The Demon's Bride

Table of Contents

 

 

“Stunning . . . sizzling.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Delightfully odd characters and a thrilling plot, along with a generous touch of magic, make this an enchanting read.”

—
Booklist

“A charming, outspoken heroine, a magnetic, unconventional hero, and a diverse cast of well-drawn secondary characters come together in a fast-paced, intriguing plot with a holiday setting that features a touch of evil, a dash of bawdy humor, and enough of Beverley’s trademark page-singeing sensuality to satisfy the most demanding reader.”

—
Libra
r
y
J
ournal

“A fabulous dream spinner.”

—
Romantic Times

RITA Award, Best Regency

Romantic Times
Award, Best Regency Rake

Named as one of
Romantic Times
’s Best Romances of the Past 20 Years “This marvelous love story has all the makings of a long-standing classic.”

—
Romantic Times

“With wit and humor, Jo Beverley proves a wonderful eighteenth-century romance starring two amiable lead characters whose first encounter is one of the best in recent memory. The tale is filled with nonstop action.”

—The Best Reviews

“Jo Beverley carries off a remarkable achievement in
Lady Beware,
the latest and possibly last in her Company of Rogues novels. . . . It is the unusual combination of familial comfort and risqué pleasure that makes this book a winner. . . . No doubt about it,
Lady Beware
is yet another jewel in Beverley’s heavily decorated crown.”

“[E]nchanting . . . a delightful blend of wit (with banter between Thea and Darien), intrigue (as evil lurks throughout), and emotional victories (as love prevails in the end).... Watching Thea and Darien spar is entertaining, and watching them succumb to the simmering love and passion is satisfying.”

—The Columbia State
(SC)

“Beverley brings the Regency period to life in this highly romantic story [with] vividly portrayed characters. [Readers] will be engrossed by this emotionally packed story of great love, tremendous courage, and the return of those attractive and dangerous men known as the Rogues. Her Company of Rogues series is well crafted, delicious, and wickedly captivating.”

—
Joan Hammond

“With her usual beautifully nuanced characters and lyrical writing, RITA Award winner Beverley brings her popular Company of Rogues Regency historical series to a triumphant conclusion ... [a] quietly powerful romance.”

“Lighthearted and serious, sexy and sweet, this exquisitely rendered story is a perfect finale to this classic series.”

“Beverley beautifully blends complex characters, an exquisitely sensual love story, and a refreshingly different Regency setting into one sublime romance.”

“Jo Beverley has written an excellent character study. One of the best books I’ve read this season.”

“Picking up exactly where
Winter Fire
leaves off, Beverley turns a rejected ‘other woman’ into a fiery, outspoken, sympathetic heroine; pairs her with a dashing but penniless, scandal-ridden hero; and lets the fun—and the danger—begin. Once again readers are treated to a delightful, intricately plotted, and sexy romp set in the slightly bawdy Georgian world of Beverley’s beloved Malloren Chronicles.”

“Beverley brings back some of the characters from
Winter Fire
as she takes her readers into the dangerous, intriguing, and opulent world of Georgian England. Her strong characters and finely honed dialogue, combined with a captivating love story, are a pleasure to read.”

“I found myself enjoying every minute of the relationship in this story of love, hope, and increments of witty humor. As usual, a Malloren novel is a keeper.”

 

“Expertly laced with danger and skillfully sweetened with sensuality,
A Most Unsuitable Man
is a most captivating romance.”

 

 

“A delightful, intricately plotted, and sexy romp.”

“A well-crafted story and an ultimately very satisfying romance.”

“Jo [Beverley] has truly brought to life a fascinating, glittering, and sometimes dangerous world.”

—
Mary Jo Putney

“Another triumph.”

“Wickedly delicious. Jo Beverley weaves a spell of sensual delight with her usual grace and flair.”

—
Teresa Medeiros

“Delightful . . . thrilling . . . with a generous touch of magic . . . an enchanting read.”

“A stunning medieval romance of loss and redemption . . . sizzling.”

—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“A fast-paced adventure with strong, vividly portrayed characters . . . wickedly, wonderfully sensual and gloriously romantic.”

—
Mary Balogh

“Deliciously sinful. . . . Beverley evokes with devastating precision the decadent splendor of the English country estate in all its hellish debauchery . . . a crafty tale of sensuality and suspense.”

Available from New American Library
REGENCY

 

THE ROGUE’S WORLD

 

Lady Beware
To Rescue a Rogue
The Rogue’s Return
Skylark
St. Raven
Hazard
“The Demon’s Mistress” in
In Praise of Younger Men
The Devil’s Heiress
The Dragon’s Bride
Three Heroes
(Omnibus Edition)

 

OTHER

 

Forbidden Magic
Lovers and Ladies
(Omnibus Edition)

 

THE MALLOREN WORLD

 

 

MEDIEVAL ROMANCES

 

 

ANTHOLOGIES

 

“The Dragon and the Virgin Princess” in
Dragon Lovers

 

“The Trouble with Heroes” in
Irresistible Forces

SIGNET

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Published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in
Moonlight Lover
.

 

First Signet E-Book Printing, January 2011

Copyright © Jo Beverley, 1993

All rights reserved

 

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eISBN : 978-1-101-50229-7

 

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Suffolk, England, 1761

 

 

 

 

“So the girl was burnt to a cinder,” drawled Lord Morden impassively.

The Reverend Joseph Proudfoot rubbed his plump hands together. “Fascinating, my lord. Fascinating.”

The vicar’s daughter, however, gazed at the earl in shock. How could any human—even soulless rake—be so unmoved by such an event?

As if Rachel had spoken, the earl met her disapproving gaze with his startlingly blue and wicked eyes. He raised a brow and said with derisive gentleness, “It was nearly a century ago, Miss Proudfoot.”

Rachel hastily lowered her head and recorded the grisly details, wishing her color wasn’t always so ready to betray her. She found her writing was not as neat as usual, but it wasn’t all the fault of the disreputable earl. She had been prey to a morbid fear of burning to death since it had happened to an aunt when Rachel was but a child. She had not witnessed the event, but her parents’ whispered comments had made a deep impression. The thought of a poor girl being consumed by the flames of a Walpurgis Night bonfire was truly horrible.

“And no one was ever brought to book over it, my lord?” her father asked.

“Back in 1668 matters in this corner of the country were primitive, vicar. Inquiries were made, of course....“ The earl had been standing by the fire, one booted foot raised on the scuttle there, but now he moved restively to sit in a chair. “The people here are secretive by nature. They claimed that their innocent revels turned tragic when the girl fell into the fire. It may have been true.”

Rachel flicked a glance at Lord Morden. It was not just the local peasantry who were secretive, it would appear. She noted in her record that the earl had concealed something, perhaps some connection between his family and the tragic event.