Dearest Readers,
The Tattler is certainly no stranger to scandals and rumors, but this latest news from the countryside even brings a blush to our faces. A dear friend has just returned from a ball held at the Earl of Rothden’s country estate and reports that the earl had not one, but two mistresses present.
The earl has long been associated with a certain Lady M, whom our witness saw at the ball. However, our witness later spied the Earl sweeping an unknown miss into the shadows and come out looking quite flushed. Is it any wonder that he should act so scandalously with friends like Lord Twisden? You may recall, dear readers, that Lord Twisden was in the Tattler just last week when he was caught indecent with Major Waler’s wife!
Rumors have circulated for the last few months that the Earl broke his arrangement with Lady M. Yet we must wonder if those rumors are true with her attendance at the ball. Even if they are true, who is the mysterious young miss the Earl was spotted with? Be assured that The Tattler will not rest until her identity is discovered.
The Earl’s Timely Wallflower
Never let destiny meddle in your romantic affairs…
When Lily Bennett became the caretaker of her teenage sister, it came at the expense of her hopes, dreams, and the home she grew up in. Now that her sister is grown and on her own, Lily struggles to find a place to call home. She wants to feel part of a family again and intends to mend the broken relationships with her siblings. That is, until she discovers an unusual timepiece that lands her in Regency England. And at the feet of one of the most eligible men in society. Unfortunately, he believes that she’s crazy. Any attraction Lily feels for the stubborn man is clearly one-sided. Too bad she’s stuck with him until she can figure out how to get home.
Gabriel Hawthorne, Earl of Rothden, has decided to host one last house party before returning to London for the dreaded season where every simpering chit and money-hungry mother will hover around him like flies. Add to that his sister’s hunt for a husband and Gabriel would rather shoot himself than a grouse. Still, it’s his duty to find his sister a suitable match, which he’ll do after one last bit of respite to shore up his defenses. A respite interrupted when a pretty little wallflower in scandalous clothes lands at his feet claiming to be from the future. He’d turn her over to doctors if she weren’t so damn intriguing. Suddenly, all thoughts of London, responsibilities, and simpering debutantes don’t seem half as hard as getting Lily to stay with him.
But when his ex-mistress arrives unannounced at the house party, she makes every effort to drive a wedge between the fragile bond Gabriel and Lily have forged. If she succeeds, he could lose Lily forever. And if Lily finds a way back to her time, he may have to follow her.
Because the Earl of Rothden always gets what he wants. Even when it’s a wallflower from the future.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3lYSzNm
(also available in KU)
Excerpt: Gabriel finds Lily in the library late one night…
“What about a family of your own? A husband and children?” His stomach tightened unaccountably at the thought.
“Some future dream, I suppose.”
“Any other future dreams?”
Lily chewed her lip. “There should be.”
“Perhaps it is time to think about the things that you want, Lily.”
“Maybe. Right now, I want to find a clock maker. All I found was a book on the theory of trade in the world.”
“Excellent choice. That book should put you right to sleep.”
“Would you like one for yourself?” Lily handed him the book. Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled.
“Ah, no. I was hoping for something even more dull. The General View of Agriculture perhaps.”
“At home, I read every night in bed. It helped settle my mind so that I could sleep.”
“What did you read?”
“Romance. I only read romances.”
His Lily was a romantic. Did she read them and dream of a great romance of her own?
“I don’t suppose you have any?” she asked, although by her tone, she thought he wouldn’t.
His lips tugged up. “Violet snuck a few romances into the library, hoping that I wouldn’t notice.” He reached behind her, pressing himself that much closer, to run a finger over the leather spines.
She sucked in a breath.
The air changed between them, like the charge before a lightning strike. Heady and breathless. Something about this woman drew him. The more he learned about her, the more he desired her. Her strength and intelligence shone through every conversation, and Gabriel found himself deeply attracted to that combination.
Gabriel rested his other hand on the bookshelf, caging her in. He looked down into her eyes, illuminated only by the candle flame. The darkness wrapped around them, cocooning them in shadows. A branch brushed the window outside, and the house creaked. The silence of the night cast a spell, weaving between them, tugging them closer. It was as if they’d slipped into the land of dreams, where nothing felt real.
Lily pressed her hands to his chest. She didn’t push him away.
He wanted to feel her soft hands against his bare skin, but his dressing gown and sleep shirt were in the way. She stroked over his chest, then dipped her fingers under the edge of his velvet robe.
Closer to where he wanted her hands.
He dipped his head and traced his nose along her hairline, breathing her in. She arched into him, brushing her hips against his.
Her eyes widened when she felt his hard cock, and a shuddering breath left her lips.
“You fit against me perfectly,” he whispered. “When we danced, this is what I imagined.”
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Aurrora St. James writes sexy historical and paranormal/fantasy romances featuring tough heroes, strong women, quirky characters, and a touch of humor added in for spice. She loves coffee, making her own journals, old B, C, and D-movies, and the magic of a happily ever after.
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A man can learn a lot sitting in the shadows outside the gentlemen’s clubs that line Saint James Street. On a recent night an argument among three particularly drunken pinks of the ton raised some interesting questions. They were discussing a certain duke who had been most conspicuous for his absence during the previous season. Well into the summer no sign of him had been found in any of the usual chains of gossip. It was as I he had disappeared.
A foray among the rear doors of the clubs, discrete questions to servants, and a survey of some of the less savory gambling dens frequented by gentlemen brought the picture into focus to your reporter. Consensus among the fashionable of London is that the duke has met with a grisly end, and I must say that the stories became more gruesome with the telling. Many believe he has done away with himself, and the betting has shifted to how he died and where. Suicide is the leading bet. Some are even scouting the Thames for sign of a body but none has been found so far.
Gideon Kendrick grew up as the despised bastard son of the Duke of Glenmoor. Exiled to the mines by his father, he has not only survived but thrived and prospered. He lives apart, wanting nothing to do with the duke, the estate—or anything in his past, except his younger brother Phillip, the new duke.
The new Lord P had appeared determined to avoid marriage and spent as much time at that nefarious club as he did at White’s. His best friend, Lord S, had also been a member until his marriage – a love match – to the beautiful and decorous Lady R two years ago. More recently, a lovely young lady joined his household as Lord S’s ward, who we hear is a cousin from the north. Shockingly, she was seen riding with Lord P several mornings. He has also provided escort to several balls, along with Lord S and Lady R.
Maggie Sims began her love affair with romance before her teen years, drawn to the Regency by her mum’s British influence. In her twenties, she did her best to live the Carrie Bradshaw life in New York City, albeit with less expensive shoes and more books.
To find out more about Maggie’s latest reads, favorite wines, and travel destinations – and to get the free prequel novella featuring Lord S and Lady R – sign up for her newsletter at 
about my dear sister Lady Caroline Blacknall.