Twice Fallen
Authors: Emma Wildes
Tags: #Romance, #General, #Contemporary, #Historical, #Fiction
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS
OF EMMA WILDES
“A luxurious and sensual read. Both deliciously wicked and tenderly romantic.… I didn’t want it to end!”
—
New York Times
bestselling author Celeste Bradley
“This wickedly exciting romance will draw you in and take hold of your heart.”
—
USA Today
bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle
“A stylish blend of dangerous intrigue and scorching desire that is bound to captivate fans of Amanda Quick and Nicole Jordan.”
—
Booklist
“Regency fans will thrill to this superbly sensual tale of an icy widow and two decadent rakes.… Balancing deliciously erotic encounters with compelling romantic tension and populating a convincing historical setting with a strong cast of well-developed characters, prolific romance author Wildes provides a spectacular and skillfully handled story that stands head and shoulders above the average historical romance.”
—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“Wickedly delicious and daring, Wildes’s tale tantalizes with an erotic fantasy that is also a well-crafted Regency romance. She delivers a page-turner that captures the era, the mores, and the scandalous behavior that lurks beneath the surface.”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars, top pick)
“Emma Wildes has thoroughly enchanted e-book readers with her emotionally charged story lines.… [A] gem of an author… Ms. Wildes tells this story with plenty of compassion, humor, and even a bit of suspense to keep readers riveted to each scandalous scene—and everything in between.” —Romance Junkies
“A historical gem.… Don’t expect a cookie-cutter romance in
An Indecent Proposition
. Ms. Wildes places enough twists and turns in the story as more than one character finds everlasting love.” —TwoLips Reviews
“Of all the authors I’ve read, I believe Emma Wildes to be my hands-down favorite.… Ms. Wildes has once again shown her ability to present new variations of romance in all of its infinite forms. Be prepared to feel your passions grow as you read the beautifully written love scenes.” —Just Erotic Romance Reviews (5 stars)
“Emma Wildes has an amazing flair for taking what could be considered controversial subject matter and turning it into a beautiful love story that has the reader cheering for the characters.… It is a truly rare and remarkable talent.” —Euro-Reviews
“Unique, masterfully written, and engaging story lines coupled with fascinating characters are what every reader can expect from Emma Wildes. For fans of historical and Regency romance, look no further. Ms. Wildes possesses a beautiful, flowing writing style that transports her readers to another time as the sights and sounds come to life around them. My expectations are exceeded every time I read one of her books!” —TwoLips Reviews
“Chock-full of mysteries, torrid romances, unforgettable characters… delightfully fun and wicked.”
—Romance Junkies
“Emma Wildes is a rising star who writes incredible historical romance.” —Fallen Angel Reviews
“Ms. Wildes has penned an excellent novel that is sure to be a favorite for many years to come… deserves no less than a perfect 10!” —Romance Reviews Today
“[A] delightful, delicious, and sexy tale that readers will adore.” —Goodreads (JERR Gold Star Award)
“Inventive and well-written, with fabulous love scenes and characters worth reading about.”
—All About Romance
Ladies in Waiting
One Whisper Away
The Notorious Bachelors
Our Wicked Mistake
His Sinful Secret
My Lord Scandal
Seducing the Highlander
Lessons from a Scarlet Lady
An Indecent Proposition
TWICE FALLEN
Emma Wildes
SIGNET ECLIPSE
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,
Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi - 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632,
New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,
Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, January 2012
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright © Katherine Smith, 2012
All rights reserved
EISBN: 978-1-101-55967-3
SIGNET ECLIPSE and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
My heartfelt gratitude to Kerry Donovan for how she edits with a hint of humor and a great deal of wisdom. As always, a salute to Barbara Poelle, who could not be a better agent.
Chapter 1
London, 1816
A
First of all, it was quiet, Lady Lillian Bourne thought blissfully, settling back against the comfortable cushions. True, she probably had only twenty minutes at the most—if she was particularly daring—but the respite was needed, and though the orchestra was faintly audible in the background, she was at least not assaulted by conversation and music from all sides. It wasn’t that she disliked socializing completely; it was more that she preferred peace and quiet.…
Even as she reflected on how she despised the press of so much noise and too many people, the library suddenly lost its status as a solitary refuge.
The door opened, it closed, and then it opened again almost at once.
Lily could have sworn she heard a muttered curse in a deep male voice that contained an intriguing word she didn’t recognize.
“
This
is where you were going, my lord?”
The second speaker was a woman and the question
held a sultry female intonation. Propped carelessly on the velvet-covered settee in an unladylike pose with her ankles crossed, Lily had to resist the urge to sit up and see who had entered the room, but she wasn’t all that anxious to be discovered herself, so she stayed still.
“Yes, for just a few minutes of
solitude
.”
The weighted emphasis on that last word was lost on his companion. The woman’s laugh was musical and light. “You are always so droll.”
“Am I?” Lord Whoever’s voice was dry but not in an offensive way, just offhand. “I wasn’t aware. Can I help you, Lady Piedmont?”
Lady Piedmont? As in the wife of the man some speculated might become the next prime minister? That was interesting. Lily didn’t just follow the society papers; she also was careful to pay attention to the political machinations of the English system of government and she knew the name well.
“I think you know full well why I followed you.”
She might not be as sophisticated as rumor had it, but that murmured sultry inflection was hard to miss. Low, with a heated note that told her she definitely did not now want to make her presence known, and the lack of a response indicated that some sort of physical contact might just be occurring.
How the devil
did
she get herself into these situations? Lily wondered with a mixture of irritation and chagrin. All she’d wanted was a few minutes of peace and quiet before having to face all of society gawping at her and not succeeding in concealing their avid interest in her every move, lest she stumble again.
Falling from grace once had been entirely too much.
“Miriam,” the unknown man said, his voice a notch deeper, “don’t. I refuse to cooperate.”
“Ah, but there is evidence to the contrary. Your cock is getting hard, darling.”
“A beautiful woman is endeavoring to unbutton my breeches. I think with most males there would be a predictable physical reaction, but that does not mean I want this to go any further.”
“No. Rumor has it you are remarkably well endowed. I am rather anxious to verify that for myself.” The words were said in a low, persuasive purr.
“Good Lord, don’t you females have anything better to discuss? I’m sorry, but I am uninterested in assuaging your curiosity.”
Lady Piedmont was undeterred. She said quite breathlessly, “Kiss me again.”
“I didn’t kiss you the first time,” he argued. “
You
kissed
me
. It’s quite different, my dear.”