A Code of the Heart (The Code Breakers Series Book 3) (21 page)

Lord Henley escorted Gwyneth to Amelia, who had also finished dancing and now stood alone.

“Thank you, sir, for the dance.” Gwyneth did a brief curtsy.

Lord Henley bowed. “It was my pleasure.” He hesitated, then sharply nodded his head. She didn’t want to be unkind, but there was no reason to pretend interest and encourage hope when there was none.

They watched Lord Henley circle to the other side of the room.

Amelia hid her face behind her fan, her bright eyes dancing in merriment. “Another stricken gentleman.”

“I believe he was about to ask if he could call on my brother tomorrow. I think I did an excellent job of extricating myself before Lord Henley declared his feelings.”

“Lord Henley is quite a catch. He’s heir to a vast fortune. His interest can’t be limited only to your dowry.”

“Thank you. I’m glad it isn’t only money that makes me attractive.” Gwyneth liked to believe it was her wit, her sparkling eyes, but she knew her position as sister to an earl and heiress to a hefty inheritance gave her a definite cache with the gentleman. And it was just like Amelia to tease her.

“Your following of swains has nothing to do with your luscious figure, your dramatic looks, or your amiable personality. My unique skill as a designer has brought all these gentleman to swoon at your feet.” Amelia snickered, which made Gwyneth laugh.

Tears were running down Gwyneth’s cheeks. “You do know how to level a woman’s confidence.”

The comment drove both to louder laughter.

Gwyneth noticed that Ash had turned in her direction. He smiled.

Lost in the merriment, she smiled back before she remembered her resolution not to appear as a puppy, waiting at his feet for a pat on the head. She could hide her feelings as well as he did. Forbidden by some unwritten gentleman’s code, Ash considered her off limits. She wasn’t sure if it was the age difference of eight years, his rakish past, or her position as his best friend’s younger sister.

He still kept her at a distance, maintaining that she was a mere youngster and they were simply childhood friends. She had spent the entire season trying to convince him otherwise, but she was tiring of the game.

Get more heart-pounding adventure, spies and espionage, and enthralling romance!

A Code of Love (The Code Breakers Book 1)

A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Book 2)

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my extraordinary team. Karuna, my remarkable plot partner, Valerie Susan Hayward, my amazing editor, and to Nancy Mayer, Regency researcher extraordinaire. Any errors in historical facts are my own mistakes or my imagination running amok.

And much gratitude to my support team who keep me writing. Maria Connor, Jen Rice, and my wondrous children.

About the Author

Jacki Delecki is a Best-Selling, Romantic Suspense writer. Delecki’s
Grayce Walters Series
, which chronicles the adventures of a Seattle animal acupuncturist, was an editor’s selection by USA Today. Delecki’s Romantic Regency
The Code Breaker Series
hit number one on Amazon. Both acclaimed series are available for purchase at
http://www.JackiDelecki.com
.

To learn more about Jacki and her books and to be the first to hear about giveaways join her newsletter found on her website. Follow her on
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A Code of the Heart

Copyright © 2015 by Jacki Delecki

Excerpt from
A Christmas Code

Copyright © 2014 by Jacki Delecki

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN 978-0-9863264-1-7

Published by Doe Bay Publishing, Seattle, Washington.

Cover Art by The Killion Group, Inc.

Digital Formatting by Author E.M.S.