Targeted Age Group:: General
Lady Helena Staley knows that she will one day marry a peer of her father’s choosing. She has only resented her future once, when Mr. Price stole her heart at Almack’s and did not even send her flowers in return.
Matthew Price is in no position to marry. He knows this. But that fact has not kept him from pining for the mystery lady he met at Almack’s. If only he knew where to find her.
Fate, or possibly bad luck, brings them together again. There is just one problem, Lady Helena is promised to the Marquess of Boxwood, Matthew’s best friend.
Will duty and pride stand in the way, or can Matthew and Helena find a way to choose their own path?
This Clean & Wholesome Regency Romance novella is sure to touch your heart and leave a smile on your face.
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Writing gives me the opportunity to mix two of my favorite things, history and happy endings. There is nothing more satisfying for me than creating stories which allow readers to escape life for a while and return with a smile on their face.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
I needed two men who could be both foils of each other and friends and so they needed similar values and opposite personalities. Then I asked myself what type of heroine would find herself having to choose.
Book Sample
London 1814
Almack’s was exclusive; only the very elite of London society graced its hallowed halls. Or so Lady Helena Staley was told as a newly arrived debutante vying for her vouchers. More than two years later, Helena could only wonder at the mystical requirements governing the Wednesday gatherings. As far as she could tell, the stuffy rooms were populated by the same tedious gentlemen who could be found in countless ballrooms across London. A group she had grown tired of months ago. Not that it mattered, at least not for her.
The couples on the dance floor weaved in and out and exchanged partners as they completed a country dance, but it was movement near the entrance that caught Helena’s attention. At long last, Lady Charlotte Morton had arrived. Lottie, as she was known among friends, made a habit of arriving at Almack’s as late as possible. She had yet to be locked out by the patronesses, but she had come close on several occasions.
“Have I missed anything interesting?” Lottie asked by way of greeting when she reached Helena’s side.
“The punch is particularly watery tonight,” Helena offered with a dramatic wave of her fan and a sigh.
Lottie lifted her own fan to conceal her laugh, but Helena could see the amusement in her friend’s eyes as she responded, “I said interesting, not expected.”
“Nothing interesting ever happens at Almack’s,” Helena replied as she turned to watch the couples perform the same steps they danced each week. “I stand up with the same gentlemen I’ve danced with countless times and then I return home thirsty and hungry.”
Lottie’s voice dropped to a tender whisper, “I’m sorry that your third season has not been what you wished.”
Helena turned and offered a half smile to her friend before returning her gaze to the crowd, “I just keep reminding myself to be grateful that my father allowed me a third season.”
“I know, I just…” Lottie’s words were cut off by Helena’s hand landing on her friend’s arm.
“Who is that?” Helena asked, not taking her eyes off the dark-haired gentleman who had entered the room. His perfectly tailored tailcoat and well-fit pantaloons should have made him blend in with the rest of the similarly attired gentlemen in attendance, but something about his broad shoulders and confident gait made him stand out from the crowd.
Before Helena could convince herself to turn away, the unfamiliar man looked towards her and their eyes met. Even as she could feel heat creeping up her neck, Helena could not stop the smile forming on her lips. One side of the man’s mouth turned up as he held Helena’s gaze for a heartbeat longer than was proper before turning away.
“I’m not sure, but I hope you find out.” Lottie’s voice vibrated with amusement.
Helena could feel her blush deepen, but she forced herself to turn to her friend, “Are you not the least bit curious?”
“I am very curious to see a repeat of the look on your face.” Lottie lifted her fan, but it did little to block the sound of an unladylike chortle.
“It could not have been that bad,” Helena defended herself.
Lottie leaned in without lowering her fan, “Your jaw was low enough for me to place an entire bath bun in your mouth.”
“It was n…” This time it was Helena who was cut off by a hand on her own arm.
“Shh, he’s coming.”
Sure enough, the handsome stranger was walking towards them. His face was stoic, but his green eyes danced with amusement as he approached with Lady Castlereagh, one of the most influential patronesses of Almack’s.
“Lady Castlereagh,” Helena and Lottie curtsied together.
“Lady Helena, may I present Mr. Matthew Price? Good evening to you both.” The viscountess spoke quickly and with no emotion before she dipped into an almost non-existent curtsy and walked away.
After a moment lost in his subtle smile, Helena regained her wits and turned towards Lottie, “Mr. Price, may I introduce Lady Charlotte Morton?”
Mr. Price bowed, “Lady Charlotte,” and then turned his attention back to Helena. “My lady, if you are not otherwise engaged, may I request your company for this set?”
Helena knew her mother should be consulted, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. But she reasoned that only the most respectable of gentlemen could beg an introduction from Lady Castlereagh herself, “I would be honored, sir.”
Couples were already gathering for the coming set and so Helena bid Lottie a quick farewell and accepted Mr. Price’s offered arm. As they approached the dance floor, his deep voice asked, “Are you an Almack’s regular?”
Helena could not be sure, be she thought she detected a note of amusement in his tone. “Every week,” she confirmed, “Though I do not believe I’ve seen you here before.”
“I am not often in London, but I try to make an appearance when I am here,” came the answer as they lined up and faced each other.
The dance began and Mr. Price danced away before returning to lightly take her hand. Their brief time together allowed Helena to continue their conversation. “Why bother with vouchers if they are to be rarely used?”
Mr. Price danced away and then returned before answering, “My mother is a friend of Lady Castlereagh and would consider it a slight to her own position if I was not Almack’s approved.”
Helena could feel her lip twitching at the satire in his voice. How refreshing to meet someone else who did not consider vouchers as a badge of honor. “What keeps you away from London?” Helena asked before releasing his hand to dance away.
Once Mr. Price was facing her again, he explained, “As of late, I have been at my brother’s estate in Essex.”
Helena felt her stomach drop. Part of her had known that Mr. Price would never be considered an acceptable suitor, the fact that he did not have “lord” as part of his name all but guaranteed that. But having his status as a younger son confirmed still stung. Collecting herself while she spun around another gentleman, Helena pasted on a smile as she returned to her partner for the final bow and curtsy. “Essex? Is it near the sea? I love the sea.”
Mr. Price moved to escort her from the dance floor, “It is in the north-west, almost on the border with Cambridgeshire.”
“How unfortunate.”
Instead of guiding her towards her mother, or back to Lottie, Helena found herself heading in the direction of the refreshments.
“May I get you some lemonade, my lady?”
“You must not come often if you find the lemonade enticing,” Helena teased lightly.
Mr. Price tilted his head and studied her before responding, “Or perhaps, I’m not ready to part with the company?”
His eyes danced and Helena could feel a blush creep up her neck, “Punch sounds lovely, Mr. Price.”
Author Bio:
Patricia prefers theaters to movies, jazz to pop, and books to just about anything else (besides her family, of course).
She spent her younger years water skiing, scuba diving, and exploring more than a dozen different countries. Now she is on an even greater adventure with her husband and three children; all of whom are masters at making sure that life is never dull.
Links to Purchase Print Books
Link to Buy Promised to a Marquess Print Edition at Amazon
Links to Purchase eBooks
Link To Buy Promised to a Marquess On Amazon
Social Media:
Facebook
Have you read this book? Tell us in the comments how you liked it!
Leave a Reply