Marguerite Kaye - From Governess To Countess

The scandalous truth about the count’s new mistress!

A Matches Made in Scandal story

Count Aleksei Derevenko has hired governess Allison Galbraith for her skills as a herbalist, not a mistress! But when rumors spread, Allison is more shocked by her wanton reaction to Aleksei—inscrutable and impossibly handsome, his icy blue eyes promise white-hot nights of sin. She knows too well how fragile her reputation is, but will the price of their passion be worth paying?

“Readers will be seduced by the passionate natures of the protagonists, and the fast-paced, thrilling adventure.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Harlot and the Sheikh

“Fairytales do come true... There is plenty of action and adventure to captivate all readers.”

—RT Book Reviews on Sheikh’s Mail-Order Bride

Matches Made in Scandal miniseries

Book 1—From Governess to Countess

Book 2—From Courtesan to Convenient Wife—coming soon

MARGUERITE KAYE writes hot historical romances from her home in cold and usually rainy Scotland, featuring Regency rakes, Highlanders and sheikhs. She has published almost fifty books and novellas. When she’s not writing she enjoys walking, cycling—but only on the level—gardening—but only what she can eat—and cooking. She also likes to knit and occasionally drink martinis—though not at the same time. Find out more on her website: margueritekaye.com.

Also by Marguerite Kaye

Scandal at the Midsummer BallScandal at the Christmas Ball

Comrades in Arms miniseries

The Soldier’s Dark SecretThe Soldier’s Rebel Lover

Hot Arabian Nights miniseries

The Widow and the Sheikh

Sheikh’s Mail-Order Bride

The Harlot and the Sheikh

Claiming His Desert Princess

Matches Made in Scandal miniseries

From Governess to Countess

And look out for the next book

From Courtesan to Convenient Wife Available April 2018

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

From Governess to Countess

Marguerite Kaye

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07347-9

FROM GOVERNESS TO COUNTESS

© 2018 Marguerite Kaye

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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For my cousin Allison Rankin, who requested that her namesake be a feisty heroine with red hair. Be careful what you wish for!

This is also for Alison Lyndsay and Alison Lodge, heroines in their own right. A huge thank-you for your generosity and support, in terms of research and book recommendations, and most of all for your friendship.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The scandalous truth about the count’s new mistress! A Matches Made in Scandal story Count Aleksei Derevenko has hired governess Allison Galbraith for her skills as a herbalist, not a mistress! But when rumors spread, Allison is more shocked by her wanton reaction to Aleksei—inscrutable and impossibly handsome, his icy blue eyes promise white-hot nights of sin. She knows too well how fragile her reputation is, but will the price of their passion be worth paying? “Readers will be seduced by the passionate natures of the protagonists, and the fast-paced, thrilling adventure.” —RT Book Reviews on The Harlot and the Sheikh “Fairytales do come true... There is plenty of action and adventure to captivate all readers.” —RT Book Reviews on Sheikh’s Mail-Order Bride Matches Made in Scandal miniseries Book 1—From Governess to Countess Book 2—From Courtesan to Convenient Wife—coming soon

About the Author MARGUERITE KAYE writes hot historical romances from her home in cold and usually rainy Scotland, featuring Regency rakes, Highlanders and sheikhs. She has published almost fifty books and novellas. When she’s not writing she enjoys walking, cycling—but only on the level—gardening—but only what she can eat—and cooking. She also likes to knit and occasionally drink martinis—though not at the same time. Find out more on her website: margueritekaye.com .

Booklist Also by Marguerite Kaye Scandal at the Midsummer BallScandal at the Christmas Ball Comrades in Arms miniseries The Soldier’s Dark SecretThe Soldier’s Rebel Lover Hot Arabian Nights miniseries The Widow and the Sheikh Sheikh’s Mail-Order Bride The Harlot and the Sheikh Claiming His Desert Princess Matches Made in Scandal miniseries From Governess to Countess And look out for the next book From Courtesan to Convenient Wife Available April 2018 Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk .

Title Page From Governess to Countess Marguerite Kaye www.millsandboon.co.uk

Copyright ISBN: 978-1-474-07347-9 FROM GOVERNESS TO COUNTESS © 2018 Marguerite Kaye Published in Great Britain 2018 by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.