ABOUT THE EARL NEXT DOOR
What does a fiercely independent young widow
really want? One determined suitor is about to find out…
When Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, learns of her husband’s sudden death, she realizes she’s free. At last, she can do, go, and be as she pleases. Finally, she can have the life she has always dreamed of. She doesn’t need, or want, to remarry. Especially not the supremely dashing future Marquis of Marksworth, who makes Adeline yearn for his desire…
Lord Lyonwood, son of a philandering marquis, will not be like his father. He wants to run his estates and watch them flourish—and find a wife who brings love to his life. When he meets spirited and self-reliant Adeline in a case of near-scandalous mistaken identity, Lyon feels he’s met his match. But Adeline isn’t interested in a marriage proposal. She will only accept becoming his lover—and Lyon finds it hard to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve…
When Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, learns of her husband’s sudden death, she realizes she’s free. At last, she can do, go, and be as she pleases. Finally, she can have the life she has always dreamed of. She doesn’t need, or want, to remarry. Especially not the supremely dashing future Marquis of Marksworth, who makes Adeline yearn for his desire…
Lord Lyonwood, son of a philandering marquis, will not be like his father. He wants to run his estates and watch them flourish—and find a wife who brings love to his life. When he meets spirited and self-reliant Adeline in a case of near-scandalous mistaken identity, Lyon feels he’s met his match. But Adeline isn’t interested in a marriage proposal. She will only accept becoming his lover—and Lyon finds it hard to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve…
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Excerpt from The Earl Next Door by Amelia Grey
Perhaps he should have stated who he was when he first
entered the drawing room, but he’d thought it wasn’t necessary. He was only too
well aware of how many private pleasure houses were hidden among the cozy
streets of respectable London and how easily and quietly they were established.
He’d certainly availed himself of more than a few over the years, which was why
he’d promised his aunt he’d deal with the one she believed was moving in next
door to him and down the street from her.
Lyon could now see that Lady Wake’s earlier perplexed
expressions and her sense of outrage had flashed warning after warning, which
he’d ignored. That the countess didn’t immediately engage him with welcoming
smiles should have been a swift indication all wasn’t as it seemed, but he was
already in an irritable state of mind when he arrived at her house and
unwavering in his thoughts not to be persuaded from his mission by a tempting
woman.
He’d returned home from a laborious meeting with his
unprepared solicitor, wanting only to get ready for an evening at White’s so he
could get caught up on the latest news and indulge in a game or two of
billiards, a few hands of cards, and an expensive bottle of brandy. Instead,
he’d come home to find his aunt in his drawing room wringing her hands in
misery over the possibility of unmentionable women setting up a forbidden
business in their quiet neighborhood. And insisting he must do something about
it at once.
Given all that was put before him, including the countess’s
attire, what else could he have possibly done other than assume she was a paid
woman preparing to fulfill some lucky man’s fantasy for the evening?
“The mistake was mine. I thought this was the kind of house
where a man is always free and welcome to come and go as he pleases without
hindrance, and not have to reveal his name or wait around to be announced. If I
had known you were a lady and not an angel of the evening, I wouldn’t have
acted so freely.”
“An angel of the evening?” She puffed out a breath of
exasperation. “What rubbish. Clever words or phrases won’t hide what you
thought when you entered or how you spoke to me. Now that you know who I am,
you are still free to speak to me as before.”
That she would suggest he continue to speak so openly with
her surprised him and was downright refreshing. Most of the ladies he knew
would have fainted when he made the remark about paying her fee for the evening
and pray to never hear such a vile comment again.
“Nevertheless, I will give you the respect you deserve and
watch my language now that I do know, my lady.”
He watched her breathing ease and calmness settle over her
as they each assessed the situation. That her recovery was quick and solid was
a testament to her strength.
“I heard you were out of Town when I moved into the
neighborhood a few days ago,” she continued in a calm and confident voice.
“I returned last evening.”
“That doesn’t absolve your actions tonight. You should have
checked with someone before you came charging over with uncivil actions,
assumptions and untrue allegations.”
Lyon’s jaw clenched tighter. No doubt about that. He should
have questioned his aunt more about her suspicions, but he wasn’t about to
explain that to the countess and implicate his aunt and her friend. “I was
reasonably certain I had good cause to act as I did.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.” What else could he say?
“And earl or not, sir,” she added valiantly, “you are an
ogre as I’ve found most of your ilk are.”
He couldn’t argue with that either.
“Before you go, I’d like to know what made you think this
was a house of pleasure for men.”
Lyon shook his head slowly. She was unbelievable. Asking him
to explain what she’d just slapped him for. He wasn’t going to get caught in
that snare again. “I’d rather not say, my lady.”
“Of course you don’t want to, but you must. I need to know
what caused you to act as you did. Others could make the same mistake.”
Something settled in Lyon’s chest. A feeling that he’d never
had before. Lady Wake was no shy or simpering female. She was courageous,
impassioned beyond belief, and probably too strong-willed for her own good.
That intrigued him. It made him want to answer her with
candid freedom, but every fiber of his being as a gentleman warned against such
talk with a proper lady.
Yet, after only a brief hesitation, he responded, “If you
insist.”
“I do.”
“It was brought to my attention that there have been some
peculiar things going on over here while I’ve been out of Town.”
“Peculiar?” Concern resurfaced in her expression. “What do
you mean? There is no reason for us to stand on ceremony, my lord. We are quite
familiar with each other now. Speak to me as you would a madam and tell me what
made you think my home was a house of ill repute.”
“Very well. An abundance of deliveries of bed-chamber
furniture going into the building behind this house.”
“Why would that be strange, sir?” she asked him crisply.
“Beds are necessary for everyone.”
“And women coming and going at all hours of the day and
night.”
“Ah, yes,” she said on a breathy sigh as the meaning of his
words became clear to her and she relaxed once again. “Now I understand. Beds
and women. What else is a man to think of other than pleasure?”
Lyon felt the only thing he could reasonably do at this
point was lift his brows, and say, “For that I can offer no apology.”
“It’s true, there have been many beds delivered. The
building behind this house is being furnished as a boarding school for girls,
my lord. The women who have been seen coming and going will be their tutors.
Currently, some of the women have different jobs they must return to each day.
They are free to leave at whatever time they deem necessary to make their other
duties and commitments.”
“A boarding school?” he repeated, wondering why the hell his
aunt didn’t know that. She was usually one of the first to hear the latest
gossip.
“Yes. So whatever tawdry vision you’d imagined would be
taking place between these walls tonight or any other won’t be happening. My
home is not what you thought it was, and anyone else who assumed the same will
have to look elsewhere for his decadences.”
The countess opened the door for him.
Lyon felt his expression softening, his admiration growing.
For a number of reasons, including the truth of her words, there was no
repairing their inauspicious meeting.
He nodded without further words, turned, and walked out of
her house.
This is the beginning of a new series by Amelia. This is
only the second book I have read by her. Adeline Wake is a widow. She is enjoying
her freedom now. She has no desire to marry again. She is finally free to be
who she is and do as she please. Lord Lyon is her next-door neighbor. Their first
meeting is not the best of first impression. It is a bit of mistaken identity. He
is taken with Adeline. He has always wanted to marry for love. But, when
Adeline would rather have him as a lover and not a husband he is confused as
what to do next. Can he find a way to get her to change her mind? Adeline
worries that marring again and losing her freedom once more. Plus, her first
marriage didn’t go as she expected. She has baggage from that marriage. Lyon
has no need for a lover when he would rather marry her. He must find a way to
show Adeline that he is different. That he doesn’t want to change her. I loved
this book. It was different for sure. Adeline is fantastic. She is happy with
the way she is and doesn’t want to change. Lord Lyon doesn’t want to be like
his father and have mistress all over the place. He wants one woman he loves
and that is all. He doesn’t care if he has an heir nor not. Doesn’t really care
if she fits in in society either. I look forward to reading the next book in this
series. I hope to read more of Amelia’s other books as well.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author AMELIA GREY read
her first romance book when she was thirteen and she’s been a devoted reader of
love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold,
and the Golden Quill. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted
Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award.
Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and
most recently to Japan. Several of her books have also been featured in
Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of over twenty-five
books. She’s been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over
thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest
Florida.
SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance
or @heroesnhearts
