Scandal at Vauxhall by Layna Pimentel
Series: Pleasure Garden Follies, Book One
Release Date: February 1, 2016
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Genre: Erotic Historical Romance
Tour Dates: February 1 – 5, 2016
Release Date: February 1, 2016
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Genre: Erotic Historical Romance
Tour Dates: February 1 – 5, 2016
Nathaniel Thompson, the Marquess of Stoughton, is devastated to learn upon his return that Isabel has married the duke. When news of her husband’s death surfaces, Nathaniel sets out to make amends and will stop at nothing until she’s his marchioness.
But when London learns of a promiscuous tryst between them in the Daily, their credibility is at stake. They soon discover that nothing in life is simple, nor private, and all is fair in love and war.
On a night like tonight, however, she was
thankful for the lack of her husband’s presence. These types of occasions always
put him in a sour mood. He’d wind up playing whist and lose. Then, he’d drink
himself into a stupor, drag her away from whatever conversation she was having,
take her home and bed her roughly, only to fall asleep before giving her any
pleasure in return.
Pfft. What is pleasure anyway? Yet, while
she didn’t have much experience in the ways of lovemaking, it was highly
unlikely most marriage beds were like hers. Especially during these moments,
she wished she had the courage to run.
Is married life supposed to be like this?
Leaving me feeling filthy, unworthy, and so lonely? She hadn’t the slightest
clue about what she'd ever done wrong, but the pang of regret over not standing
up to her husband made her frailer with each passing day.
Distracting her from such sad thoughts,
Lady Balfour approached, fanning herself with expediency. “My dear, have you
heard? The Marquess of Stoughton has just arrived. My word, he hasn’t aged one
bit, and he’s looking quite fit.”
Nathaniel! He’s alive. Isabel’s heart
pounded in her chest as her gaze settled on him.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d told her
he was leaving on business for the war office. Her pulse kicked up furiously to
the point that she felt light-headed and breathless. He was still a sight for
sore eyes. His dark hair and piercing blue gaze stood out in the crowd. The
sheer breadth of his shoulders framed his muscular size. She watched as he
stopped and spoke with other gentlemen, his back now facing her and Lady
Balfour.
My God! He really is here. Would he even
recognize me? Hardly. He’s probably here to fetch his mistress for the evening.
Why would he even pay me any mind? Besides, she was a duchess, very much
married, and obliged to keep up appearances.
“My, would you look at the size of his
thighs,” Lady Coxley announced as she approached the ladies, garnering a few
giggles from prying ears.
Isabel smirked, knowing all too well in
what direction this conversation was headed.
“They are wonderfully built, but I’m sure
some other lady has laid claim on the marquess.”
“You haven’t heard, have you, Isabel?”
“What haven’t I heard?” she asked. Her
breath hitched and her pulse raced. What could I have missed?
“Come away with me to the terrace. I wish
to speak to you in private. We can’t have half of London listening in.”
She followed Lady Coxley outdoors,
leaving behind the sounds of merriment to be embraced by the shrouded darkness
of night and silence.
“They say the marquess will not marry
until he’s found her.”
“Until he’s found who?”
“The one who broke his heart. But in all
honesty, everyone knows it’s you. With any luck, perchance some horrible fate
will happen upon Henry.”
If I were only so lucky. “You shouldn’t
talk like that! And for the record, the marquess and I were done long ago.
Remember, he’s the one who left me.”
“Isabel, you cannot expect me to believe
that you haven’t thought about that man— at least once or ever—during the
course of this sham of a marriage of yours. The haute ton in its entirety knows
where he is right now. And you’d be a fool to think Henry gives two ninnies
about your welfare.”
The sound of someone clearing their
throat interrupted them.
“Excuse me, ladies, but I was wondering
if perchance I could steal Her Grace for a dance.”
Good grief. Did he hear any of our
discussion? I cannot believe he’s actually here.
Heat coursed through Isabel at the
thought of holding him once again. She nodded and held out her gloved palm for
him to take. “I’d be honored, My Lord.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Your Grace.”
Leaving behind Lady Coxley, she followed
his lead inside for a waltz.
“It’s been too long, Isabel. I’ve missed
you terribly,” he whispered as they took a turn about the dance floor.
Nathaniel bowed and took her hand. His touch warmed her, and the gentle squeeze
that followed reassured her that the flame they once had was still there.
She and Henry hadn’t danced since their
wedding and even then, he quickly discarded her to dance with the Duchess of
Downsbury. If she’d only known her dismissal that evening would be the first of
many others. For the most part, her husband had two left feet, but Nathaniel
whisked her away gracefully to the tune. She wished to kiss him again and
remind herself of their time together. Good heavens, Isabel. You’re married.
Enough of this foolishness!
Isabel felt him pulling her closer as his
arm at the small of her back pushed her in. His head dipped down, and,
naturally, she looked up at him, ignoring every stare and whisper as they moved
together. She finally cringed and mustered the courage to ask him the one thing
weighing heavily on her mind. “Why did you take so long? Why didn’t you come
sooner? Nathaniel, there hasn’t been a day I haven’t thought of you.”
As the music wound down and the dancers
departed, Isabel locked her eyes on his and felt a tear escape. “You’ve been
missed greatly, My Lord.”
His thumb swiped away the drop. “My dear,
there hasn’t been a day, hour, or dream you haven’t occupied.”
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Layna discovered her love of reading at an early age. She’s a bestselling author at All Romance eBooks, and multi-published author of historical, paranormal and contemporary erotic romances. When she isn’t devouring salacious romance novels or writing, she enjoys losing herself in researching ancient history and mythology, weaponry, and hiking. She lives in Northern Ontario, with her husband and two daughters.
For updates on her upcoming releases, or to leave her a comment, you can find at:
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Thanks for hosting my excerpt!
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