Title:
Taming Lord Truist: Book 2 of the Strong Regency Women’s Duo
Author:
Regina Jeffers
Genre:
classic fiction collection; British historical fiction; classic historical fiction; Regency romance; British & Irish literature; historical romance; duo; series; British historical literature
Book Blurb:
“The very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrecoverably gone.” - Jane Austen
Miss Eleanor Wilder has admired Lord Augustus Truist since she was a young girl. He had once protected her from an older boy who had meant to strike her. Now, she requires his protection again: This time, it is from her guardian, a cousin who means to marry Eleanor off to a man more that twice Ella’s age in order to keep Eleanor’s fortune in the family. As she will soon be one and twenty, Eleanor must convince Lord Truist to marry her himself, rather than see all her fortune go to a ne’er-do-well.
Lord Truist must save his family from disgrace and a touch of poverty by marrying an heiress of whom his mother approves, but he finds repugnant. However, when Miss Wilder offers him her fortune with no strings attached—a marriage of convenience—how can he refuse? As his countess, the lady would have the protection she required, and he would have the freedom to enjoy his long-time mistress, Miss Sarah Darling, without complaints.
How was he to know that the new Lady Truist not only loved him but was quite perfect in ways he did not realize he required?
Excerpt:
Eleanor had specifically chosen the fourth set to pair with Lord Truist, for she knew it was to include a minuet and a l’allemande series of Baroque dances. Slower. More opportunities to hold a conversation.
“Miss Wilder, I believe this is our dance.” Lord Truist extended his gloved hand to her, and she placed her fingertips in his hand, and he brought her palm to rest on his arm. He closed his hand over hers and gave her the slightest of tugs to bring her to his side. She noticed that he looked at her in an odd manner, but she was relatively confident he had felt the same warmth as she did through their gloved hands.
He was so devastatingly handsome, Eleanor thought she could spend a lifetime just watching him age, and, if her plan went off as she hoped, such would be her fate. Though he did not sport a smile at this moment, she knew he was more often than not seen with a crooked, almost taunting, smile on his lips. Those lips were said to spill a boatload of nonsense or a heavy shovel full of truth, depending on the situation. Earlier, the Honorable Mr. Octavius Banks claimed his elder brother was the best man he knew.
His lordship’s hair was a tad darker than hers, with his being a nice mix of dark brown with golden and auburn strands mixed in. His eyes were brown, where hers were blue. They assumed their position on the floor, and the music began. They circled back to back, and, for an elongated moment, she simply enjoyed the warmth of his body surrounding her.
The moment disappeared when he said, “Lindmore says there is some foolishness about Lady Hugo marrying you off to her brother Arthur Westlake.”
They made the required turns and came close again. “She wants to keep my father’s money within her side of the family.”
“I thought the Hugos were well placed,” he said.
“Not so much after they present you Miss Hugo’s dowry.”
They separated then to bow to another couple and weave through a line of dancers. When they came together again, he stated, “I do not comprehend how your potential marriage to a distant cousin concerns me.”
The dance pulled them apart once more; therefore, she had a few extra seconds to repeat in her head what she had been rehearsing for several days. “I had considered if you held no true affection . . .”
Separation. A bow. A turn with another gentleman and then face-to-face with the most handsome man of her acquaintance. “No true affection for Daphne, you might . . .” The first part of the dance was to end soon with them at opposite corners of the formation and watching others within the rectangle complete the same steps he and she had already executed.
She watched the myriad of emotions which crossed his features. He studied her, attempting to anticipate what she meant to say, though he surely knew. From all she had learned of him, he was considered quite intelligent, as well as more than a bit cynical.
At last, the music had them weaving their way back to each other. He did not wait for her to speak first. He demanded, “I might what?”
She kept her eyes diverted from his, but she said the words she had rehearsed. “Might marry me instead.”
He appeared puzzled by her declaration, but there was no instant rejection. In fact, as they wove their way through the early steps of a l’allemande, he studied her carefully, as if he were memorizing how she looked, which was drab and a bit like she had just left a clod of country soil on Lord Hugo’s entrance steps.
Finally, they were close enough to speak, though they were again back to back. “My father was from the Irish gentry, but we came to England when I was very young. He owned an estate in Hertfordshire and two smaller ones, which are not entailed. He left them to me, along with fifty thousand pounds.”
His lordship stumbled briefly, but quickly recovered as the music came to an end. “You are serious?”
“I cannot live in this house much longer,” she said as they slowly walked to the side of the room. “Mr. Westlake is to arrive at this house in a matter of a sennight.” She looked to where Lady Hugo stood frowning in her direction. Eleanor touched his arm so he might pause. “I know you have a mistress who you hold dear. I do not care. All I want is a family that does not find me appalling. I shall be a good mistress for your house, and you shall have my fortune.”
They were met by the Lindmores. “You are to partner my wife for the next set,” Lord Lindmore said in tones a bit louder than necessary, but Eleanor understood the Lindmores had decided to protect her. Lady Lindmore caught Eleanor’s hands in hers. “The dowager and I plan to visit the lending library tomorrow. Would you consider accompanying us?”
“I would be honored, my lady,” Eleanor said as tears rushed to her eyes. It had been more than five years since anyone had thought to protect her.
“I would ask you to join us, gentlemen, but I know you are expected in the Lords tomorrow, so it shall just be we females,” her ladyship said, again a bit louder than necessary. “Lindmore, darling, see Miss Wilder back to Lady Hugo’s side. Truist and I should join the others on the dance floor.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Available to Read on Kindle Unlimited
NOTE! Book 1 of the Strong Regency Women Duo, Loving Lord Lindmore is on sale on Amazon for $0.99 until August 16, 2024
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
When I first read Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Fogg and his companions, for it opened my eyes to a world I knew little about. Though those today speak of stereotyping characters (which is more than evident now), when I read it in the mid 1950s, none of that went through my 10-year-old head. I simply loved the adventure, and I, initially, knew disappointment at his loss of the race until I learned of the international date line. How marvelous! I was blown away by the superficial adventure and the few bits of tension. For me, it was a light-hearted and witty novel that I still love today, despite 2024 standards being applied to an 1873 book. I have likely read it, at least, 50 times over the years. It is fluid and gripping. The writing style is indicative of the tale, as Fogg races about the globe, never stopping long enough to indulge in describing the cuisine he encounters or the scenery he views or denying himself the adventure of a lifetime, something every “common Joe” wants mentioned on his tombstone.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
Any binge-worthy book contains a unique and compelling premise. Lord Augustus Truist’s story is engaging (Check ✓). Augustus’s persona is one of a carefree rake about London, but is he? After all, when we first meet him in “Loving Lord Lindmore,” he is setting up a bet typical of the ones a reader may find in Dragonblade Publisher’s (™), the Lyon’s Den series. August has a mistress, for whom he cares dearly. He has worked hard to save his family’s fortune, and Truist is the one man Eleanor Wilder truly trusts with her heart and her fortune. He must have some redeeming qualities. I would not say Lord Truist can be trusted 100%, but if you require someone who is not afraid to take a stand . . . well, you understand that Truist is your guy. Taming Lord Truist has a beginning that starts strong, a compelling voice, unique, but believable characters, who are a bit flawed, and several fresh and creative plot twists. Does that not equal binge-worthy?
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs August 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on September 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Before writing romance, Regina Jeffers wore many hats, including that of a tax preparer, journalist, choreographer, Broadway dancer, theatre director, history buff, teacher, grant writer, and media literacy consultant for school districts and public television. Now, “supposedly” retired, she writes full-time, skillfully enveloping her readers in the hearts and minds of her characters.
Social Media Links:
Every Woman Dreams (Blog) https://reginajeffers.wordpress.com
Always Austen (Group Blog) https://alwaysausten.com/
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Regina-Jeffers/e/B008G0UI0I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1479079637&sr=8-1
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jeffers0306/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darcy4ever/
You Tube Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzgjdUigkkU