Deborah Hale - My Lord Protector

“This house was my sanctuary when I most needed one.” “This house was my sanctuary when I most needed one.” Julianna spoke quietly, as if bestowing a confidence. Every word went straight to Edmund’s heart. “You were my protector when I had no other. I owe you past what I can ever repay. If you want me to stay, you have only to say the word.” If she had drawn a fixed bayonet and plunged it into his chest, she could not have inflicted so deep and gaping a wound. For a moment, Edmund could find neither the breath nor the courage to reply. Then the harsh lessons of his childhood came to his rescue. Bury the hurt—bury it deep. Without turning to look at Julianna, he spoke as if her offer did not matter to him in the least. “Any debt you owe me may be discharged by making my nephew a loving and faithful wife. I will file an annulment petition before the week is out.” Letter to Reader Dear Reader, Entertainment. Escape. Fantasy. These three words describe the heart of Harlequin Historicals. If you want compelling, emotional stories by some of the best writers in the field, look no further. We think Deborah Hale is one of the best new writers in the field. Her debut book, My Lord Protector, is a sigh-inducing “older man, younger woman” romance set in Georgian England. Here, Julianna Ramsey is forced by her elder stepbrother to marry while her betrothed, Crispin, is away at sea. Unknown to Julianna, the stern, wealthy man who offers for her is her tiancé’s uncle—he’ll “protect her” until his nephew returns. Loyal to the memory of Crispin, Julianna and Edmund must fight the forbidden love that bums between them. Don’t miss it! The Bride of Windermere by Margo Maguire is another terrific first book. In this heartfelt medieval tale, a rugged knight falls in love with a woman he has been sent to protect on her journey to see the king. And Jackie Manning returns this month with a sparkling Western, Silver Hearts, featuring a doctor turned cowboy and the feisty Eastern miss he rescues. Rounding out the month is Joe’s Wife by Cheryl St.John. Tye Hatcher, the town bad boy, returns from the war to prove his worth. He marries the widow of the once most popular man in town, Joe, and must live up to the memory of him. Keep a hankie close by! Whatever your tastes in reading, you’ll be sure to find a romantic journey back to the past between the covers of a Harlequin Historical®. Sincerely, Tracy Farrell, Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Harlequin Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3 Title Page My Lord Protector Deborah Hale www.millsandboon.co.uk About the Author DEBORAH HALE After a decade of tracing her ancestors to their roots in Georgian-era Britain, Golden Heart winner Deborah Hale turned to historical romance writing as a way to blend her love of the past with her desire to spin a good love story. Deborah lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, between the historic British garrison town of Halifax and the romantic Annapolis Valley of Longfellow’s Evangeline. With four children under ten (including twins), Deborah calls writing her “sanity retention mechanism.” On good days, she likes to think it’s working. Deborah invites you to her one-of-a-kind web site to catch the flavor of eighteenth-century London, from a cup of the most decadent chocolate to scandalous tidbits of backstage gossip from the Green Room at Drury Lane. To get there, follow her author’s link on the Harlequin web site http://www.romance.net . Dedication To Judy Gorham, who read this book before anyone else knew I was writing it. 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 Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Copyright

“This house was my sanctuary when I most needed one.”

Julianna spoke quietly, as if bestowing a confidence. Every word went straight to Edmund’s heart. “You were my protector when I had no other. I owe you past what I can ever repay. If you want me to stay, you have only to say the word.”

If she had drawn a fixed bayonet and plunged it into his chest, she could not have inflicted so deep and gaping a wound. For a moment, Edmund could find neither the breath nor the courage to reply. Then the harsh lessons of his childhood came to his rescue. Bury the hurt—bury it deep.

Without turning to look at Julianna, he spoke as if her offer did not matter to him in the least. “Any debt you owe me may be discharged by making my nephew a loving and faithful wife. I will file an annulment petition before the week is out.”

Dear Reader,

Entertainment. Escape. Fantasy. These three words describe the heart of Harlequin Historicals. If you want compelling, emotional stories by some of the best writers in the field, look no further.

We think Deborah Hale is one of the best new writers in the field. Her debut book, My Lord Protector, is a sigh-inducing “older man, younger woman” romance set in Georgian England. Here, Julianna Ramsey is forced by her elder stepbrother to marry while her betrothed, Crispin, is away at sea. Unknown to Julianna, the stern, wealthy man who offers for her is her tiancé’s uncle—he’ll “protect her” until his nephew returns. Loyal to the memory of Crispin, Julianna and Edmund must fight the forbidden love that bums between them. Don’t miss it!

The Bride of Windermere by Margo Maguire is another terrific first book. In this heartfelt medieval tale, a rugged knight falls in love with a woman he has been sent to protect on her journey to see the king. And Jackie Manning returns this month with a sparkling Western, Silver Hearts, featuring a doctor turned cowboy and the feisty Eastern miss he rescues.

Rounding out the month is Joe’s Wife by Cheryl St.John. Tye Hatcher, the town bad boy, returns from the war to prove his worth. He marries the widow of the once most popular man in town, Joe, and must live up to the memory of him. Keep a hankie close by!

Whatever your tastes in reading, you’ll be sure to find a romantic journey back to the past between the covers of a Harlequin Historical®.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell, Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Harlequin Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

My Lord Protector

Deborah Hale

www.millsandboon.co.uk

DEBORAH HALE

After a decade of tracing her ancestors to their roots in Georgian-era Britain, Golden Heart winner Deborah Hale turned to historical romance writing as a way to blend her love of the past with her desire to spin a good love story. Deborah lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, between the historic British garrison town of Halifax and the romantic Annapolis Valley of Longfellow’s Evangeline. With four children under ten (including twins), Deborah calls writing her “sanity retention mechanism.” On good days, she likes to think it’s working.

Deborah invites you to her one-of-a-kind web site to catch the flavor of eighteenth-century London, from a cup of the most decadent chocolate to scandalous tidbits of backstage gossip from the Green Room at Drury Lane. To get there, follow her author’s link on the Harlequin web site http://www.romance.net.