It’s time to discover...
YESTERDAY’S TREASURES... the newest time-travel Regency by Susanne Marie Knight
now available.
YESTERDAY’S TREASURES
Author: Susanne Marie Knight
Genre: Time-Travel Regency
Available electronically at Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, and Universal Link.
Price: $3.99
Buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8ZVT368
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1587406
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jpey2
Available in Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D92BBZX4 Price: $11.99
Blurb:
A Regency themed photo
shoot, a magical wedding dress, and a mysterious “uncle” send Mattie Newcastle
back to the past.
A FAUX BRIDE
Mattie Newcastle agrees to
pose as a bride in a photo shoot to advertise her Uncle Ward’s
second-hand-shop, Yesterday’s Treasures. Everything for the shoot looks
period-piece authentic, especially the mouthwateringly hunky groom dressed in a
tailcoat, top hat, and a cravat. Imagine Mattie’s surprise when after she signs
the chapel’s register book, she finds out that she’s actually married to an
English marquess; she’s now in London; and the year is 1816. Her husband,
George, declares she’s bought and paid for and insists on obtaining his
conjugal rights. Sure, he’s as handsome as a dream, but she has no intention of
becoming his “brood mare.” How did this impossible thing happen and how is she
going to get back to the twenty-first century?
A REAL HUSBAND
The Marquess of Chesterton,
George Dunning, has a gambling addiction. His latest debacle at cards has cost
him 150,000 guineas payable to his arch nemesis... and, unless George marries
immediately, his family’s ancestral diamond ring. He can handle the enormous
debt, but the shame of the ring not staying within the family is too high a
price to pay. He must enter the parson’s mousetrap... without delay. His
man of business, Edward, arranges for an appropriate, amenable, eligible,
biddable, and sight-unseen young woman to be George’s bride. The more George is
around Matilda Newcastle, the more he is quite happy with the marriage,
except... he soon realizes she has no intention of granting a husband’s
privileges. How can he convince his new marchioness that she truly belongs to
him?
Scene Set-Up:
Agreeing to pose as a bride
walking down the aisle in a photo shoot to advertise her Uncle Ward’s
second-hand-shop, Yesterday’s Treasures, Mattie finds herself in a realistic
chapel complete with a parson, two witnesses, and a devastatingly handsome
bridegroom--all dressed in Regency period costumes.
EXCERPT
The groom reached over and took Mattie’s gloveless
hand. “I, George Dunning, the Marquess of Chesterton...” His voice was deep,
commanding. “Take thee, Matilda Newcastle, to be my wedded wife, to have and to
hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part,
according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.”
The feel of his warm hand against her skin was
causing her heart to pound out in alarm. Good gosh, she’d never felt this
way... in her life. Why--
The parson Dr. Bailey interrupted her frantic
thoughts. “Now it is your turn, my child.”
After he repeated the mouthful of words, now he and
George expected her to regurgitate them.
Taking a deep inhale, she did her best. “I, Matilda
Newcastle...”
Goodness, she really shuddered saying that.
“Take thee, George Dunning, to be my wedded husband,
to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer,
for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us
part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.”
Honestly, she felt as if she might pass out from the
tension. As for her hand in his, why, it almost went completely numb.
Again, Dr. Bailey nodded, this time at the man
standing to the right. “Lord Rutledge.”
The blond man handed the groom, George, a small
circle of gold--a ring.
The parson nodded again. “Lord Chesterton, please
place the ring on Matilda’s left hand as a symbol and seal of your vows today.”
George slowly, tortuously, slid the ring up her third
finger. Somehow, his hand seemed to touch every inch of exposed skin on her
hand.
Goodness, she almost died from the sheer delight of
his touch.
Dr. Bailey now raised his hands and called out, “And
now by the power vested in me by God above, and our most holy Bishop of
Canterbury, it is my honor to declare you married. You may now kiss your
bride.”
Oh good gosh. Her stomach dropped. She knew it did.
She’d forgotten about this part of a wedding ceremony.
Turning her, no doubt, panicked face toward George,
she waited for him to take the first move.
He not only didn’t release her hand, he instead took
her other one, too. Then, with his unnerving gaze completely on hers, he leaned
over. Closer and closer and closer.
If she wasn’t mistaken, she saw the slightest of
smiles on his face. So faint, that if she hadn’t been this close, she would’ve
missed it.
Omigosh, he still hadn’t reached her lips. But he was
going to. She knew that as if he’d said the words. Lifting her chin, she closed
her eyes and braced herself.
His lips softly brushed hers. Such a wondrous
sensation. She couldn’t help it; she whimpered a little cry.
How embarrassing. Had he heard?
She opened her eyes just as he pulled away. She
blinked. That was it? That was the kiss?
His expression was still stone-like, but his eyes,
somehow they seemed brighter than before.
Dr. Bailey made a happy chuckle. “I am pleased to
present to the good Lord above and to the world at large, the Marquess and
Marchioness of Chesterton, Mr. and Mrs. George Dunning, George and Matilda.”
Mattie bit her lip. The Marchioness of Chesterton?
Yikes. What was going on here? What did all this have to do with a photo shoot?
This seemed so real.
Lady Jane and Lord Rutledge both gave extravagant
congratulations: hugs, tears, and smiles from the lady, and handshakes, winks,
and smiles from the man. The couple must’ve been the official witnesses.
Even though Mattie knew this was completely
inappropriate, she turned to the man by her side and then whispered, “Is it
over?”
He extended his arm for her to take. “M’dear, it has
only just begun.”
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Happy Reading!
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!
