скачать книгу бесплатно
The Wedding Bargain
Emily French
Fear Or Desire? Charity saw him on the auction block, chained to a post. She needed a man to help protect her land and sons, and he was the only one she could afford, for none dared bid on such a savage-looking creature. Yet the sight of him had her heart pumping with an attraction that threatened Charity's Puritan soul!An alleged traitor, Rafe Trehearne had been beaten and tortured, and now was being sold like an animal. Once purchased, he'd planned to find a way to escape. But that was before he'd felt the widow's gentle touch and beheld the passion in her eyes… .
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#ube04c8dd-2395-5b2b-b120-38db90ace919)
Praise (#u28455877-092a-5ead-9f78-cf5cb317406b)
Excerpt (#u716a2b06-a0ec-572f-ad0b-068571991910)
Dear Reader (#ua0d79eae-9173-5d47-8415-df8c5d2aa1ff)
Title Page (#u6de60516-57ca-5830-b7b1-2f1d7d7d218b)
About the Author (#u427591ee-7bfc-5146-936b-8e49b9385ddf)
Dedication (#u11767c84-5ab4-5527-bccc-4bb337bbbbb9)
Chapter One (#u4692f9d8-b646-5974-9b62-cbc0b578d13d)
Chapter Two (#u9eb1c869-f4a0-5555-850c-055993fe4dae)
Chapter Three (#u621efe0b-fd7d-51ed-af89-7c5c664c6e8b)
Chapter Four (#uef20232d-0472-54bc-ba6e-a0674b1a1641)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Praise for Illusion by Emily French
“…witty and fast-paced…”
—Affaire de Coeur
“…the voltage of the love scenes is no illusion.”
—Romantic Times
Praise for her first novel, Capture
“The sexual tension never ebbs…”
—Romantic Times
“5*s.”
—Heartland Critiques
“…fast-paced, action-filled, and beautifully romantic…”
—Affaire de Coeur
“…a gripping tale of survival and love.”
—Rendezvous
Charity tried to control herself, but her mind was running at full speed.
“Master Trehearne—Rafe…I have a suggestion to make. I suggest you and I should marry.”
“No.” His lips snapped together like a trap. The line of his jaw was taut, and his golden eyes gleamed with hidden fire.
Charity hunched her shoulders. “’Tis only common sense, after all. A practical proposition, based on matters of mutual convenience.”
“I daresay.”
“Did you think otherwise by chance? I don’t love you. I’m a widow with two sons, not a foolish, romantic girl of fifteen! ’Tis simple. An unmarried woman is always at a great disadvantage in this world. I therefore want a husband.”
“If that’s all it is, you’ll soon find one easy enough.”
“But I happen to want you!”
Dear Reader,
Although she has published only two books, Emily French is already gaining a reputation based on the emotional impact of her stories. In this month’s novel, The Wedding Bargain, widow Charity Frey defies her Puritan community and marries Rafe Trehearne, a bondsman who has been wrongly accused of treason. Rafe is a man tortured by his past, but Charity’s loving strength and determination make him whole again.
RITA Award finalist Laurel Ames is back with Tempted, her new novel that Affaire de Coeur calls an “exciting, unusual, and delightfully quirky Regency.” Don’t miss this story that features wonderful characters and a touch of intrigue.
Ana Seymour’s sixth title for Harlequin Historicals, Gabriel’s Lady, is the first of two connected books set in the wilds of the Dakota Territory. And for those of you whose tastes run to medieval novels, look for Knight’s Ransom, the next title in Suzanne Barclay’s dramatic ongoing series, The Sommerville Brothers.
We hope you’ll keep a lookout for all four titles wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold.
Sincerely,
Tracy Farrell
Senior Editor
Please address questions and book requests to:
Harlequin Reader Service
U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., PO. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3
The Wedding Bargain
Emily French
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
EMILY FRENCH
Emily French comes from a family of incurable romantics but never dreamed her love of reading would turn into a writing career. Now she can’t imagine a life without writing. Her novels are laced with action and are filled with sizzling romance.
Emily draws on the colorful past for background whenever she writes. Patient and painstaking research of the Connecticut probate records gave a detailed description of indenture in American colonial society. The private diary of a Connecticut farm woman disclosed a turbulent tale of endurance and hardship and gave a peek at a passionate heart’s intense inner struggles to conform.
These brief and forgotten vignettes of a turbulent period in American history were the inspiration for Emily French’s latest exciting historical romance novel.
To my parents: Emilie Le Feuvre and Samuel Beattie
Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal’d: I strove against the stream and all in vain: Let the great river take me to the main No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield; Ask me no more.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Princess
Chapter One (#ulink_1c96f7ab-6031-503a-bcc9-57bba6e83ff8)
Connecticut, August 1757
“Are we really going to buy a man, Mama? If so, ’tis best it not be that one by the auction block. He looks desperate.” The boy’s high-pitched young voice was as sweet as clear water running over smooth stones on a summer day—and as piercing as the winter wind.
Charity Frey smoothed the ribbons of her bonnet and allowed herself a wry smile, directed downward. “Hush, child. Such candid observations should be made in an appropriate tone of voice. A lowered tone.”
“I heard tell there was a convicted felon who escaped the gallows on account of his friendship with General Pakenham. Will Sutcliffe says that the magistrate at New Haven considered those serious defects of character the prisoner exhibited could be overcome through servitude. Is that true, Mama?”
“I know not, Isaac, but if a man’s soul can be saved, and he be prevented from committing further atrocities or pernicious acts through such a concession, then the Lord be thanked.”
“What has faith got to do with per-pernicious acts?”
The blue green eyes that met hers looked so serious. A soft warmth welled up in Charity. It was all very well encouraging children to work things out, answering their questions honestly and helping them develop their powers of independent reasoning. Only every now and then it led to something like this, and the views of an outspoken nineyear-old would lead to a complaint at meeting house that Charity Frey was an unfit parent.
“More than you might imagine, Isaac. However, the poor creature has enough humiliation to bear, and ’tis impossible to avoid hearing your hurtful remarks even twenty paces away.”
“A convicted felon has no rights.” Isaac’s lowered his voice, but his expression was unyielding. He might be only nine years old, but he had his own ideas of right and wrong.
Charity lightly patted her son’s springy, auburn hair. “Hush, child. ’Tis not seemly that you should speak so unkindly.”
Isaac moved back, not wanting to be touched. “But, Mama, there be evil demons in that one’s eyes. Milk would curdle in the pail if that man were to watch it the way he is watching you.”
Charity clenched her hand and took a deep breath. “That will do, Isaac. ’Tis not the way of a gentleman to make rude comments,” she said crushingly. “You should be profoundly ashamed of such odious statements.”
Isaac seemed a little taken aback at her vehemence. He flushed and hung his head. He stood passive, but there was a suggestion of resistance about him notwithstanding.
“I’m sorry, Mama, but I didn’t think you’d want to invest in one of Lucifer’s minions.”
Charity made a sharp, involuntary movement, then restrained herself. She felt it best not to acknowledge such an ignoble gibe. Out of the mouths of babes…Her mouth flexed faintly. In spite of herself, she slid a glance toward the bound prisoners and indentured servants waiting to be sold.
And went utterly still.
The man shackled to the auction block was nearly naked. The ragged garment that served as his shirt was so torn, so tattered, so full of rents that it hardly served its purpose, scarcely covering the solid chest or the muscular arms that showed through the holes. Even his breeches were almost indecent.
Behold the lilies in the field…
Charity colored a guilty scarlet, realizing where her eyes were drifting. Wicked creature! Using the Bible to clothe her own wanton imagination! Her gaze shifted to the felon’s face.
The man’s unshaven, weather-beaten visage had an untamed, primitive look about it, as of one born to the wilderness. He was looking straight at her, his expression cold, composed, a study of hatred and defiance. His scowling focus was unnerving.
Through a tangle of hair, dark brows lifted arrogantly as he faced her. Tawny eyes met hers, bored into her with a concentration that seemed to pierce straight through her.
Intensely alive, they were not the eyes of civilization, but glowed with some deep, primitive emotion. Charity felt as if they saw too much. They made her vividly conscious of her flushed face and the indelicate familiarity of her scrutiny.
Still she did not move. She was not sure she could have if she’d tried. Her spine was poker stiff, and her legs refused to obey her commands.
Sheer fascination immobilized her as she regarded the disheveled creature before her with shameless curiosity. She felt paralyzed—a rabbit confronted by a mountain lion.
He was magnificent even as he stood there before the block in provocative disrepute, wrists locked in iron fetters, legs braced for balance, an insolent Lucifer brushed by dark, invisible wings.
