Laurie Grant - My Lady Midnight

Cover Page

Praise Praise for the author’s work Devil’s Dare “…the lively pace of Devil’s Dare will carry you along…a taste of the spirited Old West.” — Romantic Times “Kudos to Ms. Grant for creating such a warm-hearted tale!” — Rendezvous

Excerpt “I am yours, my lord,” Claire declared with all the tenderness she could muster. Alain raised his head from hers and their gazes locked. “You are, aren’t you?” he said wonderingly. “You are mine—my lady…” She blinked, startled. “L-lady? I am no lady, L-lord Alain,” she stammered, wondering if somehow he knew. “I am just a serf…” His lips curved upward. “You may have been born but a serf, but there’s a core in you of the finest gold. During the day you move among the humble folk of Hawkswell, but at night, when you come into my arms, you are every bit as fine as the proudest of Norman ladies— my lady,” he told her, his voice deep and husky with feeling. “My Lady Midnight…” The phrase hung on the air, caressing her soul like velvet warmed before the fire…

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Known for both her medieval novels and her Westerns, Reader’s Choice Award winner Laurie Grant is back this month with her new medieval tale, My Lady Midnight. This intriguing story features a Norman widow who becomes a political pawn when she is forced to go undercover as a governess in the home of the baron she believes responsible for the death of her best friend. Don’t miss this dark and wonderful tale. Award-winning author Miranda Jarrett’s new Sparhawk book, Gift of the Heart, is a touching story set in the wilds of the New York frontier where a woman, abandoned by her no-good husband, discovers happiness in the arms of a fugitive haunted by his past. Beauty and the Beast, a Regency tale about a troubled nobleman who is badgered into health by an interfering young neighbor, is the third book by March Madness author Taylor Ryan. And from hugely popular contemporary author Dallas Schulze comes her new Western, Short Straw Bride, the heartwarming tale of two people who marry for practical reasons, and wind up falling head over heels in love. We hope you’ll keep a lookout for all four titles wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold. 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 Lady Midnight Laurie Grant www.millsandboon.co.uk

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT With grateful thanks to Sherrilyn Kenyon, my “medieval lifesaver,” and Ann Bouricius, critiquer and friend

About the Author LAURIE GRANT combines a career as a trauma center emergency room nurse with that of historical romance author, she says the writing helps keep her sane. Passionately enthusiastic about the history of both England and Texas, she divides her travel time between these two spots. She is married to her own real-life hero, and has two teenage daughters, two dogs and a cat. If you would like to write to Laurie, please use the address below: Laurie Grant P.O. Box 307272 Gahanna, OH 43230

Dedication To Maryanne Colas, for checking my French And always, to Michael

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Copyright

“…the lively pace of Devil’s Darewill carry you along…a taste of the spirited Old West.”

— Romantic Times

“Kudos to Ms. Grant for creating such a warm-hearted tale!”

— Rendezvous

“…an unbelievably gifted writer…highly recommended.”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…a tale of sweeping pageantry and the healing power of love.”

— Romantic Times

Claire declared with all the tenderness she could muster.

Alain raised his head from hers and their gazes locked. “You are, aren’t you?” he said wonderingly. “You are mine—my lady…”

She blinked, startled. “L-lady? I am no lady, L-lord Alain,” she stammered, wondering if somehow he knew. “I am just a serf…”

His lips curved upward. “You may have been born but a serf, but there’s a core in you of the finest gold. During the day you move among the humble folk of Hawkswell, but at night, when you come into my arms, you are every bit as fine as the proudest of Norman ladies— my lady,” he told her, his voice deep and husky with feeling. “My Lady Midnight…”

The phrase hung on the air, caressing her soul like velvet warmed before the fire…

Dear Reader,

Known for both her medieval novels and her Westerns, Reader’s Choice Award winner Laurie Grant is back this month with her new medieval tale, My Lady Midnight. This intriguing story features a Norman widow who becomes a political pawn when she is forced to go undercover as a governess in the home of the baron she believes responsible for the death of her best friend. Don’t miss this dark and wonderful tale.

Award-winning author Miranda Jarrett’s new Sparhawk book, Gift of the Heart, is a touching story set in the wilds of the New York frontier where a woman, abandoned by her no-good husband, discovers happiness in the arms of a fugitive haunted by his past.

Beauty and the Beast, a Regency tale about a troubled nobleman who is badgered into health by an interfering young neighbor, is the third book by March Madness author Taylor Ryan. And from hugely popular contemporary author Dallas Schulze comes her new Western, Short Straw Bride, the heartwarming tale of two people who marry for practical reasons, and wind up falling head over heels in love.

We hope you’ll keep a lookout for all four titles wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold.

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

www.millsandboon.co.uk

With grateful thanks to Sherrilyn Kenyon, my “medieval lifesaver,” and Ann Bouricius, critiquer and friend

LAURIE GRANT

combines a career as a trauma center emergency room nurse with that of historical romance author, she says the writing helps keep her sane. Passionately enthusiastic about the history of both England and Texas, she divides her travel time between these two spots. She is married to her own real-life hero, and has two teenage daughters, two dogs and a cat.

If you would like to write to Laurie, please use the address below:

Laurie Grant

P.O. Box 307272

Gahanna, OH 43230

To Maryanne Colas, for checking my French And always, to Michael