The Six-Month Marriage

A Regency romance


The Six-Month Marriage Cover      The Six-Month Marriage


Synopsis

Madeline Delaware needs to escape from her dissolute uncle, and Philip, Lord Pemberton's offer of a temporary marriage, which he needs in order to claim his inheritance, is her only hope. But the six-month marriage turns out to be far from the peaceful interlude she envisages. Who is the beautiful Miss Letitia Bligh, and is she really as well disposed towards Madeline as she seems? What lies behind the mysterious break-in at Philip's London home? Why is his coach attacked as he and Madeline travel to his Yorkshire estate? And why, when the marriage is simply a convenient arrangement, does Madeline find it so difficult to think of its end?


REVIEWS

"The added dimension of Philip's involvement with espionage gives a frisson of adventure to this most engaging Regency." -Rachel A Hyde, MyShelf.com

"I won't repeat the very able plot summaries that other reviews contain. Here are my impressions of the book: It is very well-written, and I enjoyed reading it. I could empathize with the heroine and understand her behavior and decisions. I thought the hero was fantastic. It was easy to see how she fell in love with him. And that love developed so organically on both sides. I felt like I could just see the love quietly making its way across their hearts. *sigh* That was so satisfying to me. There were some interesting subplots and twists that kept things moving along as well. I just might re-read this book!" - Amazon review


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Extract

'So, Miss Delaware,' he said at last. 'Why don't you tell me what you are doing on the streets without a chaperon, alone and unprotected?'

Hearing him utter her name for a second time, Madeline felt her heart begin to beat more rapidly. She looked about her, feeling her fear beginning to rise again, but there was no way out of the carriage.

Giving herself a mental shake, she forced herself to calm down. When she felt in control of herself again she said coolly, 'You are mistaken, sir. I am not Miss Delaware, nor do I know anyone of that name.' If he knew who she was he would undoubtedly return her to her uncle, but if she could just convince him that he was mistaken, that she was what she appeared to be, a woman of dubious morals who happened to bear a passing resemblance to Madeline Delaware, then she may yet be safe. 'I am Miss . . . ' She had been going to say Smith, but it was too obviously contrived. The carriage was at that moment passing a row of shops, and the name of one of them caught her eye. 'Miller.'

He looked at her steadily for a minute. 'Is that so?' he asked with a lift of his eyebrows.

She swallowed, but met his gaze. 'Yes.'

For a moment their eyes locked, and she had the unnerving feeling that he was recalling the rumours that were circulating about Gareth Delaware and his treatment of his niece.

'If you can bring yourself to trust me, Miss Delaware, I may be able to help you,' he said.

Madeline pressed herself back against the squabs. Trust him? A man? Never.

'It was at Lady Appleton's ball that we were introduced, was it not?' he asked softly.

Her heart jumped. 'You are mistake- ' But suddenly there seemed no use denying it. He had not only remembered who she was, he had even remembered where they had met. Her voice fell. 'I . . . yes, I believe it was.'