Title: The Lady and the Rogue
Author: Ruth A. Casie
Genre: Historical Romance
Book Blurb:
Feisty and passionate. He’ll enjoy making her fall in love with him… or die trying.
Lady Euphemia Brandt finds herself in a whirlwind of intrigue when she is someplace she shouldn’t be and is mistaken for a nobleman's clandestine rendezvous. Caught by surprise, the nobleman falls and is knocked out. Euphemia 'borrows' enough coin for a cab home. Little does she know, the man she's crossed paths with is embroiled in a mission to uncover a conspiracy against the Prime Minister.
They meet again at a country house party, where Lord Thornton, still reeling from his unexpected encounter with Euphemia, realizes she holds the key to solving the conspiracy. Determined to uncover the truth, Thornton sets out to court Euphemia and presents himself to her father as a suitor in order to stay close to her.
Together, they delve into the shadows of society to unravel the web of betrayal. But as they draw closer to the truth, Thornton must confront a truth of his own—he never intended to fall for Lady Euphemia, yet now he cannot imagine a future without her.
In a world where secrets abound, and love is a risk worth taking, will Euphemia and Thornton's alliance lead them to victory or to the ultimate sacrifice?
Excerpt:
18 January 1816
A red scuttle bonnet with black ribbon peeked out from the doorway of 125A Rupert Street in London’s West End. Lady Euphemia Brandt squinted in both directions. To her dismay, all she saw was a wall of fog, thick and dense, a not-very-pleasant fog.
A man’s cough from behind her propelled her out the door. As she stepped into the street, she heard the door close along with the soft final click of the latch.
She tucked the leather folder she held under her arm and headed toward her destination. She stood by the lamppost to get her bearings. To the left was Brewer Street, where she should be able to engage a carriage even in this weather. She could always walk home to Berkeley Square if none were available. Well, no reason to dillydally.
Effie looked back. The building was already swallowed up by the mist. Annoyed with herself that she’d lost track of time, she didn’t care that a proper woman would never step out alone at this time of night, much less enter The Parlor. Then again, with this thick fog, no one would be able to see her. Why she allowed herself to get into this situation was beyond her.
***
The Duke of Thornton walked ten minutes from White’s and stood at the corner of Rupert Street.
At over six feet, he had a well-defined physique which was only accentuated by his expertly tailored evening clothes and the black great coat that swirled around him when he walked. His top hat kept a lock of wild, jet-black hair under control. He was a man who knew his value and wore it well. All this, and his deep piercing blue eyes, made many a lady swoon.
His handsome good looks, charming smile, and devil-may-care attitude earned him the reputation as one of the most dashing rogues in all of London society.
Shrouded in the thick fog, he stopped thumbing the ruby and diamond signet ring he wore. He checked his timepiece. He couldn’t wait much longer for his contact, Melanie Chaplin. She had promised him information to unveil the truth that would expose his case to its core. Thornton counted on what she was able to find. Now, each passing second made him more anxious, knowing that every minute he spent in the open only heightened the possibility of danger.
A woman emerged from the shadows as he peered through the thickening mist. Her demeanor and dress were both unmistakable from his past dealings with her. The red coat and matching red scuttle bonnet with the black ribbon was the deciding factor. It was Melanie. He held his breath in anticipation as he stepped behind her.
“You’re late,” he whispered in her ear as he pulled her around into an embrace and took her into the alley.
The woman pushed him away. Confused, he stumbled back. Before he could catch his balance, she pushed him hard again, making him step back onto a patch of grease. He slipped, his hat flew off, and his head took a hard hit against the stone alley wall.
His vision blurred as he fought to remain conscious. The woman backed away as he slid down the wall. In all the years he’d worked for the Crown, no one had ever gotten the best of him. This wasn’t Melanie. Who was this woman?
She searched the ground for something. Had he dropped anything? No. He knew better than to carry anything important with him. Veiled by the scuttle bonnet, he had difficulty identifying who she was. She picked up a leather folio and kept searching. Even in his dazed state, he noted her anxious movements.
Thornton tried to make a sound, but it came out only as a groan. He glanced at her and was startled. Her expressive brown eyes showed remorse along with determination. Her facial bones were delicate, and her lips were rosy and full. He saw her hand move toward his coat pocket and felt her pull out a handful of coins.
“I’m sorry. For a carriage,” the woman whispered, a layer of fear in her voice.
Before he could stop himself, he wrapped his arms around her. She tried to break loose, but her hair was tangled in the button on his coat sleeve. She stiffened at first, then relaxed into his embrace. Her lips parted. Their breaths mingled. He leaned in and kissed her.
Her lips were soft and yielding. Her body melted into his. He deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing hers. She answered with a soft moan.
When they finally parted, she looked at him with surprise and desire. She stood, and with one last look of remorse, she turned and disappeared into the fog, leaving Thornton behind, longing for more.
It took a few moments for him to gather his thoughts. He knew that he needed to get to Rosemount, his London home. He got to his feet and stood for a moment, grasping onto the wall until he regained his balance. He spotted a red reticule on the ground. That’s what the woman searched for. He retrieved it, tucked it into his coat pocket, and made his way out of the alley onto Brewer Street.
With the fog thinning, he was able to make out a driver tucking the edges of a red coat into a carriage. The man hoisted himself into his seat and drove away.
A few minutes later, a carriage pulled beside him, and Thornton gratefully climbed in. There was no sense trying to find her carriage in this fog.
“Grosvenor Square,” he told the driver.
He muddled over what had happened. Where was Melanie? Was it more than a coincidence that the woman was wearing Melanie’s hat? God’s blood. The woman had a face and a kiss one didn’t easily forget. What possessed him to kiss her? He didn’t go around kissing strange women. God’s blood. He didn’t go around kissing women he knew, let alone those he didn’t.
As the carriage delivered him to his door and rattled away, he made up his mind. He was determined to find the mysterious woman with the unforgettable kiss.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
If you could dress up as anything or anyone this Halloween, what or who would it be and why?
I would dress as a ghost. Why a Ghost? Because if I’m going to haunt my characters with love, I might as well do it in style. Plus, who doesn’t love a good ghost story just in time for Halloween?
Boo-tiful and booked, that’s me!
Explain why your featured book is a treat to read:
“The Lady and the Rogue” is a delightful romp through Regency intrigue, where a feisty heroine and a dashing nobleman must navigate a web of secrets and betrayal. With wit, charm, and a dash of mischief, they’ll uncover the truth and maybe, just maybe, fall in love along the way.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs October 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on November 1, 2024.
Author Biography:
Ruth A Casie is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages, you’ll discover ‘edge-of-your-seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama, and heart-melting emotions featuring strong women and the men who deserve them. Grab your favorite cup of tea, or an ale if you prefer, and join her heroes and heroines as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after. Ruth hopes her stories are your next favorite adventures!
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