NEW COVER!
THE MAGIC TOKEN: 2003 EPPIE Award Finalist for Best Historical Romance!
Author:
Susanne Marie Knight
Genre:
Regency Romance
Price:
$3.99
Available
electronically at Amazon.com
and Smashwords.com.
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link:
Blurb:
An
old woman gives skeptical Amanda a magical coin. It couldn't possibly work, but
then how else can she explain her sudden good fortune? The very man who
captured her heart years ago appears, offering a position as governess. But how
can she endure being near to a man so beyond her reach?
Marcus,
Duke of Yarborough, is burdened by family and political responsibilities. A
chance meeting throws him together with the engaging sprite from his past,
causing him to reevaluate his beliefs. For once in his life, the call of love
beckons far stronger than duties and obligations.
Scene Set-Up:
Newly hired as governess to
the Duke of Yarborough’s young sister, Daphne,
Amanda finds herself having to lie to protect Daphne
from the duke’s displeasure.
Excerpt:
After the door closed, the duke gestured
toward a wide, cushioned settee, away from the fireplace. “Please, have a seat,
Miss Barclay.”
Amanda gladly complied. To her dismay, he
remained standing. She had a close-up view of his muscled thighs. Her heart
pounded in response, but only because he towered over her--no other reason.
“What was my sister crying about?”
Her first dealing with the Duke of
Yarborough and she had to lie. And he just said he hated secrets. If her father
were alive, he would preach up a storm.
But she had to protect the child.
It was important that Daphne tell the duke herself. “Um, it was nothing
important, your grace.”
Convinced or not, he shrugged away the incident.
“So, I am a busy man. I shall get right to the point. Do you agree to become my
sister’s governess? I think you will find me very generous. Very generous.
Indeed, I have had no complaints from any of my women acquaintances.”
Amanda raised her hand to her throat.
Women acquaintances? Whatever did he mean? Was he talking about... mistresses?
He could not possibly mean to dishonor her. Narrowing her gaze, she regarded
him warily.
He pulled off his leather gloves and
slapped them against one hand. “Well, speak up. What do you say--yea or nay?
Save your missishness for another occasion, hmmm?”
She flushed. How embarrassing that he
could read her private thoughts. Far from feeling at ease, she sat at the edge
of the cushion. “You do not know anything about me, your grace. How can you be
certain of my competence?”
Dropping his gloves next to his hat, he
paced in front of her. Every step he took closer to the fireplace made her
wince with apprehension. She and Daphne had been lucky--so far.
“Fishing for compliments, are you, Miss
Barclay? Well then, I shall oblige you.” He ticked off comments on his fingers.
“One, you are the daughter of a baronet, I believe. And sister to a parson. I
cannot think of more steadying influences than those. Two, you have been away
nursing relatives--this shows stamina. Three, Pritchard has spoken for you. I
value his opinion.”
He swept his gaze over the length of her.
“And four, concerning your outward appearance, suitably clothed, you do not
inspire aversion.”
She gasped. His insult drummed savagely
through her veins, chilling her very core. A sensation of sudden frost
descended over her limbs, disabling her.
His highly polished Hessian boots came to
a stop in front of her. She could only stare at the boots’ small, black tassels,
jiggling to a halt.
“Ah, I have made a mull of it, haven’t
I?” He reached down, caught her hands, and carefully tugged her to her feet. “I
do apologize, Miss Barclay. I am a plain speaker. At times the things I say are
not suitable for the gentler sex. Three years in Wellington’s army had that
effect on me.”
She removed her hand from his. Speaking
of effects, his close proximity had a dizzying one on her. Instead of looking
him in the face, she contemplated the complex folds of his cravat. Being this
near to him was even worse than she imagined.
Worse? No, perhaps it was more like
heaven.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I
hope you enjoy!
Susanne
Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!
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