I’m back from my yearly trek to my friend’s cabin in the woods of New York State. Extremely productive trip: I completed first round edits for Only A Mistress Will Do, wrote an outline for the second Widow book, To Take a Widow to Wife, and wrote three chapters of it. Plus lots of conversation, great food, and outdoor living. I really did not want to come home!
This is the final post from Heart of Desire. Next week I’ll go on to August’s “Book of the Month,” Heart of Delight. It’s Book 3 in my Regency series Handful of Hearts, and another sweet Regency.
The time is the beginning of the Season in London, May 5, 1820. Miss Katherine Locke is waltzing with Lord Haversham at Lady Hamilton’s ball. Lord Haversham has demonstrated the scandalous nature of the waltz and is now escorting her off the ballroom floor. Lord Haversham escorted her to her brother, Lord Ainsley and Kate and Haversham have continued to trade barbs.
This week I’m continuing to the end of the card game between friends Lord Haversham and Lord Ainsley, Kate’s brother. Ainsley has just informed Marcus that he owes him three thousand pounds from tonight’s game and others earlier in the week. Hope you enjoy!
If he didn’t pay Ainsley, the ton would be on him like wolves on a suckling lamb. Miss Locke would likely lead the pack with a well-placed cut direct.
“I beg your pardon, Ainsley. I meant to get the money from Uncle Parminter, but I couldn’t run him to ground. I’ll bring it around directly tomorrow morning.” God help him if his uncle refused.
“There is a way you can take care of this matter with your uncle none the wiser.” Ainsley picked up the leather pouch and dropped it on top of the last trick Marcus had taken. “Marry my sister, and the debt is paid in full.”
Blurb:
Follow your heart to find your desire
Miss Katherine Locke is irked to start her 3rd season dancing with the disagreeable Lord Haversham, her brother’s friend and her own arch enemy. After three years out, however, she’s finally interested in the dashing Lord Finley—only to find out her cousin has set her cap for him too. To make the man jealous, Kate feigns interest in Lord Haversham, only to be shocked to find herself falling for the handsome lord against her will.
Marcus, Lord Haversham, is in a tight pinch. His estates are failing and worse, he’s just lost 3,000 pounds to his best friend, Lord Ainsley. Ainsley’s solution: have Marcus marry his shrewish sister and he’ll cancel his gambling debt plus give him 10, 000 more for her dowry. With nowhere to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Kate until he can woo her and charm her into marrying him.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Heart of Desire should release in late August! (I promise!)
The prequel, A Kiss Beneath the Mistletoe, is available at Amazon currently on sale for $.99.
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
One debt paid, but he’s gonna owe a much bigger one! Great snippet.
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Bet he’s going to pay that gambling debt in so many more ways. 😀
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I don’t think Kate will be happy to hear that, at least not initially!
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Ahhhh! lol. I can’t wipe the smirk off of my face, Jenna! You have the best plot twists. I can hardly wait to read this one. 🙂
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And I cant’ wait for you to read it, Teresa! I’m in edits this minute, so I’m hoping to release in a week or two. 🙂
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He’s having to pay a high price to settle his debts.
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That he is, Cara. 🙂
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Will he be tempted? I’m thinking he might. 🙂 Enjoyed the snippet.
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Thank you, Karen! I think he will be, despite his better judgment. LOL
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A dowry of 3k pounds … undoubtedly tempting!
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And actually she’d have her real dowry to add to the 3k, so yes, very tempting to someone out of pocket. 🙂
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What Regency buck could refuse an offer like that, right? I’ve really enjoyed the snippets from this book, including today’s!
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Thank you, Veronica! Well, Marcus may be one of those who would like to refuse it. Kate, of course, would also have something to say about this proposition if she knew of it. 🙂
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He makes it sound so easy, though I’m sure Kate will have something to say about it! Your retreat sounds heavenly and very productive.
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Thank you, Christina! Yes, that cabin is the perfect writer’s retreat. I get so much done there I’d live there year ’round if it were possible. 🙂
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Your trip to the cabin sounds wonderful. Just what I could do with. As I’ve said before, I love these Regency stories, and this one sounds a must read for me (If I ever find time to read again!). Great snippet, and full of romantic complications.
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Thank you, Rachel. Yes, the complications abound in this one. LOL
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Oh no! Kate is not going to be happy with this deal. That is, if Marcus accepts. Fab snippet!
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Thank you, Jessica! No, she’d not going to be pleased–if she finds out!
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And such were the politics of marriage. Three thousand pounds was a lot of money in those days. Love your dialogue, Jenna
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Thank you, Kim. You are so right. With today’s spending power, he just lost almost $135,000. Before Brexit, it would have been closer to $150,000. Definitely a lot of money!
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