Taming a Gentleman Spy - The Spies of
Mayfair Book #2
by Maggi
Andersen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
John
Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an urgent mission to find the killer of his
fellow spy. After visiting the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn
strengthens his resolve. A spy should never marry, and most certainly not to
Lady Sibella Winborne, with her romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to
give Sibella up entirely, he has kept her close as a friend. Then, weak fool
that he is, he kissed her.
Lady
Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since she first set
eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn. Sibella’s many siblings always rush to
her aid to discourage an ardent suitor, but not this time. Her elder brother,
Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has approved Lord Coombe’s suit. Sibella yearns to set up her own household.
She is known to be the sensible member of the family, but she doesn’t feel at
all sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
Three:
Once the family returned to Brandreth Court, their townhouse
in Eaton Place, Sibella faced another dizzying round of social events. She and
Maria took an afternoon off from social calls to view the Parthenon sculptures
at the British museum.
They were returning home in a hackney cab when Maria grabbed
her arm. “Look, there’s Lord Strathairn.”
“Strathairn?” Sibella said. Her heart raced as the tall
fair-haired man crossed the road just as their cab drew up behind a town coach.
Maria pulled down the window. “Lord Strathairn!”
“Maria!” Sibella hissed as her cheeks began to burn. He
turned his head and changed direction, coming to their carriage where they’d
stopped in traffic.
Strathairn removed his hat and bowed. “Visiting Regent
Street, ladies?”
“Really, Lord Strathairn, do you think shopping is all we
ladies do?” Maria asked in a teasing voice.
His smiling gaze sought Sibella’s. “Not at all. I have two
sisters who have made me fully aware of the importance of shopping.”
Maria laughed. “We have been to the museum to view the Elgin
Marbles.”
“Aah. Then I apologize. What say you, Lady Sibella? Did you
enjoy the museum?”
Strangely divorced from the conversation, Sibella’s mind
still dwelled on their last encounter. Startled, she whipped her gaze away when
she discovered herself staring at his mouth, recalling the salty-sweet taste of
his kiss. “It was quite edifying. Such antiquities are awe inspiring.”
“Indeed. I confess I haven’t yet seen them.”
“Then you are as negligent as we are, my lord,” Maria said.
“Elgin brought them from Greece three years ago.”
He laughed. “I have not seen you riding of late, Lady
Sibella. Your brother Vaughn told me you were down at Brandreth Park.”
“Mama came back for the opera.” Sibella placed a hand to her
cheek. It felt warm even through her
kid glove and she hoped he could not see what his presence did to her. “And my
mare has developed shin splints and must rest.”
The traffic cleared ahead and their carriage jerked forward.
“I trust we’ll see you again soon, my lord?” Maria cast a quick glance at her. “Although we are off to the country again
next week. Mama intends to visit our brother Bartholomew in York.”
“I’m traveling north myself,” Strathairn said. “We might
meet at the York assembly.”
“We plan to be there. I do hope you come. It’s a remarkably
dull affair.” Maria stared at Sibella. “Don’t you agree, Sib?”
“Yes, it certainly can be,” Sibella said.
He bowed again. “Then I look forward to seeing you there.”
At a shout from a drayman, he dodged a wagon and ran to the pavement.
Maria turned to her. “Well!”
Sibella wrinkled her nose, trying to adopt a casual pose.
“Well, what?”
“You are in a brown study. I’m sure Strathairn was
enthralled by your scintillating conversation.”
“Oh, do stop, Maria.”
“What on earth is the matter with you? You two generally
talk for ages. Had you nothing to say to him?”
“He kissed me.”
Maria’s eyes went from owlish to accusatory. “Why didn’t you
tell me? And when was this?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Maggi
Andersen fell in love with the Georgian and Regency worlds after reading the
books of Georgette Heyer. Victoria Holt's Gothic Victorian novels were also
great favorites.
She has
raised three children and gained a BA and an MA in Creative Writing. After
husband David retired from the law, they moved to the beautiful Southern
Highlands of Australia.
Maggi's free
time is spent enjoying her garden and the local wildlife, reading, movies and
the theatre. She keeps fit swimming and visiting the gym.
Maggi is a
multi-published author, and writes mysteries and young adult novels as well as
her Georgian, Regency and Victorian romances.
Author
Website: http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com
Author Blog:
http://www.maggiandersen.blogspot.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/maggiandersen
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggi-Andersen-Author/372854959805
Buy Links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Gentleman-Spy-Spies-Mayfair/dp/1908483644/ref=la_B003MJXQVG_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381878440&sr=1-1
Publisher:
Knox Robinson Publishing Ltd.
http://www.knoxrobinsonpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=190?osCsid=7ca7b93ba2d4d9c4a32d9ec07cf6f205
Barnes &
Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-a-gentleman-spy-maggi-andersen/1116300615?ean=9781908483645
Maggi will award a $50 Amazon GC plus an e-book copy of A Baron in Her Bed – The Spies of Mayfair, Book #1 to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
6 comments:
Thanks for hosting me on your beautiful blog!
Thank you for hosting
I can't wait to read the book.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a great read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Sounds nice
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Love the excerpt and cover. It sounds great!
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