Raven McAllan - The Lord’s Persuasion of Lady Lydia

Seducing the wallflower…

Over the years, Lydia Field has perfected the art of being a wallflower. It’s the only way to avoid the attention of unwanted suitors – and the perils of a convenient, loveless marriage! Instead, she dreams of the day she can leave London’s high society behind her, trading the glamorous balls and afternoon teas for a quiet life in the country.

But in an unguarded moment, she finds herself catching the eye of notorious rake ‘Handsome Harry’, Lord Birnham. Now that he’s glimpsed the wildness and fire that lurks beneath Lydia’s demure exterior, he will not rest until he has unleashed the full extent of her passion!

For if there’s one skill that Lord Birnham is known for, it’s the art of persuasion…

The next exquisite Regency romance from Raven McAllan, The Lord’s Persuasion of Lady Lydia will whisk you off your feet and sweep you into an opulent world of scandal, secrets, and desire!

Also by Raven McAllan Contents Cover Blurb Book List Title Page Author Bio Acknowledgements Dedication Contents 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 Excerpt End page Copyright

The Scandalous Proposal of Lord Bennett

The Rake’s Unveiling of Lady Belle

The Duke's Seduction of Lady M

The Scottish Lord’s Secret Bride

The Lord’s Persuasion of Lady Lydia

Raven McAllan

www.CarinaUK.com

RAVEN McALLAN

lives in Scotland, the land of lochs, glens, mountains, haggis, men in kilts (sometimes), and midges. She enjoys all of them – except midges. They're not known as the scourge of Scotland for nothing. Her long-suffering husband has learned how to work the Aga, ignore the dust bunnies who share their lives, and pour the wine when necessary. Raven loves history, which is just as well, considering she writes Regency romance, and often gets so involved in her research she forgets the time. She loves to travel, and says she and her hubby are doing their gap year in three-week stints. All in the name of research, of course.

She loves to hear from her readers and you can contact her on twitter: @RavenMcAllan or via her website: ravenmcallan.com

Thanks to my Editor Extraordinaire , the fabulous Charlotte Mursell.

The Cover Artist, Anna Sikorska.

All the HQ Digital team.

Doris O'Connor, wielder of the 'red pen', who is chief nagger when I need it.

The RavDor Chicks, (Doris and my) fantastic Facebook group for all their encouragement.

The Carina authors Facebook group ditto.

Paul my long suffering husband, who is still ignoring the dust bunnies, and providing the wine.

Everyone who is so kind to buy and read my books and have made my dream of being a published (and read) author come true.

To my long gone, never forgotten mum and dad, who would be so pleased I'd achieved my dream.

Contents

Cover

Blurb Seducing the wallflower… Over the years, Lydia Field has perfected the art of being a wallflower. It’s the only way to avoid the attention of unwanted suitors – and the perils of a convenient, loveless marriage! Instead, she dreams of the day she can leave London’s high society behind her, trading the glamorous balls and afternoon teas for a quiet life in the country. But in an unguarded moment, she finds herself catching the eye of notorious rake ‘Handsome Harry’, Lord Birnham. Now that he’s glimpsed the wildness and fire that lurks beneath Lydia’s demure exterior, he will not rest until he has unleashed the full extent of her passion! For if there’s one skill that Lord Birnham is known for, it’s the art of persuasion… The next exquisite Regency romance from Raven McAllan, The Lord’s Persuasion of Lady Lydia will whisk you off your feet and sweep you into an opulent world of scandal, secrets, and desire!

Book List Also by Raven McAllan Contents Cover Blurb Book List Title Page Author Bio Acknowledgements Dedication Contents 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 Excerpt End page Copyright The Scandalous Proposal of Lord Bennett The Rake’s Unveiling of Lady Belle The Duke's Seduction of Lady M The Scottish Lord’s Secret Bride

Title Page The Lord’s Persuasion of Lady Lydia Raven McAllan www.CarinaUK.com

Author Bio RAVEN McALLAN lives in Scotland, the land of lochs, glens, mountains, haggis, men in kilts (sometimes), and midges. She enjoys all of them – except midges. They're not known as the scourge of Scotland for nothing. Her long-suffering husband has learned how to work the Aga, ignore the dust bunnies who share their lives, and pour the wine when necessary. Raven loves history, which is just as well, considering she writes Regency romance, and often gets so involved in her research she forgets the time. She loves to travel, and says she and her hubby are doing their gap year in three-week stints. All in the name of research, of course. She loves to hear from her readers and you can contact her on twitter: @RavenMcAllan or via her website: ravenmcallan.com

Acknowledgements Thanks to my Editor Extraordinaire , the fabulous Charlotte Mursell. The Cover Artist, Anna Sikorska. All the HQ Digital team. Doris O'Connor, wielder of the 'red pen', who is chief nagger when I need it. The RavDor Chicks, (Doris and my) fantastic Facebook group for all their encouragement. The Carina authors Facebook group ditto. Paul my long suffering husband, who is still ignoring the dust bunnies, and providing the wine. Everyone who is so kind to buy and read my books and have made my dream of being a published (and read) author come true.

Dedication To my long gone, never forgotten mum and dad, who would be so pleased I'd achieved my dream.

Contents

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

Excerpt

End page

Copyright

Prologue

‘I have a headache.’ It was almost true, Lydia thought, as she glanced up at her mama from under her lashes. If she were forced to fall in with her parents’ intentions it would no longer be a white lie. Even thinking about the evening’s so-called entertainment made her tense. ‘Can I not give the ball a miss and you make my apologies to our hostess?’ After all, she’d spend most of the night as a wallflower – not that she minded that at all; it was the fact that she would be forced to dance with whomsoever her hostess foisted upon her that she hated. Supper would be agony, as whichever gentleman had been coerced into escorting her attended to her for the bare minimum of time politeness dictated and then disappeared. ‘Seriously, Mama, let me have a night off. I am not interested and you know it.’

Her mama, the Countess of Ibstock, sighed, frowned and felt Lydia’s forehead. ‘You’re not heated and your complexion is normal. I’m sure you’ll be fine once you are there.’ There was a note of finality in her voice that hinted Lydia should take heed. ‘You never know, you might even catch the attention of…’ She broke off and reddened. ‘You will be fine,’ she said again lamely.