To Desire a Devil
Authors: Elizabeth Hoyt
“Won’t it?” Reynaud sounded unconcerned. “That remains to be seen.”
Beatrice watched him a moment as he stripped off his stockings, breeches, and smallclothes. When she raised her eyes to his,
he was watching her. He nodded and cupped himself.
“This is for you. Look your fill.”
“What if I don’t want it?”
“Then you lie.”
That sent a spurt of anger through her. “I think I have the ability to know when I want something or not.”
He shook his head. “Not in this case. You haven’t experienced a fraction of what can be between a man and a woman.”
She was warm now—and wet—but she still addressed him with sarcasm. “And if you show me all that can be, and I’m still not
interested, will you desist then?”
“No.” He strolled toward her, implacably confident. “You belong to me, and I intend to demonstrate that fact to you.”
“Elizabeth Hoyt writes with flair, sophistication, and unstoppable passion.”
—Julianne MacLean, author of
Portrait of a Lover
ELIZABETH HOYT’S
NOVELS
To Beguile a Beast
“Hoyt works her own brand of literary magic… in the exquisitely romantic, superbly sensual third addition to her extraordinary
Georgian-set Legend of the Four Soldiers series.”
—
Booklist
“4½ Stars! Top Pick! A magical love story that reads like a mystical fable and a very real and highly passionate romance.
Hoyt has found a unique niche that highlights both her storytelling abilities and her considerable talents for depth of character
and emotion.”
—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“Desert Isle Keeper! Books such as this one are the reason I read romance… Just about as good as it can get.”
“Fascinating… A heady mix… part love story, part history, and part fairy tale… I recommend it and cannot wait for the final
book in the series.”
—
Historical Novels Review
“5 Stars! An amazing novel… Extraordinarily touching and noteworthy… Hoyt did an exceptional job.”
“Everything a historical romance should be… Every aspect of this tale is first-rate. The characters come alive, the plot moves
along at breakneck speed, and the images and details are so vivid the reader feels totally immersed in the words that spring
to life. I loved this book from beginning to end… definitely one for the keeper shelf!”
“Another scorching hot historical romance by one of the best… I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Hoyt’s story of mystery and sensual
romance filled with suspense.”
“Elizabeth Hoyt is three for three with a beguiling tale… and never misses a beat.”
—
Midwest Book Review
“Spins a web of pure delight… another sparkling diamond for the author’s crown. Nothing less than magnificent!”
To Seduce a Sinner
“Superbly nuanced historical romance.”
—
Chicago Tribune
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! Hoyt’s magical fairy-tale romances have won the hearts of readers who adore sizzling sensuality perfectly
merged with poignancy. Her latest showcases her talent for creating remarkable characters and cherished stories that make
us believe in the miracle of love.”
—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“Hoyt expertly sifts a generous measure of danger into the latest intriguing addition to her Four Soldiers, Georgian-era series.
Her ability to fuse wicked wittiness with sinfully sensual romance is stunning.”
—
Booklist
“I thoroughly enjoyed this story of action, mystery, and hot, hot romance. Be prepared to sizzle through this sensuous and
exciting story that’s impossible to put down until the last page is finished.”
To Taste Temptation
“Hoyt… is firmly in control of her craft with engaging characters, gripping plot, and clever dialogue.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“4½ Stars! Hoyt’s new series… begins with destruction and ends with glorious love. She begins each chapter with a snippet
of a legend that beautifully dovetails with the plot and creates a distinct love story that will thrill readers.”
—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“4½ Stars! There’s an interesting suspense embedded in this book… The sensuality is breathtaking and the reader is carried
into the headiness of growing love… I loved this book, the high quality of the writing, the engaging plot, and, most of all,
the character development. A terrific novel… highly recommended.”
—
TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
The Serpent Prince
“Exquisite romance… mesmerizing storytelling… incredibly vivid lead characters, earthy writing, and an intense love story.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Wonderfully satisfying… delightfully witty… with just a touch of suspense. Set in a lush regency background, Elizabeth spins
a story of treachery, murder, suspense, and love with her usual aplomb.”
“Delectably clever writing, deliciously complex characters, and a delightfully sexy romance between perfectly matched protagonists
are the key ingredients in the third book in Hoyt’s superbly crafted, loosely connected Georgian-era Prince trilogy.”
—
Booklist
The Leopard Prince
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! An unforgettable love story that ignites the pages not only with heated love scenes but also with a mystery
that holds your attention and your heart with searing emotions and dark desire.”
—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
“The new master of the historical romance genre.”
“An exhilarating historical romance.”
—Midwest Book Review
The Raven Prince
“A sexy, steamy treat! A spicy broth of pride, passion, and temptation.”
—Connie Brockway,
USA Today
bestselling author
“Hoyt expertly spices this stunning debut novel with a sharp sense of wit and then sweetens her lusciously dark, lushly sensual
historical romance with a generous sprinkling of fairy-tale charm.”
—
Chicago Tribune
“Will leave you breathless.”
—Julianne MacLean, author of
Portrait of a Lover
O
THER TITLES BY
E
LIZABETH
H
OYT
The Raven Prince
The Leopard Prince
The Serpent Prince
To Taste Temptation
To Seduce a Sinner
To Beguile a Beast
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2009 by Nancy M. Finney
Excerpt from
Wicked Intentions
copyright © 2009 by Nancy M. Finney
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
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Grand Central Publishing is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Grand Central Publishing name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
First eBook Edition: November 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-56819-7
Contents
For my editor,
Amy Pierpont
, whose insight and patience made this book immeasurably better.
Gentle Reader,
To Desire a Devil
is the final book in my
Legend of the Four Soldiers
series, and brings back a hero long thought dead: Reynaud St. Aubyn, Viscount Hope and the
true
Earl of Blanchard. For seven long, wretched years Reynaud was held captive in the American Colonies. At the beginning of
To Desire a Devil
, Reynaud bursts into his ancestral London home, delirious with fever, sporting an earring and crude tattoos on his face, and demands—in French, unfortunately—his inheritance. But Reynaud’s home and his very family has changed in seven years—his father is dead, another man has inherited his title and lands, and a rather lovely young woman is the chatelaine of his home.
And therein lies a book. ;-)
But whilst researching Reynaud’s story, I became interested in what came
before
To Desire a Devil
opens. How, exactly, did Reynaud make the journey from the wilds of North America to civilized London? To assuage my curiosity I penned the vignettes below. I hope, Gentle Reader, that you find them amusing.
Yours Most Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hoyt
OUT OF THE WOODS
People stared as he walked down the civilized streets of Boston. They sidled away nervously, taking care not to meet his eyes. He was obviously savage, raw with suppressed violence, and quite possibly mad.