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The Dandy Lyon

BLURB:

In love, the odds may never be in your favor.

Ruthless, wealthy, social outsider Marcus Dandridge has fallen in love. Hard. So hard he’s already attempted to force marriage to Lady Joanna Longford by means of blackmail—and failed utterly, gaining the eternal enmity of her brother. Now desperate, Marcus consults his friend, Mrs. Dove-Lyon at The Lyon’s Den, whose recommendation is a wild gamble–one Marcus would never lay odds on at his gaming establishments. But he’s so desperate to have Joanna, he’s willing to roll the dice just once more.

Lady Joanna Longford, just out and already bored by the conventional gentlemen she’s met, is suddenly intrigued by the darkly handsome Mr. Dandridge. He’s different from the other Society men—which makes her even more susceptible to his unconventional pursuit of her.

Still, the odds are against them, until Fate—and her brother’s decree that they will never marry—triggers a defiance that may well spell disaster for both of them…

As the first chapter is setting up Marcus’s character, I’m going to start my snippet with the beginning of Chapter 2 where Marcus and Lady Joanna will meet officially for the first time. The setting is London, May 5, 1820. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Marcus shrugged. “Let us say the gentleman holds a grudge against me and I would rather not provoke an argument while I’m here. I don’t plan to stay long, but I don’t wish for him to make a spectacle of our disagreement at a ton function.”

“Very well, Dandy. I’d be happy to distract Lord Longford until you’re ready to leave.” Somersby grinned and turned toward the doorway. “And there he is now. Longford!” The earl hurried toward the tall, daunting gentleman whose fierce gaze took in the entire ballroom at a glance.

With his back still to the doorway, Marcus moved a little further away, counting silently until he was reasonably certain Somersby had spirited Longford off to the card room. Now he had almost half an hour to put the rest of his plan into play.

And a little bit more…

He scanned the room for his hostess, but before he could locate her his gaze fell on Lady Joanna Longford and Marcus stilled, holding his breath.

The lady and her mother had moved to the side of the ballroom, Lady Joanna looking about eagerly. Her gown of cream satin, with an intricate braided trim down the front and a series of large satin leaves all about the hem, became her complexion exquisitely so that she seemed to glow in the light of hundreds of candles. But it was her face that always arrested Marcus, ever since the first time he’d seen her. Flawless alabaster skin, a heart-shaped face with pink cheeks and rose-petal lips that made her look angelic, framed by deep chestnut curls always made him think of she should be painted as a Madonna in one of the pictures in the British Museum.

With a shake, Marcus forced himself to look away and begin searching for Lady Hamilton. He didn’t have much time and couldn’t stand here mooning over the lady if he wanted to actually meet her. Spying his hostess to his right, Marcus strolled purposefully toward the lady, attired in an elegant gray gown encrusted with small crystals. He presented himself and bowed. “Lady Hamilton, I wanted to thank you once more for your kind invitation.”

The lady’s brows rose, her eyes fixed on his face as though trying desperately to remember his name. “You are most welcome Mr.…Dandridge.” She came up with it at last. “I am always happy to include those friends of my husband with whom I am not already acquainted.”

“If I might make a request of you, my lady?” He nodded toward Lady Joanna, now speaking with a blond young lady. “Would you be so kind as to introduce me to the young lady there?”

“Lady Celinda Grantham?” His hostess smiled broadly. “She is a most popular young lady this Season.”

Marcus shook his head. “While I would be delighted to make Lady Celinda’s acquaintance of course, it is the other young lady of whom I speak. Lady Joanna Longford.”

“Certainly, Mr. Dandridge.” The lady looked at him askance, then nodded. “Come with me.”

The Dandy Lyon, part of Dragonblade Publishing’s Lyon’s Den shared world series, is now available for preorder on Amazon as an e-book for $.99. Grab your copy here!!

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