You Can't Always Get the Marquess You Want (39 page)

Her face softened with tenderness. “I have been miserable without you.”

“Lord Warrilow will have to find another lady to wed because there is nothing your father can say that will persuade me to give you up again.” Mathias tangled his fingers with hers as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. “I thought I had lost—”

“I know,” she whispered back. “I wanted to die when I overheard my father tell you—”

“Hush,” he said, kissing her again to soothe away the pain they had both endured. “It is done. Your father's lies have no power over us any longer.”

He and Tempest had his mother and father to thank for exposing Norgrave's lies. If not for them, he would have bowed to the marquess's dictates and lost the woman he loved to another gentleman. Like his father, Mathias was not the forgiving sort.

As far as he was concerned, the Rookes and Brants could keep their secrets.

Mathias looked beyond Tempest and realized they were finally alone. He cuddled her closer. “Should we join our family?” he murmured, reluctant to share her with anyone else.

“I want to go home.”

Home.

Mathias found it mildly amusing that his priorities had shifted once he'd encountered Tempest in London. On his arrival, his thoughts had been focused on the ephemeral pleasures that men often sought to ease the boredom.

He had not realized he had been waiting for Tempest all along.

His friends might think him mad for marrying so young, but he considered himself a truly fortunate gentleman. The woman in his arms had filled his life with laughter, was a balm to both mind and soul, and together they would turn his grandmother's old house into a home.

He nuzzled the top of his wife's head with his chin. “What would you say to escaping this madhouse and toasting our marriage in the privacy of our bedchamber? Preferably naked.”

“It sounds like a brilliant plan,” she said, casting a guilty glance at the stairs. “Although it would be rude not to tell anyone.”

“Yes,” Mathias said, grabbing her hand and leading her to the front door. “And if we are fortunate, no one will speak to us for a week … possibly two.”

“Promise?” she teased.

The brief truce between the Rookes and Brants would not last. There was too much anger and history between them.

Mathias cast a rueful glance at the library where father and son were slowly getting drunk on brandy.

No, two weeks would not be enough.

“We'll make each day count. That much I can promise you,” he said, indulging both of them with a lingering kiss.

With Tempest in his arms and the enticing curves of her body pressing against him, he was already home.

 

Coming soon…

Look for the next novel in this wildly popular series!

Waiting For an Earl Like You

Available in January 2017 from St. Martin's Paperbacks

 

Don't miss
Alexandra Hawkins
's Lords of Vice series!

A Duke But No Gentleman

Twilight with the Infamous Earl

Dusk with a Dangerous Duke

All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord

After Dark with a Scoundrel

Till Dawn with the Devil

All Night with a Rogue

And look for these novels written as Barbara Pierce!

Tempting the Heiress

Courting the Countess

Wicked Under the Covers

Sinful Between the Sheets

Naughty by Nature

Scandalous by Night

Available from St. Martin's Paperbacks

 

Also by

ALEXANDRA HAWKINS

A Duke But No Gentleman

Twilight with the Infamous Earl

Dusk with a Dangerous Duke

All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord

After Dark with a Scoundrel

Till Dawn with the Devil

All Night with a Rogue

 

Praise for the novels of
Alexandra Hawkins

A Duke But No Gentleman

“The attraction between Blackbern and Imogene is intense.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“4.5 stars. The first of the Masters of Seduction series will more than satisfy those who savor a dark, richly woven romance.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“This edgy historical will appeal to romantic-suspense readers looking for darker layers in a Regency love story.”

—
Booklist

“5 stars. This book is everything that a historical romance novel should be.”

—
The Reading Wench

“Sensual and filled with plenty of surprises,
A Duke But No Gentleman
is an excellent summer read.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

“5 stars. The reigning authority of charismatic Regency rogues.”

—
Jenerated Reviews

“A fantastic start to a seductive series.”

—
Night Owl Reviews

“A-review. A very good book.”

—
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy

“5 stars. A smart, wicked, and gripping morality tale.”

—
Romantic Historical Reviews

“Very worthwhile as the love story between the two was one of the most real I have read in a long time.”

—
Kilts and Swords

“A dark story, yet a compelling one.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“A truly rewarding story. I look forward to the next installment in this wickedly seductive series.”

—
My Book Addiction Reviews

“
A Duke But No Gentleman
shows readers that real love always triumphs.”

—
Romance Junkies

“Be prepared to fall in love with a handsome rogue.”

—
April Hollingworth,
Just Another WordPress Site

“Well written and engaging story.”

—
For the Love of Books

“Dark, gritty, and unapologetic,
A Duke But No Gentleman
takes manipulation, revenge, and passion to a whole new level.”

—
Adria's Romance Reviews

“A-review. I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series.”

—
The Good, The Bad, and The Unread

“Steamy and filled with all kinds of tension.”

—
Readful Things Blog

“5 stars. Humor, passion, and the almighty happy ending.”

—
Sam's Ramblings

All Night with a Rogue

“Hawkins's first Lords of Vice tale calls to mind the highly sensual reads of Bertrice Small and Susan Johnson.”

—
Romantic Times

“Brimming with witty repartee, well-drawn characters, an intriguing plot, sizzling sensual love scenes, and innocence, this story is a delight.”

—
Romance Junkies
(4.5)

Till Dawn with the Devil

“
Till Dawn with the Devil
's romance is first-rate with unusual characters and an underlying mystery that will intrigue readers.”

—
Robin Lee,
Romance Reviews Today

“Hawkins cements her reputation for bringing compelling, unique, and lush romances to fans eager for fresh storytelling.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4½ stars)

“
Till Dawn with the Devil
promises an intoxicating journey, and delivers with an exciting series of twists and turns that leave the reader disoriented and begging for more.”

—
Melissa Kammer,
Fresh Fiction

After Dark with a Scoundrel

“Hawkins's talent for perfectly merging Gothic elements into a sexually charged romance is showcased along with the marvelous cast of characters taking readers on a thrill ride.”

—Kathe Robin,
RT Book Reviews

“I would recommend this story to anyone who loves an amazingly written romance.”

—
Night Owl Reviews
(5-star Top Pick)

“
Alexandra Hawkins
has just cemented herself a place on my ‘must-read' author list.”

—Chrissy Dionne,
Romance Junkies

“Poignant, sweetly romantic, and sexy as can be.”

—Joyce Greenfield,
Reader to Reader

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord

“Simply spectacular from front to back!”

—
Fresh Fiction

“Regency fans will enjoy the bold heroine and rakish hero.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Charming, fun, and sexy.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“
Sunrise with a Notorious Lord
is a fun and lively story.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess

“Desire in disguise was never so sweet or passionate, and Hawkins hooks readers and draws them in all the way to the perfect ending.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“A good solid choice for historical romance fans.”

—
Night Owl Reviews

“Hawkins creates strong characters and dramatizes high emotion along with sensuality. Fans of Stephanie Laurens and Jo Beverley will enjoy this series.”

—
Booklist

“Easy reading and fascinating characters make
All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess
a light-hearted read.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

Dusk with a Dangerous Duke

“Another fantastic read in the Lords of Vice series.”

—
Single Titles

“
Alexandra Hawkins
never lets a reader of historical romance forget how wonderful she is at creating characters with depth and a romance between them that brings a tear to your eye.”

—
Mary Gramlich Blog

Twilight with the Infamous Earl

“Fans of the series will relish this last book, bringing all the characters back together for one last stand.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“A story filled with laughter, devotion, and overcoming society's perception of a person.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

“The chemistry and family connections are Hawkins's strength and show well in this adventure.”

—
Booklist

“I enjoyed every page of this book. Absolutely devoured it.
Alexandra Hawkins
is a very talented writer. She knows how to create a great story that will pull the reader in and make them curious about what will happen next.”

—
Night Owl Reviews
(4.5 stars, Night Owl Top Pick)

“The characters are strong and easily likable.”

—
Fresh Fiction

 

About the Author

An unrepentant Anglophile,
Alexandra Hawkins
discovered romance novels as a teenager and knew that one day she would be writing her own stories. Alexandra has combined her love of English history, mythology, and romance to create sensual, character-driven stories that she hopes will touch readers' hearts. Alexandra lives in Georgia with her husband and three children. You can contact her through her website at
www.alexandrahawkins.com
or by mail at: P.O. Box 2192, Woodstock, GA 30188. Or sign up for email updates
here
.