Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 04/17/22 ~ Only Seduction Will Do ~ Trust

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone who celebrates it, a Blessed Easter.

I’m returning to snippets from my House of Pleasure series and moving to book 4. Only Seduction Will Do. Enjoy!

 

BLURB:

Alethea Forsythe has been desperately in love with the Earl of Manning since they first met last summer and although the earl has made it clear he doesn’t return her regard, Alethea fights to keep her dreams of him alive. However, in a moment of despair, she is seduced by a married man and, when she discovers she is with child, fears she is now undone. With her reputation about to be ruined, she has the choice of accepting an arranged marriage to a stranger or taking matters into her own capable hands.

Jack Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Manning, is out enjoying a little Christmas revelry with friends—which ends in a visit to The House of Pleasure. After an unusual encounter there, he winds his way home to discover a late night summons to Miss Forsythe’s home. His evening becomes even more bizarre when the lady in question throws herself on his mercy and begs he take her to wife. At twenty-three, Jack has many more wild oats to sow, but his innate sense of honor will not allow him to shirk the duty of a gentleman.

Radiantly happy, Alethea vows to be an exemplary wife to Jack, however, his acceptance of her proposal comes with its own set of unexpected conditions. In exchange for the protection of his name, Jack vows his marriage to Alethea will be in name only. Desperate to touch her husband’s heart, Alethea battles to win his trust and love. When a trial by fire tests her love and Jack’s honor, will the passion that suddenly blazes between them temper their love or consume them?

In this snippet, Alethea has just asked Jack to marry her and has explained why she has made this remarkable request: she is pregnant with the child of a married man.

EXCERPT:

“Have you informed this man of the consequences of your weakness? He is as much if not more at fault for these wretched circumstances. Perhaps he might take the child after it is born.”

“No,” Miss Forsythe shook her head vehemently, “I have no intention of telling him anything, now or ever. I will bear this shame as best I can myself.” She eyed Jack, a sliver of hope in her face. “Unless you can find it in your heart to keep me from it, my lord; that is why I begged my cousin to allow me to present my plea myself.” She hung her head, her voice low. “Ever since we met you have been kind to me and more than any other gentleman of my acquaintance have shown me respect and compassion,” she said, dropping her voice to the barest of whispers. “I would be a good wife to you, I promise.”

And a little more for good measure…

Jack sank back into the chair, his head reeling with Miss Forsythe’s confidences. Trust him she must, implicitly, to have confessed so much to a man she barely knew outside the ballroom. Yet even on such short acquaintance she had read him right. He could no more divulge her story than he could his sister’s disgrace in March. This woman’s secret was safe with him. Regrettably, he could do little more than offer his sympathy and silence. “I am aware of the great trust you have placed in me, Miss Forsythe, and you may be assured my silence on this matter will be absolute. Unfortunately, I will be unable to assist you further than offering my sword in revenge or swearing my complete silence on the matter.”

Her face paled to the sickly color of new cheese. She clutched the chair once more to steady herself. “You will not marry me?”

Sadly, he shook his head, suddenly touched by her drooping countenance as hope fled. “I cannot. I am already betrothed to another.”

 

 

Only Seduction Will Do is available in print and e-book format on Amazon, and in e-book format only on Kobo, Apple, and B&N.

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

The House of Pleasure series