by Diana Quincy
“And that is a problem?”
“A bride is never supposed to appear eager for the marriage bed. People will think she’s a harlot.”
He released her. “I would not want to be on your mother’s bad side. She might be even more formidable than your grandmother. But I have something for you before we go in.” He drew something out of his pocket. A gold ring and sapphire necklace.
Hanna’s breath caught. “Your mother’s jewelry.”
“Not anymore.” He took her hand and slipped the gold ring onto her finger. “This is inscribed to Lady Griffin, and you are the current holder of the title.”
The ring was heavy on her finger. “It is beautiful.”
“And this belongs to you as well.” He slipped the sapphire around her neck. “It’s been yours since the first time I saw you wearing it at the coffeehouse. It just took me a while to realize it.”
“I shall have to think of an appropriate way to thank you.”
“How about you wear nothing but the jewelry when I finally get you into bed this evening?”
She regarded him through her lashes. “I have other surprises planned for you tonight.”
He stilled. “You do? Such as?”
She blushed despite herself, as she recalled sugaring her entire body. “There are certain ways an Arab bride prepares her body for her wedding night.”
His eyes heated. “What ways?”
She demurred. “You will have to wait and see.”
“You are going to kill me.”
“We could always make supper a buffet.”
“Excellent idea.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go, my love.”
“What will you tell Cook when she finds out her glorious wedding supper is now a buffet?”
He grinned, slipping his arm around her waist. “I’ll tell her the viscountess made me do it.”
Author’s Note
Bonesetters really were considered frauds in the early 1800s. People with dislocations often suffered for years because traditional medicine could not help them. The 1871 book, On Bone-setting, was very helpful to me in setting the scenes in which Hanna heals Griff’s injuries.
Hanna’s choice of a profession was inspired by Sally Mapp, a bonesetter who gained acclaim in the 1700s. Sally managed to thrive in a profession dominated by men. Her most famous case was when she fixed the spinal deformity of the niece of Sir Hans Sloane, a prominent physician and naturalist.
If you are wondering whether there actually were any Arabs in England during the Regency era, the answer is yes. Cotton goods produced in Lancashire were exported to the Arab world through Manchester. Directories show that, by 1798, there were four Arab trading houses in Manchester that were involved in cotton exports.
Special thanks go to my editor, Carrie Feron, who teaches me something about writing and storytelling every time we talk or exchange emails. I want to also express my appreciation to assistant editor Asanté Simons and everyone on the Avon team. And, I am always grateful to have my agent, Kevan Lyon, in my corner.
My friend, Megann Yaqub, reads everything I write and many of the story developments and ideas on these pages are the result of our brainstorming sessions. Joanna Shupe is a constant source of friendship and writerly support. I am overwhelmed by how generous and supportive Sarah MacLean is, not just to me, but to so many in the romance author community. And I could not have asked for a better release-day buddy than Sophie Jordan. And thanks to my friend, Faith Lapidus, for finding errors and typos that I missed.
None of these books would be possible without my husband Taoufiq’s unflagging support. Thanks for having my back for all of these years.
Ultimately, it is you—the readers, bloggers, booksellers and librarians—who make it possible for me to continue to do what I love. Thank you for taking time out of your days to spend a few hours with me via my books!
About the Author
Bestselling author DIANA QUINCY is a former television journalist who decided she’d rather make up stories where a happy ending is always guaranteed.
Diana grew up all over the world as the daughter of a United States Foreign Service Officer. Since her 2013 debut, Diana’s books have landed on annual “Best of” lists in Library Journal and The Washington Post.
Diana is now happily settled in Virginia, but still gets the itch to explore far-off places. When she’s not bent over her laptop, Diana reads, practices yoga, and plots her next travel adventure.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by Diana Quincy
Clandestine Affairs series
Her Night with the Duke
Rebellious Brides series
Spy Fall
A License to Wed
From London with Love
The Duke Who Ravished Me
Accidental Peers series
Compromising Willa
Seducing Charlotte
Tempting Bella
Engaging the Earl
Atlas Catesby Mysteries series
Murder in Mayfair
Murder in Bloomsbury
Murder at the Opera
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
the viscount made me do it. Copyright © 2021 by Dora Mekouar. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition AUGUST 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-298683-2
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-298681-8
Cover design by Patricia Barrow
Cover illustration by Chris Cocozza
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
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