Helen Dickson - The Defiant Debutante

Angelina possessed the grace and beauty of a Grecian goddess and the regal bearing of a queen.

When she reached the bottom step, Alex took her hand. A slow, appreciative smile worked its way across his face as his eyes leisurely roamed over her body. The unspoken compliment made her blood run warm.

“You look entrancing,” he said in a quiet voice. “I’m delighted you were able to join us—if tardily.”

“I’m sorry. Am I late?” The look she gave him was one of unadulterated innocence.

“You know you are. What were you trying to do? Hold out to make a grand entrance?”

“What? Me? Really, Alex—you know me better than that,” she murmured meaningfully.

He glanced down at her with a hooded gaze. “Do I?”

She smiled impishly. “No one knows me better,” she breathed.

The Defiant Debutante

Harlequin ®Historical

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was born and still lives in south Yorkshire, with her husband, on a busy arable farm where she combines writing with keeping a chaotic farmhouse. An incurable romantic, she writes for pleasure, owing much of her inspiration to the beauty of the surrounding countryside. She enjoys reading and music. History has always captivated her, and she likes to travel and visit ancient buildings.

TORONTO • NEW YORK • LONDON

AMSTERDAM • PARIS • SYDNEY • HAMBURG

STOCKHOLM • ATHENS • TOKYO • MILAN • MADRID

PRAGUE • WARSAW • BUDAPEST • AUCKLAND

The Rainborough Inheritance #24

Honour Bound #38

Katherine #56

An Illustrious Lord #80

An Innocent Proposal #104

Conspiracy of Hearts #114

Lord Fox’s Pleasure #130

Carnival of Love #137

The Pirate’s Daughter #143

Highwayman Husband #154

The Property of a Gentleman #160

Belhaven Bride #190

The Earl and the Pickpocket #201

Rogue’s Widow, Gentleman’s Wife #853

His Rebel Bride #222

Wicked Pleasures #873

A Scoundrel of Consequence #248

The Defiant Debutante #256

#935 KIDNAPPED: HIS INNOCENT MISTRESS—Nicola Cornick

Plain-Jane orphan Catriona Balfour has never met anyone as infuriating—or as handsome—as devilish rake Neil Sinclair.

Soon her resistance crumbles and, stranded together, the inevitable happens….

#936 HIS CAVALRY LADY—Joanna Maitland

Alex instantly fell for Dominic Aikenhead, Duke of Calder, certain he would never notice her. To him, she was brave hussar Captain Alexei Alexandrov! Alex longed to be with her English duke as the passionate woman she truly was. But what if Dominic ever found out the truth…?

First in The Aikenhead Honors trilogy. Three gentlemen spies; bound by duty, undone by women!

#937 QUESTIONS OF HONOR—Kate Welsh

When Abby Sullivan became pregnant with Josh Wheaton’s son, circumstances intervened, tearing apart her dreams for their blissful future together…. But years later, though Abby and Josh have now changed, the spark of attraction between them still burns—and there is nobody in town who can stop Josh claiming his woman….

#938 CONQUERING KNIGHT, CAPTIVE LADY—Anne O’Brien

Lady Rosamund de Longspey has not escaped an arranged marriage only to be conquered by a rogue. But Lord Gervase Fitz Osbern will fight for what rightfully belongs to him. A warrior to his fingertips, he’ll claim his castle—and just maybe a bride!

#255 CAPTAIN LANGTHORNE’S PROPOSAL—Elizabeth Beacon

Putting aside his rakish ways, the dashing Captain Langthorne resolves to tempt, entice or even, if he has to, drag Lady Serena into having a second season. His plan is to sweep her off her feet until she accepts his proposal…of marriage!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

London, May 1812

Birds were stirring in the trees and dew was still on the grass as dawn began to spread its watery grey light over the deserted park. Two men shrouded in long black cloaks rode towards the seclusion of a group of trees and dismounted.

Cursing at his own folly, Alexander Montgomery, the seventh Earl of Arlington and taller of the two, glanced irritably at Sir Nathan Beresford. The two men were as close as friends could be, and as different as night and day. Nathan, with his ash-blond hair and blue eyes, was well liked, good natured and easygoing, and he lacked the aura of authority and power that seemed to surround Alex. Nathan was to act as Alex’s second, when the other party deigned to arrive for the duel.

Three inches over six feet tall, Alex was a man diverse and complex, and could be utterly ruthless when the need arose. There was a hard set to his firm jaw, and his wide, well-shaped mouth was held in a stern line. His face was clean shaven and one of arrogant handsomeness, dark brows slashed his forehead and his hair was thick and ebony black. In the midst of so much darkness his eyes were dove grey, striking and piercing. Hidden deep in them was a cynicism, watchful, mocking, as though he found the world a dubious place to be.

He possessed a haughty reserve that was not inviting and set him apart from others in society. There was an aggressive confidence and strength of purpose in his features, and he had an air of a man who succeeds in all he sets out to achieve. From the arrogant lift of his dark head and casual stance, he was a man with many shades to his nature, a man with a sense of his own infallibility.

‘You’ve tied yourself into some knots in your time, Alex, but this is by far the tightest,’ Nathan remarked, tethering his horse to a branch and scanning the park for the arrival of Alex’s opponent. ‘I only hope you can extricate yourself from this mess with some modicum of honour.’

‘I agree. It’s a damned unfortunate business, Nathan, and I bear the entire weight of this incident on my own conscience.’

‘Surely Amelia Fairhurst must shoulder some of the blame.’

‘The responsibility is all mine,’ Alex replied curtly, dismissing Nathan’s well-meaning attempt to absolve him. ‘But if ever I am stupid enough to fall prey to another pretty face, remind me to scrutinise her credentials for hidden husbands.’

‘Knowing how assiduous you are to detail, I am surprised you didn’t vet her more carefully.’

‘I must have taken leave of my senses,’ Alex replied, contemplating the irony of the situation. Here he was, one of the most eligible bachelors in England, and yet he had made the fatal mistake of taking to bed a married woman. His stupidity galled him, and he cursed himself for being a dim-witted fool.