Louisa put down her teacup and clasped her hands together. “I’d be glad to go to Bath for a few months. Remember that the Smythe girls found husbands there.”
Charity remembered all too well. One of them had married a country clergyman and the other had gotten engaged to an army officer on half pay. She’s be damned if Louisa threw herself away like that. Hell, if she had gone through with this farce for Louisa to wind up marrying a curate she’d be furious.
She had to forcibly remind herself that her feelings were immaterial. This was her chance to see Louisa settled in the way Robbie would have wanted. It was only because of the Selbys that Charity was here in the first place, clean and fed and educated, rather than . . . Well, none of that bore thinking of. She was grateful to the family, and this was her chance to take care of the last of them.
“Listen, Charity. When I think of the expense of this London trip—”
“You mustn’t call me that,” Charity whispered. “Servants might hear.” And if Charity knew anything about servants, which she most certainly did, it would only be a matter of time before one overheard. And then their ship would be quite sunk.
“Oh!” Louisa cried, clapping a hand over her mouth. “I keep forgetting. But it’s so strange to call you Robbie.”
Of course it was. Not everyone was as hardened to deceit as Charity had become. She had been assuming this role for years, from the point when the real Robert Selby had decided that he did not want to go to Cambridge and would send Charity in his stead. She, at least, was used to answering to his name. But since Robbie had died two years ago, she increasingly felt that she no longer had his permission to use his name. The deceit was weighing heavier on her with each passing day.
All the more reason to get Louisa set up splendidly. Then Robert Selby could fade gracefully out of existence, leaving his Northumberland estate free for the proper heir to eventually inherit, while Charity would . . . Her imagination failed her.
She would figure that out some other time. First, she’d take care of Louisa.
“If all else fails, we’ll go to Bath or a seaside resort. I promise.” And she flashed her pretend sister her most confident smile.
Click here to buy!
About the Author
CAT SEBASTIAN lives in a swampy part of the South with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Before her kids were born, she practiced law and taught high school and college writing. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s doing crossword puzzles, bird watching, and wondering where she put her coffee cup.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by Cat Sebastian
The Turner series
The Soldier’s Scoundrel
The Lawrence Browne Affair
The Ruin of a Rake
The Regency Imposters series
Unmasked by the Marquess
A Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader,
I hope you liked the latest romance from Avon Impulse! If you’re looking for another steamy, fun, emotional read, be sure to check out some of our upcoming titles.
First up we have a delightful new story from superstar Eloisa James! MIDSUMMER DELIGHTS is a short but sweet dip to the world of her beloved Essex Sisters. Don’t miss this short story collection featuring a brand-new novella about a proper debutante who, after two failed seasons, has decided causing a scandal is way more exciting. Eloisa always delivers a witty, charming read and this collection is no different!
We also have a brand-new title from Mia Sosa for all you contemporary romance fans! PRETENDING HE’S MINE is delicious, trope-y goodness about an uptight Hollywood film agent who can’t seem to keep his mind—or his hands—off his best friend’s sassy, free-spirited little sister. Mia delivers another funny, sexy, inclusive romantic comedy in her Love on Cue series and you don’t want to miss it!
For historical romance fans, we also have a brand new Victorian romance from Charis Michaels! ANY GROOM WILL DO, the first in the Brides of Belgravia series, features a spunky, independent lady who puts out an ad for a husband, hoping they will wed and go their separate ways . . . except a marriage of convenience becomes anything but when love gets in the way!
You can purchase any of these titles by clicking the links above or by visiting our website, www.AvonRomance.com. Thank you for loving romance as much as we do . . . enjoy!
Sincerely,
Nicole Fischer
Editorial Director
Avon Impulse
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Excerpt from Unmasked by the Marquess copyright © 2018 by Cat Sebastian.
it takes two to tumble. Copyright © 2017 by Cat Sebastian. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition DECEMBER 2017 ISBN: 978-0-06-282050-1
Cover design by Amy Halperin
Cover illustration by Fredericka Ribes
Cover photographs ©Period Images (figures); ©LeicaUntouched/Shutterstock (background, bottom)
Avon Impulse and the Avon Impulse logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America.
Avon and HarperCollins are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8, Canada
www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com