A nice little Regency novella which opens the Castonbury Park continuity series.An enjoyable and short tale, I really liked and engaged with the hero and heroine - but it did not seem to me really that Rosalind really flirted with ruin that much until she meets Fraser, despite her saying so. The...
Linah, an astonishingly beautiful child with soulful eyes the same shade as her father’s, was also an extremely accomplished tyrant, ruling her miniature kingdom through a combination of endearing smiles and extraordinary tantrums, both of which she seemed to be able to turn on and off at will. W...
It was amazing how much freedom these Arabian clothes gave her, and how much cooler they were. The tangerine sarwal pants, nothing more than ornately decorated pantaloons, along with a long caftan of the same silk, which was slit to the thigh, made riding a camel a much more comfortable experienc...
Aside from the cream lace which trimmed the décolletage, it was very simple, relying on the shape of the wearer and the rich colour of the fabric for effect. She wore no jewellery, only a pair of long evening gloves which left the narrowest band of flesh on display beneath the sleeves, which were...
No, that’s not entirely true. I didn’t go to thinking it would happen at the theatre, but I went hoping it would happen, because I took a preservative with me. On-stage, she was mesmerising. Offstage, just looking at her made my blood heat. She looked so fragile, and so damned determined not to b...
An army of white-robed servants appeared as if from nowhere, it seemed to Celia, and led them down a short covered passageway dotted with mysterious doors, each with a guard armed with a glittering scimitar. The stark white of their robes was relieved only by a discreet embroidered crest depictin...
All aboard that storm-tossed night were lost save for one, a babe in arms, only child of the mythical Highland warrior known as The Fearless One. Still tucked up in the woven reed basket in which he had been sleeping, the child was miraculously washed ashore on the remote, uninhabited Isle of Ken...
“I’m sorry,” Troy said finally. “I should not have, I never have any problem being careful. It is no excuse, but you overwhelm me.” “And you make me lose control,” Constance said with a soft chuckle. “I told you before, I cannot—so it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I wanted you to.” Troy kissed her agai...
Not tall, he was nevertheless powerfully built, with burly shoulders and a barrel chest. Possessing the muscular forearms of an army infantryman, these were maintained in civilian life by the regular hauling of ale barrels and the occasional spat with an unruly customer. He kept a clean house, bu...
Scottish Highlands Snow had fallen overnight. In the early hours of the morning, the temperature had dropped sharply, making glittering crystals of the fallen flakes which crunched underfoot as the villagers gathered, the women with their arisaidhs drawn up over their heads, the men with their pl...
She recognised many of them. The school at which Papa was headmaster was the sole one in the town. She herself had taught many of the younger children who were clinging to their parents, balancing on the wheelbarrows and carts laden with whatever scant possessions they had been able to rescue. Li...
It took place at St James’s church one bright June morning. The bride wore a gown of sea-green silk with a jade over-dress of sarsenet lace. The bodice was low, the puffed sleeves slashed. Her only adornment was a long string of freshwater pearls which glowed pink on her creamy bosom. Though some...
Bunty’s this place was called, according to my source, though there was no sign of any sort over the door. A fug of smoke so thick it stung your eyes hung low like a dirty bit of lace over the roped-off dance floor where six girls dressed in some exhausted-looking silk flowers were doing an unent...
Having met Virgil just once, His Grace was completely unprepared for the astounding news that his wayward daughter had fallen in love and accepted a proposal from a man who, as far as he was concerned, barely existed. That the man was an American, albeit one of that country’s richest inhabitants,...
As Struan and Iona approached, the gurgle of their laughter faded, but their smiles grew as they got gracefully to their feet and made their curtsies to their prince. “Highness.” “Prince Struan.” “Kirstin, Lillias, ladies. This is Iona, Laird McKinley’s daughter, as you know.” The women eyed Iona...
‘You wish me to end my betrothal to Sir Jason Mountjoy!’ She eyed the soldier seated on the edge of one of the gilded chairs which were set in carefully casual clusters around the large drawing room of her parents’ London town house. Captain Lamont’s uniform was ragged, hanging far too loose on h...
May I?’ Assuming Sebastian’s shrug indicated consent, Caro took the miniature over to the window to examine it in better light. Lady Ardhallow’s hair was a rich auburn tinted with flecks of gold. Her eyes were dark brown, almost chocolate-coloured. And her smile turned down at the corners in a wa...
Amongst the bundle was a new German edition of Gauss, but as he idly flicked through the uncut pages, the book he had been so eagerly awaiting failed to hold his attention. The library, his favourite room, was located at the back of Kilcreggan House, which itself stood on ...
Though they had agreed on their return from their idyllic trip to the island of Koros that she must leave sooner rather than later, it was Christopher Fordyce’s surprise visit to the kingdom which had provided fresh impetus to her departure, following the unexpected turn of events which provided ...
She is very sorry, but must postpone her trip here for another few weeks. It seems little Katie has the measles.’ Celia crossed the courtyard, smiling. Tall, graceful and unmistakably English despite her Arabian clothing, with her glorious crown of Titian hair falling loose over her shoulders, sh...
‘To stopping the clock.’ An odd phrase, but he understood what she meant: the constant race, the urge to keep going and going, because to stop would be too painful, and would mean looking over your shoulder – no, he never did that. He wasn’t absolutely sure he wanted to do it now, but he did know...