Michelle Styles - Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match

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‘The question of whether or not I want to be kissed by you is inappropriate.’ She crossed her arms over her breasts and tried to ignore the way they felt. ‘Completely and utterly inappropriate.’

‘But you do want to be kissed.’ Kit cupped her cheek with firm fingers.

She fought against the impulse to turn her face into his palm.

‘It is in your eyes.’ His thumb traced the outline of her mouth. ‘And your lips.’

He lowered his head. This time his kiss was slow and coaxing.

Hattie brought her hands up and rested them on the solid broad cloth of his coat. His hand moulded her body to his. At the insistent pressure her lips parted slightly and she tasted the cool interior of his mouth. Nothing in her life had prepared her for the sensation rippling through her.

She allowed herself one more heartbeat of pleasure. She felt ridiculously feminine and pretty—someone to be cherished.

AUTHOR NOTE

On a cold and windswept day in March 2011, I travelled to the University of Birmingham with my daughter. We were early for her visitors’ day, so we went to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. There in the foyer was a portrait of one of its main benefactors, Martha Constance Hattie Barber, with her dogs.

Instantly and most inconveniently—because I was trying to finish another manuscript—the heroine of this novel, Harriet Wilkinson, popped into my brain and refused to leave. Her appearance was swiftly followed by the hero, who took to whispering in my mind that I really needed to write their story rather than writing the other one. Luckily I have dealt with such characters before, and I promised—as long as I finished the other manuscript first.

They agreed, and I kept my promise. However, immediately I started to turn my attention to them they became coy and refused to tell me their story. I saw the days start to tick by towards my deadline. Was I going to have to abandon them?

Luckily the Hexham Courant happened to run a story about a long-ago incident at the Stagshaw Bank Fair, and I was intrigued to learn that the fair was once the largest one-day fair in Britain and took place every year on 4th July. The fair has since been replaced by the Northumberland County Show, and now takes place on the late May Bank Holiday. But once I had read about the fair I knew I had my story, and thankfully my hero and heroine agreed.

I do hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it—once my two stubborn and self-willed characters began speaking to me!

As ever, I love hearing from readers. You can contact me either by post to Harlequin Mills & Boon, via my website, www.michellestyles.co.uk, or my blog: www.michellestyles.blogspot.com. I am also on Twitter @michelleLstyles, and maintain a Facebook page.

Born and raised near San Francisco, California, MICHELLE STYLEScurrently lives a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall, with her husband, three children, two dogs, cats, assorted ducks, hens and beehives.

An avid reader, she became hooked on historical romance when she discovered Georgette Heyer, Anya Seton and Victoria Holt one rainy lunchtime at school. And, for her, a historical romance still represents the perfect way to escape.

Although Michelle loves reading about history, she also enjoys a more hands-on approach to her research. She has experimented with a variety of old recipes and cookery methods (some more successfully than others), climbed down Roman sewers, and fallen off horses in Iceland—all in the name of discovering more about how people went about their daily lives. When she is not writing, reading or doing research, Michelle tends her rather overgrown garden or does needlework—in particular counted cross-stitch.

Michelle maintains a website, www.michellestyles.co.uk, and a blog: www.michellestyles.blogspot.com. She would be delighted to hear from you.

Previous novels by the same author:THE GLADIATOR’S HONOUR A NOBLE CAPTIVE SOLD AND SEDUCED THE ROMAN’S VIRGIN MISTRESS TAKEN BY THE VIKING A CHRISTMAS WEDDING WAGER (part of Christmas By Candlelight ) VIKING WARRIOR, UNWILLING WIFE AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE A QUESTION OF IMPROPRIETY IMPOVERISHED MISS, CONVENIENT WIFE COMPROMISING MISS MILTON * * linked by character And in Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBooks: THE PERFECT CONCUBINE Did you know that some of the novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk THE VIKING’S CAPTIVE PRINCESS BREAKING THE GOVERNESS’S RULES * * linked by character And in Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBooks: THE PERFECT CONCUBINE Did you know that some of the novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk TO MARRY A MATCHMAKER HIS UNSUITABLE VISCOUNTESS

* Previous novels by the same author: THE GLADIATOR’S HONOUR A NOBLE CAPTIVE SOLD AND SEDUCED THE ROMAN’S VIRGIN MISTRESS TAKEN BY THE VIKING A CHRISTMAS WEDDING WAGER (part of Christmas By Candlelight ) VIKING WARRIOR, UNWILLING WIFE AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE A QUESTION OF IMPROPRIETY IMPOVERISHED MISS, CONVENIENT WIFE COMPROMISING MISS MILTON * * linked by character And in Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBooks: THE PERFECT CONCUBINE Did you know that some of the novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk THE VIKING’S CAPTIVE PRINCESS BREAKING THE GOVERNESS’S RULES * * linked by character And in Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBooks: THE PERFECT CONCUBINE Did you know that some of the novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk TO MARRY A MATCHMAKER HIS UNSUITABLE VISCOUNTESS * linked by character And in Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBooks: THE PERFECT CONCUBINE Did you know that some of the novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk linked by character

And in Mills & Boon ®Historical Undone! eBooks:

THE PERFECT CONCUBINE

Did you know that some of the novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match

Michelle Styles

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For Victoria Parker, whose support and enthusiasm

for this story helped so much.

End of June 1816—the Tyne Valley,

Northumberland

A stifled noise, halfway between a giggle and an excited gasp, caused the Honourable Harriet Wilkinson to halt in her march back to the ballroom. Her entire being tensed. She knew what that sound signalled—in Summerfield’s small card room, someone flirted with ruin.

‘None of your business, Hattie Wilkinson,’ she muttered. When had she become a censorious busybody poking her nose into other people’s lives, rather than someone who understood a ball held the possibility of romance? Today was no time to start, and particularly not at a ball to celebrate the first anniversary of Waterloo.

Another trill of laughter sounded. ‘That is highly amusing. Why should I ever feel in danger with you?’

Hattie sighed. Turning her back on an unknown couple was one thing. Turning her back on her high-spirited niece during her first foray into polite society was quite another. Far too much was at stake. Livvy with her clear blonde looks, graceful manner and more than adequate dowry had the potential to be a huge success in the London marriage market … if she was allowed to make it that far.