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Harlequin Historical Undone
eISBN: 978-1426831942 |
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NA Harlequin Anthology
ISBN 10: 0373295901
ISBN
13: 978-0373295906 |
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The Unlacing of Miss Leigh
Diane's Historical Undone eStory (April 2009)
Undone Anthology (April 2010)
Disfigured in battle against Napoleon's forces, Captain Graham Veall has become a recluse, spending months alone on his estate and appearing masked in public. Yet Graham is determined not to forgo life's pleasures forever... especially the delight of a woman's touch.
He hardly expects virginal Miss Margaret Leigh to respond to his advertisement for female company, thinking he sought a lady's companion. Still, the impoverished vicar's daughter is a surprising temptation he can't ignore. His proposition? That she live with him for two months as his mistress in exchange for supporting her and her brother for the rest of their lives.
But Margaret has a secret. Graham once saved her life as a child and she has dreamed about him ever since. As he awakens her desire, she longs to soothe his inner wounds—though only two months with her damaged hero may not be enough....
Graham caught his image in the mirror as he untied the lacings of his mask and pulled it off so he could splash cool water on his face.
He’d just put the towel down when the door opened. Clapping his hand over his scars, he spun around.
Margaret stood in the doorway that connected their two rooms looking like an angel come to earth in her white muslin night dress and her hair loose about her shoulders.
He turned away from her and grabbed his mask. As he fumbled for the laces, he heard the swish of her skirts and felt her fingers take the laces and tie them.
“Have I positioned it correctly?” she asked.
He adjusted it. “Yes.” He turned to her more slowly. “You did not have to come. I will require nothing of you, Margaret.”
She looked up at him. “I had to apologize once more.” She lifted her fingers to his mask, but lowered them again. “It is your right to hide beneath your mask if you wish.”
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Diane's excerpt
He checked the laces to make certain they were tight enough.
She licked her lips and he felt desire pulse through him once more. It must have taken a great deal of boldness for a virginal vicar’s daughter to agree to bed a disfigured stranger.
“I came here to make you happy,” she said. “Not to cause you distress.” The rapid rise and fall of her chest, distracting in itself, suggested she was not as calm as she sounded. She touched the cloth of his shirtsleeve, and he felt it as if she’d caressed his skin. “May we not simply...proceed?”
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:: 5 Stars! “What a fabulous Undone!! I loved it! Knowing this short story is a delicious appetizer for The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor by Diane Gaston, Amanda McCabe, and Deb Marlowe made it even better. There's more! From the moment I met Margaret Lewis I was cheering for her, and I fell in love with Captain Graham Veall before he walked onto the page. My heart broke for Graham, and yet Margaret was simply perfect for him. And I just about burst into tears at the end. This is why I love romance stories. *wild applause*” — Judy T from Arizona, Amazon.com (read the whole review)
:: 5 Stars! “I really enjoyed this story. It was surprisingly sizzling for a historical romance. Loved the brooding and insecure hero and the loving woman who helps heal his heart. It was a short story but, as a previous review stated, a very nice introduction to more related stories to come.” — Liz from Oregon, Amazon.com (read the whole review)
:: Rating: 5 “I loved, loved, loved this story! It is my first Diane Gaston, and I intend to find more books by her. The entire storyline is close to my heart.” — Tammys, eHarlequin
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