Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 04/28/19 Heart of Decadence ~ “I Am Quite Overwhelmed”

Welcome back to WWW.

This week I’m continuing from my brand new novella, Heart of Decadence, Book 5 in my Handful of Hearts series, that released on April 23 in a boxed set called Second Chance Love: A Regency Romance Set along with works from five other fabulous Regency authors!

BLURB:  

Miss Amelia Burrowes was the scandal of the ton in her first Season, when her fiancée died and everyone assumed she was ruined. Ten years later, she’s back in London to make an arranged marriage that will hopefully allow her sisters to be received by the ton. But when Nathan, Lord Ainsley appears, the man she’d really had a tendre for all those years ago, the flame between them rekindles and Amelia must convince him that a woman with a past deserves a future.

In this snippet:  We follow on immediately from last week’s snippet. While at Lady Hamilton’s ball, Miss Amelia Burrowes has been found in the library by her suitor, Mr. Burke, who thinks because of her ruined reputation, he can take liberties. He has accosted her and does not want to take no for an answer. In the midst of their heated kiss, in walks a stranger. Amelia recognizes him as Nathan, Lord Ainsley, a gentleman for whom she had a tendre long ago. He too remembers her, very well.

Nathan realizes that Miss Burrowes does not wish to be in the company of Mr. Burke and takes her arm.

This snippet is still in Nathan’s POV and continues on from last week’s snippet.

This snippet  may have been slightly altered to accommodate the WWW format.

 

EXCERPT:

“Do you indeed wish to go to your mother?” he asked her in hushed tones.

“No, I do not,” she whispered back, “but neither do I wish to continue in Mr. Burke’s company.”

That was an easy request to manage as Nathan put on his most concerned face, brows lowered, jaw set and said, “Mr. Burke, Miss Burrowes feels a bit faint so I will take her outside for a breath of air–please find a footman and get a glass of lemonade brought to wherever Mrs. Burrowes is currently and we will meet you there.”

Before the man could make a protest, Nathan had steered his charge down the corridor toward a veranda that overlooked the rear garden. “I believe he will give us a few moments at least before returning to search for us.” He opened the French windows and the lady shot outside, breathing deeply, as though she had been holding her breath; indeed, she looked incredibly pale in the moonlight. “Miss Burrowes, are you quite well?”

She paused, then composed herself, saying “Yes, I am well, only I have not been out in Society for such a long time, I am quite overwhelmed by it all–especially by Mr. Burke’s attentions.”

“Are you indeed betrothed to him?” Something in Nathan froze, hanging on her next words as if nothing else in the world mattered.

I’ll have more next week!

Here’s the link for the  Second Chance Love boxed set.

And for the month of April, to celebrate the book’s release, I’m putting Heart of Desire, Book 2 of the series, on sale on Amazon for .99 also. Book 2 introduces us to the hero of Heart of Decadence as his sister and best friend take center stage in a Taming of the Shrew  style courtship.

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

 

The Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon