Anne Herries - Marianne and the Marquis

Her eyes widened, their color the hue of a mountain pool, clear and green, touched by sunshine. And then she smiled.

“You have robbed your action of any offense, sir. Nor can I pretend that I found it distasteful, for I did not—though I beg that you will not do it again without my permission.”

Drew laughed, for she was a breath of fresh air. It was her frankness, her open manner that fascinated him as much as her beauty. He had met women in society who might perhaps come near to her in looks, but none had made this direct appeal to his senses. At that moment he would have liked to take her down to the soft earth and lose himself in the sweetness of her flesh. Yet if he did that she would hate him, and he would be beyond redemption.

Marianne and the Marquis

Harlequin ®Historical

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Marianne’s story is the first of a trilogy dealing with the lives and loves of three sisters. Marianne, Jo and Lucy are the Reverend Horne’s daughters, and their papa, now sadly deceased, has been a big influence on their lives. Now things must change, for their mama has very little money and is at the mercy of her sister’s charity. When Marianne is asked to stay with an ailing great-aunt, she cannot guess that she will be involved with dangerous smugglers, or that she will find love and change her life forever.

I hope, dear reader, that you will enjoy following Marianne’s story and those of her sisters as they struggle against—and overcome—the difficulties fate throws at them.

Look for Jo’s story in

Married by Christmas

and Lucy’s in

Marrying Captain Jack

Coming soon

TORONTO • NEW YORK • LONDON

AMSTERDAM • PARIS • SYDNEY • HAMBURG

STOCKHOLM • ATHENS • TOKYO • MILAN • MADRID

PRAGUE • WARSAW • BUDAPEST • AUCKLAND

Award-winning author Anne Herries lives in Cambridgeshire, England. She is fond of watching wildlife, and spoils the birds and squirrels that are frequent visitors to her garden. Anne loves to write about the beauty of nature, and sometimes puts a little into her books—although they are mostly about love and romance. She writes for her own enjoyment and to give pleasure to her readers. She invites readers to contact her on her Web site, www.lindasole.co.uk.

The Abducted Bride #135

Captive of the Harem #145

The Sheikh #157

Rosalyn and the Scoundrel #166

A Matter of Honor #173

* A Perfect Knight #180

* A Knight of Honor #184

* Her Knight Protector #188

** Lady in Waiting #202

** The Adventurer’s Wife #208

†† Forbidden Lady #209

† An Improper Companion #227

†† The Lord’s Forced Bride #231

† A Wealthy Widow #235

† A Worthy Gentleman #243

†† Her Dark and Dangerous Lord #249

‡ Marianne and the Marquis #258

#939 HIS SUBSTITUTE BRIDE—Elizabeth Lane

Dashing but cynical Quint Seavers is unaware that independent, practical Annie Gustavson holds a secret longtime love for him.

As they live together in close proximity, their attraction becomes undeniable, and suddenly Quint knows that Annie is exactly what has been missing in his life—till now….

A bride worth waiting for…

#940 HIS RELUCTANT MISTRESS—Joanna Maitland

Renowned rake Leo Aikenhead rescues Sophie Pietre, the famous “Venetian Nightingale,” from an assault. Resilient and self-reliant, Sophie has never succumbed to a man’s desires before. But dangerously attractive Leo soon becomes the only man she would risk all her secrets for!

Second in The Aikenhead Honors trilogy—Three gentlemen spies: bound by duty, undone by women!

#941 THE RAKE’S INHERITED COURTESAN—Ann Lethbridge

Daughter of a Parisian courtesan, Sylvia Boisette thirsts for respectability. But her new guardian—wealthy, conservative Christopher Evernden—finds himself on the brink of scandal, because his body can not ignore Sylvia’s tempting sensuality….

Let Ann Lethbridge seduce your senses when her heroine becomes

Unlaced, Undressed, Undone! Undone!

#942 THE KNIGHT’S RETURN—Joanne Rock

Needing a protector and escort, Irish princess Sorcha agrees to allow a striking mercenary to fulfill this role. But Hugh de Montagne is unsettled by his immediate attraction to the flame-haired noblewoman….

Guarding the princess

#257 THE WICKED BARON—Sarah Mallory

Luke Ainslowe’s reputation for ruthlessly pursuing women precedes him. Miss Carlotta Durini has just embarked on her first season and, desperate to become a lady, is determined not to be seduced by the notorious baron—however devilishly handsome he may be!

At the rake’s mercy…

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Afterword

London—1813

‘They are a particularly nasty lot,’ Captain Jack Harcourt said to his friend when they met at their sporting club that August afternoon. They had enjoyed a bout in the ring under the tuition of the master pugilist, Gentleman Jackson, and, stripped to the waist, their bodies gleamed with sweat. Jack’s opponent was a little taller and more muscular, but they were evenly matched. ‘If you take this on, you must understand that you risk your life if you are caught.’

Andrew, Lord Beck, Marquis of Marlbeck, doused himself under the pump in the yard and grinned at his friend of many years. They were alike in so many ways that they might have been blood kin, but in fact there was no relationship other than the bond they had forged fighting together in Portugal and Spain.

‘If I were fool enough to get caught, I should deserve my fate,’ he said, his eyes bright with mockery. ‘Do not fear, Jack. I shan’t let you down. I may have been forced to sell my commission, but I haven’t gone soft. If this spy is to be found where you say, I am your man.’

‘I didn’t imagine you had lost your nerve for a moment. I rely on you to get to the bottom of this,’ Jack told him. ‘Because of him, seven of our friends died, Drew—and there were the men that served with us. At least twenty died needlessly that day, and who knows how many more? I want revenge for them, as I know you do. I would investigate this tale myself, but I have been seconded to special duties for Wellington.’

‘You believe the spy was one of our own?’ Drew looked at him through narrowed eyes. ‘Someone we fought with, ate with…’ He frowned, tasting the bitterness he had tried so hard to put behind him these past months. ‘I like not the thought of that, Jack.’