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LETTERS TAKE THE LADY
Antigone Sprague, the
spirited daughter of a gentleman scholar, has no patience for arrogant lords.
So when she meets the reserved and bitingly clever Lord Michael Northram, she’s
immediately put off by his condescending manner. She has no idea that he is
utterly captivated.
Tongue-tied and
overwhelmed by a passion he doesn’t understand, Michael can only confess his
feelings in secret poems never meant to see the light of day. But when Antigone
begins receiving those very poems from a charming and ambitious suitor, she
believes she’s found the man who understands her soul. Believing he has lost
her forever, a heartbroken Michael accepts a diplomatic mission to America,
unaware that the woman he loves has actually fallen for his words.
Years later, his return
to England ignites a shocking reunion and an undeniable spark. But their second
chance is built on a foundation of lies. When the truth of the letters emerges,
it exposes a scheme of shocking deception, and her spurned suitor reveals a
desperate and dangerous side, threatening her very freedom. To win her trust,
Michael must finally bridge the gap between the poet on the page and the man by
her side, proving he is the hero she’s always deserved.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
“Of course that is what you would say, that they would be friends. Since friendship and love will solve everything.” He added the last part mockingly, trying to draw her out.
“No.” Her attention drew away from the ballroom again as she furrowed her brow.
No? He hadn’t expected that.
“No, I do not believe love will solve everything—that is incredibly naïve. Love won’t feed the hungry or bring people justice. But—”
“I knew there was a but.” He felt the corner of his lips turn up.
“But,” she went on, “I think friendships can be based in love. I think work can be done with love. Would you do nothing, if you did not care about the future of the country? The future of other countries? Of people? You could have been an idle gentleman of leisure, but you chose to do something with yourself, with your life. Is that not some form of love?”
He had never thought of his work that way, but it was difficult to deny the truth of what she said. He was touched that was how she saw it, when he had only ever shown her condescension, but he had no idea how to express this thought and began to form the insult that always came so easily to him when he felt off balance. But then he caught himself. It would be churlish to scoff at her, as it was one of the few times she had ever praised him, however indirectly. “Be careful, Miss Sprague, you came perilously close to a compliment there.” His heartbeat sped up as her mask slipped and he saw that warmth again her eyes. But then it left as quickly as it came.
“Even though we may disagree over the future, Lord Michael, I can give credit to the work you do. I am not so shortsighted as all that. Nor am I so stuck in my own opinion.”
He gave a brief nod and his lip
twitched again at the corner. She really was something to behold. Even as the
object of gossip, she had the dignity and decorum to rebuke him while also
complimenting him. Women were maddening creatures.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A lifelong lover of coffee and writing in cafes, she finds inspiration in the historic city that she lives in.
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2 comments:
Thank you so much for featuring LETTERS TAKE THE LADY today.
I’m Anna Valleria, excited to be visiting Dawn’s Reading Nook! Thank you to the host and Goddess Fish Promotions.
My historical romance, Letters Take the Lady, is an enemies-to-lovers story where the hero is secretly consumed by obsession, and the heroine has already fallen for his words but thinks they came from the wrong man! It's an intense, (sort of) second-chance romance.
What trope has you immediately picking up a book? And on the flip side, are there any tropes you stay clear of?
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