Susan Paul - Beguiled

Cover Page

Praise Critical acclaim for Susan Spencer Paul The Bride Thief “ The Bride Thief will steal your heart!” —Susan Wiggs “Fans of historical romance should not miss this great tale! 4 1 / 2 .” — Affaire de Coeur “…for adventure enthusiasts, romance addicts and readers who enjoy heart-stopping intrigue.” — Rendezvous The Heiress Bride “An excellent pairing of opposites who definitely attract.” — Affaire de Coeur “…an intensely readable love story.” — Romantic Times The Bride’s Portion “…characters who are so real they seem to move off the pages.” — Romantic Times “…sweet but sexy romance with just a pinch of murder and suspense…” — Affaire de Coeur

Excerpt Her expression, as she gazed up at him, was chagrined. “Ah’m sorree.” The sound of her voice was beginning to have the oddest effect on him. He wanted too much to hear it. “You don’t have to be,” he began, but she shook her head. “Ah’m stup-hid.” “Lily.” He covered the hand she held on his arm. “No. I won’t have that.” She made a sound—a husky chuckle that shivered all the way through him, turning his brain to mush. Her smile flashed up in the dim lantern light. “Fool- ish, ” she amended. “L-Lord Grah-don, you are so g-hood to m-he. Ah’m so gr-ate-ful.” Gad! he thought, staring down into what he knew was the most riveting countenance he’d behold in his lifetime. Grateful! If she had any idea of what he wanted to do to her at that moment, she’d probably think he was nothing but a perfect swine!

Dear Reader Dear Reader, We are delighted to be the first to bring you a Regency by Susan Spencer Paul, who also writes mainstream historicals as Mary Spencer. Touted as one of the top historical writers today by Affaire de Coeur, Susan will captivate you with Beguiled, the heart-wrenching story of a mute noblewoman who is the unsuspecting party when a much-sought-after earl is blackmailed into marrying her. The charming earl soon learns the power of unspeakable love. Claire Delacroix returns this month with My Lady’s Desire, the awe-inspiring sequel to Enchanted. In this thrilling medieval tale, a blade for hire and an exiled noblewoman marry to reclaim her lost estate, and together find an unexpected passion. Another surprise match results in Liz Ireland’s adorable new Western, Prim and Improper, when a prim young spinster falls for a very improper cattle rancher who she believes is in love with her sister. Rounding out the month is Malachite by USA Today bestselling author Ruth Langan. In the final book of her popular THE JEWELS OF TEXAS series, long-lost Jewel brother, Malachite, emerges from the wilds of Montana to confront the father he never knew, and finds love in the arms of a gentle widow and mother. What a terrific lineup we have for you this month! 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: Silhouette Reader Service U S.: 3010 Walden Ave., PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont L2A 5X3

Title Page Beguiled Susan Spencer Paul www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author SUSAN SPENCER PAUL lives in Monrovia, California, with her husband and two young daughters. She started her first novel when she was in her early teens but eventually put it aside, unfinished, in favor of more important interests…such as boys. Now happily married and—somewhat—settled down, she’s returned to her love of the written word and finds it much easier to finish the books she starts.

Dedication To the wonderful ladies at The Book Rack in Arcadia, California, who have so kindly supported me over the years and kept my bookshelves at home well stocked, this novel is dedicated with all my thanks and appreciation.

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

Copyright

The Bride Thief

“ The Bride Thief will steal your heart!”

—Susan Wiggs

“Fans of historical romance should not miss this great tale! 4 1/ 2 .”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…for adventure enthusiasts, romance addicts and readers who enjoy heart-stopping intrigue.”

— Rendezvous

The Heiress Bride

“An excellent pairing of opposites who definitely attract.”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…an intensely readable love story.”

— Romantic Times

The Bride’s Portion

“…characters who are so real they seem to move off the pages.”

— Romantic Times

“…sweet but sexy romance with just a pinch of murder and suspense…”

— Affaire de Coeur

The sound of her voice was beginning to have the oddest effect on him. He wanted too much to hear it. “You don’t have to be,” he began, but she shook her head.

“Ah’m stup-hid.”

“Lily.” He covered the hand she held on his arm. “No. I won’t have that.”

She made a sound—a husky chuckle that shivered all the way through him, turning his brain to mush. Her smile flashed up in the dim lantern light. “Fool- ish, ” she amended. “L-Lord Grah-don, you are so g-hood to m-he. Ah’m so gr-ate-ful.”

Gad! he thought, staring down into what he knew was the most riveting countenance he’d behold in his lifetime. Grateful! If she had any idea of what he wanted to do to her at that moment, she’d probably think he was nothing but a perfect swine!

Dear Reader,

We are delighted to be the first to bring you a Regency by Susan Spencer Paul, who also writes mainstream historicals as Mary Spencer. Touted as one of the top historical writers today by Affaire de Coeur, Susan will captivate you with Beguiled, the heart-wrenching story of a mute noblewoman who is the unsuspecting party when a much-sought-after earl is blackmailed into marrying her. The charming earl soon learns the power of unspeakable love.

Claire Delacroix returns this month with My Lady’s Desire, the awe-inspiring sequel to Enchanted. In this thrilling medieval tale, a blade for hire and an exiled noblewoman marry to reclaim her lost estate, and together find an unexpected passion. Another surprise match results in Liz Ireland’s adorable new Western, Prim and Improper, when a prim young spinster falls for a very improper cattle rancher who she believes is in love with her sister.

Rounding out the month is Malachite by USA Today bestselling author Ruth Langan. In the final book of her popular THE JEWELS OF TEXAS series, long-lost Jewel brother, Malachite, emerges from the wilds of Montana to confront the father he never knew, and finds love in the arms of a gentle widow and mother.

What a terrific lineup we have for you this month! 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®.