Tuesday, March 14, 2017

LAST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE SPOTLIGHT

LAST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE
Amelia Grey


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Amelia Grey is back with the first installment of her new Rakes of St. James series: LAST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE (St. Martin’s Paperbacks; March 7, 2017; $7.99; 978-1-250-10249-2)!  Enthralling and enticing, Grey weaves together the seductive story of a naughty Duke and the enchanting woman he falls for.
Could finding love be his greatest scandal of all? 

The Duke of Griffin has never lived down his reputation as one of the Rakes of St. James. Now rumors are swirling around London that his twin sisters may bear the brunt of his past follies. Hiring a competent chaperone is the only thing Griffin has on his mind--until he meets the lovely and intriguing Miss Esmeralda Swift. In ways he could never have expected, she arouses more than just his curiosity. 

Esmeralda Swift considered herself too sensible to ever fall for a scoundrel, but that was before she met the irresistibly seductive Duke of Griffin. His employment offer proves too tempting for her to resist. She can’t afford to be distracted by his devilish charms because the stakes are so high for his sisters’ debut Season. . .unless one of London’s most notorious rakes has had a change of heart and is ready to make Esmeralda his bride.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Amelia Grey read her first romance book when she was thirteen and she's been a devoted reader of love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award. Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and most recently to Japan. Several of her books have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of twenty-five books. She's been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful  gulf coast of Northwest Florida. Her first book with St. Martin's was The Duke in My Bed.

Excerpt:
His praise pleased her. She smiled and remained quiet. Most of our guests would end up being so  flustered by seeing double that they wouldnt try to get their names
right. They would just say my lady. Unfortunately, I wasnt given that option.
After youve been around for a few more days, youll be able to tell them apart no matter how they are dressed.
Its already getting easier.

Good. They may look exactly alike at times, but they have different natures. Veras nature is more forceful and cantankerous. Saras sweeter.
Esmeralda started to say she agreed completely, but then thought better of it, and simply replied, But both are lovely.
The duke faced her. “Did Miss Fortescue teach you how to be so diplomatic?
No, she answered with a teasing smirk. Its my nature.
His smile was natural as he said, And a temperamen- tal nature it is at times.
She frowned. Ill ignore that comment.
But you know its true. Im glad you suggested bring- ing the girls to the park and so is my aunt. And I see you brought Josephine and Napoleon along too.
You dont mind, do you? I supposed I should have cleared it with you first.
I dont mind. I can see you arent neglecting Sara and Vera. They are enjoying the show too.
I think so. Vera showed Josephine how to play throw and fetch with a stick. Napoleon was already quite famil- iar with what to do, so his former owners must have taught him. And the twins were very accommodating to him on our walk over here. They didnt get upset when Napoleon wanted to check out every doorway, hitching post, and tree along the way.
He chuckled. Living a protected life at Griffin for so many years, Sara and Vera have had few occasions to en- joy friendships or relatives their own age. It will be good for them to have you as their chaperone. Except for me, my aunt, and the servants, theyve had only each other to get to know. Its made them close, but it also, regrettably, causes a fierce competitiveness from time to time.
Including the pianoforte and Lord Henry, Esmeralda wanted to say but decided that Griffin didnt need to know about the earls son.
Im rather glad they have someone else in the house to interact with now other than each other.
And that will change after they meet young ladies at the various parties.
Which reminds me, he added. I looked into your suggestion of finding out which young ladies who were a part of the wager hadnt married and also had brothers, uncles, or fathers.
Who did you come up with?she asked anxiously. Only two names.
But didnt Sir Welby think there were more than two at Whites?
He nodded. He did but admitted he couldnt be sure of anything other than the comments that perhaps the way to get back at me was through my sisters. If you listen carefully enough in a taproom, you can overhear a lot of conversations.
But youre saying we have two young men to watch carefully, right?
Yes. For now, anyway. Sir Charles  Redding  and Mr. Albert Trent are the only gentlemen who have sisters who received a secret admirer letter but never married.
Esmeralda repeated the names in her mind. They werent on any of Lady Evelyns lists. And they wouldnt be. She wouldnt consider either of them high enough in the heel to offer for the twins.
Why did Esmeralda keep forgetting all shed been taught when she was living in her uncles home? She knew all about the snobbery of Polite Society. She just hadnt been a part of it for a long time. And now she was on the other side of it.
I will keep a steady eye on the two should they get near Lady Sara or Lady Vera even for a dance.

The dukes eyes swept up and down her face. Fluttering began in Esmeraldas chest. It was madness that when- ever he looked at her with that intimate intensity radiating from him, she wanted him to pull her into his strong arms, nestle her to him, and kiss her eager lips. She knew he was attracted to her. He had admitted that. But surely she was more aware of his every breath than he was of hers.
“Did you know that out in the sunlight your eyes lose all their brown coloring and are golden?
With that question, Esmeralda felt the atmosphere change. The noise of the crowd faded away, the cool breeze stilled, and the sun heated her face. It was as if she and the duke were the only two people in the park.
How could I possibly know that? I have never seen my eyes outside a house.
I thought perhaps someone might have told youyour parents, possibly a beau?
Im sure youve had countless ladies tell you that your eyes are as blue as a summer sky.
He ignored her comment and said, You skillfully de- flected my question, but Im not going to let you get by with that.
She evaded him again by saying, “Did you ask one? I thought you were making a statement.
He gave her an amused smile. Its always a challenge with you, Esmeralda. I like that.
She gasped.You cant call me by my given name.
I can and will when we are alone and no one around to hear but you. Now, here is a direct question for you, Es-meralda. Have you ever been kissed?
Her immediate instinct should have been to shy away from such intimate conversation once more and insist he call her Miss Swift at all times. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she was outraged hed ask her some- thing so personal, but staring into his striking gaze as it
brushed down her face to her mouth, she knew she didnt want to resist him in that way or any way.
Maybe she wanted him to call her Esmeralda and to know that her lips had never been touched by anothers. Maybe she wanted him to know shed welcome his kiss.
Still, her practical, survival nature came to her rescue and she resisted what her heart desired and said, Ive not had time nor opportunity for such things as hugs and kisses.
Twenty-five and never been kissed. His voice was low, and soft. I find that very intriguing.
His hold over her intensified. There was something about his unobtrusive interest in her that stirred her wom- anly passions to an anticipation she couldnt have known existed.
Her throat ached with an increasing need that was al- ways deniedto feel his lips caress hers. Perhaps he found it intriguing shed never been kissed, but she found it dis- couraging that shed never had the opportunity to know what it felt like to be kissed. She wanted to know.
Putting all her sensible, inner declarations aside, and willing her voice not to quiver, she asked, Are you offer- ing to change that, Your Grace?

Copyright © 2017 by Amelia Grey and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.

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