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Secret Lessons With The Rake
Julia Justiss
The courtesan’s courtshipPursuing a role in Parliament, Christopher Lattimar needs a virtuous marriage to make society overlook his roguish past. When beautiful and disarming Ellie Parmenter offers to reform and refine him, he’s too tempted to say no.Once a courtesan, Ellie knows a thing or two about polishing a diamond in the rough. She has no designs on Christopher—or any man in search of a wife—but their best-laid plans begin to tumble once lessons in respectability turn to seduction…Hadley’s HellionsFour friends united by power, privilege and the daring pursuit of passion!
The courtesan’s courtship
Pursuing a role in Parliament, Christopher Lattimar needs a virtuous marriage to make society overlook his roguish past. When beautiful and disarming Ellie Parmenter offers to reform and refine him, he’s too tempted to say no.
Once a courtesan, Ellie knows a thing or two about polishing a diamond in the rough. She has no designs on Christopher—or any man in search of a wife—but their best-laid plans begin to tumble once lessons in respectability turn to seduction...
Hadley’s Hellions (#u4a19c7cd-4fd3-580a-bc5c-d33766a55449)
Four friends united by power, privilege and the daring pursuit of passion!
From being disreputable rogues at Oxford to becoming masters of the political game, Giles Hadley, David Tanner Smith, Christopher Lattimar and Benedict Tawny live by their own set of unconventional rules.
But as the struggle for power heats up so too do the lives of these daring friends. They face unexpected challenges to their long-held beliefs and rigid self-control when they meet four gorgeous independent women with defiant streaks of their own…
Read Giles Hadley’s story in
Forbidden Nights with the Viscount
Read David Tanner Smith’s story in
Stolen Encounters with the Duchess
Read Benedict Tawny’s story in
Convenient Proposal to the Lady
Available now!
This is the final book in Hadley’s Hellions, Christopher Lattimar’s story: Secret Lessons with the Rake
Author Note (#u4a19c7cd-4fd3-580a-bc5c-d33766a55449)
It’s difficult for the modern reader to understand how limited the world was for a ‘gently born’ nineteenthcentury girl. Her sole occupational choice was marriage, her behaviour was held to an exacting standard, and any serious lapse of conduct meant permanent exile from her class and her family.
Cast into the demi-monde, my heroine must survive in a world for which she’s had no preparation. Ellie Parmenter is particularly grateful for the friendship of a scandalous matron of her own class—and for her son, who treats Ellie like the lady she was when she was born. When the opportunity arises to repay that kindness by teaching Christopher Lattimer how to court a girl with the wealth and connections to advance his Parliamentary career she welcomes it—even though success will mean terminating her association with the man who’s become so dear to her.
Christopher realises it’s time to end his wandering ways and take a wife, as all his friends have. But after an adulthood spent among the demi-monde he knows nothing about how to behave around a proper young virgin. Though he’d rather woo the lovely and now available Ellie, an affair with a famous courtesan might harm his career—and marrying her is impossible.
But love has a way of breaking all the rules…
I hope you’ll enjoy Christopher and Ellie’s story.
Secret Lessons with the Rake
Julia Justiss
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
JULIA JUSTISS wrote her ideas for Nancy Drew stories in her third-grade notebook, and has been writing ever since. After publishing poetry in college she turned to novels. Her Regency historical romances have won or been placed in contests by the Romance Writers of America, RT Book Reviews, National Readers’ Choice and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives with her husband in Texas. For news and contests visit juliajustiss.com (http://www.juliajustiss.com).
Books by Julia Justiss
Mills & Boon Historical Romance
Hadley’s Hellions
Forbidden Nights with the Viscount
Stolen Encounters with the Duchess
Convenient Proposal to the Lady
Secret Lessons with the Rake
The Wellingfords
The Wedding GambleThe Proper WifeA Most Unconventional MatchRegency Candlelit Christmas‘Christmas Wedding Wish’From Waif to Gentleman’s WifeSociety’s Most Disreputable Gentleman
Ransleigh Rogues
The Rake to Ruin HerThe Rake to Redeem HerThe Rake to Rescue HerThe Rake to Reveal Her
Silk & Scandal
The Smuggler and the Society Bride
Visit the Author Profile page
at millsandboon.co.uk (http://millsandboon.co.uk) for more titles.
Who else could I dedicate my ‘son and dog’ story to but Eve Gaddy? Brainstorming and critique partner, conference travelling buddy and friend who has shared so much of this up-and-down writer’s journey with me. You’re the best.
Contents
Cover (#u0423c1fc-1d36-5c35-9f3e-2a751c220181)
Back Cover Text (#u6b63c353-b4b5-5feb-bd34-d61695d8041e)
Hadley’s Hellions (#u68cab126-8f08-5c60-8445-a5411329955f)
Author Note (#u3f0427dc-130a-5333-9c09-5d41a53ee276)
Title Page (#ua536743b-a8ef-5d6f-8fe6-e88a2080aa53)
About the Author (#ub3a17cb7-8aaa-513a-8ece-3cfa1b41fe4b)
Dedication (#u4ab4218c-6667-57d4-a8c4-af7887be3272)
Prologue (#ub48425ac-8091-5ae3-aab2-2c0106f4f97e)
Chapter One (#u407e942a-f820-5da6-901c-65f2eb45c556)
Chapter Two (#u612bdc9d-c8e7-5c51-8cdf-cb43417d3fe9)
Chapter Three (#ubb58d690-a77d-50b7-8105-4a9fc860dbb7)
Chapter Four (#u506086cd-f093-5230-b8bf-f6563201931e)
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)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#u4a19c7cd-4fd3-580a-bc5c-d33766a55449)
London—March 26th, 1832
Laughing and energised, Christopher Lattimar, Member of Parliament for Wiltshire, led his friends into the small private room at the Quill and Gavel, a tavern on a quiet street near the Houses of Parliament. ‘Time to celebrate our achievement. I’d say it’s a night for wine, women and song!’
‘Or at least wine and women,’ Ben Tawny agreed with a grin.
‘Two of my favourite things,’ Christopher said.
‘As we well know,’ Ben replied.
‘You should,’ Christopher tossed back. ‘Since until recently, you outdid me in enjoying both.’
‘Enough, you two,’ Giles Hadley, Viscount Lyndlington, said with a mock frown. ‘Ah, here’s Ransen with some ale. Though, given the momentousness of the achievement, Ben, you might have ordered champagne.’
‘Too French!’ Ben replied. ‘To celebrate the first change in four hundred years in the way Parliamentary representatives are chosen, we needed good English ale.’
‘We’re not there yet,’ David Tanner Smith cautioned as he deposited his tall frame into a chair. ‘The Third Reform Bill only passed the House today. We’ve still got to get it through the Lords.’
‘After all the riots and dissention when the Second Bill failed last autumn, the Lords wouldn’t dare oppose it now,’ Giles said. ‘The country won’t stand for any further delay!’
‘We’ll see,’ Davie replied. ‘Still, getting it passed in the House was a momentous achievement.’ Grabbing a mug from the tray the innkeeper left for them, he lifted it high. ‘To Lord Grey’s leadership!’
‘And to yours,’ Ben said, raising his mug to Davie. ‘We provided the agitation, but you honed the bill’s provisions.’
‘I think we should drink to us all,’ Christopher said. ‘Who would have imagined ten years ago that four Oxford misfits would band together, win seats in Parliament, and help bring about the biggest change in British government since the Middle Ages?’ He raised his mug. ‘To my dear colleagues and best friends. To the Hellions!’
‘To the Hellions,’ the others echoed, and downed a long draught.
‘Shall we talk strategy?’ Davie proposed. ‘Draw up a list of which peers are most likely to be persuaded, and decide the best arguments to sway them?’
‘We shall—but not tonight,’ Giles said. ‘Let’s just enjoy this first victory. Speaking of which...’ he paused to drain his mug and set it on the table ‘...I’m afraid I must abandon the celebration. Maggie’s increasing, as you know, and hasn’t been feeling well. I should get back to her. Don’t let me break up the party, though! Have several more rounds, and tell Ransen to put it on my tab.’
‘Thanks for the offer, but I should go, too,’ David said. ‘I can’t wait to share the news with Faith.’
‘She’ll be so proud of you,’ Christopher said, admiration for his quiet, determined, brilliant friend filling him. ‘Through skill and planning, the Dowager Duchess’s commoner husband has brought a recalcitrant aristocracy to heel.’
Davie waved a deprecating hand. ‘A joint achievement—for all of us.’ Setting down his own mug, he said, ‘Goodnight, gentlemen! And thank you—for your hard work, and most especially, for your friendship all these years.’
‘That goes for all of us,’ Ben said. Raising his mug to the company, he said, ‘To the Hellions.’
Giles and Davie clapped Ben on the shoulder as they walked out. After finishing his own mug, Ben added it to the tray. ‘I’m off as well.’
‘Isn’t Alyssa away on one of her sketching expeditions?’ Christopher asked. ‘You could come out with me. Just a few rounds of ale, for old time’s sake.’
Ben raised his eyebrows. ‘A few rounds of ale? What about the “woman” part of the celebration? I understand you recently parted company with the Divine Clarissa. Have you replaced her yet?’
