Secret of a Summer Night 2

Simon Hunt had learned at an early age that since fate had not blessed him with noble blood, wealth, or unusual gifts, he would have to wrest his fortune from an often uncharitable world. He was ten times more aggressive and ambitious than the average man. People usually found it far easier to let him have his way rather than stand against him. Although Simon was domineering, perhaps even ruthless, his sleep at night was never troubled by pangs of conscience. It was a law of nature that only the strongest survived, and the weakest had better get the hell out of the way.

The Secret 2

She was waiting on her doorstep.

Lady Judith had been given advance warning, of course. Two days before, her cousin Lucas had spotted the four Scottish warriors just a stone’s throw away from the border crossing near Horton Ridge. Lucas hadn’t been there by chance, he had been diligently following his aunt Millicent’s instructions, and after nearly a month of twiddling his thumbs and daydreaming the early summer evenings away, he’d spotted the Scots. He’d been so surprised to see the full-blooded Highlanders, he almost forgot what he was supposed to do next. Memory quickly returned, however, and he rode at a dust-choking pace all the way to Lady Judith’s remote holding to tell her she’d best prepare herself for the visitors.

In Bed With A Highlander 5

Mairin bangun dan sadar bahwa ia tidak sendirian di kamar kecil itu, di tempat ia tidur tadi. Bulu kuduknya berdiri dan dengan hati-hati ia membuka satu mata untuk melihat Ewan McCabe berdiri di pintu masuk.

Cahaya matahari mengintip melalui jendela, menembus celah-celah selimut dari bulu binatang. Namun sinar itu entah bagaimana membuat Ewan tampak lebih menyeramkan, daripada jika dia berdiri dalam kegelapan. Di bawah sinar matahari, Mairin bisa melihat betapa besarnya pria itu. Ewan kelihatan menakutkan, berdiri di bawah pintu yang lebarnya hampir sama dengan tubuhnya.

“Maaf aku mengganggumu,” kata Ewan dengan suara serak. “Aku sedang mencari putraku.”

The Duke and I, Bab 7

Pria itu mirip kawanan domba. Ke mana pun salah satunya pergi, tak lama kemudian yang lain pasti mengikutinya.

LEMBAR BERITA LADY WHISTLEDOWN

30 APRIL 1813

 

Secara keseluruhan, Anthony menerimanya dengan lumayan baik, pikir Daphne. Pada saat Simon selesai menjelaskan rencana kecil mereka (dengan interupsi berulang kali dari pihaknya, ia harus mengakui), Anthony hanya berteriak tujuh kali. Itu tujuh kali lebih sedikit dibandingkan perkiraan Daphne.

Akhirnya, setelah Daphne memohon padanya untuk menahan diri sampai ia dan Simon selesai bercerita, Anthony mengangguk ketus, menyilangkan lengannya, dan menutup mulut sepanjang penjelasan itu. Kerutan di dahinya cukup menakutkan hingga bisa merubuhkan dinding, tapi sesuai janjinya, pria itu tetap membisu seribu bahasa.

Secrets of a Summer Night, 1

Prologue

London, 1841

Although Annabelle Peyton had been warned all her life never to take money from strangers, she made an exception one day …and quickly discovered why she should have heeded her mother’s advice.

 It was one of her brother Jeremy’s rare holidays from school, and as was their habit, he and Annabelle had gone to see the latest panorama show in Leicester Square. It had taken two weeks of household economy to save the money necessary to pay for the tickets. As the only surviving offspring of the Peyton family, Annabelle and her younger brother had always been unusually close despite the ten - year difference in their ages. Childhood illnesses had taken the two infants who had been born after Annabelle, neither of them having lived to see their first birthday.

 “Annabelle,” Jeremy said as he returned from the panorama ticket stand, “do you have any more money?”

Secrets of a Summer Night, Sinopsis

 

Keadaan keluarganya yang miskin meski berdarah bangsawan membuat Annabelle Peyton dihadapkan pada dilema terbesar dalam hidupnya: menjadi wanita simpanan pria bangsawan yang sudah menikah, atau menikah dengan rakyat biasa dan menanggalkan status kebangsawanannya. Bersama ketiga temannya, Annabelle menyusun rencana untuk memikat Lord Kendall yang lajang lagi kaya. Sialnya, rencana mereka sedikit terhambat karena kehadiran Simon Hunt, anak tukang daging yang kini sukses menapaki tangga sosial dengan menjadi salah satu orang terkaya di Inggris. Sekuat tenaga Annabelle berusaha menampik Simon dan berkonsentrasi pada usahanya menjadi Lady Kendall. Hingga pada suatu malam musim panas, Annabelle menyerah pada godaan yang ditawarkan Simon dan menyadari tak ada tempat lain yang pas baginya selain di sisi Simon.

Secrets of a Summer Night, 1

Secret o a Summer Night 2

A Rogue by Any Other Name #7

Dear M—

I’ve just seen you off, and I came inside straightaway to write.

I haven’t anything to say, really, nothing that every other person in Surrey hasn’t already said. It seems silly to say, “I am sorry,” doesn’t it? Of course, everyone is sorry. It’s horrible, what’s happened.

I am not only sorry for your loss, however; I am sorry that we were not able to talk when you were home. I am sorry that I could not attend the funeral . . . it’s a stupid rule, and I wish I had been born a male so I could have been there (I plan to have a chat with Vicar Compton regarding that idiocy). I am sorry I could not be—more of a friend.

I am here now, on the page, where girls are allowed. Please write when you have time. Or inclination.

Your friend—P

Needham Manor, April 1816

No reply

 

Surely there had never been a longer carriage ride than this—four interminable, deathly silent hours from Surrey to London. Penelope would rather have been trapped in a mail coach with Olivia and a collection of ladies’ magazines.