This week is the last snippet from Heart of a Scoundrel, Book 4 in my Regency novella series Handful of Hearts, as it is still not quite ready for release. Just before release, I’ll give the final snippet. Next week, for October, I’ll move on to my Halloween short story, Hearts at All Hallow’s Eve, Book 5 of Handful of Hearts.

Richard, Lord Somersby has been told he’s to marry Lady Edith,  a young bluestocking he’s never met before in a marriage arranged by his father to gain valuable property. The rakish Richard is not enthusiastic about the arrangement–until his father offers to make the deal a bit sweeter by way of a wager that Richard can hardly resist to earn him a racing stable. His father wagers Richard he cannot break three young ladies’ hearts before his betrothal contracts are signed in about three weeks. With two down and one to go, Richard sets his sights on Miss Amanda Sharpe.

This week I’m skipping ahead to where Amanda has just introduced Richard to her sponser and chaperone, Mrs. Doyle. This should give you a little more insight into Amanda’s character. 🙂

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules and snippet may therefore be slightly different from published version.)

“Mrs. Doyle, I am delighted.” Lord Somersby bowed crisply, a pleasant smile on his face.

“Mrs. Doyle, would it be possible to invite Lord Somersby to our evening of cards on Monday? He would be a splendid addition to our guest list, do you not think?” Amanda widened her eyes, hoping she looked sufficiently innocent. It was terribly gauche to ask such a thing while the gentleman stood right in front of her chaperone, for how then could she say no? Which, of course, was exactly why she’d done it.

“I believe we can find room for one more name on the guest list.” Mrs. Doyle’s voice sounded affable, but she cut her eyes at Amanda.

Oh, yes, there would be the devil to pay for this little social transgression, not that she particularly cared.

BLURB:  

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

I am continuing on with Heart of a Scoundrel. It is Book 4 in my Regency novella series Handful of Hearts, where we once again meet Richard, Lord Somersby (a not very nice gentleman from the first book of the series Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe).

Richard, Lord Somersby has just been told he’s to marry Lady Edith,  a young bluestocking he’s never met before in a marriage arranged by his father to gain valuable property. The rakish Richard is not enthusiastic about the arrangement–until his father offers to make the deal a bit sweeter by way of a wager that Richard can hardly resist to earn him a racing stable. His father wagers Richard he cannot break three young ladies’ hearts before his betrothal contracts are signed in about three weeks.

This week I’m skipping ahead to a conversation between Richard and Miss Amanda Sharpe after they have danced. They are now conversing about playing cards, a passion they find they share.

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules and snippet may therefore be slightly different from published version.)

Smiling at the mere thought of sitting down to a game of cards, Amanda ceased to fan herself and looked eagerly into his face, saying “I do as well, my lord; I play whenever I have the chance in Wellesbourne, infrequent though it is. I find developing a strategy for each hand particularly stimulating. I would play every day if I could.”

“It is a skill few young ladies take seriously, it seems, at least with those who have partnered me in the past.” He peered into her face before stating, “You, however, would be different in that respect, I believe.”

“I assure you I would, my lord; my mother taught me the different card games, but my father instilled in me a desire to be the best.” How anyone would not work to sharpen their skills so they could win at cards had always confounded her. “Why play at all if not to win?”

“My sentiments exactly, Miss Sharpe,” he said, his smile warming, making her heart race. “I always play to win.” 

BLURB:  

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

I am continuing on with Heart of a Scoundrel. It is Book 4 in my Regency novella series Handful of Hearts, where we once again meet Richard, Lord Somersby (a not very nice gentleman from the first book of the series Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe).

Richard, Lord Somersby has just been told he’s to marry Lady Edith,  a young bluestocking he’s never met before in a marriage arranged by his father to gain valuable property. The rakish Richard is not enthusiastic about the arrangement–until his father offers to make the deal a bit sweeter by way of a wager that Richard can hardly resist to earn him a racing stable. His father wagers Richard he cannot break three young ladies’ hearts before his betrothal contracts are signed in about three weeks.

This week I’m skipping ahead to find Richard in a bit of a pickle. He’s managed to break two young ladies’ hearts, but the third has just been whisked away for a funeral. Now Lady Hamilton appears with a young woman to introduce to them.

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules and snippet may therefore be slightly different from published version.)

“How do you do?” Bowing deeply, Richard couldn’t help but smile at the look of awe on the young lady’s face. “I hope you are enjoying yourself this evening, Miss Sharpe?”

“Oh, yes, my lord.” Miss Sharpe’s bright blue eyes quite sparkled in the candlelight.

So much the better.

“Miss Sharpe is new to Town, so I trust you gentlemen will take care she has a partner for the next set?” Her ladyship looked pointedly at Eric.

Subtly shifting forward, shutting out the girl’s clear view of Eric, Richard gazed warmly into her eyes and said, “It would be my greatest honor, Miss Sharpe, if you would dance the next set with me.”

God, and Lady Hamilton, had just given him the means to win his wager.

BLURB:  

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

I am back again continuing on with Heart of a Scoundrel. It is Book 4 in my Regency novella series Handful of Hearts, where we once again meet Richard, Lord Somersby (a not very nice gentleman from the first book of the series Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe).

Richard, Lord Somersby has just been told he’s to marry Lady Edith,  a young bluestocking he’s never met before in a marriage arranged by his father to gain valuable property. The rakish Richard is not enthusiastic about the arrangement–until his father offers to make the deal a bit sweeter by way of a wager that Richard can hardly resist to earn him a racing stable. His father wagers Richard he cannot break three young ladies’ hearts before his betrothal contracts are signed in about three weeks.

This week I’m skipping ahead to find Richard in a bit of a pickle. He’s managed to break two young ladies’ hearts, but the third has just been whisked away for a funeral. So Richard must find another woman to dupe or lose his wager and asks his friend Eric for advice. Richard speaks first.

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules and snippet may therefore be slightly different from published version.)

“So who else can I dupe so quickly?”

“Lady Anne Flyte, perhaps, though she’s a bit stricken in years.”

“God, no, she’d plant me a facer if I did more than speak to her; bit of a run-in three years ago. She’s since taken me in dislike.” The girl should’ve been flattered he’d wanted to steal a kiss from her, not become incensed.

“Miss Grantly?”

Suppressing a shudder, Richard turned away from his friend saying, “Please, Eric, must you suggest every woman so long in the tooth she has fangs? I didn’t think Miss Grantly was even here this year; does one really have a fourth Season?”

“She was at Almack’s last week, so I assume it is possible.” Nodding to an acquaintance, Eric turned back toward the dance floor then stood still and whispered, “I say, Richard, I think your dilemma may be over.”

BLURB:  

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.