Courted by the Earl

by Alina K. Field

Synopsis

Chasing a rumor of a clandestine marriage, the reluctant new Earl of Hackwell combs London for his late brother's secret wife and son, anxious to return the title, find the murderous woman, and head back to his regiment.

Annabelle Harris came to London to find her disgraced sister, the mistress to the Earl of Hackwell. But the Earl has been murdered, Annabelle has his son, and the boy's mother, her sister has disappeared again.

Now she must clear her sister's name, dodge the handsome new Earl's investigating, and keep him from taking the boy away. When their paths converge, the reluctant Earl and the independent lady find themselves rethinking their goals, and battling the real murderer together.

Previously titled BELLA'S BAND

Release date: October 31, 2020

Publisher: Havenlock Press

Print pages: 188

Sample

He rose suddenly and took her hands, too close, he knew, for her comfort. The fragrance of sugar lingered on her breath, and he longed to taste her. She tried to step back, but he moved his hands to her shoulders and edged closer. “You were spying on me, Miss Harris? I might ask why you were there.”

“Why I was there? Miss Townsend and I are acquainted. She has on occasion sent me a child in need.”

Her breath came in great gulps, and his own heart was racing with a mad desire he hadn’t felt in some time. Yes, yes, they could dispense with the other dance and try something completely different.

“And she has taken in a poor woman like Trish for you?”

Her lips formed a prim line he longed to dislodge with a proper kiss.

“Yes. Why were you there?” There was a challenge in her gaze, meant to provoke him. And it did.

He slid his hands to her back. “I went to that house for information, not for the company. What a happy surprise that I met an interesting woman.”

Her chin lifted. Her gaze pinned him. Her lips parted. “You—” He stopped the words with a press of his lips to hers, gentling the kiss at the sound of the soft sigh that formed from what undoubtedly had started as a scold.