In Devlin’s Arms
A Sensual and Playful Regency Romance
A Sensual and Playful Regency Romance
A little trouble, a little laughter, love, and a whole lot of sensuality feature in this Regency novella In Devlin’s Arms.
Devlin Rochdene, the fourth Earl of Cariston is at his wits’ end. He has been backed into a corner by Lady Clarissa Dravenbrook, a young woman he was caught in a compromising position with—a situation she orchestrated. Now she is insisting that he announce their engagement in The Scottish Daily Times the next day, or she will destroy not only his good name but his reputation in the shipping business, making him appear unreliable.
He is only one voyage away from solvency, so now faced with losing either his financial freedom or his personal freedom he must make a choice. But just when he thinks things can’t get any worse, in walks his young neighbor Lady Chantal Havonford—Tally—with a dueling pistol, demanding his assistance with a problem of her own.
Can he solve one problem with another? As he is leaving on his ship the next day he has to act quickly. If he marries Tally, Clarissa will be thwarted, but will that be the end of it? Or is it just the beginning? And is the feisty Clarissa all that she seems? That lies with his best friend Vincent Harper, Viscount Braden, to discover.
Here is an excerpt from the second part of the book when Vincent visits Clarissa:
“Stupid? I must have been stupid to get into this carriage with you!” she shouted as the crash overhead reverberated through the carriage.
“Well then, be my guest and leave!” He waved a dismissive hand from her to the door.
Instead of cowering or pleading to stay she opened the door and was about to leap out, he grasped her around the waist, pulling her back inside. She landed with a thump on the floor at his feet.
“Now I know you are mad!” he growled. “Barefoot and naked beneath the cloak you would jump out into the night!”
“Anything would be better than being in here with you!” she hissed angrily. Then his attention was suddenly diverted as she struggled to her feet rubbing the spot on her backside where she had landed with a thump. This fiery little vixen was actually a joy to behold, she was fierce and funny and he wanted to laugh. Valiantly he attempted to press his lips together lest he allow a chuckle to escape.
She turned to him, hands going to her hips when she saw the smile he couldn’t quite suppress. “You think this is funny?”
“Yes.” He nodded as finally the laughter broke free and he guffawed in a most ungentlemanly manner. This time she did leap from the carriage, fortunately they had pulled to a halt outside Dravenbrook Castle. She landed with a splash, her bare feet in a puddle. But he was right behind her, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the house.
“You have to put me down. You must leave, right now.”
“Why? Isn’t it customary to invite a guest inside, particularly in a storm?” he chuckled as she squirmed in his arms.
“That would be inappropriate,” she informed him primly.
“Inappropriate? You expected my friend to marry you for less than this.”
Recumbent in his embrace she folded her arms. “You are a fool!” she told him.
That really got his dander up! It injured him more to have his intelligence questioned than to be made fun of for his limp. He was a smart man, damn it!
“Do you just enjoy insulting people?” he demanded as he pulled the bell and waited for the door to open.
“Just you, you obviously bring out the best in me.”
“I do? So you are admitting to actually having a good side? Though if this is your best, I confess I may be tempted to call for an exorcist!”
She met his gaze then and he couldn’t fathom what he saw in her eyes. She was puzzled, no doubt no one had ever spoken to her that way before.
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