One wild dawn, p.18
One Wild Dawn,
p.18
He took the seat beside her and considered both women with a frown. “What’s wrong?
“Everything,” Anne said, tears coming to her eyes.
“Your father will come around, don’t worry, and no one can force Bernie to do anything against her will. Mr. Rupert is still wet behind the ears. He doesn’t wish to marry her, I’d bet. Lord Kirkland is forcing the issue. It’s nothing but pompous posturing.”
Anne wanted to believe that, but Roderick didn’t know what it was like to be poor gentry surrounded by wealthy peers and the power those peers could wield.
“I’m not hungry,” Anne said.
“But you have to eat,” Roderick said quietly. “For the health…”
Of the baby.
“You’re hovering,” Anne said in agitation. “I don’t need you to tell me when to eat. I’ll do so as I please.” She pushed away from the table and stood.
She was angry now, her cheeks flaming as she stormed out of the dining room. Roderick followed her, of course, as she knew he would, the damn man.
“Anne.” He grabbed her arm, and she was forced to face him.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked around the hall. “I—I just want things to be happy for once. No more disasters, no more fear. I’m always afraid, Roderick. Always. What will beef cost this week? How we’re going to pay to fix the fence on the south field? What happens if one of us falls ill? There is so much pressure to fix everything and look out for everyone, and I just want to not have to do that anymore.”
“You don’t have to,” he said. “I will take care of you. All you have to do now is worry about you. I will do the rest.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering—no, I’m demanding—I’m going to take care of you and your family.”
“It’s too much…”
“What is too much? You don’t think I can do it? Watch me.”
“Everything is already falling apart.”
“Anne, just do this for me. I’ve dedicated my life to the pleasures of bachelorhood, now I’m dedicating my life to you. What do you want me to do?”
“I… I don’t know, I can’t think right now. I’m overwhelmed.”
“Then come have a rest in Violet’s private parlor. I’ll have tea and a breakfast tray sent in, and while you rest, I will fix all your problems.”
Anne snorted. “Truly? You think it is that easy? What about our baby? When will we be allowed to be happy about our baby?”
He stilled. “I’m happy, aren’t you?”
She swallowed, a swell of emotion choking her throat. “Of course, but I’m also scared.”
“You don’t have to be scared anymore, Anne.” He hugged her, kissing the top of her head. “I know right now it feels like everything is wrong, but it’s not. We have each other now. We have everything we need right here between us. The rest will fall into place.”
Anne sniffed. “That was beautiful.”
“I may not be a good poet but I’m still a poet.”
Anne tilted her chin up and he kissed her lips.
“So, what will you do about Bernie, about Lord Kirkland, about the rest of my unwed sisters and their fates?”
“First and foremost, I will tell you I love you, and then I will tackle the rest with ease.”
She smiled. “How?”
“I’ll use my cunning wit and stunning good looks. It always works.”
She frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but he promptly kissed her.
Anne bit back a protest. She didn’t have the strength to fight him on this. If he said he could do it, she believed him. She believed in him. And as she thought the words, all the weight she’d carried for so long, worrying, planning, organizing, or just working until her bones hurt, she let it all go. His shoulders were broad enough to carry the load for her with ease.
“Very well,” she said.
He blinked with surprise. “Very well, that’s it?”
“I love you, and I trust you.”
“I love you, and I will cherish your trust. Once the house party is over we will marry, and we will celebrate our baby any way we wish to. This I promise you.”
“And what of Bernie?”
“I’ll find her and Chester and figure out what is going on.”
She nodded, and because she couldn’t resist him, she kissed him, and he lifted her off her feet and carried her off to the parlor.
Anne rested her head on his shoulder and realized that being cared for instead of doing all the caring, felt wonderful.
Thank you for reading One Wild Dawn, book one of my Northumberland Nine Series. Stay tuned for the next book, Two Wicked Nights and find out if Lord Chester and Bernadette can thwart Lady Kirkland’s plan to ruin Bernie and her sisters.
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Will two wicked nights lead to everlasting love or heartache?
Bernadette Marsden has made it her duty to protect her family. But as one of the infamous Northumberland Nine, she secretly wishes her life could be more. She craves adventure and love.
Lord Tiberius Alexander, Earl of Chester, is a gentleman to the bone. But Bernadette has a way of testing his good intentions. Though he is her loyal friend, he can’t fight the feeling they should be more.
One kiss opens the door to deeper desires, but Chester’s family suspects they are too close and trap Bernadette in a scandal to force her to marry another man. Chester hides her away and for two wicked nights they indulge their passions. But they can’t run forever. In the light of day, Bernadette must choose between the future of her eight sisters and the yearnings of her heart.
Can Chester thwart his powerful family and save Bernadette or will their two nights together end in bitter sweet memories?
Two Wicked Nights is the second book in Dayna’s new Regency Romance series, The Northumberland Nine. If you like a friends to lovers romance, strong heroines, and sizzling love scenes, then you’ll love Dayna’s new book.
Romance awaits, preorder Two Wicked Nights today!
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Contact Dayna at daynaquince.com
About the Author
Dayna was only fourteen when she developed a serious addiction to romance novels. What began as an innocent desire to read became an all-out obsession with the romance genre. She gave book reports on romance novels, got in trouble for reading during lectures, and would rather spend her time reading than attending high school parties. After all, high school boys could not compete with the likes of Stephanie Laurens Devil Cynster. After getting her first job, her addiction only got worse. She now had her own money to spend and a car to get to Barnes and Noble as frequently as she wanted. She managed to maintain a somewhat normal life, marrying her high school boyfriend who was aware he was competing with fictional men for her attention. Dayna soon began writing her own romance novels, inspired by her love for all things romance. Dayna and her family live in Southern California with their two children and three fur babies. Dayna is happiest at home where she can be with her family and write to her hearts content.
daynaquince.com
daynaquince@gmail.com
Also by Dayna Quince
The Fated for Love Series: Four Books
Mine, All Mine
Sweet Torture
Storm on the Horizon
To Love, Honor, and Obey
Desperate and Daring Series: Ten Books
Desperate for a Duke
Belle of the Ball
Just One Kiss
Anything But Innocent
An Unconventional Innocent
Mad About You
A Rogue Of Her Own
Hero Of Her Heart
An Undesirable Duke
Dare To Love A Scot
The Northumberland Nine Series: Nine books
One Wild Dawn
Two Wicked Nights
Three Times the Rake
Copyright © 2019 by Dayna Quince
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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