After the Kiss

Informationen zum Autor Joan Johnston  is the  New York Times  and  USA Today  bestselling author of more than sixty historical and contemporary romance novels. She received a master of arts degree in theater from the University of Illinois and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. She is currently a full-time writer living in Colorado. Klappentext The Innocent Too tall and entirely too outspoken! Miss Eliza Sheringham grew up thumbing her nose at polite English society. So when Captain Lord Marcus Wharton! called Beau for his stunning good looks set his rakish sights on her! Eliza thought nothing of rejecting his advances. Until a stolen kiss swept her into the arms of a man too dangerous too love. . . . The Beau Called to battle! Marcus left behind the woman who had captured his heart—and the scandal ignited by their kiss. His brother's disappearance made him Duke of Blackthorne! guardian of twin nieces who were rumored to be his own daughters. Badly scared in battle! the Beau had become the Beast of Blackthorne! a wounded animal destined to spend his life hiding in a shadowy wing of Blackthorne Abbey. The Beast When Eliza Sheringham showed up on his doorstep proposing herself as governess for the incorrigible twins! the Beast demanded marriage as the price of the job. He knew she could never love him. Surely his looks would drive her away—now that he hungered for her more than life itself.... Leseprobe "Matchmaking is a dangerous business." "I know that, Livy. But sometimes drastic measures are necessary." Charlotte, Countess of Denbigh, sat crosswise in a wing chair in the drawing room of Somersville Manor, swinging her patent-leather-clad feet back and forth. Although married to an earl for nearly a year, and a venerable eighteen years of age, Charlotte refused to be bound by the traditional way of doing things, even sitting in a chair. Life was so much more interesting, she thought, when things did not turn out as one expected. Charlotte watched fascinated as her best friend and sister-in-law, Olivia, Duchess of Braddock, held her firstborn son to her breast. William, titled Earl of Comarty at birth, suckled noisily beneath a lace-edged cloth that veiled his gusty enjoyment of breakfast. "Does it hurt?" Charlotte asked, drawn for a moment from the subject at hand by her curiosity about nursing a child. "It did a little at first. Not anymore," Olivia said, smiling tenderly at her two-month-old son and brushing aside a lock of his golden hair. "Have you let Reeve watch?" "Charlotte," A pink flush began at Olivia's throat and headed for her cheeks. She kept her eyes downcast. "Whether I let my husband watch while I--" "Have you?" Charlotte insisted, her gaze steady upon her friend, demanding an answer. She had a reason for asking. She might need to make such a decision herself sometime soon. Olivia nodded, then looked up so Charlotte could see the inner glow of joy that lit her eyes. "Reeve loves to watch. He says...The silly man thinks I'm beautiful," she confessed breathlessly. "You are," Charlotte said quietly. "Motherhood agrees with you." Olivia gave her a questioning look. Charlotte ignored Livy's silent request for information, turning her head to stare into a crackling fire that took the edge from an unusually chilly May morning. She was not yet ready to divulge the truth. In fact, Charlotte was in an "interesting condition," although she had so far kept the joyful secret to herself. The instant her husband discovered she was with child, Lion would insist--all in the name of protecting her and the babe--that they return home to Denbigh Castle from their visit with the Duke and Duchess of Braddock. Charlotte had something important she wanted to accomplish first. The house party that would shortly be formin...

Product details

• Authors: Joan Johnston
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Inc.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 10.02.1997
• EAN: 9780440222019
• ISBN: 978-0-440-22201-9
• No. of pages: 400
• Dimensions: 107 mm x 175 mm x 25 mm
• Series: Captive Hearts; Captive Hearts; Dell Historical Romance
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature