The Study of Seduction: Sinful Suitors 2
Read The Study of Seduction: Sinful Suitors 2 Online
Authors: Sabrina Jeffries
Tags: #Romance, #Historical, #Historical Romance
Copyright © 2016 Deborah Gonzales
Cover image © Alan Ayers
Author photograph © Jessi Bllakely for Tammara Lackey Photography
The right of Sabrina Jeffries to be identified as the Author of the Work *crane has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Published by arrangement with Pocket Books,
a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
First published in this Ebook edition in 2016
by HEADLINE ETERNAL
An imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library
eISBN 978 1 4722 3215 1
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Contents
Meet the Hellions of Halstead Hall
Find out more about Headline Eternal
Sabrina Jeffries
is the
New York Times
bestselling author of 38 novels and 9 works of short fiction (some written under the pseudonyms Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas). Whatever time not spent writing in a coffee-fueled haze of dreams and madness is spent traveling with her husband and adult autistic son or indulging in one of her passions – jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, and music. With over 7 million books in print in 18 different languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction, and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world. She always dreams big.
For more information, visit her at
www.sabrinajeffries.com
, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/SabrinaJeffriesAuthor
or on Twitter
@SabrinaJeffries
.
Praise for Sabrina Jeffries, queen of the sexy regency romance:
‘Anyone who loves romance must read Sabrina Jeffries!’ Lisa Kleypas,
New York Times
bestselling author
‘Irresistible . . . Larger-than-life characters, sprightly dialogue, and a steamy romance will draw you into this delicious captive/captor tale’
Romantic Times
(top pick)
‘Another excellent series of books which will alternatively have you laughing, crying and running the gamut of emotions . . . I guarantee you will have a tear in your eye’
Romance Reviews Today
‘The sexual tension crackles across the pages of this witty, deliciously sensual, secret-laden story’
Library Journal
‘Exceptionally entertaining and splendidly sexy’
Booklist
‘An enchanting story brimming with sincere emotions and compelling scenarios . . . an outstanding love story of emotional discoveries and soaring passions, with a delightful touch of humor plus suspense’
Single Titles
‘Scorching . . . From cover to cover, it sizzles’
Reader to Reader
‘Full of all the intriguing characters, brisk plotting, and witty dialogue that Jeffries’s readers have come to expect’
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
Sinful Suitors Series
The Art Of Sinning
The Study Of Seduction
Hellions Of Halstead Hall Series
The Truth About Lord Stoneville
A Hellion In Her Bed
How To Woo A Reluctant Lady
To Wed A Wild Lord
A Lady Never Surrenders
When Edwin Barlow, the Earl of Blakeborough, agrees to help his best friend's impetuous ward, Lady Clarissa Lindsey, he knows he's in for trouble. He's been hunting for someone to wed but, although captivated by her witty, free-spirited beauty, the gruff cynic fears she'd be all wrong as a wife . . .
Clarissa has no intention of marrying anyone. Yet when matters escalate with a powerful French diplomat who's stalking her, she accepts Edwin's gallant offer of marriage. Expecting an amiable union between friends, their increasingly tempestuous kisses prove more than she bargained for and, when Clarissa's stalker vows to expose their deepest secrets, the lovers' tenuous bond is tested. Can they withstand public ruin, or will Edwin risk all that's important to him to protect his bride?
For more dazzlingly romantic and witty historical romance, don't miss Sabrina's other gorgeous series including The Hellions of Halstead Hall, The School for Heiresses and The Royal Brotherhood.
For my husband, Rene, who’s about as close to being Edwin as a man can get, but without the math/engineering skills.
And for Becky Timblin and Kim Ham, whose support despite their many challenges this year meant worlds to me. Y’all are the best!
A big thank-you to sex educator Dr. Emily Nagoski, whose input on my characters and information on the subject of female sexuality was invaluable. Any mistakes in the book are my own.
London
April 1830
“You have lost your bloody mind.”
When every member in the reading room of St. George’s Club turned to look at Edwin Barlow, Earl of Blakeborough, he realized how loudly he’d spoken.
The place was more crowded than usual, now that everyone was back in London and night was falling. Gentlemen wanted a few drinks before they plunged into the maelstrom that was the Season.
With a quelling glance that sent the curious onlookers scrambling to mind their own business, Edwin returned his attention to Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford. “This plan of yours can’t possibly work.”
“Of course it can.”
Warren was Edwin’s closest friend. Really, his only friend, aside from his sister’s new husband, Jeremy Keane. Edwin didn’t make friends easily, probably because he didn’t suffer fools easily. And society was full of fools.
That was precisely why Edwin, Keane, and Warren had started this club—so they could separate the fools from the fine men. So they could protect the women in their lives from fortune hunters, gamblers, rakehells, and every other variety of scoundrel in London.
In a matter of months, the club had swollen from three to thirty members, all good men eager to share information about which of their peers couldn’t be trusted with women. Until now, Edwin hadn’t realized that so many gentlemen’s female relations needed protecting from sly and not-so-sly attempts on their virtue . . . and fortunes.
Warren was clearly taking that mission very seriously. Perhaps too seriously.
“Clarissa will never agree,” Edwin said.
“She has no choice.”
Edwin narrowed his gaze on Warren. “You actually believe you can convince your sharp-tongued cousin to let me squire her about town during the Season?”
“Only until I return. And why not?” Warren said, though he took a long swig of brandy as if to fortify himself for the fight. “It isn’t as if she hates you.”
“No, indeed,” Edwin said sarcastically. “She only challenges my every remark, ignores my advice, and tweaks my nose incessantly. The last time I saw her, she called me the Blakeborough Bear and said I belonged in the Tower of London menagerie, where ordinary people could be spared my growls.”