Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

 I’m back this week with a new snippet from The Lyon’s Paw. It’s part of Dragonblade Publishing’s Lyon’s Den shared world and it releases in just 3 days!

The Lyon’s Paw

BLURB:

He’s not the type of man to forgive—but he’ll never forget her.

Geoffrey, Lord Longford is between a rock and a hard place. His estates are about to be sold to keep the earldom afloat so without a huge infusion of cash, his life is about to change for the worse. When his best friend suggests Geoffrey marry an heiress, he’s despondent but resigned. Despite his reservations, he seeks out Mrs. Dove-Lyon at The Lyon’s Den to find a suitable young lady with a suitable fortune.

Diana Edgerton sacrificed years of her life taking care of her uncle until he died, but that sacrifice is about to be rewarded handsomely. His will leaves Diana the sole heir to a vast fortune, but with one horrifying stipulation—she must be married in order to inherit it. Unfortunately, terrible rumors about Diana and her uncle have made her all but unmarriageable. In desperation, Diana’s aunt suggests she visit The Lyon’s Den and consult Mrs. Dove-Lyon to arrange a match to save her inheritance.

With two clients seemingly made for each other, a happy ending is all but assured.

Except Geoffrey and Diana have an unfortunate history—one that makes their union almost an impossibility. With so much hanging in the balance, can the two of them overcome the fact they despise one another long enough to secure the possibility of a future together?

This excerpt is from the prologue of The Lyon’s Paw. Geoffrey, Lord Longford and Miss Diana Edgerton are on an outing during the Season in 1819. Taking up where we left off last week.

EXCERPT:

One look at her escort’s kind visage revealed no judgement, only kind concern.

“We were, my lord, very close. He depended on me to take care of him. No one else in the family would raise a hand to help him.” Thoughts of her cousins whining that they couldn’t waste their lives taking care of a cranky invalid always made her furious. Uncle George hadn’t been a burden. He’d been frank and outspoken. Gruff, some would say, but that was just his way.

Diana blinked back tears. Almost a year since her uncle’s death and she still mourned him in her heart.

And a bit more . . .

Uncle George had always been her favorite uncle, the man who appeared unexpectedly from his travels in distant lands with marvelous stories to tell about places like India and China. She could sit and listen to him spin his tales for hours. She missed that most now that he was gone. He’d doted on Diana all her life and she’d been so grateful, she hadn’t thought twice about taking care of him when he needed her.

“My niece took care of her uncle night and day for over two years, my lord.” Aunt Frances spoke up from behind them.

“Was it your husband, Mrs. Beaumont?” Lord Longford turned toward her, concern in his expressive blue eyes.

“Oh, no, my lord. My husband is living, thank God.” She closed her eyes briefly, and shook her head. “No, he was Diana’s father’s older brother. He always looked out for her after her parents died.” She made a helpless little gesture. “As much as he could, that is. Mr. Edgerton traveled extensively in the Orient. He was a shareholder in the East India Company.”

The Lyon’s Paw is on pre-order on Amazon for the pre-order price of just .99! Grab your copy here! The book will release in 3 days on February 28, 2024!