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Rescued by the Viscount - Carol Townend - Читать любовный роман онлайн в женской библиотеке LadyLib.Net
Rescued by the Viscount - Carol Townend - Скачать любовный роман в женской библиотеке LadyLib.Net
Herries Anne
Rescued by the Viscount
Аннотация к произведению Rescued by the Viscount - Carol Townend
CHARLOTTE STEVENS HAS ONE SEASON TO FIND A HUSBANDHer father’s fortune squandered, it’s up to Charlotte to secure a match and save her family from ruin. But nobody could be more surprised than her when Captain Viscount Delsey – whose reputation for breaking hearts is only exceeded by his wealth – proposes marriage.Recognising Charlotte as the urchin he rescued late one night, Jack finds his interest piqued by this captivating adventuress. He makes an impulsive offer: he’ll clear her father’s debts if she’ll give him heirs!Regency Brides of Convenience: Deals made at the altar!
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‘As well a girl with spirit as one with only milk and water in her veins,’ Jack murmured softly.
‘As well a girl with spirit as one with only milk and water in her veins,’ Jack murmured softly.
‘I shall be honest with you, Charlotte. Left to myself, I would not bother with marriage at all, for I have no great opinion of it, but my grandfather needs me to provide him with an heir. I am very fond of him and minded to oblige him. You need a fortune to clear your father’s debts and give your brother a good start in life—why not mine as well as any other’s?’
Charlotte digested this in silence for a moment, then looked at him hard. He had brought the curricle to a halt and was looking at her expectantly. He knew the truth, for she had hidden nothing, yet she still felt that he could not have considered fully.
Honesty made her speak out. ‘But surely … there must be a girl more suited to the honour of being your wife and the future Marchioness. Why me?’
‘Since I am being honest, I have no idea—but I think it is because you amuse me.’
This is an adventurous story of a brave girl and an out-wardly cool and aloof hero. Jack Delsey can be charming, but can any woman really touch his heart or is it too thickly encased in ice? Charlotte is reckless, but brave, and determined to save her brother from shame. Her escapade leads her straight into the arms of a man whom she knows to be a rake. No sensible girl would give her heart to such a man, but Jack is looking for a lady to be the mother of his heirs, and Charlotte is in danger of being exposed to scandal and ruin …
My readers will know that I like to combine adventure with passionate love stories, and this book has one or two other characters begging for books of their own. I hope to oblige them and my readers by giving them exciting stories. I very much enjoy writing these tales of a bygone time when ladies ought to be fragile creatures but never are, and gentlemen are both heroes and rascals. My hope is that my readers will find these stories well worth reading.
You may contact me at: www.lindasole.co.uk
Rescued
by the Viscount
Anne Herries
DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to my husband, without whose love and understanding none of my books could ever have been written.
ANNE HERRIES lives in Cambridgeshire, where she is fond of watching wildlife and spoils the birds and squirrels that are frequent visitors to her garden. Anne loves to write about the beauty of nature, and sometimes puts a little into her books, although they are mostly about love and romance. She writes for her own enjoyment, and to give pleasure to her readers. Anne is a winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romance Prize. She invites readers to contact her on her website: www.lindasole.co.uk
Contents
‘No, Mama,’ Charlotte Stevens cried in dismay. ‘Please do not expect such a thing of me—to marry without love for the sake of a fortune...’ She stared at her mother, tears welling, but too proud to let them fall. Charlotte was a pretty girl, diminutive, being no more than five feet and three inches, but her large expressive eyes and her unquenchable spirit made up for her lack of height. ‘How could you ask it of me?’
‘Because there is little choice left to me,’ Lady Stevens said. ‘Your father is close to ruin and if you do not oblige us by making a splendid marriage, we shall lose everything.’
‘Yes, I see...’ Charlotte banished her desire to scream and shout, because she loved Papa dearly and could not bear to think he was in so much trouble. ‘Who have you selected for me to marry?’ She lifted her head, determined to be brave and face whatever terrible fate awaited her.
‘It is not that desperate just yet,’ Mama told her with a determined smile. ‘Fortunately, I have some money put by for you to have a Season in town. You are very lovely, Charlotte. I am convinced that more than one gentleman will be prompted to offer for you—and you may choose for yourself, provided that your choice is in a position to assist your family.’
‘Yes, I see,’ Charlotte said, her spirits lifting a little. At least she was to be given a little freedom before she was thrown to the lions! ‘Well, Mama, I see that there is no choice and I promise that I shall do my best to oblige you.’
‘If only your aunt had not sold her best jewels and replaced them with fakes,’ Mama said wistfully. ‘Your uncle was so kind as to leave them to you, but I’m sure he had no idea that the best diamonds and the rubies, to say nothing of the emeralds and sapphires...all fakes, and only a few paltry trinkets left that are worth little more than a few pounds...’
‘I would gladly sell them if they would help Papa.’
‘Unfortunately, his debts run to at least twenty thousand pounds,’ Mama said, a note of distress in her voice. ‘Even if you sold everything, you could raise no more than a thousand or so. I see nothing else for it, my love—you must marry a fortune.’
Charlotte turned away to look out of the parlour window at the gardens behind her father’s house. Mama loved her home and it would break her heart to be forced to leave it—and Matt would have little chance of marrying well if they were ruined. Her love for her father, brother and Mama was too strong for Charlotte to think of rebelling. She knew that she must do her duty. All she could hope was that she would find a rich man who was not too fat or too old, whom she could respect, even if she could not love him.
Sighing, she turned to Mama with a smile. ‘I shall do my best to oblige you and Papa, but I cannot promise that anyone will fall in love with me enough to ask for my hand.’
‘Some gentlemen do not look for love in marriage,’ Mama said. ‘They wish for a comfortable arrangement with a girl of good family that will provide children—and, once the heir is secure, they take their pleasures elsewhere. After you have given your husband at least one son, but preferably two—it is always wise to have a spare, you know—he will no doubt leave you to do much as you please.’
‘Do all men behave in that manner, Mama?’ Charlotte asked innocently. ‘Are they never faithful? I thought perhaps if one loved one’s husband...’
‘Perhaps there are some that remain faithful,’ Mama allowed. ‘Indeed, I hope that you will find such a man—but you must not look for it, Charlotte. The most you can expect is a comfortable home and a life spent enjoying your children and entertaining your friends.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Charlotte turned back to gazing out of the window. It seemed that all her dreams of love and romance were a girl’s foolishness and nothing more.
‘Well, I can only hope you will be sensible,’ Mama said. ‘I have been honest with you, Charlotte. Papa has taken a house in Berkeley Square. It is very expensive, even for just a few weeks, my love, so you must make the most of your chances—because if you fail...’ A little shudder ran through Lady Stevens. ‘Well, we shall not consider that eventuality. I have always thought you a remarkable girl and I am certain you will not let us down.’
Charlotte crossed her fingers behind her back. She could only hope that her mother’s faith in her was not misplaced. Somehow she must forget her dreams of the tall dark stranger, who would sweep her off her feet and fall desperately in love with her, and make up her mind to accept someone with whom she might make a comfortable life.
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