Treasuring
Theresa
by Susana Ellis
Regency Romance
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Release
Date: January 3, 2013
Heat
Level: Sweet
Available at:
Description:
At the
betrothal ball of the man she had expected to marry herself, Lady Theresa
latches on to Damian Ashby, hoping to divert attention from her own humiliating
situation. Of course, she's not seriously interested because he's a useless
London fribble, in her opinion. He is not favorably impressed with her either.
Still, she's
the daughter of an earl, and he's the heir to her father's title and estate, so
they are destined to spend more time in each other's company…sooner rather than
later. And who knew that the two of them would develop an unlikely attraction
to one another?
But can a London swell and a country lady ever make their diverse
lives and interests work together?
Excerpt:
Damian Ashby,
Viscount Clinton, looked down upon the festive ballroom with a critical eye as
he waited in the reception line. Greek statues and scrolled Ionic columns,
along with draperies of white and gold and a profusion of candelabras wrapped
in ivy, trumpeted the classical theme. A brief survey of the guests confirmed
his suspicion that the Sedgelys did not socialize in the first circles of the ton.
Except for his cousin, the Earl of Granville, whose heir he was and at whose
behest he had deigned to attend, Damian himself appeared to be the highest
ranked in attendance.
And frankly, he’d
rather be indulging in an intimate dinner and sensual dessert with his mistress
than attending a provincial betrothal ball held for two people he’d never met.
“Charmed, I’m
sure” he said disdainfully as he greeted his hosts. The pudgy Mr. Sedgely, a
banker, and his horse-faced wife, second cousin to a baron, socialized on the
fringes of theton, which is why he’d never encountered them previously.
The balding
gentleman waiting to greet him on the next step down introduced himself as
Squire Bromfield, father of the bridegroom. “So good of you to come,” he
boomed, “considering I’ll be your neighbor one day. Or at least my son will, if
I’ve shoved off by then.”
“Indeed,” Damian
replied, shuddering inwardly at the thought of socializing with such boorish
people. After he inherited, he planned to reside at Granville Manor for one
week annually during the hunting season. The rest of the year it would be left
under the management of a capable steward while he continued to enjoy the
pleasures of civilized society in London.
He was calculating
the most direct path to the card room when a young lady pounced on him.
“Why, I do believe
it’s Cousin Damian! How delightful to see you again!”
She was passably
pretty, he thought, although her marine-blue gown was not in the first stare of
fashion. He could find no fault with her small waist and full breasts, although
he personally preferred a more voluptuous figure. Her hair was too dark a
blonde to be in vogue, and the simple chignon indicated that she had arranged
it herself without the assistance of a maid. But it was her tantalizing eyes
that drew his attention—a deep cerulean blue that reminded him of the Adriatic
Sea and a pleasurable interlude on a beach with a sultry Greek barmaid during
his European tour a few years ago.
Cousin?
She swatted his
arm with her fan.
“You don’t
remember me, do you, Cousin Damian? It has been an age since your visit
to Granville at Christmastime. It was five or six years, perhaps, but I still
had no trouble recognizing you!”
His memory yielded
the image of a younger version of the girl before him. Barely out of
adolescence, she’d been as provincial as the others in the tedious party.
“Lady Theresa,” he
said. “How delightful to see you again!”
“Cousin Theresa,”
she insisted. “Strict propriety need not be followed among relations, you
know.”
“Although a
high-stickler would point out our blood relationship is somewhat diluted,” he
reminded her, “our grandfathers being merely cousins and all.”
She grinned.
“Isn’t it fortunate there are no high-sticklers here?”
The first notes of
a waltz were struck. “What luck!” she said, pulling him onto the dance floor.
“Come dance with me, Cousin Damian. I do so adore waltzes!”
He could
have—should have—cut her for her impertinence. If he’d been ambushed in such a
manner by any other young lady at a ton ball, she’d have been dealt a
severe set-down. But among a roomful of provincials, Lady Theresa, as the daughter
of an earl, outranked everyone except her father and himself. And seeing as she
was the one who would be displaced when he inherited her father’s estate, he
decided to ignore her lapse in manners. More or less.
“How fortunate
that we both have this dance available,” he said with a hint of reproof.
“Oh la,” she said.
“I don’t have so many partners that I must write down their names. And you just
arrived,” she said with a triumphant smile.
A country bumpkin,
thought Damian in disgust. Bruiting about her own unpopularity so candidly. She
would be a pariah at any civilized ball.
She danced
surprisingly well for a country girl, he thought as they whirled around the
room. She felt good in his arms and the scent of her hair wafted up to his
nose. Lavender.
Her astonishing
eyes peered up at him, sparkling with interest. Oh no, he groaned inwardly.
Here it comes.
“You are easily
the most refined gentleman here,” she gushed. “Your apparel outshines even
Reese’s, and he is the guest of honor.” Seeing his puzzled look, she explained.
“Reese Bromfield, Squire Bromfield’s son. The husband-to-be.” She nodded toward
a hulky blond man dancing with a pretty redhead. “That’s Eugenia Sedgely, his
fiancée.”
Was it only his
imagination that her voice shook slightly when she said that last word?
A former
teacher, Susana is finally living her dream of being a full-time writer. She
loves all genres of romance, but historical—Regency in particular—is her
favorite. There’s just something about dashing heroes and spunky heroines
waltzing in ballrooms and driving through Hyde Park that appeals to her
imagination.
In real life, Susana is a lifelong resident of northwest Ohio,
although she has lived in Ecuador and studied in Spain, France and Mexico. More
recently, she was able to travel around England and visit many of the places
she’s read about for years, and it was awesome! She is a member of the Maumee
Valley and Beau Monde chapters of Romance Writers of America.
Connect with Susana Ellis
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Prize is a gift box of items from England from Susana Ellis. Contest is barrage-wide, open internationally and ends Aug 21. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
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TREASURING THERESA sounds like a good historical. I will have to check out this book and add it to my TBR list :)
ReplyDeleteI love historical romances this looks like a great read
ReplyDelete