Spoiler Alert

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If you have not read The Illicit Love of a Courtesan you may NOT want to read this post! I am sharing some of the story of the prequel which was told in The Illicit Love of a Courtesan, it will spoil the twists in the first book if you read this!

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Perhaps it was the scenes when John speaks about his father, and wanting to have known him, that pulled me into writing The Lost Love of a Soldier so easily when readers asked for it…

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.”

She went on to talk of nights about the campfire. Of tales Paul had told her about his battles, of how Paul had helped his wounded friends. The simple, difficult but happy life she’d known before his death. And as they walked together back to the Earl of Barrington’s country residence, she felt as though she was in that blessed place again. Only this time it felt fragile, like a bubble that would burst, or theatre, a performance in which she was merely acting. It could not be real. But as the day progressed she tentatively let belief and joy seep deeper.

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“He’s a good lad,” Edward told her as they left John to sleep, his hand resting on her shoulder as they turned to the stairs.

Ellen smiled. John had been her only reason for living until Edward. “I wish Paul had known him. He would have been proud. But I am grateful for your kindness towards him. You cannot know how much it means to me.”

“Ellen, no gratitude.” His hand slipping to her waist, he drew her closer as they reached the stairs and began to descend. “I promise I will treat John as my own son. Whatever I can do to heal the wound of losing his father I shall, but I don’t expect to be thanked for it.”

Click on the cover in the side bar to buy The Lost Love of a Soldier

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Go to the index

For

• the story of the real courtesan who inspired                                                 The Illicit Love of a Courtesan,
• another free short story, about characters from book #2,                              A Lord’s Scandalous Love,
• the prequel excerpts for book #3                                                                   The Scandalous Love of a Duke

Jane Lark is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance stories, and the author of a No.1 bestselling Historical Romance novel in America, ‘The Illicit Love of a Courtesan’.

Click here to find out more about Jane’s books, and see Jane’s website www.janelark.co.uk to learn more about Jane. Or click  ‘like’ on Jane’s Facebook  page to see photo’s and learn historical facts from the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras, which Jane publishes there. You can also follow Jane on twitter at @janelark

Jane’s books can be ordered from most booksellers in paperback