Julia Justiss - Secret Lessons With The Rake

The courtesan’s courtship

Pursuing a role in Parliament, Christopher Lattimar needs a virtuous marriage to make society overlook his roguish past. When beautiful and disarming Ellie Parmenter offers to reform and refine him, he’s too tempted to say no.

Once a courtesan, Ellie knows a thing or two about polishing a diamond in the rough. She has no designs on Christopher—or any man in search of a wife—but their best-laid plans begin to tumble once lessons in respectability turn to seduction...

Hadley’s Hellions

Four friends united by power, privilege and the daring pursuit of passion!

From being disreputable rogues at Oxford to becoming masters of the political game, Giles Hadley, David Tanner Smith, Christopher Lattimar and Benedict Tawny live by their own set of unconventional rules.

But as the struggle for power heats up so too do the lives of these daring friends. They face unexpected challenges to their long-held beliefs and rigid self-control when they meet four gorgeous independent women with defiant streaks of their own…

Read Giles Hadley’s story in

Forbidden Nights with the Viscount

Read David Tanner Smith’s story in

Stolen Encounters with the Duchess

Read Benedict Tawny’s story in

Convenient Proposal to the Lady

Available now!

This is the final book in Hadley’s Hellions, Christopher Lattimar’s story: Secret Lessons with the Rake

Author Note

It’s difficult for the modern reader to understand how limited the world was for a ‘gently born’ nineteenthcentury girl. Her sole occupational choice was marriage, her behaviour was held to an exacting standard, and any serious lapse of conduct meant permanent exile from her class and her family.

Cast into the demi-monde, my heroine must survive in a world for which she’s had no preparation. Ellie Parmenter is particularly grateful for the friendship of a scandalous matron of her own class—and for her son, who treats Ellie like the lady she was when she was born. When the opportunity arises to repay that kindness by teaching Christopher Lattimer how to court a girl with the wealth and connections to advance his Parliamentary career she welcomes it—even though success will mean terminating her association with the man who’s become so dear to her.

Christopher realises it’s time to end his wandering ways and take a wife, as all his friends have. But after an adulthood spent among the demi-monde he knows nothing about how to behave around a proper young virgin. Though he’d rather woo the lovely and now available Ellie, an affair with a famous courtesan might harm his career—and marrying her is impossible.

But love has a way of breaking all the rules…

I hope you’ll enjoy Christopher and Ellie’s story.

Secret Lessons with the Rake

Julia Justiss

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JULIA JUSTISSwrote her 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 historical romances have won or been placed in contests by the Romance Writers of America, RT Book Reviews , National Readers’ Choice and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives with her husband in Texas. For news and contests visit juliajustiss.com.

Books by Julia Justiss

Mills & Boon Historical Romance

Hadley’s Hellions

Forbidden Nights with the Viscount

Stolen Encounters with the Duchess

Convenient Proposal to the Lady

Secret Lessons with the Rake

The Wellingfords

The Wedding GambleThe Proper WifeA Most Unconventional MatchRegency Candlelit Christmas‘Christmas Wedding Wish’From Waif to Gentleman’s WifeSociety’s Most Disreputable Gentleman

Ransleigh Rogues

The Rake to Ruin HerThe Rake to Redeem HerThe Rake to Rescue HerThe Rake to Reveal Her

Silk & Scandal

The Smuggler and the Society Bride

Visit the Author Profile page

at millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

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Who else could I dedicate my ‘son and dog’ story to but Eve Gaddy? Brainstorming and critique partner, conference travelling buddy and friend who has shared so much of this up-and-down writer’s journey with me. You’re the best.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Hadley’s Hellions

Author Note

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Prologue

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

London—March 26th, 1832

Laughing and energised, Christopher Lattimar, Member of Parliament for Wiltshire, led his friends into the small private room at the Quill and Gavel, a tavern on a quiet street near the Houses of Parliament. ‘Time to celebrate our achievement. I’d say it’s a night for wine, women and song!’

‘Or at least wine and women,’ Ben Tawny agreed with a grin.

‘Two of my favourite things,’ Christopher said.

‘As we well know,’ Ben replied.

‘You should,’ Christopher tossed back. ‘Since until recently, you outdid me in enjoying both.’

‘Enough, you two,’ Giles Hadley, Viscount Lyndlington, said with a mock frown. ‘Ah, here’s Ransen with some ale. Though, given the momentousness of the achievement, Ben, you might have ordered champagne.’

‘Too French!’ Ben replied. ‘To celebrate the first change in four hundred years in the way Parliamentary representatives are chosen, we needed good English ale.’

‘We’re not there yet,’ David Tanner Smith cautioned as he deposited his tall frame into a chair. ‘The Third Reform Bill only passed the House today. We’ve still got to get it through the Lords.’

‘After all the riots and dissention when the Second Bill failed last autumn, the Lords wouldn’t dare oppose it now,’ Giles said. ‘The country won’t stand for any further delay!’

‘We’ll see,’ Davie replied. ‘Still, getting it passed in the House was a momentous achievement.’ Grabbing a mug from the tray the innkeeper left for them, he lifted it high. ‘To Lord Grey’s leadership!’

‘And to yours,’ Ben said, raising his mug to Davie. ‘We provided the agitation, but you honed the bill’s provisions.’

‘I think we should drink to us all,’ Christopher said. ‘Who would have imagined ten years ago that four Oxford misfits would band together, win seats in Parliament, and help bring about the biggest change in British government since the Middle Ages?’ He raised his mug. ‘To my dear colleagues and best friends. To the Hellions!’