Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m continuing to post snippets from my upcoming Georgian novel, A Countess Never Tells, Book 3 of my Captivating Countesses series. The book releases on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 and is currently up on pre-order for .99. 

This book is brings back the characters from A Countess of Convenience, particularly Judith and John (Lord and Lady Haxby), as Kitty Tate, the heroine is John’s younger sister and Judith’s childhood friend and now sister-in-law. 

BLURB:

They say rakes make the best husbands…but do they?

At the age of twenty-four, vivacious Kitty Tate is having the time of her life in her first London season—such a good time in fact, she’s caught the eye of Lord Ashwood, the ton’s most notorious rake. And he’s caught hers.

She’s instantly taken with the handsome lord and finding out he’s a scoundrel doesn’t deter her one bit. Which is why her brother has forbidden her to see him. Unfortunately for him, Kitty has a mind of her own and the willpower to fight for what she wants.

Ash plans to be a dedicated rake until he’s old and gray, but at the moment he’s determined to seduce the delicious Miss Tate despite her brother’s objections. She’s such a blend of innocence and siren he cannot wait to welcome her into his bed. When he finds Kitty eager to be seduced, Ash’s desire burns brighter still.

But a dastardly wager surfaces, and Ash discovers a truly despicable man is determined to beat him to Kitty’s bed. Forbidden to marry her, Ash must now find another way to protect the woman he’s come to love before she’s ruined by another man.

Today I’m starting continuing on from the very beginning of the novel. Miss Kitty Tate is at a ball, dancing with a gentleman she’s just met. They manage some conversation while they dance. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

The steps of The Black Nag demanded Lord Ashbrook hey with the other gentlemen in their set, so she followed her steps and turned in a circle, then the ladies heyed among themselves before she met her partner again as they took hands for the promenade. She looked expectantly at him for her answer.

“Sadly, I have been out of London for some months, out of England to be exact.”

“Where?”

“In Italy.” He glanced at Kitty. “And I am heartily sorry for it, Miss Tate, having missed the pleasure of your company for that entire time.”

Kitty smiled but kept her eyes forward. “You are kind, my lord. What kept you in Italy so long?”

And a little more for good measure. . . 

“Oh, just some family business. My mother wished me to take care of it and a dutiful son could not refuse, could he?”

A doting son. That spoke well of Lord Ashbrook. “Of course not. I hope you were able to enjoy yourself while you were there. It wasn’t all business, I hope.”

He grinned, making him look sweetly boyish. “I did get to indulge in some entertainments while I was there, I assure you. One cannot focus solely on business when one is in Rome.”

“Rome.”

They parted again with Kitty sighing in envy. She would dearly love to travel to Italy. The ruins, the museums, the shopping opportunities all made Italy one of the places Kitty longed to see. She’d decided when she married, she and her husband would take a wedding trip there.

Kitty came back together with her partner. “I am quite envious, Lord Ashbrook.”

He frowned and stared blankly at her.

Still seems a normal evening at a ball…or does it?

A Countess Never Tells is now up for pre-order, set to release on August 29th! Here’s the link if you want to grab this “bad boy” for .99!

I’m also part of an anthology for Dragonblade that’s part of their Lyons Den shared world called Night of Lyons. My novella is called The Lyons’ Wager and is the pre-quel to the Welwyn Marriage Wager series. Night of Lyons is available on pre-order on Amazon for .99! 

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.

Captivating Countesses series