Dawn's Reading Nook: Welcome Raven McAllan today

One of my earliest books was a Regency story called A Most Unusual Mistress. In it my heroine found her fiance having sex with his mistress. Now before you immediately hate him, or the mistress, remember the book was set in 1817, and having a mistress was expected of a man, married or not. Even women, once they'd produced the heir and the spare, would play away so to speak.

Now in that book we learn that it's the last time for Ash to be with Molly, (because he's getting married, and doesn't prescribe to the ideas of a mistress and a wife). However when Adriana, his wife to be sees just what you can get up to, she decides that's what she wants. Which is nothing really to do with this book, except...it got me thinking. Molly was no longer a mistress, and I wondered what happened to her?

This is what…

Miss Simpkins' School. Where seduction's the game, and success is the aim. Let your classes commence.

Who better than an ex-mistress to an Earl to help you?

I had this idea for a series of books about Molly and her 'student's and chatted to Justyn Perry, the publisher of Breathless Press. Now let me just say, this series is a departure for BP. They are short, snappy and I hope sex, sex, sexy. Shorter than BP usually publish. Designed to fill in the gap between getting home and cooking dinner. Or getting on the tube, and getting off again. Lunch break hotties…in the bath, wine and a good tale steamy stories.

Short but oh so not sweet.

But you know I'm darned lucky, because I was given he go ahead. So, Miss Simpkins' school opened its doors on November 22^nd with its first pupil—Flora.

Have I succeeded in my aim? Only the reader (if there is one) can tell me that…

So meet Molly… and Flora… and Angus…

Ex mistress to an Earl, who better than Molly Simpkins to show Flora how to ensure she gets what she needs from her marriage?

Flora's intended has an idea she doesn't agree with. Angus thinks she should be happy to live at their Scottish estate while he spends his time in London. It may be the way of the ton, but it isn't going to be Flora's way. This is her chance to show Angus what he'd miss if he leaves her alone. There's only one thing—she doesn't know how.

Luckily Miss Simpkins does.

I have a very shall we say vivid imagination, and luckily I love history and research. The Regency period fascinates me. How two faced, one rule for me and another for you, put up and shut up it seemed to be. But…what if? That's where research comes in very handy. It's amazing just what did go on, or so we're led to believe. Of course we don't really know, but have to give it our best shot. I tried to think what it would be like knowing you weren't going to get everything your husband could show you. (If you wanted to.) That's where this series begins.

So how about a wee taste of what Flora gets up to?

"May I say, how," Fraser hesitated and Flora grinned. She hadn't missed the flash of surprise, and the gleam of what she rather thought was sexual awareness in his eyes when he saw the way she was dressed, even though he had masked it. That brief glimpse of what she hoped was interest boded well. Now it was time to put her plan into action. Over by the window, Tilly nodded and fanned herself, a signal the coast was clear.

"How?" she asked. She moved her shoulders slightly, and her dress slid across her breasts, drawing his glance there. Flora took a deep breath so they swelled above the low neckline.

"Pardon?" He sounded distracted.

Good, now to move. "You said 'how', and stopped," Flora replied in what she hoped was a playful voice. "How many eggs in the basket? How am I? How long have I been waiting?" She leaned toward him, and made sure her neckline gaped just enough to hint at the rest of her creamy skinned breasts, and showed the barest hint of a dusky nipple. "Or, how does this dress stay across my bosom and not reveal more?"

"All of those," Fraser said, and took her arm. "What are you playing at, Flora? That dress is almost indecent."

She laughed and began to walk across the room toward a door on the far side. He caught up to walk by her side, and tucked her arm firmly into his. Most people were in the main ballroom, and they were able to make good progress. The predatory look she'd spied in his eyes on more than one occasion directed at someone else was focused on her. It sent the most delicious shivers along her spine. At least she'd engaged his interest. Now all she had to do was keep it.

"Only almost, my lord? How sad, I was aiming for totally." She kept her voice light. "Next time perhaps." She held her breath. Pfft, I seem to be doing a lot of this silly, second-guessing, waiting and scarcely breathing rubbish. I hope it isn't needed for long. Trying to be a femme fatale was wearying. Would he continue with what Molly had described as sex-banter? Flora had never been so bold before, and had no idea how Fraser would respond.

"What game are you playing?" Fraser stopped next to the door Flora had aimed for.

"Game?" She did her best to look innocent. By the way his eyes narrowed and gleamed, Flora wasn't sure she'd succeeded. "No game, my lord, I assure you." She moved her legs to make the gown fall in the way Molly had described. It showed a flash of leg and garter through one very fine layer of cloth.

Fraser's grip on her arm tightened and he laughed softly. "Playing with fire, Flora. Are you sure you want to carry on? I don't know why you're doing this or what your aim is, but for now, let's see? Perhaps we should adjourn elsewhere for a while?" He opened the door next to them, and propelled her forward along a short corridor toward an exit at the far end. "Through here."

Once more Flora found her arm held in an iron grip as he opened this door, walked them into a small and comfortably furnished parlor, and turned the key in the lock. "It's to be hoped no one else has the same ideas, but at least they won't come in and surprise us." He walked to the windows, checked the bolts, and drew the curtains. The room was in shadow, but Flora could see enough to watch him light the lamp and adjust the wick so a soft glow bathed the area.

Even though it had been her intention to end up in the spot they occupied, Flora's hands were clammy. What on earth made her think she could seduce a man of such experience?