‘Now who’s wandering?’ One side of her mouth crinkled upwards. A dimple winked in her cheek, un-abashed and unintimidated. ‘Unless I’m mistaken, that’s biblical. Better to have said, but sin had his reward.’
Mirth flooded through him, warming him from the inside out, making him want to taste her even more. He tipped back her hat. ‘Shall I wander further? To sin in secret is no sin at all.’
He lowered his head and captured her lips with his own. He kissed her softly, teasingly. Testing the waters. Giving her every chance to pull away, to slap him…to kiss him back.
She did none of them. She just stood there, cool and stiff as the laurel tree Apollo’s nymph had become.
After a moment she sighed, ennui oozing from every pore, hands trapped limply against his chest. If only he could pretend such disaffection. She was soft and rounded in all the right places. High breasts full above a small waist, what he was sure would prove to be a perfectly heart-shaped bottom hidden beneath layers of petticoats held out by pads. She smelt ever so faintly of soap and rose water. Not the musky ambergris that opera dancers and paphians always seemed to be drenched in, but something that spoke of sunlight, of practicality…of virtue.
He ran the tip of his tongue along her lower lip, trying to provoke a response. No lady had a right to look as she did and smell of virtue. She pressed closer, sliding her arms around his neck, her body softening against his in unmistakable capitulation. He chuckled and adjusted his grip, sliding one hand down to press her hips against his.
With a deceptive twist of her body she stomped down on his instep, hard enough to make his eyes water.
He yelped and let go of her. She stepped back, her gaze scathing, her lips curled into a mocking little smile. She raised her chin another notch, and looking altogether pleased with herself, swept past him as composed as a dowager at court.
She didn’t even have the decency to hurry.
Praise for Isobel’s Books
‘That trifecta of historical research, clever setting, and wholly memorable characters…is some powerful juju’.
–Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
‘Carr is sure to balance her characters’ roguish antics with genuine heart, making the double love story a delightful and erotic page-turner.’
–Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
‘For her third in the League of the Second Sons, Carr delivers not one, but two love stories that will charm and titillate readers.’
–RT Book Reviews
‘This book is worth every cent . . . Seriously, this is one amazing debut.’
–Book Hounds
‘With her witty dialogue and tender moments, Carr draws readers into her marriage of convenience plotline that delves into what happens when the couple falls in love and then struggles to build a strong marriage against the odds. It’s a lesson all can savor.’
–RT Book Reviews
‘The characters were fantastic and the passion was sizzling. I was entertained from beginning to end, hardly knowing what to expect in the next chapter. Isobel Carr has certainly left her mark on the historical romance genre with this fabulous series . . . I look forward to her future works!’
–The Romance Reviews
‘Carr is a born storyteller. She enriches her sensual tale with colorful details, suspense, a treasure hunt, and charming, delightful characters . . . The fast pace and added humor will have readers eagerly awaiting the next novel in the League of Second Sons series.’
–RT Book Reviews
‘Carr debuts with a novel that’s part erotic romance and party country house party romp—a unique combination that will keep readers intrigued. Part of the appeal is Carr’s ability to create likable characters as well as spicy love scenes tinged with rough sex and tenderness. She’s definitely on her way to enticing readers who adore Lisa Kleypas, Pamela Britton and Katherine O’Neal.’
–RT Book Reviews (KISS Award)
‘Carr’s lusty, emotional second romance perfectly depicts the Georgian era in all its naughty glory—with house parties, races, matchmaking, gossip rags and duels. This author is on her way to stardom.’
–RT Book Reviews (KISS Award)
Books by Isobel
No Rules for Rogues
Sin Incarnate (Book 1)
Scandal Incarnate (Book 2)
Temptation Incarnate (Novelette)
Desire Incarnate (Book 3)—TBA
The League of Second Sons
Ripe for Pleasure (Book 1)
Ripe for Scandal (Book 2)
Ripe for Seduction (Book 3)
Other Work
Three Courtesans (Christmas Short Story)
Harriet: A Regency Paper Doll (Free)
About the Author
Isobel grew up in the lively historical re-enacting community of Northern California. She’s made and worn the clothes of people from Ancient Rome up to the Roaring 1920s. She’s cooked and eaten their food. She also grew up around numerous writers of historical fiction and science fiction and fantasy (it was impossible not to as a child of the 70s in the Society for Creative Anachronism), so being a writer seemed a perfectly normal career choice. She currently lives in Oakland, CA, with a 250lb English Mastiff named Mycroft and a coop full of chickens named after Georgette Heyer characters. You can find out more about Isobel and her books at isobelcarr.com.
Author’s Note
The late 1780s is a period which fascinates me. It’s tumultuous on multiple fronts, multiple continents, in ways both micro and macro. 1787 marks a major milestone for the still fledgling United States: the signing of the Constitution. Uranus, Oberon, and Titan are discovered by Herschel. Mozart’s Don Giovanni is performed for the first time. In 1788, England’s George III experiences his first bout of madness, ushering in the Regency crisis which will last for the next twenty-plus years. London’s Daily Universal Register becomes the Times. The first convicts are transported from Britain to Australia, and Sydney is founded. 1789 marks the beginning of the Revolution in France, and the world will never be the same. The guillotine is invented. Mrs Radcliffe’s first horror novel, The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne, is published. Fashion is also undergoing a major transformation, the likes of which will not be seen again
