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 that is released and is available on Amazon and in KU!

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. I’m moving several pages ahead now. Diana and Geoffrey have moved on to the Serpentine to see the ducks. And Diana becomes alarmed. We continue on today as Diana tries to protect herself from the indecent gentleman she fears will accost her. And today things go from bad to worse. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Diana nearly pitched in on top of him, saved only by her aunt’s tenacious hold on the collar of her pale blue Spencer.

“My dear, are you quite all right?” Aunt Frances’s worried gaze took Diana in.

Heaving a sigh of relief, she nodded. If not for her aunt’s quick actions, she’d be this moment lying atop Lord Longford in quite an improper position for all the ton to see– Diana’s cheeks heated at the thought.

“Lord Longford, are you all right?” Her aunt turned her attention to the gentleman sitting in a state of shock, his lower torso completely submerged in the murky water at the edge of the pond.

The look of surprise on her escort’s face might have been funny—was funny if she had to admit it and judging from the peals of laughter coming from the people gathering around them, she was correct.

Unfortunately, surprise turned to anger as Lord Longford’s brows crashed down almost to his nose in a thunderous frown that took all thoughts of laughter out of Diana’s head. Soaking wet in the middle of a public park, his elegant clothes ruined, Lord Longford glanced around as though looking for someone to blame and fixed his gaze on her.

And a bit more . . .

The laughter died down and two well-dressed gentlemen in tall Hessians waded into the water to help Lord Longford up. As he rose out of the water, a huge toad sprang from his lordship’s waterlogged waistcoat with a loud, surprisingly high-pitched croak.

Startled by the unexpected appearance, the two men assisting Lord Longford jumped and let go of their charge, who promptly fell back into the Serpentine. A new roar of mirth went up all around.

The Lyon’s Paw is now available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited! Grab your copy here!!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!