Embracing the Scandal - a Regency romance novella.
Naughtiness is its
own reward…eventually.
Harriet Bentworth escaped the worst of her stepfather’s punishments thanks to her childhood friend Jonathan. Now she’s grown, Jonathan isn’t there, and her stepfather catches her in the most scandalous behavior yet. He banishes her to teach in a dismal girl’s school. Then a wicked rake threatens to reveal her past sins if she doesn’t give in to his advances. Just in time, she’s offered a job as governess and is whisked away to the country for Christmas.
Jonathan Beaumont liked Harriet as a girl and fell in love with her when she grew up—but when he asked for her hand in marriage, her stepfather told him she was dead. More than a year later he’s still grieving. When he arrives at his cousin’s estate for Christmas, he can’t believe his eyes: Harriet is there, working as a governess.
She’s desperate to keep her past sins hidden, certain he will despise her, while he is determined to learn why she was declared dead. Can Harriet trust Jonathan enough to confess, or will he have to find out on his own? As for the wicked rake…has he at last met more than he bargained for?
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B4BSTRB5/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B4BSTRB5/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0B4BSTRB5/
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0B4BSTRB5/
Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0B4BSTRB5/
Embracing the Scandal is a novella is the Perilous Secrets series. It takes place shortly before The Infidelity Curse and introduces several characters that appear in that novel: Giles Morecambe, the future Earl of Netherbroke, his sister Frances Templestone, and her daughter Julia, as well as her son, Lord Templestone, and her future business partner, Marie-Louise Blois.
In the interest of full disclosure, there are a few ghosts in this story (as in several of my novellas), this time playing a minor role. More or less. One of said ghosts also shows up, or so it seems to Frances (for who can say what is real and what isn't?) at the very end of The Infidelity Curse.
So I'm writing Frances' story now. She needs a happy ending.
Embracing the Scandal was originally published last year in an anthology, Christmas Kisses. Now it's out on its own!