#MidWeekTease With a horse and a Harry...

Hello and welcome to this week's #MidWeekTease. Where a group of authors tease you with an excerpt from a book or WIP.

Today, I'm going with my book due out in October from Carina and HQ The Lord's Persuasion of Lady Lydia.

Blurb...

Seducing the wallflower…

Over the years, Lydia Field has perfected the art of being a wallflower. It’s the only way to avoid the attention of unwanted suitors – and the perils of a convenient, loveless marriage! Instead, she dreams of the day she can leave London’s high society behind her, trading the glamorous balls and afternoon teas for a quiet life in the country.

But in an unguarded moment, she finds herself catching the eye of notorious rake ‘Handsome Harry’, Lord Birnham. Now that he’s glimpsed the wildness and fire that lurks beneath Lydia’s demure exterior, Lord Birnham will not rest until he has unleashed the full extent of her passion!

For if there’s one skill that Lord Birnham is known for, it’s the art of persuasion…

and your #MidWeekTease

(Harry is explaining why he's arrived on Lydia's doorstep...)

...as I entered the stable yard of the inn, I discovered young Jem here with a dislocated shoulder. Due it seems to a frightened horse.’

 ‘Lucifer, miss,’ Jem butted in. ‘The new one at the Inn. Scared of Sam Thapperskill’s shouting for passengers to hurry along. You know how he screeches. Sam I mean not ‘th’oss. Like a wo…’

‘Jem,’ Harry said in a humorous tone. ‘Don’t put your foot in it. Like a banshee will do.’

Jem reddened. ‘Ah, yes.’ He looked down at the floor with a sheepish expression on his face.

‘So to resume, and retrieve our sensible sides, I reset Jem’s shoulder, and offered to help him out until my ship comes in. China Clay and I want to se it first hand,’ he added.

‘You are a doctor?’

‘Everyone at Waterloo had to be,’ Harry said bleakly.

 There was a shocked silence. She’d forgotten he’d been in the thick of the battle. Lydia mentally shook herself. ‘Then it was as well you came upon Jem when you did, for the nearest doctor is across the river and no doubt some idiot would have suggested he took himself over by the ferry.’

 ‘Ah they did that, Miss,’ Jem burst out. ‘Then Mr…er Harry happened along and well it has all worked out for the better. If you’ll have him as me for a bit.’

I’ll have him any way possible. Where did that shocking thought come from? It was almost true though. Except for the love honour and obey bit. In all conscience she couldn’t say ‘obey’ and mean it.

 Impasse.

 Millie coughed and Lydia realised everyone was waiting for her to answer. She smiled. ‘Of course Jem, if it suits you. I’m sure his lordship will be a wiling labourer. After all you can show him how to dig.’

 Harry raised one eyebrow. ‘No need I’ve had plenty of practice.’ Jem shot him a surprised look.

‘Waterloo. A day of death and in all honesty no victors. We did our best to honour our dead, but sometimes…’ His eyes were bleak and Lydia knew he saw images so horrific no one else could really comprehend what he had lived through and others had not.

‘Then as from tomorrow I’ll expect you here with Jem when he says,’ she said to lighten the atmosphere. ‘He knows what’s needed.’

 ‘Dig over the veg patch and weed the borders,’ Jem said humorously. ‘So’s we can put in the crops and stop the roses from being smothered. Do something with the lawn and check the river wall isn’t likely to fall in on itself. I know, my lady, like you say not really my job, but I can check it out while we’re there and report back, eh?’

Lydia laughed. Jem had told her categorically he wanted to be more than a general dogsbody, but for her he’d do what she needed, be it with soil or cement. ‘As you say.’ She rose and Jem did an awkward bow and tipped his cap.

‘Around nine once the snap’s gone out of the air, miss.’

Lydia looked at Harry, who stood back watching the exchange with a whimsical expression. ‘That might be a tad too early for Lord Birnham, especially if he is used to town hours.’

‘Harry, and no, I’ll be here.’ He bowed a lot more elegantly and followed Jem out of the room. At the doorway he turned, looked back and smiled. ‘Always at your service Lady Lydia.’ The wink and the hot glance he gave her sent erotic shivers through her and her dress became much too tight and constricting.

 Damn the man.

Millie laughed, and Lydia scowled. ‘Now what is that all about?’

‘You heard the man. He had business in the area, a ship coming in, and he’d happy to let you and Jem be boss. I’d watch out though, because he doesn’t seem to me to be a man to do anything without a reason. And it might not be as obvious as people think.

‘Hmm.’

That was what she worried about.

It was far too trite to say they’d see soon enough. Lydia changed the subject. ‘A stroll in the garden before bed?’

Millie raised one eyebrow and giggled. ‘Well it might cool you off a bit.’

The Lord's Persuasion of Lady Lydia is now up for preorder on Amazon Kobo and Are. Just look under my name.

The other #MidWeekTease excerpts are here

Happy reading,

love Raven x