Англия, 1922 год. Дэвид Карлайл считает, что ни одна женщина не захочет выйти замуж за сломленного и замкнутого человека, вернувшегося с фронтов Франции. Особенно за очаровательную леди Луизу Хэттон, более известную как Лулу, единственную женщину, чья яркая улыбка заставляет его сердце начать оттаивать. Но Дэвид не подозревает, что Лулу всю жизнь мечтает о нем. И на скандальном маскарадном балу она полна решимости показать Дэвиду, как сильно хочет его...
England, 1805 Lady Adelaide Ashton thinks no man would marry a woman who has spent years confined to an insane asylum. Especially the wealthy young widow Anne Swift, who was once her friend and fellow train set collector, but has withdrawn to care for her invalid mother. So why, then, is admiring the young woman on her daily walks beside the River Thames making Admiral Lord Langley jumpy and profoundly uncomfortable?But Anne doesn't love him. She loves the handsome Captain Ramsey, now in Australia. And while she was friendly with him during her brief stay at Ashton's estate after her Uncle Rodney lost his latest fortune, she sees a long-term relationship with Ramsey as a complete impossibility.She only agreed to attend the Ashtons for a few days because her aunt Lois expected her to keep an eye on Lady Adelaide, a friendship she enjoyed greatly until recently. Practically the moment she walked through the front door, Anne was startled and overwhelmed by expletives and stormy weather hair as Lady Adelaide swung around the corner, apparently in shock that the Great Terror (fear about British involvement in Napoleon's reelection) had held off Lady Chester before it reached her estrange sister-in-law Anne. When it became quickly clear that Adelaide seemed to be more interested detesting Anne than being thrilled about Anne's reappearance, Anne determined she would go for a stroll around the estate, rather than endure a certain visit regarding something called "the Athenian snare".Only it didn't take long before Anne found herself heading out of town and on a train, meeting the rakish Captain Ramsey when he arrived from Hawkesbury in search of leave after hearing of the death of his father and dreams of engineering Sir William's inheritance away from Anne.\nAnd now Lady Adelaide has her sights set on Anne's manservant, Henry, a desire which is not lost upon Anne, especially after Helen, Lady Havering ton, confides the reason for Adelaide's three previous engagements: young men whom Lady Adelaide had deeply resented upon their failure to make her feel beloved the effort was short-lived, however, as Adelaide wound up dumping them and seeking either reassurance at the countess' heel, or a younger plus wealthier person whom she could condescend as "not quite the things". Anne is keen to know where this leads but Adelaide is distracted when her attraction to Anne expendable manservant goes so far as to require meeting with him alone.Ramsey returns to the house nearing sundown, and Adelaide strides into Anne's empty room with an appreciative grin telling Anne's new maid, Winnie, "to get some shut-eye". Ramsey mentions that Adelaide was anxious to chat but Winnie is unexpectedly helpful, sharing that Sue, the packing lady, promised to undo Lady Adelaide's securing robe — not that anyone should really take anything Adelaide said too seriously.\nWith time running out, Anne follows Winnie out the back gate hoping to catch Admiral Langley before the package leaves.\nBut she catches only a look as he steers his gig along the dewy road.\nAnne begins to head for the stable but is interrupted by a man approaching her on a horse wearing a jib-like mask made of pearls.
Электронная Книга «Girl in the Beaded Mask» написана автором Amanda McCabe в году.
Минимальный возраст читателя: 0
Язык: Английский
ISBN: 9781408936405
Описание книги от Amanda McCabe
England, 1922 David Carlisle believes no woman would want to marry the broken and isolated man who has returned from the trenches of France. Especially vivacious Lady Louise Hatton, better known as Lulu—the one woman who makes his heart begin to thaw with her bright smile.What David doesn't realize is that Lulu has been fantasizing about him her whole life.And at a scandalous masked ball, she's determined to show David just how badly she wants him….
