Finessing the Contessa

by Wendy Soliman

  Finessing the Contessa

  By Wendy Soliman

  Book three of The Forsters

  England, 1815

  Lord Robert Forster hopes to meet his match—on the chessboard. He jumps at the chance to cross rooks with the renowned Sicilian widow Contessa Electra Falzone. However, the lovely foreigner’s bold opening gambit raises concerns about her politics when she finds her way into his bedchamber, not with seduction in mind, but to steal state secrets.

  Electra Falzone has always avoided scandalous liaisons, until blackmail forces her to turn thief and risk her reputation in the arms of the handsome Lord Robert. If her manipulators were threatening only her, she would confess all to her fellow strategist. But given who will suffer if she fails, she can’t afford to take that risk.

  Drawn to the exotic contessa, Rob won’t allow her to be used as a pawn by an unscrupulous schemer. But if Electra is determined to play this dangerous game for reasons of her own, nothing Rob can do will stop her.

  Meet Rob’s siblings in Compromising the Marquess and Beguiling the Barrister.

  76,000 words

  Dear Reader,

  I’m on vacation, camping in the semi-wilderness. No, not when you’re reading this (well, maybe, who knows?) but when this letter is due to our production team. So I’ve chosen to hand off my Dear Reader letter responsibilities to the team for the month of November and let them tell you all about the fantastic lineup in store for you. We’re a team who really enjoys the books we acquire, and I know they’ll be glad for a chance to convince you to give one a try. In the meantime, I’ll be back next month. Happy reading!

  Angela James, Editorial Director

  Dear Reader,

  Editorial assistant Stephanie here. Since Angela is “camping” (all I’m saying is that camping seems to involve a lot of tweeting), I’ve compiled a few fun facts about this month’s new releases. What kinds of great books do we have in store for you this time? Will I get in trouble for making fun of my boss’s camping skills? These are the questions I will strive to answer for you today.

  Redemption by Stephanie Tyler, new adult, post-apocalyptic

  Stephanie Tyler returns with book two in her post-apocalyptic new-adult motorcycle club series.

  Redemption continues the story of the Defiance MC with Mathias and Jessa’s story. If you missed book one, Defiance—Cas and Tru’s story—you’re missing out on a fantastic world and some swoon-worthy romance.

  —Angela James, Editorial Director, Carina Press

  Snowbound with the CEO by Shannon Stacey, contemporary romance

  Shannon’s books are must-reads if you love contemporary romance.

  Shannon Stacey’s holiday novellas are becoming something of a delightful tradition at Carina Press, and we’re happy to have the latest in our hands!

  —Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

  Chance of Rain by Amber Lin, contemporary romance

  We’re happy to welcome Amber to the Carina Press family!

  This small-town reunion romance gripped me from the first chapter and wouldn’t let go. The tortured alpha hero, who just happens to be a Navy SEAL, also didn’t hurt!

  —Tara Stevens, Assistant Product Manager, Digital Products

  Take Me Home by Inez Kelley, contemporary romance

  Inez writes contemporary and fantasy romance for Carina Press. Her new lumberjack series had the (admittedly largely Canadian) team intrigued from the start!

  Maple-syrup maker Kayla falls for a sexy lumberjack with a bitter past and a wary heart in the first of her new Country Roads series featuring loggers in the Allegheny Mountains.

  —Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

  Slow Ride Home by Leah Braemel, contemporary Western romance

  Leah writes wonderfully sexy, emotional romances for Carina Press, including Texas Tangle and Tangled Past.

  Leah’s lovely writing drew me right along into a sensual story of love, heat and scandal. With cowboys. Look for more of the Grady family to come. Did I mention there are cowboys?

  —Brendan Flattery, Digital Production Coordinator

  Love a Little Sideways by Shannon Stacey, contemporary romance

  Shannon’s bestselling Kowalski family miniseries is a must-read for contemporary romance fans.

  What begins as the annual Kowalski Camping Trip of Doom turns into a brand-new start for an unlikely couple—charming, funny proof that what we think we want and what the heart wants isn’t always the same thing.

  —Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press

  Sing for the Dead by PJ Schnyder, paranormal shifter romance

  PJ writes futuristic science fiction romance and paranormal romance for Carina Press.

  The exciting second book in the London Undead trilogy brings readers back into a world where zombies have taken over London. Now the werewolves who’ve stepped up to fight the creatures have a new ally—a member of the Fae who jumps right into the middle of the fray!

  —Mallory Braus, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

  Through the Black Veil by Steve Vera, urban fantasy

  You may remember us gushing about Drynn, Steve’s first book in this series.

  In book 2 of the Last of the Shardyn series, our fearless heroes have returned to their magical homeland to warn everyone about the danger threatening to destroy their world.

  —Rhonda Helms, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

  Improper Arrangements by Juliana Ross, erotic historical romance

  Juliana writes sizzling historical romances set in Victorian times for Carina Press.

  The follow-up to Improper Relations features a mountain-climber hero, Eli. He is my favorite type of hero: rugged, handsome, rough around the edges, mysterious. Love him!

  —Carly Chow, Assistant Manager, Digital Commerce

  Finessing the Contessa by Wendy Soliman, historical romance

  Wendy Soliman writes wonderful, exciting historical romances. The first two Forsters books are currently available from Carina Press.

  In Wendy Soliman’s Regency romance Finessing the Contessa, Lord Robert Forster is drawn to the brilliant Sicilian he meets at a chess match, but is she a spy or an innocent pawn in a game of international espionage?

  —Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

  All In with the Duke by Ava March, male/male historical romance

  Ava March writes can’t-miss historical male/male stories for Carina Press.

  Max Arrington, the Duke of Pelham, has vowed to never again let a handsome face blind him to a man’s true intentions. But the beautiful Tristan Walsh is too intriguing for Max to resist, and it’s not long before their wicked nights together turn into something more.

  —Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

  For Her Eyes Only by Shannon Curtis, romantic suspense

  This is the third book in Shannon’s exciting McCormack Security Agency series.

  For Her Eyes Only features an admin assistant pairing up with the MSA’s undercover expert to investigate a murder. I loved the sexual tension between the hero and heroine!

  —Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

  Getting Rich by Monique Domovitch, cozy mystery

  Monique’s first novel with Carina Press, Getting Skinny, had us all eager for the follow-up.

  Just when she thinks she’s on the verge of getting rich, N
icky Landry finds out somebody is out to get her—and whoever it is has murder on the menu—in Monique Domovitch’s second Chef Landry Mystery.

  —Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

  No Place Like Rome by Julie Moffett, action-adventure, mystery

  In addition to writing the Lexi Carmichael mysteries, Julie also writes Scottish historical romances!

  Our favorite geek girl is off to Rome with the sexy and mysterious Slash to solve a case involving the Vatican, a dead body, some steamy kisses from her partner, and a top-secret encrypted file that even she can’t hack.

  —Alissa Davis, Freelance Editor, Carina Press

  Season of Seduction, erotic holiday anthology

  Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy, erotic romance

  Jeffe writes steamy erotic BDSM romance for Carina Press, as well as (also steamy!) fantasy romance.

  Jeffe Kennedy heats up the season with this sultry, adventurous Facets of Passion novella set against the balmy days—and scorching nights—of a high-powered woman’s holiday-vacation-turned-sexual epiphany.

  —Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press

  Naughty Nicks by Christine d’Abo, erotic romance

  Christine’s Long Shots series, about a BDSM club and its patrons, includes a choose-your-path erotic romance!

  This sexy and emotional novella features an interesting holiday business—stripper Santas! There was so much great tension between the heroine and her hero, who also happens to be her boss.

  —Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

  Ménage on 34th Street by Elise Logan and Emily Ryan-Davis, erotic ménage romance

  We are proud to welcome Elise and Emily to the Carina Press family! This is their first book with us.

  Katrina and Liam have a happy marriage, but they’ve always felt there’s room for more. When their friend Hunter returns from active duty, they know exactly what that “more” is. Now if only they can convince Hunter...

  —Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

  Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin, erotic BDSM romance

  Jodie writes about true-to-life characters exploring their sexy sides in her Bondage & Breakfast series.

  This BDSM novella has a lot of things going for it—it’s sexy, emotional, and there’s a really hot cop. Jodie is known for writing wonderfully realistic characters, and she doesn’t disappoint here.

  —Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press

  Gifts of Honor, military holiday collection

  Starting from Scratch by Stacy Gail, contemporary military romance

  Stacy writes both paranormal and contemporary romance for Carina Press.

  Stacy Gail gifts us with the sweetest of holiday reunions for a wounded Army Ranger and his one true love. Patience and forgiveness meet sharp wit and sizzling attraction!

  —Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press

  Hero’s Homecoming by Rebecca Crowley, contemporary military romance

  Rebecca’s debut book with Carina Press, a fantastic sports romance called The Striker’s Chance¸ came out in September.

  Three days before Christmas, a surprising phone call from an old love changes absolutely everything in this compelling novella.

  —Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press

  Dedication

  For Jake Bentley, the best dog in the world, ever.

  Acknowledgments

  My thanks to my talented and very patient editor, Deb Nemeth, who went several extra miles for me on this one. Further thanks are due to the entire wonderful Carina team and to my husband, André. He knows why.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  April 1815

  Gardenias.

  Whenever Rob caught a whiff of the captivating fragrance, it catapulted him back to the gardens of his youth. Buds of the exotic plant unfurled in his mind’s eye to become the velvety soft flowers his mother so adored. Mama, dressed in a floating muslin gown on a fine summer’s evening, wandering the gravel walks at the Hall. Never trusting the gardeners with the responsibility, Mama would pick the delicate blooms herself and place them in the basket over her arm. He and his younger brother would gambol around her like puppies with energy to burn. She’d hold gardenias to their young noses and encourage them to embrace the heady scent when all they really cared about was a good old rough and tumble on the Hall’s manicured lawns.

  Eighteen years on, and the sound of Mama’s soft laughter when the pollen made him sneeze was as fresh in Rob’s mind as if it had happened yesterday. Rob stopped walking, aware that his recollections didn’t explain the presence of such a delicate perfume in this damp and dingy passageway in a posting inn on the main Hastings road. The sound of booted footsteps on the flagstones warned him of another man’s approach. He couldn’t be responsible for the perfume, surely?

  Curious to know what was going on, Rob concealed himself in an alcove, waiting to see who else was abroad at this late hour. Only guests returning from assignations, or those who didn’t wish to be seen for more sinister reasons, would use the corridor leading to the back stairs. Rob had been warned by his brother Hal to expect trouble when he set out on a journey that combined duty with pleasure. As a consequence he was alert for anything out of the ordinary.

  Like the perfume of gardenias where it had no place.

  “Ah, there you are.”

  The man’s footsteps halted just a few yards ahead of Rob’s hiding place. The voice was educated and although his English was almost without accent, it was so precise that Rob suspected it wasn’t his first language.

  “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect to see you again yet.”

  Rob expelled a long breath at the sound of a lady’s voice, its timbre soft and easy on the ear. An accented, cultured voice, it combined anxiety with a note of haughty disdain, distinguishing her as a lady of consequence. He wondered what business she had to conduct in such an unlikely location, and with such a person. It had nothing to do with assignations since the lady didn’t address her companion with the slightest trace of affection and clearly didn’t look upon him as an equal.

  “The situation’s changed and so I came here especially to warn you.”

  “Changed in what respect?” she asked sharply. “I thought we were in agreement that I would play my part when I reach Dartmouth. There’s nothing to be done before that.”

  God’s beard, could it really be? Rob was on his way to the Dartmouth estate of his close friend, Charles Billingham. Billingham’s invitations were always warmly received, this one especially so since he’d been promised that La Contessa, as she was universally known in the upper echelons of chess society, would be a member of the party. Rob was curious about the Sicilian widow, as was his brother Hal, the Marquess of Denby, but for very different reasons.

&nbs
p; The prospect of pitting his wits against a female chess player of such renown had set Rob salivating, just as Charles had known it would. Hal, on the other hand, was deeply involved with the delicate political situation in the contessa’s native Sicily. Rob had been charged with discovering what information she could supply regarding the power struggle currently being waged over the sovereignty of the strategically located island. The contessa had voiced public support for the British cause, which made Rob wonder why she was meeting with questionable characters in the servants’ quarters of a posting inn.

  “By chance our quarry happens to be here.”

  “What, at this very inn?” She now sounded flustered rather than haughty.

  “Exactly so.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Suffice it to say that I found out and came here to warn you as quickly as I could. It’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”

  “Dannazione!”

  “Speak English,” the man said. “We agreed not to raise suspicion by speaking Italian in public.”

  “This is hardly a public place.” A rustle of skirts sent a waft of perfume towards Rob. The scent was so strong that he was hard-pressed to avoid sneezing. “And as to the other matter, if I’d known earlier—”

  “You didn’t see him?”

  “I don’t know what he looks like. I arrived here late and dined in a private room after the other guests had finished. If I’d known he was here, I would have made myself more visible. Now it’s too late. Presumably he will be gone in the morning, and I can’t engineer a meeting at this hour.”

  “He retired an hour since and he’ll be dead to the world by now. Forster drank a good deal of port after his supper.”

  Perdition, they were talking about him! Rob had suspected as much but it still came as a shock. Fortunately he had a strong head for drink and the port had barely affected him. He had been unaccountably restless for the entire evening. He was glad he’d listened to the sixth sense that warned of trouble brewing, persuading him to patrol this back passage. Such locations could usually be relied upon to reveal something interesting, even if it was nothing more telling than the identities of lovers anxious to keep their trysts secret. Tonight was proving to be especially fruitful.