A Bride for Christmas (Sweet Regency Novella) (8 page)

"
Yes, sir. I wish a moment of your time when you are free."

The earl slapped his cards down on the table and shoved his chair back.
"These cards are not in my favor tonight. You might be saving me from the poorhouse." He nodded as he passed Nash and waited for him in the hallway.

Nash motioned
towards the library. "I believe we can be alone there."

"
Is that where you had my daughter this past hour?" the earl asked gruffly.

Nash tugged at his waistcoat to keep from fisting his hands.
"We were only in private for a few minutes. I would never dishonor Lady Julianna in any way."

The older man burst out laughing and slapped Nash between the shoulder blades.
"I was young once myself, lad. I've seen the way the two of you have been speaking to one another as if no one else existed. I'm guessing that is why we're here."

"
Yes, sir. Your daughter has done me a great honor in agreeing to become my wife."

"
Has she." It was a statement, not a question. "Had you come to me two weeks ago and said this I would have expressed surprise. I did not think to ever see her marry."

"
She told me she had no plans to marry."

"
And you have convinced her otherwise. Is that what the charade was about this evening? Dogs and hooligans with swords and that precious granddaughter of mine?"

"
Yes sir."

"
I will let you keep the true meaning between yourselves. She seems happier than I've seen her in years. You will see to it she remains that way?"

"
I will, sir."

He
cuffed Nash on the arm. "Good man. Now, where does your father keep his brandy? I've a feeling I'll need some as we settle into negotiations."

In the wee hours of the morning as the dancers were slow to take the floor and most of the children had been put down with blankets in the nursery, Lord Renford raised his glass of wassail and called for attention. "Before you all return to your homes, I leave you with a most joyful announcement. My son Nash, late of the 13
th
Light Dragoons, has just this evening delighted us with the news of his betrothal to Lady Julianna Dowsett. Please raise your glass with me in a toast to the happy couple."

Nash bowed his head in response to the cheers from their guests, and stole a glance at his lady.
Julianna glowed, her cheeks brightly colored as if they'd danced a rollicking jig. Her hand on his arm tightened. Speaking in low tones, he asked, "Do you not enjoy the attentions of a crowd?"

"
Most decidedly not." Her smile never wavered.

"
Then it is lucky for you I am a younger son. We'll have no vassals or tenants to sing our praises at the harvest festival every year."

Her eyes widened and she gave him a most startled look.
"None? On whom shall we impose our excess sides of dragon?"

Nash chuckled and patted her hand on his sleeve.
"Yes, my fair lady, we shall be the happiest of couples."

The End

Excerpts and other format buy links are available at
http://aileenfish.com/books.html

Immortal Temptress
Kindle

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Enya's job is to escort the dying on their final journey, to make sure their souls get to heaven before a demon can steal their bodies. For centuries she has done this without emotion, until the body in question belongs to Kane Sullivan. Not only does she desire his rock-hard body, she can't bear the thought of him dying. But she's not supposed to become emotionally involved in a death.

Kane's sudden run of near-fatal accidents always happen when Enya is present. She might be hot, but he's not willing to die to get to know her. Then he discovers she's fighting for his soul. That damned immortal temptress might be the death of him.

Renegade Wolf
Kindle

When Stephanie shifts into wolf form for the first time on live TV, she flees to the one man who can protect her from were-hunters, Micah Salway. As attracted as she'd been to him four years ago when they'd met, she'd run scared at the changes he awakened in her after just one kiss. Was it possible he'd turned her into a werewolf?

Micah can hide Stephanie in the caves known as Devil's Promenade, but the dangers there are worse than facing down the hunter. His choices are few when faced with keeping Stephanie alive: fight the hunter alone or kiss the asses of his former pack-mates and ask for help. His wolf had claimed her the night they met. There was no way he would lose her again.

A Bride for Christmas
Kindle

When Nash Sinclair sees Lady Juliana holding their newborn nephew in her arms, he decides it is time he took a wife. Juliana, however, insists only a man who slays dragons would suit, and since dragons don't exist, neither does her ideal beau. Not one to turn away from a challenge, Nash enlists the aid of his nieces and nephews in a scheme sure to win Lady Juliana's heart.

The Mistletoe Mishap
Kindle

When Robert Wilmot, Viscount Alderton, catches his intended betrothed, Lady Caroline Stone, under the mistletoe, he can't resist stealing a kiss. He's quite surprised to discover her cousin, Isabella Stone, in his arms. And more surprised at how much he enjoyed kissing her. Now he must decide if marriage to Lady Caroline is truly what he wants, or if he should go against their families' wishes and pursue Isabella.

The Viscount
’s Sweet Temptation
(In A Summons from Yorkshire anthology)
Kindle

Lady Harriet Thornhill knows the summons from her grandfather means he's decided whom she must marry. Determined that she'd only marry a man of her choosing, she stows away in her friend's father's carriage, only to find herself alone with young Ar
chibald Napier,Viscount Morley.

Morley's plans for a quiet Christmas vanish when he discovers the sweet young lady hiding under the blankets in his carriage. As she claims an acquaintance with his sister, he feels duty-bound to see
her safely back to her family.

A broken carriage wheel leaves them stranded, and Harriet's reputation is at stake. Morley's not ready to take a wife, until he's told he wouldn't be a suitable husband for her. With memories of her sweet, tempting kiss filling his thoughts, he prepares to fight for the hand of the woman he believes he could love. 

The Lives of Jon McCracken
(print and ebook)
Kindle

Reincarnation. A guardian angel on steroids. A woman who claims to be writing about his lives.

The minute he meets Gabi Peters, Jon McCracken seriously questions his decision to move to California. This isn't the change he was looking for; this is an E-ticket ride through Fantasyland. Gabi would be a hot catch if she wasn't crazy. But she spends her free time recapturing memories of a young woman who died decades before Gabi was born. She visits her past lives like most women read a favorite romance novel. How does a guy compete with the ghost of a small-town war hero who died for his country?

When his oversoul-the guardian angel on steroids-shows him the changes he has to make in his past lives in order to clear the karma affecting this one, he's forced to ask Gabi for help. Together they dig through a series of lives looking for answers, and for a chance at happily ever after.

A Grand Beginning
(In Love Everlasting anthology)
Kindle

A piano brings together two people with a common interest in old tunes. Widowed Mary Margaret is content on her own until she begins singing along with new neighbor Ed. Is it ever too late to start something new?

Passings in the Night
(In Love Everlasting anthology)
Kindle

A random meeting with a secret childhood crush brings startling revelations and the possibility of a new romance. Chrissy never expected her hard-earned self esteem to be challenged by still-hunky Jake, who asks her out.

His Impassioned Proposal
Kindle

The wounded hero comes home.

Six years she has waited for the man she hopes to marry to return from war and propose to her. When he finally does, he is so far in his cups as to not remember the event the next morning! Miss Jane Marwick can't decide if she has wasted her heart on the wrong man or if he just needs some time to recover from too many life-changing events.

Stephen Lumley isn't sure he's capable of being a good husband to any woman, but he only has a few months to convince himself and Jane he is worthy of her love, or she'll be off to London to find a man who is. He's not certain what his future will bring, only that he needs Jane in it.

Cat’s Rule
(In the anthology Wild at Heart Volume II)
Kindle

Wren
is still reeling from the chaos that landed her in a foster home, when she finds a wild lynx caught in a trap. The only person she feels she can ask for help is Mike, star quarterback and local heartthrob. With his gentle assistance, she not only saves the cat but takes the first steps in her own healing.

(All proceeds from the sale of this anthology are donated to the
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
)

Outcast
(Apocalyptia Book One)
Kindle

When the world collapses, the only person who comes looking for Niki Mathers is the loser who made fun of her in high school. JC Phillips saves her life, so she can’t really tell him to get lost. And he is keeping her from being alone at the end of the world…

JC will never forgive himself for choices he made the night before the earthquake. Rescuing the girl he’s been crushing on for the past year doesn’t bring atonement. Maybe making the world safe for Niki will take away his guilt.

The world they know is dying. All they want is to find their place in it before it does.

A Christmas Courtship
Kindle

An anthology of Regency Christmas novellas:
The Viscount’s Sweet Temptation
,
A Bride for Christmas
, and
The Mistletoe Mishap
.

The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley
Kindle

Stubborn. Hard-headed. Single-minded.
The qualities that make David Lumley a successful horse breeder are put to work befriending Lady Joanna Hurst with less than noble intentions. He’s tenacious in his pursuit of the answers he seeks.

Lady Joanna falls fast and hard for the handsome, witty and charming Mr. Lumley after her brother’s ultimatum to find a husband by the end of the Season. He is everything she imagined a husband could be, and more. Blissfully unaware of the conflict between their fathers, she believes he’ll declare his love soon. Then she overhears a conversation between Mr. Lumley and her brother, and all of Mr. Lumley’s tenacity will be needed if he’s to win back her heart.

A Pretense of Love
Kindle

Blush sensuality level This is a sweet romance (kisses only, no sexual content).

Twenty-two-year-old Jean’s best chance of finding a husband is behind her. When her brother’s friend offers to pay for a Season in London in exchange for pretending to be his betrothed, she sees it as a miracle.

Ben needed a fiancée to convince his dying grandfather that he has settled down and is capable of inheriting and running his business and estate. But he didn’t consider how spending six weeks with Jane would make her necessary to his happiness. Now she’s in London and he’s in agony. A gentleman never reneges on an agreement…unless his heart is broken.

A
Blush® Regency romance from Ellora’s Cave

Aileen Fish is a multi-published author under several pen names, with stories ranging from historical to paranormal, or both, and heat levels from sweet to scorching. She is also an avid quilter and auto racing fan who finds there aren't enough hours in a day/week/lifetime to stay up with her "to do" list. There is always another quilt or story begging to steal away attention from the others. When she has a spare moment she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and their families.

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