Seduction. Brenda Joyce
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Join New York Times bestselling author Brenda Joyce as she introduces readers to a passionate and romantic new series set in a dangerous time….
Dominic Paget, the earl of Bedford, will do anything to resume spying upon Britain’s enemies. Badly wounded, he is put in the care of a beautiful gentlewoman, Julianne Greystone, only to discover that her sympathies lie with his enemies. Yet he can’t help but seduce the woman who saved his life—hoping she never learns of his betrayal.
Julianne is captivated by the wounded stranger she believes is a revolutionary hero. Until she discovers the truth…her “hero” is the privileged earl of Bedford. Devastated and determined to forget him, Julianne travels to London. But when she finds herself in danger, it is Bedford who comes to the rescue. Now Julianne must navigate the intrigues of a perilous city, the wild yearnings of her own heart and the explosion of their passion….
Praise for the novels of
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author BRENDA JOYCE
“In her inimitable style Joyce presents her unforgettable de Warrenes
in a mesmerizing new romance. Her marvelous storytelling, combined with the high level of emotion, makes for a non-stop delight of a read.” —RT Book Reviews on An Impossible Attraction
“Another first-rate Regency,
featuring multidimensional protagonists and sweeping drama… Joyce’s tight plot and vivid cast combine for a romance that’s just about perfect.” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review on The Perfect Bride
“Truly a stirring story with wonderfully etched characters,
Joyce’s latest is Regency romance at its best.” —Booklist on The Perfect Bride
“Romance veteran Joyce brings her keen sense of humor and storytelling prowess
to bear on her witty, fully formed characters.” —Publishers Weekly on A Lady at Last
“Joyce’s characters carry considerable emotional weight,
which keeps this hefty entry absorbing, and her fast-paced story keeps the pages turning.” —Publishers Weekly on The Stolen Bride
“Joyce excels at creating twists and turns
in her characters’ personal lives.” —Publishers Weekly
Seduction
Brenda
Joyce
For Sue and Laurent Teichman, with love and thanks!
Contents
PROLOGUE
July 1, 1793—near Brest, France
“IS HE ALIVE?”
The voice surprised him. It sounded far away. And even as he heard the Englishman, pain stabbed through his back and shoulders, like nails being driven into his body, as if he were being crucified. The pain was so horrific he could not speak, but he cursed silently. What had happened?
He was on fire now. Even worse, he wondered if he was suffocating. He could hardly breathe. A terrible weight seemed to be pushing him down. And he was in absolute darkness....
But his mind was beginning to function. The man who had just spoken was English, but that was impossible. Where was he? What the hell had happened?
And the images began, rolling through his mind’s eye with shocking speed, accompanied by horrific sounds—the bloodcurdling screams of the wounded and the dying amidst the racket of muskets and the boom of cannons, the river running red with the French blood of peasants, priests, nobles and soldiers....
He moaned. He could not quite recall how he had been wounded, and he was afraid he might be dying. What had happened to him?
Someone spoke, and the voice was familiar. “He is barely alive, Lucas. He has lost a great deal of blood and has been unconscious since midnight. My surgeon does not know if he will live.”
“What happened?” A second Englishman was speaking.
“We suffered a terrible defeat at Nantes, messieurs, a rout by the French under General Biron, but Dominic was not wounded in the battle. He was ambushed outside my apartments last night by an assassin.”
And then he realized that his lifelong friend, Michel Jacquelyn, was speaking. Someone had tried to murder him—because someone had known he was a spy.
“Christ,” the second Englishman said.
Dominic managed to open his eyes, a vast, prolonged effort of will. He lay on the beach on a pallet, under blankets—the surf beat the shore and the night above glinted with stars. Three men stood over him, in coats, breeches and boots. His vision was blurred, but he could distinguish them somewhat. Michel was short and dark, his clothes bloodstained, his hair pulled back in a queue. The Englishmen were tall and golden, their shoulder-length hair whipping in the wind. Everyone was heavily armed with pistols and daggers. Now, he heard the creaking of wood masts, the flap of canvas, the pounding of wind-whipped waves. And then he could no longer keep his eyes open. Exhausted, they closed.
He was going to faint, damn it....
“Were you followed?” Lucas asked sharply.
“Non, but le gendarmerie are everywhere, mes amis. We must make haste. The French blockade the coast—you will have to be careful to avoid their ships.”
The other Englishman spoke, and he sounded