‘Widow?’ Ivo swallowed hard, heart hammering in his ears. That single word reverberated through his whole body, echoes cascading like a stone dropped into a well.
‘Widow,’ Bennett repeated absently, thrusting the flask into Ivo’s hand. ‘You can meet her tomorrow if you’ve a mind to. She’s sure to be another guest at Lord Glendower’s shooting party. The earl’s her father-in-law.’
Ivo stared hard at the crowd, searching to no avail for her fur-trimmed hat in the sea of humanity headed back towards the village. He glanced down at his hand, realized he was holding Bennett’s flask, and tossed back what was left of the brandy. The heady fumes filled his nose and the liquid burnt a slow track all the way down into his belly.
A widow.
‘George, who the devil is that man across the ring? The tall fellow staring at us.’
Georgianna Exley glanced up before following Gabriel Angelstone’s gaze across the straw-strewn ring where the two prize-fighters were being helped from their coats.
Her eyes met those of the man Gabriel was glaring at and she glanced away immediately, her hands suddenly cold. Her head buzzed as though she might faint.
Dauntry. His name was Dauntry.
Her breakfast swirled about in her stomach and she swallowed convulsively. She was not going to throw up. She was not going to faint. Not here. Not ever.
‘I haven’t the slightest idea,’ she replied, pressing slightly closer to Gabe, burrowing into his reassuring warmth. Around them people eyed her and Gabe askance. Dauntry’s look of disgust was reflected in many other pairs of eyes.
She didn’t belong here. No woman did. And her oldest friend was not well liked. Too handsome. Too foreign in a myriad of subtle ways: skin that spoke of summer no matter the month and slightly hooded eyes he’d inherited from his Turkish mother, combined with an air of French dandification from his ambassador father.
He was her rock. The one constant in her life. The only man she’d ever known who hadn’t deserted her in some way; who’d never disappointed her.
George tilted her head, peeking around Gabe’s shoulder, and studied Dauntry for a moment. He looked very much as she remembered: tall enough to be imposing, his own black curls tied back in a queue, eyes that seemed almost as dark. His face was lean, the planes angular, the features sculpted. He was only saved from the epithet pretty by his sheer size and the thin scar that cut down along his left cheekbone. A swordsman’s scar, received in her honour.
She bit her lip and looked away. She didn’t want to remember Paris or anything about it…
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
