The Scandalous Love of a Duke ~ Prequel elements from The Marlow Intrigues Series ~ Ellen and Edward begin to build a life with John

CONTAINS SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ILLICIT LOVE OF A COURTESAN!

Leading up to the release of the 3rd book in

The Marlow Intrigues Series

The Scandalous Love of a Duke

all about John, who has grown up, fractured ~ I am going to share excerpts of John in the earlier books to remind you of his past before his book is released on the April 3rd.

Excerpts from The Illicit Love of a Courtesan

Ellen and Edward begin to build a life with John … (taken from the 1st edition published in the USA)

Ellen stood before the altar in the little church, beside Edward. He’d tossed her life up in the air and caught it in his steady, sensitive hands.

John was in the narrow box pew to her left with the Earl of Barrington’s butler, Mr Davis, and his housekeeper, Mrs Barclay. The servants had attended to bear witness.

Ellen’s first wedding had been a similarly fast affair. A long ride to the Scottish border and vows shared over an iron anvil, but the time she’d had with Paul had been gold to her. She remembered it with a dreamlike distance. She’d been innocent, a virgin, beholding Paul with glowing expectation and no fear of fate. This time she was neither innocent of life or death, and she was afraid of fate…

Tears in her eyes, she said, “I will,” and Edward took up her left hand to slip a narrow gold ring onto her finger.

“I give thee…”

She had John, and she had Edward. She would not think of anything else, not yet, not until the moment came when she must. Until then she would take every chance of happiness life gave her. Her eyes took in the glinting light from the tall plain glass windows which shone down on Edward’s hair, reflecting back like a halo.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The vicar’s sharp, shrill, words rang out against the bare stone of the small parish church and rising to her toes she wrapped her arms about Edward’s neck, hugging him tightly, wordlessly begging him to never let her go.

“I love you,” he whispered into her hair and as she lifted her head to answer he kissed her.

“And I you, husband,” she spoke against his mouth, close to crying. Blinking back the tears, she smiled, laughing at their folly. “Marrying me is madness, but I love you more for it.”

“Mama!” John came rushing to her side, barrelling into her and wrapping his arms about her waist, hugging her tightly as Edward released her.

“Am I to call you Papa now?” John asked, gripping Edward’s other hand, as they turned to leave the church by the small exit from the vestry.

“You may call me what you wish, John. If you like it can be, Papa, or if not then it shall be, Edward.”

The boy smiled up at him. “I would like to have a Papa, I cannot remember mine.” Ellen’s teeth caught her lower lip.

“Then you have a Papa now, John.” Edward’s hand slipped from John’s and instead rested on John’s shoulder and pulled John to his side. They were a family in every appearance, Ellen thought, as they followed the path from the church back to the house, the servants behind them.

“My real father fought in the war, but no one will speak of him.” John continued, with the innocently blind speech of a child.

“From what your Mama has told me, John, your father was a very brave man, who you have good reason to be proud of.”

Clutching Edward’s hand more tightly, Ellen expressed her gratitude for his consideration. In response, looking back at her, he lifted her knuckles to his lips and kissed them, as though he truly understood.

She knew he did not.

John had been brought up to ignore the existence of both his parents. How was Edward to imagine that?

“I would like to know about my real Papa, Mama. Would you tell me?” John urged.

She smiled, looking at Edward in case he would not like it, but he never flinched. Amazing man. Her gaze passed back to her son. “He was special, John, brave, and you are very like him.” …

Preorder The Scandalous Love of a Duke

out

April 3rd

He is all grown up now, my gorgeous fractured, tender-hearted, Duke

Amazon http://ow.ly/uNPDs
Barnes and Noble http://ow.ly/uNPtw
Kobo http://ow.ly/uNPTX~

All my normally blogging stuff will carry on around these excerpts

😀

The Scandalous Love of a Duke ~ Prequel elements from the Marlow Intrigues Series ~ Edward’s point of view ~ on John’s inclusion in his life with Ellen

CONTAINS SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ILLICIT LOVE OF A COURTESAN!

Leading up to the release of the 3rd book in

The Marlow Intrigues Series

The Scandalous Love of a Duke

all about John, who has grown up, fractured ~ I am going to share excerpts of John in the earlier books to remind you of his past before his book is released on the April 3rd.

Excerpts from The Illicit Love of a Courtesan

Edward’s point of view ~ on John’s inclusion in his life with Ellen … (taken from the 1st edition published in the USA)

Edward was jolted awake as the carriage hit another rut in the road. His gaze on Ellen and the boy, he lifted his head from the padded leather squabs, stretched his neck and arms, and took his feet from the seat opposite to set them on the floor. At their last stop, for dinner and a change of horses, when he’d told her his decision not to stop but press on as the night was bright, she’d insisted he take a rest and sleep. They had fallen asleep too. The boy was cradled beneath her arm, his head resting on her breast.

The child had clung to her all day, or perhaps it was Ellen who’d clung to the boy.

Edward recalled the moment she’d asked him to stay with John while she’d sought out the necessary after they’d eaten luncheon. Edward remembered the feel of a small uncertain hand clasping his. He’d been struck dumb when the child asked how Edward knew Ellen. He’d given a diplomatic answer, which was not an outright lie, explaining that they’d met through a mutual acquaintance.

The boy’s inquisitiveness moved on then to questions on the horses Edward had hired, and Edward had agreed to let John ride for an hour rather than return him to the carriage. A promise Ellen had not liked but did not refuse.

Edward felt a smile twitch his lips, inspired by the boy’s pleasure at the merest thing. It amused Edward. As they’d ridden together, the child on the pommel of Edward’s saddle, observing the wildlife and sharing anecdotes of boyhood carousing, Edward’s own renewed zest for life had grown. He had purpose again, Ellen and this child.

But there are still so many unanswered questions.

His mind searched through the possibilities as he watched them sleep. The boy was like Ellen in looks and nature. He was certainly not Gainsborough’s; he knew Ellen had only been with him five years. Who had sired John? How many men had there been in Ellen’s life? He took a breath.

Pacing the small drawing-room, which he’d always used as his private retreat, Edward drank the last of the brandy in his glass. His gaze lifting, he met the eyes of his father as they looked on in measured, imperious, judgement from his portrait.

His father would not have liked him bringing Ellen here. He would not have liked her immorality. But he would have appreciated his chosen bride’s remarkable beauty, her demure yet immovable courage, and if none of the former had won him over, he would have fallen for Ellen’s charm in the end, Edward was sure. Who could not? …

…In contrast Edward had been out of sorts, unable to look at her during dinner, knowing the moment had come for him to ask his questions, though he did not wish to hear the answers. They’d barely spoken on the way up here, the chasm between them widening with every mile, unasked and unanswered questions hanging between them.

She’d been silent through dinner, pushing her food about the plate with her fork, while John had rattled on about all sorts of nonsensical balderdash, wants and wishes. Edward knew the child was excited over his new home and hungry for adventure, and Edward liked John’s company, but wanted to speak to Ellen. Now she’d taken John up to bed, with a promise to return. When she did, Edward had not intended to push for answers immediately, but he knew he must, he needed to put her past aside.

He heard the door hinges creak behind him and turned back. She was standing there…

“I do not wish to force you in to speaking—”

“But you wish to know who John’s father is?” she interrupted, her gaze meeting his—challenging him—daring him to deny it. He said nothing, waiting on her words. He wanted to know who her husband was too. Were they one in the same?

On a sigh she began the tale, a slow yet deliberate note to her voice, “Very well. He was, is, the son of my husband, Major (Captain in the 2nd Edition) Paul Harding.” Edward sucked in a breath. “He is dead, Edward,” she said in answer to his response. “I met Paul when I was sixteen. We married in my seventeenth year. I followed his regiment with other wives.” Her gaze left his then, falling away to a memory Edward would never see. “He died at Waterloo, before I’d discovered I was carrying John. Paul never even knew.” That pale crystal-blue all absorbing gaze, met his again, sharp, unbending…

Preorder The Scandalous Love of a Duke

out

April 3rd

He is all grown up now, my gorgeous fractured, tender-hearted, Duke

Amazon http://ow.ly/uNPDs
Barnes and Noble http://ow.ly/uNPtw
Kobo http://ow.ly/uNPTX~

All my normally blogging stuff will carry on around these excerpts

😀