It was an unusual beginning.. to an extraordinary love
Kathleen T. (keska) reviewed His Unexpected Bride (Zebra Regency Romance) on + 204 more book reviews
back cover:
The last thing Tess Masterson expected when she woke was to find a stranger - in her bed! The man said he was Cameron Hawksmoor, a marquess, which was surprising enough. Then Tess's father told her that handsome Cameron was her husband, thanks to a proxy ceremony. Nothing could be further from Tess's wishes, despite Cameron's brooding good looks. Yet, it somehow stung that her new husband obviously wanted nothing to do with her.
To Cam's dismay, an annulment was out of the question, despite the fact he was too foxed to remember the ceremony. It appeared he and Tess had spent the night together after all. And Tess - stubborn as she was lovely - soon proved determined to carry out the charade of marriage. Then Cam discovered the cleverly vicious plot that had brought them together, and he found protecting her was his first concern. For against all odds, he had fallen in love with his unexpected bride.
The last thing Tess Masterson expected when she woke was to find a stranger - in her bed! The man said he was Cameron Hawksmoor, a marquess, which was surprising enough. Then Tess's father told her that handsome Cameron was her husband, thanks to a proxy ceremony. Nothing could be further from Tess's wishes, despite Cameron's brooding good looks. Yet, it somehow stung that her new husband obviously wanted nothing to do with her.
To Cam's dismay, an annulment was out of the question, despite the fact he was too foxed to remember the ceremony. It appeared he and Tess had spent the night together after all. And Tess - stubborn as she was lovely - soon proved determined to carry out the charade of marriage. Then Cam discovered the cleverly vicious plot that had brought them together, and he found protecting her was his first concern. For against all odds, he had fallen in love with his unexpected bride.
A brief excerpt taken from inside the front cover:
"Do you know how to handle youself in such company?"
"Of course." Tess raised her chin, but did not lean toward him to make her point. She did not want to chance bumping into Heddy's cage, which was next to her feet. If Cameron had been curious why she had brought it here instead of leaving it with the other bags in the cart that followed the carriage, he had not asked. "Do not write me off as a hopeless bumpkin."
"Knowing the rules is not the same as knowing how to comport oneself when one is faced with a challenge among the Polite World."
She clenched her hands together, glad her gloves hid how her knuckles must be bleaching with her fury. "I promise you I shall do nothing to embarrass you, Cameron, such as flirting with the Prince Regent."
"Are you always so outspoken?"
"I am always this honest."
"A perilous trait in London."
She laughed. "Then I must risk that peril, because honety is a trait I do nto wish to lose."
Cameron shifted on the seat, sliding his arm hehind her. Again, as when they had spoken last night int he library, he did not touch her. She was glad, because she was unsettled even when he was this close. If he let his fingers drop to curve along her shoulder, she doubted she would be able to form a single logical thought ...
"Do you know how to handle youself in such company?"
"Of course." Tess raised her chin, but did not lean toward him to make her point. She did not want to chance bumping into Heddy's cage, which was next to her feet. If Cameron had been curious why she had brought it here instead of leaving it with the other bags in the cart that followed the carriage, he had not asked. "Do not write me off as a hopeless bumpkin."
"Knowing the rules is not the same as knowing how to comport oneself when one is faced with a challenge among the Polite World."
She clenched her hands together, glad her gloves hid how her knuckles must be bleaching with her fury. "I promise you I shall do nothing to embarrass you, Cameron, such as flirting with the Prince Regent."
"Are you always so outspoken?"
"I am always this honest."
"A perilous trait in London."
She laughed. "Then I must risk that peril, because honety is a trait I do nto wish to lose."
Cameron shifted on the seat, sliding his arm hehind her. Again, as when they had spoken last night int he library, he did not touch her. She was glad, because she was unsettled even when he was this close. If he let his fingers drop to curve along her shoulder, she doubted she would be able to form a single logical thought ...