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Romancing Lady Augusta

BLURB:

If the players are evenly matched, romance can be the most exciting game of all.

Over her parents’ protests, Lady Augusta Hardy has set her matrimonial sights on a renowned adventurer. With him, she knows she’ll live an extraordinary life.  But as that gentleman is off exploring, she resigns herself to being courted while waiting for her hero to return. Would-be suitor Julius Price, Lord Boxted, is admittedly handsome, witty, an amazingly good dancer, and extremely well-traveled. In fact, he’s a worthy rival for her affections, save for one major drawback: his title would ensure that Augusta ends up living the boring life she so detests. Despite her growing affection for him, she sadly relinquishes all thoughts of marrying Lord Boxted.

From the moment Lady Augusta beats him at chess, Julius is fascinated by the intelligent, strong-willed lady. During the Season, he takes heart as he makes inroads with her affections, determined to win her over. Elated when passion between them sparks, Julius plans to redouble his efforts, until an overheard conversation convinces him Lady Augusta would never be happy with the only life he can offer her.

With a heavy heart, Julius determines he must allow her the freedom she longs for—just as Lady Augusta realizes love has the power to change one’s mind. But has she discovered that lesson a little too late?

I’m very excited to see what you think of my newest book in the Welwyn Marriage Wager series. Meet Lady Augusta Hardy–a very headstrong young lady who knows very well what she wants. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Young woman in authentic regency dress near a window of a classical interior

“When is he supposed to arrive?” Lady Augusta Hardy demanded of her mother, shifting anxiously from one silk slippered foot to the other as they stood in front of the bay window of the front reception room. Carriage after carriage deposited the myriad guests her parents had invited for a long weekend at their country house just before the beginning of what would be her second Season, but Augusta was interested in only one particular guest.

“Who do you mean, my dear?” Mother waved cheerily at Lady Tolliver, her two very eligible sons now accompanying her up the graveled walkway to the manor’s front door. “We have invited a host of young gentlemen for you to meet and become acquainted with this weekend.”

“You know very well who I am speaking of, Mother.” Augusta cut a speaking glance to her parent, then instantly back out to the driveway as another carriage pulled up and disgorged four strapping gentlemen, none of whom Augusta knew in the least.

“Ah, there are the Duke of Welwyn’s grandsons.” As if ignoring her completely, Mother nodded at the four gentlemen who were laughing and talking amongst themselves very amiably.

And a little bit more…

“They will manage to keep the party lively, I’ll be bound.” She turned to Augusta and leaned toward her, whispering, “You could do much worse than one of them, my dear. The tallest of them is the Duke’s heir, Lord Royston, the one with the rugged face is Mr. Quartermain, and the other two are Lord Boxted and his brother, Mr. Price.”

Augusta frowned as she perused the quartet of would-be suitors. Lord Royston she dismissed out of hand. She’d not marry a man who would one day become a duke with all that attendant pomp and circumstance. Long ago—at the ripe old age of fifteen—she’d decided that kind of life was not for her. The other three, however, she gave more scrutiny to. The rugged faced one, Mr. Quartermain, had the dashing looks of an outdoors man. That appealed to Augusta and she made a mental note to converse with Mr. Quartermain about what pastimes he was most interested in. The other two she wasn’t so sure of. “Which one is Lord Boxted and which is his brother?”

“Lord Boxted has the short, dark, straight hair and the genial smile. His brother is somewhat more slender than him, and has the lighter, curly hair.” Her mother’s eager voice made Augusta sigh. No doubt she’d be paired with each of these gentlemen during some point in the weekend. “I am certain they will prove delightful companions during the party.”

“Mr. Quartermain certainly does take the eye, I will admit.” In appearance he was certainly head and shoulders above the others. “Although Lord Boxted has an animated look about him as well.” She might as well make her mother happy by assessing the gentlemen her parents had taken some pains to gather for her perusal. But none of these young men could hold a candle to the gentleman for whom she was waiting. “But Mother, you have not answered my question.” She turned to her mother, her lips pressed together sternly. “When is Mr. Burton to arrive?”

Romancing Lady Augusta is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your e-copy here!! It will release on Amazon on August 20, 2024! 

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