Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I’m back this week, with more of my newest release, The Baron’s Halo, book 2 of The Welwyn Marriage Wager series. 

BLURB:

If love’s a game, he’s playing to win.

For reasons of her own, Isabelle Devereaux isn’t looking for a husband. Yet thanks to her mother here she is, in the middle of the social whirl of the Little Season. Thinking to refuse any gentleman who offers for her, Isabelle endures the lavish entertainments, saddened that she’ll remain a spinster.

Enter Baron MacKay, Sandy to his friends, in search of a wife to win a family wager. Dazzled by Isabelle’s beauty, he’s drawn to the vulnerable young lady. From the moment they meet, he charms her with his kind and generous nature until, against her will, Isabelle falls in love with him. Even though she knows marriage to him may end in disaster, she can’t resist his kisses…or where they lead.

Desperate to marry Sandy, Isabelle puts her misgivings aside, but circumstances spiral out of control as their wedding approaches. Isabelle must confront the demons that haunt her and make an agonizing decision: can she marry Sandy without telling him the one impediment that may shatter their happiness forever?

EXCERPT:

 

Clenching her teeth as she remembered the feeling of Lord Barclay’s hands squeezing her waist tightly during the dance, she swallowed quickly before her gorge could rise. She had to get out of here now. “Can we leave, please?”

“Of course.” Without another word, Lord MacKay led her toward the verandah doors, her current hope of heaven. She danced impatiently as he cast a glance over the ballroom, then hesitated. Leaning slightly toward her, he laughed then whispered, “Not yet. Lady Marksby is looking this way.”

Thank goodness for her escort’s cool head. Lady Marksby’s sharp eyes had ruined more than one young lady’s reputation.

And a little more for good measure. . . 

“Now, go.” He opened the French doors just wide enough so her hoops could glide through them, then she was out in the night and its blessedly cool air.

Isabelle breathed as deeply as her tightly laced corset would allow, and a measure of calm descended on her. Here in the semi-darkness, she could convince herself that she was safe, that no one would harm her. She glanced at her escort, apprehension rising once more, but he made no move toward her. Still, caution won out and she retreated from him, putting several feet of distance between them and putting her into the shadows beyond the illumination of the overhead lanterns.

“Did Barclay hurt you in any way, Miss Devereaux?”

Isabelle couldn’t see Lord MacKay’s face, but the menace in his voice came through clear as day. She needed to tread carefully with this unknown entity. “Why no, my lord. Why would you think that?”

“Because of the way you jerked away from him just now, after the dance.”

The Baron’s Halo is available on Amazon for .99 and on KU. 

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

The Welwyn Marriage Wager series