It’s time for Monday Excerpts! Today I invite you to post the first time your characters meet. Buy links are encouraged as are social media links.
Here is mine from Lady Beresford’s Lover, which releases on July 21st, and is available for pre-order.
Vivian had the strangest sensation she was being watched. She glanced up and fought to control her countenance. It was him! The gentleman from the park. She was sure of it, and he was staring at her. Their gazes met, and he held hers as he strode forward, apparently not seeing either the footmen who darted out of his way or the other guests attempting to draw his attention.
He was taller than she’d thought, had a strong face with lean cheeks and strong bones. His aristocratic nose was blade straight, reminding her of an ancient Greek or Roman. He carried himself with ease, as if he was the master of his life and the world around him. At first he appeared to be in his early thirties, but when he came closer, she could see no lines bracketing his well-defined lips or marring his smooth brow. The gentleman appeared good-natured, as if a grin hovered permanently around his mouth. In time, she imagined his eyes would have smile lines.
When he reached her small coterie he bowed to Phoebe. “My lady, always a pleasure to see you again.”
Phoebe smiled at him. “You will soon rival Kit and Robert in your address, my lord.”
Vivian did not know who Kit was, but the only Robert she had been introduced to was Lord Beaumont. The grin Vivian had known was not far away graced the gentleman’s lips. “Ah, Featherton is the standard to which all gentlemen aspire. I am a mere pretender to his throne.” The man’s gray eyes twinkled. “As for my cousin, I trust I have surpassed his address already.”
He did resemble Lord Beaumont to a large degree. Both gentlemen had classic good looks, but this man appeared—Vivian searched her mind for the word . . . vital. He had an energy about him she did not see in most gentlemen of the ton. Even young men, such as he must be, contrived to appear fashionably bored.
“Please introduce me to your friends, my lady,” he said to Phoebe as he glanced at Vivian.
Phoebe’s eyes seemed to dance, but there was no indication of laughter in her voice. “Certainly. Ladies, my I introduce you to the Earl of Stanstead. My lord, the Dowager Marchioness of Telford, the Countess of Beresford, and Miss Corbet. Lady Telford is my great-aunt, Lady Beresford is her cousin, also a connection of mine, and Miss Corbet the granddaughter of my aunt’s friend.”
Lord Stanstead bowed over each of their hands. “My pleasure, ladies. We shall all be richer for your presence.”
Vivian tried not to let her heart flutter, but it was no good. She drew in a small breath. His voice was as deep and clear as his eyes.
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Now it’s your turn!!
ellaquinnauthor
Ella Quinn ~ Author 
Oh, fun! Here is a tidbit from To Kiss a Rake, which is available for pre-order now. Melinda is canceling the elopement of her friend, Lavinia Darwin, with Mr. Fellowes. The coachman in this scene isn’t really a coachman at all. 🙂
Melinda had assisted in making the arrangements for the elopement, so she supposed she must meet Mr. Fellowes in the mews and cancel it. Now, alone in the chilly darkness, she regretted the whole business from start to finish. Where was he?
“Miss Darwin?” murmured a male voice close beside her.
Melinda muffled a shriek. “You frightened me! Who are you?” Not Mr. Fellowes; this man was both taller and broader, and by what little she could see, somewhat plainly dressed.
The man doffed his wide-brimmed hat and then set it back on his head. “The coachman, miss. Mr. Fellowes asked me to fetch you. The carriage is waiting at the end of the mews.”
“Where is Mr. Fellowes? I must speak to him.”
“He’s waiting by the carriage, miss. Come along now, before you catch a chill.”
The coachman’s low, pleasant voice soothed her. Not that she needed soothing, because there was nothing to be afraid of. Still, she knew an urge to flee back into the bright safety of Almack’s.
But she couldn’t disclose such personal business to a servant. “It’s most ungentlemanly of him not to come himself,” she said irritably, clutching the flowing cape of her costume about her and accompanying the tall coachman down the dirty cobblestones of the mews. Her evening slippers would likely be ruined.
“And so I told him, miss,” the coachman said with a tiny chuckle. “He wouldn’t listen to a mere servant, though. You should give him a piece of your mind.”
“Indeed I shall.” It seemed Mr. Fellowes was as inconsiderate in his own way as Lavinia.
A traveling carriage huddled at the end of the mews, its lamps glowing dimly. A groom slouched at the horses’ heads, and the harness jingled as one of the pair stamped its feet. “Here we are, then,” the coachman said, opening the door and letting down the steps. “In you go.”
Melinda peered into the coach. It was empty. “Where is Mr. Fellowes?”
“Isn’t he in there?” The coachman leaned around her. “Must have gone for a drink to warm his insides. We’ve a long drive ahead.” He raised his chin toward the figure holding the horses. “Where’d he go, Jem?”
“Spied someone who knew him,” the groom said. “Said it wasn’t safe to be seen here, so he loped off to the stables to borrow a hack. We’re to take him up when we change horses.”
Melinda shivered. Why was only one pair of horses hitched to the coach? Mr. Fellowes wasn’t a rich man, but he must know he couldn’t outrun the inevitable pursuit without a coach-and-four. “I must speak to Mr. Fellowes,” she said again.
“We’ll reach him in a jiffy,” the coachman said. “Hop in.”
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZAY07OK/
I can’t wait to read this one, Barbara!
Reblogged this on Duchess of Romance.
Thank you!!
Can’t wait to get this, love your books!
Thank you so much, Choirlady!! I really love this book!
A lovely beginning, Ella! Thanks for this, as always.
This is from the first couple of pages of my British Regency novel, Dangerous Deceit (as Romy Gemmell) when Lydia meets the enigmatic Lord Sheldon!
Turning Sprite around at last, Lydia started back across the highway towards home. Then she heard the hooves. She had time only to draw on the reins when a phaeton pulled by two grey horses came fast towards her. Her mare reared and Lydia was unseated. She slid to the ground, unhurt, apart from a slight bump to her shoulder, but furious. Staggering to her feet and making ready to shout at the driver, she heard her name called.
“Lydia, are you hurt?” Her brother, James, was running towards her, full of concern.
“No… I think not. No thanks to your driver!” She was more indignant than hurt. She’d not taken a tumble from a horse since she was a child.
“Oh, she’s fine, no doubt about it.” James turned to the figure now at his side. “Watch out Marcus, she has the devil of a temper when she’s crossed.”
Lydia straightened to her full medium height and frowned her disapproval at James, then she glared at the man standing beside him. So this was the friend he was bringing home with him.
“My most humble apologies, dear lady, for causing you such distress,” he said, with a gallant bow. “Your brother and I had a wager to see how fast I could get here and I think I’ve probably lost.”
Lydia stared, wondering whether she dared laugh or not. The man was such a fop. He was dressed in the utmost fashion: tightly fitting buff coloured breeches, matching waistcoat, dark riding coat, carefully tied muslin cravat, highly polished Hessian boots, the whole topped with a medium crowned hat. Then she met his gaze and was puzzled. The amused expression from steel grey eyes belied his dandified actions and Lydia noticed his dark hair and features that reminded her of Lord Byron.
Aware suddenly that she was staring, Lydia smiled sweetly and acknowledged his apology. “Think nothing of it sir; if I had been driving, be sure I would have won the wager.” With that, she turned to James who was waiting to fold her in a brotherly hug, though not before she had glimpsed the half smile the other man tried to hide.
“You’d best believe that, for my sister has the best seat on a horse for miles around.” James smiled contritely at Lydia. “It’s as much my fault you know, Lydie. I told Marcus the road would be empty like as not. Oh, this is my good friend: Marcus, Lord Sheldon.”
“Your servant, ma’am. This is not the way I imagined meeting the lovely Miss Lydia Hetherington. Your brother has talked of you often and he has not exaggerated your beauty. Or your spirit,” he added with a smile.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LADYDKY
Website: http://www.rosemarygemmell.com
Here’s mine from An Honorable Wish, book Two in A Lady’s Wish Series, now available for preorder.
Tony left the parlor and then silently entered the dark library. A fire burned cheerfully, but no candles were lit. He had missed Juliet; she must have taken her book upstairs. But then he spotted her, curled up in a chair asleep, a book open on her lap. He picked up the book and looked at it, his eyebrows shooting up when he read the title: Fanny Hill.
Juliet apparently had very naughty reading tastes. Tony flipped through the pages, looking at some of the pictures. He then looked down at the woman asleep in the chair. She was full of surprises. He touched a finger to her hand. “Juliet?”
“What time is it?” she said sleepily.
“Just past nine. I thought you were reading agricultural books, not this. I’m surprised this put you to sleep,” he said, gesturing with the book. “It’s interesting reading.”
She snatched the book from his hands. “If you tell Anne—”
“I won’t tell Anne.”
Kensington: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/31910
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=978-160183445-4
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/978-160183445-4?keyword=978-160183445-4&store=allproducts
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-honorable-wish/id981214075?mt=11\\
Thanks for letting me post!
Eileen
This is from An Earl’s Queen which released today. It’s the second in the Rogues and Rakehell Mystery series. This is the first time the hero, Lord Anthony, Earl of Wyatt, meets Lady Chelsea. Or is it?
“The earl and I need to remain in London until July, and we don’t wish Lady Chelsea to be alone at our estate. Would you consider having her visit with you? I have full faith she will be safe under your care, even considering His Lordship and his reputation.”
“Iris you need not say any more. I was planning to put together a little house party starting in a few days, and Lady Chelsea is more than welcome to join us. As for the Earl, trust me, I’ll be making sure all the young ladies invited are well protected from his charms. I’m even contemplating sending him to Scotland for the duration.”
“I don’t think you need to go that far, nor does he. I trust you in making sure the ladies attending will remain safe and uncompromised, unless they otherwise wish to be,” Chelsea’s mother teased.
While the two mothers talked, Tony kept his focus on Chelsea to see her reaction to what was being said. Much to his dismay, when sending him north was mentioned, he saw her shoulders gently shake as if trying to refrain from a giggle.
One thing he was determined to get was a formal introduction, this night and not when she arrived at the estate. His reasoning, which he’d keep to himself, was he could feel the palms of his hands itching to hold her while taking a waltz.
Screwing up his nerves he stepped around so he was facing his mother.
“Countess, if Lady Chelsea will be partaking in your, not my, house party, I believe a formal introduction is called for as I’ll be the host?”
The silence which followed his proclamation had him worried his request would be refused, until–
“Lord Anthony, Earl of Wyatt, may I present Lady Chelsea Parsons,” his mother stated not even, he noticed glancing to him but her. “Also, any thoughts of asking to partner with her in a waltz will be met with my, not to mention her mother’s, great disapproval.”
Silencing a disappointed moan, Tony bowed to her curtsey but did notice a slight coyness in her eyes when he offered his hand.
Is it possible there could be a touch of the mischief in her?
Tony studied her face and noticed it seemed a bit flushed. Was it from the forced introduction? No. It was from the overly warm ballroom crowded with people. Even though branded a rakehell, never risking the discomfort of a lady was always paramount to him.
“M’ lady, now that we’re made known to each other, and with a dance out of the question, might I escort you about the veranda? Properly chaperoned of course.”
Amazon Buy Links-
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UK- http://tinyurl.com/pvxocx2
AU- http://tinyurl.com/ohp2jrc
Thanks so much, Ella! Here is an excerpt from Tempting the Pirate.
She backed away as far as she could in the narrow space and scoured the area for a place to hide. Her deafening pulse nearly drowned out the scrape of his boots as he rounded the corner into her sanctuary.
His blade held out before him, he halted when he saw her. “What in God’s name…?” He straightened from his halfcrouched position, his stern look softening, and sheathed his weapon. “What are you doing here?”
“Leave me be,” she forced out, her voice shaking despite her best efforts.
His golden eyes stared boldly into hers. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.” He set his bottle of wine on the floor and raised his hands in a gesture of peace, although he continued to advance until he stood a mere two feet away. Despite his show of innocence, his gaze roamed over her, a slow perusal that brought a smile of admiration to his lips. “Now what shall I do with you?”
“You don’t have to do anything with me.” Every hair at the nape of her neck flexed as one, warning her to flee.
But, where? Her only escape from this cramped space was around him. Even if the hoop beneath her petticoats would allow her to pass, she most definitely didn’t want to get that close.
Miss Biddle’s voice rang inside her head as clear as a chime. Beware. A man’s main instrument for thinking lay beneath his breeches. She almost glanced toward that area of his body, but decided she didn’t want to see his thoughts. Instead, with a dry swallow, she scanned her nook for a weapon of any kind.
Links to all retailers can be found here: http://tamarahughes.com/meet-tamara/