Only Scandal Will
Do
Jenna Jaxon
Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady
Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger
who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal
that would ruin her life.
Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan
Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she's a
lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is
anything like her.
Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest
romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and
he'll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who'll provide an heir
to carry on his illustrious family's name. He seeks out Katarina, intending
only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared.
He's betting their future he'll capture her heart, but does
he have what it takes to win the wager?
WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a
master of sensuality.
Author Bio:
Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance who has been reading
and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a
dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these
elements into her own writing.
Jenna lives in Virginia with her family and a small
menagerie of pets. When not reading or
writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres
as a director. She often feels she is
directing her characters on their own private stage.
She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate
because once she starts she just can’t stop.
Website / Facebook
Excerpt:
“I assure you, there
was never a night like that before.” Lord Dalbury spoke quietly, and Katarina
sensed a tension in him. “I had never done such a thing before. Never
participated in such an auction. Never tried to take a woman unwillingly to my
bed.” He stopped speaking. Just stopped. Then his breath hissed as though he’d
slowly released it.
“I cannot find the words to tell you how deeply I regret I
was not a better man that night.” He paused, and she held still and waited.
“What I tried to do was madness, without thought, without honor. I do not even
have an excuse other than my base desires, and that your abundant charms
overwhelmed me.” His face was shadowy in the scarce light of the sickle moon,
but he sounded contrite. “I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. I have
no right to expect it. But I would ask you to allow me to attempt to remedy the
situation.”
Kat shook her head slowly. “What on earth do you believe you
could do, Lord Dalbury, that could even come close to a remedy for the terror
and humiliation you put me through? Do you think now that I have met you, heard
your feeble attempts at an apology, and rejected them, the memory of that night
will magically disappear?” She fought to control her anger, though she yearned
to blast him with it. “What magic potion would you have me take that would
erase the memory of you pinning me to the bed? Because if you have such an
elixir, then yes, I will gladly take it from you and obliterate you absolutely
and irrevocably.”
He stood silent at her words, then said simply, “I have only
myself to offer, my lady.”
“You would have me kill you, my lord? In that, too, I agree
I would oblige you, but not at the cost of my own life. I understand the
English law punishes those who do murder quite severely.” Kat was astonished
when he lurched backward, as from a blow.
“No, my lady, I would not have you kill me,” he said,
sounding grimly amused. “Though indeed that would probably give you most
satisfaction. I meant I would have you marry me.”
His words surprised a laugh out of her. “Marry you?” The
laughter grew. “I see, my lord, you think me both a whore and a fool.”
“I think you are neither, Lady Katarina.”
“Then you are the fool to believe I would put such a man as
you in control of every aspect of my life.” That he thought she would even
entertain the suggestion was insulting.
The pale moonlight shadowed his face, but she could read
displeasure there just the same. “You judge me solely on one act that, I assure
you, was grossly out of character for me. You cannot possibly know what kind of
husband I would be.”
“And never will, Lord Dalbury. I can swear to you that I would
not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”
He inclined his head toward her, a faint smile touching his
lips. “I believe you made a similar claim about dancing with me, Lady Katarina.
Yet we have indeed enjoyed a dance together despite your words.” His tone was
soft, the sensuous, cajoling one he had used to seduce her that night in the
House of Pleasure.
Kat trembled, recalling the incredible sensations of his
hands, his mouth on her body. Damn. He could not do this to her again. Not just
with his voice.
“Is there nothing that would entice you to leave your Hell
for my Heaven?”
She struggled to answer, opened her lips to deny it, only to
find her mouth completely sealed by his.
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