Didn’t you get the invitation?”
“I received it, but I didn’t open it.” Avoiding his friend’s astonished face, his eyes slid to the mantel clock. “It’s gone seven now. I can take you to Madame Vestry’s on the way to my aunt’s.”
His friend gawked at him, mouth open. “You’re really not going? I would have believed you’d be keener on this, after the long voyage.”
“Oh, I’m keen enough, but I can’t be seen at Amorina’s. You know that.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure, Duncan?”
“Left it in Italy.” Duncan stared intently at the fire for a moment. “You heard about my cousin, Roger Ferrers?”
“Killed in that hold-up out on the Guildford road. Sorry, Duncan.” Tommy’s gaze was now also absorbed in the dancing flames. “That’s what brought you back?”
“Yes,” Duncan frowned at the memory and his jaw tightened. “My aunt wrote telling me it was my duty to return, marry and produce an heir. Which is true.” He scowled. “Easier said than done though.” After the series of scandals that had rocked him last year it might be a cold day in hell before he could convince a woman to walk down the aisle with him.
Not a very pretty picture for Duncan. Should he choose duty or desire? Decisions, decisions. 🙂
Thanks again for visiting me for some Sweets. Come back next week for another “Sweet Sample” or join in the fun with your own. Follow this link to Sweet Saturday Sample to find more “sweet” offerings.
If you liked the above sample, you might also like some of my published work. Heart of Deception, set in Victorian England, is available at Books to Go Now. Hog Wild, an erotic contemporary retelling of The Three Little Pigs, is available at New Dawning Bookfair. And both are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance Ebooks. Blurbs for both books can be found on my Published Works page.
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Great excerpt! I feel like it reveals a lot about the characters, draws the reader in.
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I enjoyed this snippet very much. Good job!
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Thanks, Beth! Glad you liked it. I appreciate the feedback. 🙂
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Another great scene from the story. Can’t wait to read more about the scandal. Past and the one that’s going to happen
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Duncan is a scandal magnet for sure, Lindsay. And you’ll find out much more about his scandals–eventually! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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I know what happens! I know! Duncan goes on to become a stodgy old gentleman. Ha! Hardly. This is a lovely sweet sample, Jenna. It definitely makes a person want to find out just what Duncan decides to do. No matter which way he goes, something fantastic might be waiting.
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Wow! What a good guess! But not exactly. LOL Let’s just hope he makes the right decision. Thanks for coming by, Patricia!
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Nice characterization. Want to know more back ground.
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I promise there will be some more forthcoming. Glad you liked it, Sue. Thanks for coming by. 🙂
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Plenty of incentive to come back for more. Great snippet.
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Thank you, Sherry. Glad you liked it. And yes, there will be more next week.
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That Duncan. He can’t escape his bad boy tendencies, can he? Temptation is too much for him.
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You are so right, Casea. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, you know! And Duncan has set a few stones here and there. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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I LOVE this story!!! And an excellent sample to intrigue readers with!
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Thank you, Brenda! I really appreciate that. 🙂 I do hope people want to find out more about my “bad-boy.”
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I’ll be there’s some scandal in his past! Great sample, Jenna! Can’t wait to read more 🙂
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Thanks, Jennifer! Oh, Duncan’s had more than his share–and maybe more to come!
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I too am curious about Duncan’s past. Great sample!
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It’s a very colorful past to say the least. LOL Thanks for stopping by, Lia. 🙂
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NICE sample! I get a lot of his character here. Or should I say “reforming” character? Hmmm.
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Well, he’s trying… at least for a while! Thanks for sampling, Meg!
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Great snippet! Now I want to know what scandals he caused. Was he a rake of the first order? 😉
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Indeed he was…still is as a matter of fact! LOL Thanks for stopping by, Eve!
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