Earl of Scandal (London Lords) (26 page)

Merissa giggled again. “Who would have thought that Devon would come up with such an entertaining means of settling up.”

“Bastard,” Christian muttered. “Asking us to play nursemaid to their children for the weekend. Devon has an evil streak. And Caroline, too. My head still aches from all the clumps of hair Rafe pulled out while I was giving him horsy rides.”

“Yes, Rafe is a bit rambunctious, isn’t he? But Michael wasn’t too difficult.”

“Maybe not for you,” Christian sniffed. “You should have seen my valet’s face when he saw the slimy mess the little darling made of my waistcoat.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t have played so roughly with him so soon after he ate.” The memory of Christian tossing the baby up in the air and catching him started an ache of longing inside Merissa. For all her husband’s grumbling, she knew he’d be a wonderful father. “Think of it as training for the future,” she said. “When we have children, you’ll know just what to do.”

“I want girls,” Christian said firmly. “Nice, quiet little girls who will do as they’re bid.”

“Like their mother?” Merissa teased.

Christian gave her a horrified look. “Gads, that’s all I need!”

“But I thought you liked my spirit, my strong will and fiery temperament?” She made a pouting face.

“In bed.” He regarded her with a lecherous expression. “That’s where I enjoy my wild, hot-blooded temptress.”

Merissa closed her eyes as Christian kissed her breasts through her thin day dress. The familiar heat built inside her. “Stop,” she murmured after a moment, “I can’t greet your mother looking like you’ve tumbled me in the carriage.”

“Oh, all right” He drew away. “But I promise you, before we return to London, I intend to ravish you in every bedchamber in the house, all thirty of them.”

Merissa shivered with delight. “Promises, my love, always promises.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Dear Reader,

I first started writing books set in the English Regency era because I was intrigued by the contrast between the rigid rules of behavior and the way people really behaved in that time period, and also the dramatic disparity between the different stratums of society. Just thinking about all those diverse social worlds seemed to spark stories in my mind. Before you know it, I had imagined what might happen when a penniless lord is forced to a wealthy merchant’s daughter in
Devil’s Own Bargain
and the clash between a no-nonsense country miss and a jaded nobleman in
Earl of Scandal
.

I recently returned to this era and wrote two more books in the London Lords series. They both feature intrepid, stubborn country lasses tangling with sophisticated and cynical heroes from the city. In
Wicked Wager
, hardened gamester Marcus Revington has his hands full with the horse-mad hoyden Penny. While in
Saint Sin
, the determined and daring Ariella must convince world-weary Michael St. Cyr to forsake his life of decadence and live again. It’s called the London Lords series, but it’s the fearless heroines of these books who make it all happen.

I’m still hoping to sell these two stories to a traditional publisher. But if nothing comes of it, I’ll bring them out myself as ebooks next year. In the meantime, you might explore some of the other worlds I’ve written about: the passion, drama and mysticism of the Dragon of the Island series, and my Irish-Viking duo, which feature heroines as feisty as my Regency misses and heroes as sexy and compelling as any London lord.

Happy reading,

Titles by Mary Gillgannon

Dragon of the Island

Dragon’s Dream

The Dragon Prince

The Dragon Bard

Beyond the Sea Mist

Storm Maiden

Devil’s Own Bargain

Earl of Scandal

Mary Gillgannon

Mary Gillgannon writes romance novels set in the dark ages, medieval and English Regency time periods and fantasy and historical novels with Celtic influences. Her print books have been published in Russia, China, the Netherlands and Germany. Raised in the Midwest, she now lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming where she works full-time at the Laramie County Library.

She is married and has two grown children. When not working or writing she enjoys gardening, traveling and reading, of course!

She always enjoys hearing from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 2052, Cheyenne, WY 82003, or contact her through her website:
http://marygillgannon.com
.