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A RITA award winning Regency romance by Susan Carroll. . .
Aurelia Sinclair felt as though she had been waiting forever for the proposal of marriage from her childhood sweetheart, Justin. If Lord Spencer was less than ardent, well, what could a plump dowdy creature such as herself expect from such a handsome buck of the ton? No matter what she might long for, she had to be content with what Justin offered, friendship and a marriage of convenience.
Or so Aurelia thought until Everard Ramsey took matters into his hands. Rusticating in the country, the handsome London dandy was intrigued by Aurelia’s humor and intelligence. His sympathy for Aurelia’s plight led him to make an outrageous suggestion. If she would but place her trust in him, Everard vowed to transform her into next Season’s belle. Though Aurelia was highly skeptical of his proposition, what did she have to lose? Nothing. . . only her heart.
Excerpt:
“Miss Sinclair." Everard Ramsey
paused as if weighing each word with care. "About Justin.
Sometimes he can be such a heedless fellow. You ought to write and
give him a good set-down for his blackguard behavior or he will never
learn to treat you with the respect you deserve. And it will make you
feel much better than if you simply smile and tolerate his
thoughtlessness."
Aurelia stiffened at Ramsey's blunt
criticism of her betrothed. That he should presume to tell her how to
deal with Justin, she, who had known Lord Spencer far longer than
Ramsey ever had. "Justin has a perfect right to do as he likes,"
she said, "without being made to feel guilty."
"The right to trample roughshod
over your feelings? Tell me, Miss Sinclair, do you never get angry
with Justin? Do you always feel obliged to conceal your emotions,
even from the man you love?"
Aurelia drew her arms in closer to her
bosom, feeling as exposed as if Everard had undone the ribbons of her
chemise. Attempting to hide her embarrassment, she examined the lace
cuff of her gown and said tartly, "How odd. I don't recall
having worn my heart upon my sleeve tonight."
"You never do. I read the
inscription in that book that fell out of your workbasket."
"Have you never heard of the word
privacy, Mr. Ramsey?”
Completely unperturbed by her rebuke,
Ramsey said. "I don't mean to offer advice where it may not be
wanted, but you intrigue me, Miss Sinclair. You have from the first.
If you could get past the point of letting Justin treat you with less
consideration than he shows his horse, I believe you are exactly the
sort of woman he needs."
"I can't begin to tell you how
much your opinion means to me, sir." Aurelia glowered, spanning
her fingers along her waistline. "Such a nice, sensible, solid
sort of woman, is that your estimation?"
"No," he retorted. "Such
a lovely, intelligent woman who, for some strange reason, is at pains
to hide her beauty behind a silken monstrosity that resembles a rose
garden run amok."
"For your information, sir, this
happens to be my best gown. I fear my appearance will never measure
up to your exacting standards, Mr. Ramsey. What with the shortage of
magic wands of late, I shall never be transformed into the belle of
the ton."
"You could be, if that is what you
desire. All you need is the right tutor. Place yourself under my
direction, and Justin would not be the only man you would dazzle with
your charms.”
For a brief moment Aurelia was
entranced by the picture Ramsey's words conjured. How oft had she
dreamed of promenading into a ballroom upon Justin's arm, her lithe
figure swirled in a gossamer gown that was the envy of all the
ladies, Justin darting jealous glances at the men, daring them to
approach her.
But reason quickly intruded, in the
sharp memory of her mother's voice echoing through her mind. Lady
Sinclair had thrown up her hands as she watched Aurelia being garbed
for her coming-out party, the corset strings not quite managing to
pull tight enough. “God knows I've tried, Aurelia, but you will
never be a beauty. You take after your father's side of the family,
every one of them hopelessly stout. The most we can hope for is that
you will learn not to be so awkward.”
Aurelia gave her head a brief shake,
dispelling the painful recollection of her mother, along with the
rosy haze of her dreams.
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