By Love Unveiled
Authors: Deborah Martin
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #General, #Historical, #Historical Romance
Dear Reader,
I am thrilled to have this opportunity to share with you the exciting return of
By Love Unveiled
. Long out of print, this historical romance from early in my career is finally available once more from Pocket Books, revised and refurbished throughout. How many authors get a chance to revisit one of their early works, to tighten and sharpen the characters and dialogue, bringing to bear everything they’ve learned in the years since it was first published to make it a richer, deeper reading experience than ever before? I am one lucky writer!
The eight novels I wrote some years ago under the pen name Deborah Martin are distinctively different in tone from my more recent Sabrina Jeffries releases. Where my five lighthearted Hellions of Halstead Hall novels, for instance, are packed with witty, sexy repartee and sensual romantic entanglements, my Deborah Martin novels are steeped in history and brimming with passionate action. Of course, whatever author name appears on the cover, one thing I am sure to bring to all my novels is heart-pounding sexual tension—and plenty of it!
I hope you enjoy this reissue of
By Love Unveiled,
whether it’s one of your past favorites or a new reading adventure for you to relish.
Sincerely,
“ANYONE WHO LOVES ROMANCE MUST READ SABRINA JEFFRIES!”
—
New York Times
bestselling author Lisa Kleypas
THE HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL
Praise for the “sparkling” (
Library Journal)
New York Times
bestselling series!
A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS
“Jeffries pulls out all the stops. . . . With depth of character, emotional intensity, and the resolution to the ongoing mystery rolled into a steamy love story, this one is not to be missed.”
—
RT Book Reviews
(4
1
/
2
stars, Top Pick)
“Wonderfully refreshing characters, a surprising resolution, and a sizzling, emotionally satisfying romance make this another must-read from one of the genre’s best.”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
“Brimming with superbly shaded characters, an abundance of simmering sensuality, and a splendidly wicked wit,
A Lady Never Surrenders
wraps up the series nothing short of brilliantly.”
—
Booklist
TO WED A WILD LORD
“Wonderfully witty, deliciously seductive, and graced with humor and charm, this clever, well-conceived romance treats readers to a compelling story peopled with remarkable characters.”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
“The fourth installment in Jeffries’s exceptionally entertaining Hellions of Halstead Hall series delivers another beguiling blend of captivating characters, clever plotting, and sizzling sensuality.”
—
Booklist
HOW TO WOO A RELUCTANT LADY
“A delightful addition to the scandalous Sharpe family saga. . . . Charmingly original.”
—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“Richly imbued with steamy passion, deftly spiced with dangerous intrigue, and neatly tempered with just the right amount of tart wit.”
—
Booklist
A HELLION IN HER BED
“A lively plot blending equal measures of steamy passion and sharp wit.”
—
Booklist
(starred review)
“Wonderfully original. . . . Jeffries’s sense of humor, her engaging characters, and delightfully delicious sensuality spice things up!”
—
RT Book Reviews
(4
1/
2
stars)
“Jeffries’s addictive series satisfies.”
—
Library Journal
THE TRUTH ABOUT LORD STONEVILLE
“Jeffries combin[es] her hallmark humor, poignancy, and sensuality to perfection.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“Lively repartee, fast action, luscious sensuality, and an abundance of humor.”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
“First in captivating new Regency-set series, [with] delectably witty dialogue, subtly named characters, and scorching sexual chemistry.”
—Booklist
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To Becky Timblin, my wonderful assistant. Thanks for making the manuscript workable! And for managing the office chaos so splendidly.
LONDON, JULY
1661
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself.
—Shakespeare
, Henry VIII
G
arett Lockwood, the Earl of Falkham, watched from the shadows as a smiling Charles II entered the richly appointed sitting room of his spacious new private chambers. No doubt His Majesty relished the trappings of royalty after spending years without. But now it was time for the king to heed his promises. Garett had waited long enough.
When he stepped forward, His Majesty started. “By God, Falkham, you have a nasty habit of appearing from out of nowhere when one least expects it.”
“Which is what keeps Your Majesty’s enemies guessing.”
“I am glad to see you have returned,” Charles said. “I wish you could have joined us in our triumphant entry into the city last year, but you made better use of your time by accomplishing the tasks I set for you.”
Garett had spent the past year arranging the king’s betrothal to Catherine Braganza of Portugal and then tracking down an enemy of the king in Spain. Neither was the sort of work Garett enjoyed, but given the reward promised him . . .
“Lord Chancellor Clarendon tells me you were successful in both,” the king went on.
Garett lifted one brow. “Aren’t I always?”
“If it suits you.”
“I do only what suits my king. My king just doesn’t always know what suits him.”
“Indeed,” Charles said dryly. “Be careful, my friend. Your king may tolerate your wit, but others will not find it quite so amusing.”
“I am well aware of that, Your Majesty,” Garett said in a hard voice. Ten years in exile had been more than enough to teach him that the world was a treacherous shoal to be navigated with great care.
The king sighed. “I fear I wasn’t the best companion for a youth who’d just lost his family. Between my bitterness and your hatred, we bred the sort of unhealthy anger that can destroy a man if he is not careful.”
“Ah, but Your Majesty’s bitterness is assuaged,” Garett said smoothly. “Your subjects have come to their senses at last.”
“That remains to be seen. A people so fickle bears watching. Yet I believe they’re truly pleased to have me on the throne again. Unlike Cromwell, I don’t feed them religion with their meat.”
Garett thought of all the debauchery at court and gave
a mirthless laugh. “Indeed not.” When a glint in Charles’s eye showed that he’d registered the rebuke, Garett changed the subject to the one that concerned him most. “Clarendon told me the Roundheads made an attempt on Your Majesty’s life.”
The lord chancellor had told him a great deal more than that, but Garett wouldn’t be content until he heard the news from the king himself.
“Yes, by one of my attending physicians whom I thought I could trust. But to my knowledge, he is not a Roundhead.”
“So you don’t know who was behind the plot.”
“No, but we will find out. I have had my men state that the physician was murdered while in his cell in the Tower, killed by his fellow conspirators. Clarendon hopes the rumor will confound the other assassins and provoke them into erring. Besides, we do not want his companions to silence him by killing him before we can question him. This gives us time to get the truth from him.”
“Does Your Majesty believe him guilty?”
The king shrugged. “I do not know. ’Tis very odd. Until he returned to London recently, he had not been much involved with affairs of state.” Charles faced Garett with a veiled expression. “In fact, he’d been living a fairly secluded life in the country, near a town you know well—Lydgate.”
So Clarendon had told him the truth. “You speak of Sir Henry Winchilsea.”
Eight years ago, Garett’s uncle, Sir Pitney Tearle,
had sold the family estate, Falkham House, to Winchilsea. Just thinking of it still roused Garett’s anger.
“ ’Twas a mad world in those days, Garett,” Charles said placatingly. “People passed around lands as if they were so many sacks of seed.”
“But those lands were sold by their rightful owners, not by usurpers,” Garett snapped. “Have you considered that Winchilsea and my uncle might have conspired together to have you assassinated? They were bound by Falkham House. Perhaps this physician knew my fortunes were tied to you and thus so was the estate he’d obtained from my deceitful uncle.”
Charles rubbed his chin absently. “Or perhaps Tearle and his Roundhead compatriots saw the advantages to be had in manipulating a man who would appear innocuous to everyone else. In any case, I doubt that the affair had anything to do with your return. Remember that except for your uncle and a few exiles, no one knew that you lived. And since you have continued to prefer that it be kept secret until now—”