***
After dinner, the ladies retired to the music room, and the gentlemen joined them after enjoying their port. The ladies offered a little entertainment, which the men said would be delightful, and Anna Marie and Susanna each played a couple of songs, much to the pleasure of all, especially Lord Foxdown. He loved the look on Anna’s face as she played and sang. She smiled like she was the happiest person in the world, and he couldn’t help but feel the same way. Although Anna was not the most proficient at exhibiting, she played and sang to music that was uplifting, and it was a nice touch to end the evening. He could have listened to her all night as her singing wrapped itself around his heart and gave it a little squeeze so that he was continually rubbing his chest while she played and sang. He had hoped no one else noticed his rapture, but he failed to see the look the duchess gave him as he watched Anna. She would have sworn he was head over heels in love with her daughter.
Impossible! He has just met her.
Other Books by Gianna Thomas
Here are the books in The Four Lords’ Saga Series, as well as a backstory:
Lord Windmere - He is one of four well-known rakes in London, and has finally acceded to his parents' wishes for him to seek a wife. While attending a house party, he renews his acquaintance with the younger sister of his best friend from his youth. (Available FREE NOW!)
. . . Searching the house, the watcher had finally found Lady Katherine and took her to the side.
“Katherine, those two are going riding early on the morrow. I want you to go with them and do something for me.”
“What two are you talking about?”
“Windmere and Lady Jane. This is what I want you to do.” And she proceeded to give her specific instructions.
“I won’t do that. I like horses too much.”
“You can and you will do just as I told you. Or I will spread through the ton what you and Lord Underwood were doing in the garden at Lady Sefton’s ball.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“Oh, yes, I would. I mean to be a duchess, and Lord Windmere will be my duke.”
Lady Katherine pursed her mouth in disapproval then just nodded without another word.
Lord Weirlane – He is the only one who has attained his title, is the youngest of the four, and also the most irresponsible. You will cry along with Crispin and his mother at what happens to the beautiful lady he loves passionately (Available NOW!).
. . . For two and a half days, Crispin fended off the worst of the rakes and left the impression with them he was sleeping with her and she had no interest in any other man. That worked for a while until one of the libertines offered him £500 pounds to change places with him in the night. Crispin just laughed and sneered at him, “You can’t give her what she wants” and walked away from him. The second night Crispin hid in the alcove and watched her room to keep her safe. The whole situation was turning into a nightmare.
The evening of the third day, Catherine began to feel ill after supper and asked Crispin to escort her to her bedchamber.
"How do you feel, Cat?" inquired Crispin with a frown on his face as he held her elbow and led her up the stairs.
"I don't feel well at all. I don't know what is happening to me. I…feel disoriented."
Crispin opened her door, led her through it, and shut the door behind him. Then, he slipped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to him.
"Wh-what are you doing, Crisp?" Catherine put her hand on his chest and started to push him away, but she had no strength to do it.
"Cat…you are so beautiful. I…" his voice trailed off and lust took its place. Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her ear, her cheek, her chin and then nibbled on her lower lip. . . .
Lord Foxdown – This lord is the one with the sly wit that always seems to have the truth imbedded somewhere in it. Fox’s heart will hurt for his lovely lady (Available NOW!).
. . . After supper, the dancing continued for another two hours. Gareth and Anna were delighted to find the last dance was a waltz, and after the dance, they went out on the terrace where he got on his knee and said, “Anna, I have never felt this way before, but I know I love you with all my heart. I’ve never met a sweeter, more wonderful woman than yourself, and I wish to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Would you make me the happiest man on earth by marrying me?”
With tears of joy in her eyes, she told him yes, and said yes again when he asked if he might kiss her. Gareth thought they would have just a few minutes while the family was seeing all their guests off, but that proved to not be the case.
“Crispin, Crispin.” Jocelyn, Crispin’s youngest sister was tugging at his sleeve. Then she leaned over and whispered frantically in his ear. “Come quick. Lord Foxdown just compromised Anna Marie.” And Crispin saw red.
The duke quickly followed Jocelyn to the terrace where he saw Fox embrace Anna Marie. Jerking his friend away from his sister, he hit him with a right hook, and Fox went down. “Get up, you craven coward, so I can hit you again.” Fox demurred and stayed down. He wasn’t going to fight his friend even if Crispin had just cause. But he was afraid their friendship might be at an end and possibly his betrothal to Anna as well. . . .
Lord Brookton – Saving a fair maiden can have serious consequences when she has a left hook like Gentleman Jim Jackson. (Available NOW!)
. . . He was no sooner in position than the man growled, “En garde.”
Startled when the man spoke, Jules found himself on the defensive with his opponent’s first move. Brookton was quickly beaten when the man leaped forward with his blade extended and ran toward him before Jules could adequately prepare his defensive move. Two out of three, eh? The next one is mine. With narrowed eyes and a scowl on his face, Jules planted his feet.
“En garde.”
This time, Jules was better prepared offensively and was doing well when suddenly his opponent threw his rear leg back, extended his non-weapon hand to the floor, and bracing himself with his hand and both feet proceeded to thrust his blade up toward Jules. And Jules found he had lost two out of the three matches much to his disgust. Bowing to his opponent, he admitted to defeat and barely managed to refrain from a biting remark as well.
He was astounded when the fencer took off his mask and he turned out to be a she, a lovely young woman as tall as he was. She was crowned with beautiful auburn hair—tousled from the mask but cut shorter than that of many women of the ton—with brilliant green eyes and skin so smooth he wanted to lick it. She was laughing with the most kissable upturned mouth he’d ever seen, and Jules started forward…then stopped abruptly.
Matt and Janie – A backstory to Lord Windmere. (Available NOW!)
. . . So, she started following them on their treks across the estates. At first, Janie followed on foot but lost them when they raced their horses out of sight, and she could never find them. Then, she tracked them on horseback, bringing a young groom she’d sworn to secrecy. That worked better, but she couldn’t get very close to them riding her horse or they would see or hear her. Eventually, Janie figured out where they were going and would ride nearby and go the rest of the way on foot. That worked fairly well, but she had to be very careful, especially when they went hunting. She had no desire to be mistaken for a deer.
The most fun came when she tracked them to the hidden falls. The first time she followed them there, Janie hid where she could watch them swim. She didn’t know they swam au natural and nearly laughed out loud when they got out of the water to dive in again. They didn’t even wear drawers.
Then her breath caught as Matt turned in her direction. The Elgin Marble. Matt looks just like the Elgin Marble I saw. He’s beautiful.
Having put on additional muscle and more tan while swimming at the hidden falls, Matt was a fine specimen of young manhood. She could have watched him all day and never tired of the sight. . . .
And please check out her website, at http://giannathomaspandp.com/, for Gianna’s other writings, especially her Pr
ide and Prejudice variations.
About the Author
Although a writer of sweet+ Regency romance, Gianna Thomas, a native Texan, doesn’t hesitate to tackle some of the grittier events in life. Even back in Regency times, the world of that day experienced war, hatred, prejudice and crimes against women. And, we even see those things today. It seems that people don’t change.
Romance, especially Regency romance, really appeals to Gianna, and she loves writing about it whether Pride and Prejudice variations with Darcy and Elizabeth or love stories involving dukes and duchesses. And she is a prolific reader of Regency romance as well.
Gianna discovered Pride and Prejudice, and its many variations, what ifs and fan fiction. She was totally fascinated by the variety of plots that eager authors had utilized. After reading nearly 400 variations and fan fictions, Gianna now had P&P plots running through her head. She finally decided that they needed to be put to paper (today, on the computer), to see how they would develop. She had an absolute ball in writing about Darcy and Elizabeth and was pleased with how things developed. Her goal will always be to entertain and touch hearts. Hopefully, with her first rendering, Pride and Prejudice: Darcy Chooses, she achieved that goal.
More recently, Gianna started looking beyond Pride and Prejudice, with her first foray into Regency Romance generally, with The Four Lords’ Saga Series. She is finding that she loves all the lords, their ladies, and their families, and writing about them is one of the most fun-filled adventures she’s ever been on. There are four books in the initial series, then there will be other novellas/short stories concerning the lords and their families. There’s nothing better than to read and write about handsome bad boys who change their wicked ways for their ladies. And the four lords fit the bill perfectly. Join the many who will learn why four confirmed bachelors decide, unexpectedly, to seriously consider marriage after escaping parson’s mousetrap for years. You will love the reason why.
Lord Windmere – A little gallant and more serious than the other three, Matt will capture your heart just as he did his lady fair. Like a Greek god, he is also a knight in shining armor.
Lord Weirlane – He is the only one who has attained his title, is the youngest of the four, and also the most irresponsible. You will cry along with Crispin and his mother at what happens to the beautiful lady he loves passionately.
Lord Foxdown – This lord is the one with the sly wit that always seems to have the truth imbedded somewhere in it. Fox’s heart will hurt for his lovely lady.
Lord Brookton – With fiery red hair and a temper that flairs easily, Jules will meet his match in the lady who catches his eye.
So, come along with us on the journey and meet the four lords. There will be laughter and tears along the way but lots of smiles as well.
And for P&P fans, never fear. There will be more Darcy and Elizabeth as well, mostly in the form of novellas and short stories.
Gianna Thomas is a former ghostwriter of poetry and e-books who became a widow after twenty-two years with her very own Mr. Darcy, who was her second husband. She lives a quiet life in a small Texas town with her cats and loves to read the many variations done by other lovers of Pride and Prejudice and Regency Romance.
Learn more about Gianna and her Regency Romance writings on her website http://www.giannathomaspandp.com and on her page at Amazon Author Central at https://www.amazon.com/author/giannathomas. Also, please visit with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gianna-Thomas/1659543077608079. And please Like her page.
Go Back to the Beginning.
Lord Weirlane Page 11
