All Men Are Rogues (25 page)
S
itting down on the sturdy tree limb, Evelyn adjusted her skirts and placed her parasol against her leg, just as she’d been taught so many years before. Sighing in relief for the shade, she could not help but smile as she watched her dear husband trying to teach their four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter how to fly a kite. Well, little Phillip was trying to learn, while Dina raced about the meadow chasing butterflies.
“Collect the twine, Phillip,” Justin advised as the kite plummeted into the grasses. “I’m going to visit your mother.”
Justin dropped down beside her and pulled her into his arms, planting a warm kiss on her brow. “The boy is good with his hands.”
“Just like his father,” she teased, laying her head on his shoulder. Inhaling his familiar woodsy scent, she relished the affection of his strong embrace. She sighed with contentment.
He grazed his hand over her round middle. “How are you feeling?”
“About as big as this old oak.” Shaking her head, she remarked, “I’ll tell you one thing, Justin Barclay, I’m not about to go through this nine more times. Besides, you don’t want to be an old codger when your daughters are coming out.”
“Heavens, I hadn’t thought of that. I certainly hope Sully is retired from the Branch by then.”
She tilted her head to see his handsome features. “Why?”
“He’s a crack shot, and I’ll need all the help I can get keeping the rogues and scoundrels away from my innocent angels.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to teach our daughters how to deal with them.”
He beamed wickedly. “Oh yes, you always knew how to charm a rogue into behaving.”
Drawing his head down so that his velvety lips met hers, she murmured, “Haven’t you figured out by now, Justin? I like it when you misbehave.”
W
hile doing research for this book, I came across the interesting historical fact that at a point in Napoleon’s distinguished military career he was briefly imprisoned under suspicion of treason (August 9–20, 1794). Though promptly released, he fell out of favor with the then-ruling French regime. (His name was removed from the list of active army officers on September 15, 1795, and he did not return to government favor until he assisted in quashing an uprising of French moderates and royalists on October 5, 1795.)
This fact set my mind spinning. I wondered if someone who had met this twenty-six-year-old, down-on-his-heels French officer would ever have ventured that he’d soon seize power in France, later crown himself emperor, and then attempt to dominate Europe? What if that same someone had exposed a cherished secret to the young man, never guessing that Napoleon might soon become his greatest enemy? These musings led me to the idea for Evelyn Amherst’s legacy from her father, and my story began to take shape. The wonder of fiction for me is all the more interesting if interlaced with fact. I hope you enjoyed my wild imaginings in bringing Evelyn’s and Justin’s story to life.
I owe a debt of thanks to Nanci, the best sister and critique partner a person could ever have.
Special thanks to my husband for giving me the opportunity to follow my passions and meet my deadlines.
My gratitude to Lyssa Keusch and the exemplary Avon Books/HarperCollins team.
Heartfelt thanks to my family and friends (especially Dorothy), who continue to enthusiastically support my efforts.
SARI ROBINS was born and raised in New York, married a Southern gentleman, and lives with her family in Georgia. Having spent years working as a tax attorney, she realized that deep inside her beat the heart of an author. In 2000 she left her law practice to be a full-time mother and writer. Now, while using her legal skills to navigate the business of publishing, she gets to be more creative than she ever could have been with a legal brief.
Her Scandalous Intentions
, Sari’s debut novel, was released in December 2002, and she views it as the beginning of many stories she has yet to tell. Brimming with new ideas, Sari only wishes she could type as fast as she can conjure up tortured heroes. She is currently working on a new historical series for Avon Books set in Regency England.
Sari loves to hear from readers. Please visit her at
www.sarirobins.com
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This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALL MEN ARE ROGUES
. Copyright © 2003 by Sari Earl. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Mobipocket Reader April 2009 ISBN 978-0-06-192580-1
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