Julia Justiss - The Rake to Rescue Her

RANSLEIGH ROGUES Where these notorious rakes go, scandal always follows …

Max, Will, Alastair and Dominic Ransleigh—cousins, friends … and the most wickedly attractive men in Regency London. Between war, betrayal and scandal, love has never featured in the Ransleighs’ destinies—until now!

Don’t miss this enthralling quartet from Julia Justiss.

Now follow Alastair’s journey in

THE RAKE TO RESCUE HER

AUTHOR NOTE AUTHOR NOTE Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Extract Copyright

Is there anything more satisfying than love the second time around?

When I first envisaged my Ransleigh Rogues I knew that Alastair had suffered a broken heart and, as a poet and dreamer, felt the tragedy more deeply than an ordinary man. When I later envisaged the lady who’d wounded him I realised a love like theirs was once in a lifetime; somehow they had to get back together.

Diana returned Alastair’s love with the same passion. But to safeguard the two men she loved—her father and Alastair—she was forced into marriage, and forbidden to tell Alastair why she’d repudiated him.

Eight years later they meet by chance, after the death of her husband, and Diana takes the opportunity to explain what she did. When she admits to Alastair that there is nothing she can do to make it up to him, he angrily suggests she become his mistress.

Expecting to be rejected, he is amazed when Diana agrees. An affair begun to purge her from his heart soon gives him glimpses into the horrors of her marriage—and makes him determined to free the woman he’s never stopped loving from the demons of the past and protect her from present danger.

For the embattled Diana, stripped of everything and everyone she loved, recovering from her bleak existence is difficult. Under Alastair’s fierce protection she gradually comes to trust and love again.

I hope you will enjoy their journey.

The Rake to Rescue Her

Julia Justiss

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JULIA JUSTISSwrote her first ideas for Nancy Drew stories in her third-grade notebook, and has been writing ever since. After publishing poetry in college, she turned to novels. Her Regency historicals have won or been placed in contests by the Romance Writers of America, Romantic Times magazine, National Readers’ Choice and Daphne du Maurier. She lives with her husband in Texas. For news and contests visit www.juliajustiss.com

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

To the Evelettes: You’ve hugged me, cried with me, and been there for me every step of the way on the long twilight journey of the last two years. I love you guys!

Contents

Cover

Introduction RANSLEIGH ROGUES Where these notorious rakes go, scandal always follows … Max, Will, Alastair and Dominic Ransleigh—cousins, friends … and the most wickedly attractive men in Regency London. Between war, betrayal and scandal, love has never featured in the Ransleighs’ destinies—until now! Don’t miss this enthralling quartet from Julia Justiss. Now follow Alastair’s journey in THE RAKE TO RESCUE HER

AUTHOR NOTE AUTHOR NOTE AUTHOR NOTE Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Extract Copyright Is there anything more satisfying than love the second time around? When I first envisaged my Ransleigh Rogues I knew that Alastair had suffered a broken heart and, as a poet and dreamer, felt the tragedy more deeply than an ordinary man. When I later envisaged the lady who’d wounded him I realised a love like theirs was once in a lifetime; somehow they had to get back together. Diana returned Alastair’s love with the same passion. But to safeguard the two men she loved—her father and Alastair—she was forced into marriage, and forbidden to tell Alastair why she’d repudiated him. Eight years later they meet by chance, after the death of her husband, and Diana takes the opportunity to explain what she did. When she admits to Alastair that there is nothing she can do to make it up to him, he angrily suggests she become his mistress. Expecting to be rejected, he is amazed when Diana agrees. An affair begun to purge her from his heart soon gives him glimpses into the horrors of her marriage—and makes him determined to free the woman he’s never stopped loving from the demons of the past and protect her from present danger. For the embattled Diana, stripped of everything and everyone she loved, recovering from her bleak existence is difficult. Under Alastair’s fierce protection she gradually comes to trust and love again. I hope you will enjoy their journey.

Title Page The Rake to Rescue Her Julia Justiss www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author JULIA JUSTISS wrote her first ideas for Nancy Drew stories in her third-grade notebook, and has been writing ever since. After publishing poetry in college, she turned to novels. Her Regency historicals have won or been placed in contests by the Romance Writers of America, Romantic Times magazine, National Readers’ Choice and Daphne du Maurier. She lives with her husband in Texas. For news and contests visit www.juliajustiss.com

Dedication To the Evelettes: You’ve hugged me, cried with me, and been there for me every step of the way on the long twilight journey of the last two years. I love you guys!

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

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

It was her .

Shock rocked him like the blast of air from a passing cannonball. Struck numb in its wake, Alastair Ransleigh, late of His Majesty’s First Dragoons, stared at the tall, dark-haired woman approaching from the other side of Bath’s expansive Sidney Gardens.

Even as his disbelieving mind told him it couldn’t be her, he knew on some level deeper than reason that it was Diana. No other woman had that graceful, lilting step, as if dancing as she walked.