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       Praise for Lucy Ashford writing as Elizabeth Redfern:

       AURIEL RISING

      ‘Intelligent.’

      —New York Times

      ‘Richly atmospheric … Redfern’s strength is in recreating a morally corrupt world.’

      —Publishers Weekly

       THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES

      ‘Quite wonderful … It is Redfern’s ability to bring each scene, each character alive that makes this such toothsome reading.’

      —USA TODAY

      ‘Unputdownable … [a] remarkable debut … a glittering tale of London in 1795, full of science, intrigue, war, revolution and obsessive passion.’

      —Guardian

       He knew he ought to take his hands off her—now. But he wanted her. He wanted her with an urgency he couldn’t ever remember feeling in his entire life, and that big bed was too damned close …

      He forced himself away. ‘Damn it, Belle, tell me to stop now. For I swear if we carry on much longer I will not be able to do so.’

      ‘You mean—this is real?’ she breathed. ‘You actually find me desirable?’

      What was she talking about? He gave a harsh, incredulous laugh.

      ‘Adam—we agreed there would be no intimacy!’

      There was an edge of panic to her voice that made him freeze. Cupping her face with his hands, he gazed down at her. His blood was pounding, his loins thudding just from her being near, this beautiful woman whose full, tremulous lips he longed to kiss again.

      ‘Belle,’ he said quietly. ‘You loved your husband very much. I realise that—’

      He broke off, feeling her tremble in his arms.

      ‘But it’s five years since he died,’ he went on, ‘and I want to kiss you, Belle. I want to do more than kiss you—I think you want it, too. And if you don’t want me to take this further, then say so now. Say, Adam, I want you to leave.’

      About the Author

      LUCY ASHFORD, an English Studies lecturer, has always loved literature and history, and from childhood one of her favourite occupations has been to immerse herself in historical romances. She studied English with history at Nottingham University, and the Regency is her favourite period.

      Lucy has written several historical novels, and this is her third for Mills & Boon. She lives with her husband in an old stone cottage in the Peak District, near to beautiful Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall, all of which give her a taste of the magic of life in a bygone age. Her garden enjoys spectacular views over the Derbyshire hills, where she loves to roam and let her imagination go to work on her latest story.

      You can contact Lucy via her website—www.lucyashford.com

       Previous novels from Lucy Ashford:

      THE MAJOR AND THE PICKPOCKET

      THE RETURN OF LORD CONISTONE

      THE CAPTAIN’S COURTESAN

       And in M&B:

      THE PROBLEM WITH JOSEPHINE

       (part of Royal Weddings Through the Ages)

       Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

       AUTHOR NOTE

      For this story I’ve moved a little later into the Regency period—1819, when the long Napoleonic wars were fading from most people’s memories and a new world dominated by invention and industry was bringing changes aplenty to Society’s elite.

      I wanted to explore how a man of wealth and willpower—Adam Davenant—would cope with the barriers still put up by England’s aristocracy against someone like him. The ton likes to mutter that he’s a jumped-up quarry-owner; it’s just Adam’s luck that he collides with lovely Belle Marchmain, who’s well-born, a widow, and absolutely penniless. Adam offers her an answer to her temporary problems, but soon, thanks to her growing feelings for the ruthless Mr Davenant, she’s faced with more dilemmas than ever!

      I really enjoyed exploring the clashes between old money and new, and how the rigid rules of class were having to be broken down rather swiftly in the closing years of this decade. I love the way Adam is prepared to knuckle down and help his quarry workers when needs must, and I love the way the defiant, often outrageous Belle gradually has to admit that she’s actually found the man of her dreams.

      Here is their story.

      The Outrageous Belle Marchmain

      Lucy Ashford