Emily French - The Wedding Bargain

Cover Page

Praise Praise for Illusion by Emily French “…witty and fast-paced…” — Affaire de Coeur “…the voltage of the love scenes is no illusion.” — Romantic Times

Excerpt Charity tried to control herself, but her mind was running at full speed. “Master Trehearne—Rafe…I have a suggestion to make. I suggest you and I should marry.” “No.” His lips snapped together like a trap. The line of his jaw was taut, and his golden eyes gleamed with hidden fire. Charity hunched her shoulders. “’Tis only common sense, after all. A practical proposition, based on matters of mutual convenience.” “I daresay.” “Did you think otherwise by chance? I don’t love you. I’m a widow with two sons, not a foolish, romantic girl of fifteen! ’Tis simple. An unmarried woman is always at a great disadvantage in this world. I therefore want a husband.” “If that’s all it is, you’ll soon find one easy enough.” “But I happen to want you! ”

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Although she has published only two books, Emily French is already gaining a reputation based on the emotional impact of her stories. In this month’s novel, The Wedding Bargain, widow Charity Frey defies her Puritan community and marries Rafe Trehearne, a bondsman who has been wrongly accused of treason. Rafe is a man tortured by his past, but Charity’s loving strength and determination make him whole again. RITA Award finalist Laurel Ames is back with Tempted, her new novel that Affaire de Coeur calls an “exciting, unusual, and delightfully quirky Regency.” Don’t miss this story that features wonderful characters and a touch of intrigue. Ana Seymour’s sixth title for Harlequin Historicals, Gabriel’s Lady, is the first of two connected books set in the wilds of the Dakota Territory. And for those of you whose tastes run to medieval novels, look for Knight’s Ransom, the next title in Suzanne Barclay’s dramatic ongoing series, The Sommerville Brothers. 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., PO. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Title Page The Wedding Bargain Emily French www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author EMILY FRENCH Emily French comes from a family of incurable romantics but never dreamed her love of reading would turn into a writing career. Now she can’t imagine a life without writing. Her novels are laced with action and are filled with sizzling romance. Emily draws on the colorful past for background whenever she writes. Patient and painstaking research of the Connecticut probate records gave a detailed description of indenture in American colonial society. The private diary of a Connecticut farm woman disclosed a turbulent tale of endurance and hardship and gave a peek at a passionate heart’s intense inner struggles to conform. These brief and forgotten vignettes of a turbulent period in American history were the inspiration for Emily French’s latest exciting historical romance novel.

Dedication To my parents: Emilie Le Feuvre and Samuel Beattie Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal’d: I strove against the stream and all in vain: Let the great river take me to the main No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield; Ask me no more. Alfred, Lord Tennyson The Princess

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

Epilogue

Copyright

“…witty and fast-paced…”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…the voltage of the love scenes is no illusion.”

— Romantic Times

“The sexual tension never ebbs…”

— Romantic Times

“5*s.”

— Heartland Critiques

“…fast-paced, action-filled, and beautifully romantic…”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…a gripping tale of survival and love.”

— Rendezvous

“Master Trehearne—Rafe…I have a suggestion to make. I suggest you and I should marry.”

“No.” His lips snapped together like a trap. The line of his jaw was taut, and his golden eyes gleamed with hidden fire.

Charity hunched her shoulders. “’Tis only common sense, after all. A practical proposition, based on matters of mutual convenience.”

“I daresay.”

“Did you think otherwise by chance? I don’t love you. I’m a widow with two sons, not a foolish, romantic girl of fifteen! ’Tis simple. An unmarried woman is always at a great disadvantage in this world. I therefore want a husband.”

“If that’s all it is, you’ll soon find one easy enough.”

“But I happen to want you! ”

Dear Reader,

Although she has published only two books, Emily French is already gaining a reputation based on the emotional impact of her stories. In this month’s novel, The Wedding Bargain, widow Charity Frey defies her Puritan community and marries Rafe Trehearne, a bondsman who has been wrongly accused of treason. Rafe is a man tortured by his past, but Charity’s loving strength and determination make him whole again.

RITA Award finalist Laurel Ames is back with Tempted, her new novel that Affaire de Coeur calls an “exciting, unusual, and delightfully quirky Regency.” Don’t miss this story that features wonderful characters and a touch of intrigue.

Ana Seymour’s sixth title for Harlequin Historicals, Gabriel’s Lady, is the first of two connected books set in the wilds of the Dakota Territory. And for those of you whose tastes run to medieval novels, look for Knight’s Ransom, the next title in Suzanne Barclay’s dramatic ongoing series, The Sommerville Brothers.

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., PO. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

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

www.millsandboon.co.uk

EMILY FRENCH

Emily French comes from a family of incurable romantics but never dreamed her love of reading would turn into a writing career. Now she can’t imagine a life without writing. Her novels are laced with action and are filled with sizzling romance.

Emily draws on the colorful past for background whenever she writes. Patient and painstaking research of the Connecticut probate records gave a detailed description of indenture in American colonial society. The private diary of a Connecticut farm woman disclosed a turbulent tale of endurance and hardship and gave a peek at a passionate heart’s intense inner struggles to conform.

These brief and forgotten vignettes of a turbulent period in American history were the inspiration for Emily French’s latest exciting historical romance novel.