My Fair Concubine. Jeannie Lin

      As always, I have to thank my editor, Anna Boatman, and my agent, Gail Fortune, for their continued insight and support, no matter where my writing takes me. This story owes a lot to the Tuesday critique group: Amanda Berry, Shawntelle Madison, Kristi Lea and Dawn Blankenship. Thank you for all the feedback, brainstorming and gossip sessions. To my last line of defence: Little Sis, Inez Kelly and Bria Quinlan—I don’t know how I’d be able to ever let a story out of my hands without you. Finally, a special thanks to Inez’s husband, Ryan, and Louise Harrison for their help in the archery scenes.

       Praise for Jeannie Lin:

      THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL

      ‘Chang Ai Li flees her wedding and her enraged bridegroom in Lin’s exciting debut, an adventure tale set in turbulent eighth-century China.

      Especially vibrant writing describing the culture,

       clothes, and countryside …’ —Publishers Weekly starred review

      ‘If Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon merged with A Knight’s Tale, you’d have the power and romance of Lin’s dynamic debut. The action never stops, the love story is strong, and the historical backdrop is fascinating. —RT Book Reviews

      ‘In BUTTERFLY SWORDS, Jeannie Lin tells a classic

       tale of courage, adventure, and impossible love—and she sets it in a fascinating new world: Tang China, where a warrior princess must fight for her family and her country with only a barbarian swordsman to help her. Jeannie Lin is a fresh new voice in historical romance, and BUTTERFLY SWORDS rocks!’ —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of NEVER LESS THAN A LADY

      ‘Swords, warrior princesses, and a barbarian to love!

      BUTTERFLY SWORDS was a delight!’ —Jade Lee, USA TODAY bestselling author

       ‘What is this?’ he asked slowly. His gaze swept briefly over her face. The frown line between his eyes sharpened.

      Her face burned so hot that she doubted she needed the rouge on her cheekbones.

      ‘We purchased some make-up at the East Market yesterday.’

      Fei Long’s lip curled. ‘You look ridiculous.’

      Her heart squeezed tight. Then it plummeted, like a crushed and ruined butterfly.

      In so few words he had scattered all her confidence, all her hopes. There was no pleasing Fei Long. Not looking at him, she scrubbed at the tint until her lips were raw. She wanted it off—all of it. The powders, the perfume, and all pretence that she could be a lady worth any notice.

      ‘Yan Ling.’

      He rose from his desk to move towards her. She tried to slip past.

      In the next moment she caught a glimpse of Fei Long’s face, of his dark and tortured eyes. A muscle tensed along his jaw before he lowered his head …

       AUTHOR NOTE

      This story was a little bit of a departure from the high drama of my previous works. The Tang Dynasty was a golden age of Chinese culture, and I wanted to explore the vast capital city of Changan with its infamous entertainment district and teeming marketplaces. MY FAIR CONCUBINE allowed me to play a little with a beloved classic theme while adding a Tang Dynasty twist of my own.

      For history buffs, the practice of heqin, or peace marriage, was a very important diplomatic practice which the Tang rulers used more than in any other era to keep the peace with neighbouring kingdoms such as Tibet and Khitai. The alliance brides ranged from daughters or nieces of the Emperor to palace women to daughters of court officials. A substantial body of poetry and writing exists about and by the heqin brides, and they achieved a certain legendary status. A famous poem by Princess Xijun, lamenting her marriage ‘to the other side of heaven’, is referenced in the book.

      The collection of characters in this tale allowed me to explore people from more humble origins, and their actions unfolded before me like the scenes of a play. There is not much detailed writing on the lives of servants, tea house girls or actors, so I took liberties to fill out the players with my imagination. I hope you enjoy the journey through tea houses and city parks, as well as an adventurous jaunt to the bawdy, seedier side of the imperial capital.

      I love hearing from readers. For more information about my stories, or to contact me, I can be found online at www.jeannielin.com

      About the Author

      JEANNIE LIN grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart^®-winning manuscript, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, was sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon.

      As a technical consultant, backpacker and vacation junkie, she’s travelled all over the United States as well as Europe, South Korea, Japan, China and Vietnam. She’s now happily settled in St Louis, with her wonderfully supportive husband, and continues to journey to exotic locations in her stories.

      You can visit Jeannie Lin online at: www.jeannielin.com

      

       Previous novels from this author:

      BUTTERFLY SWORDS

      THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL

      Available in Mills & Boon^® Historical Undone! eBooks:

      THE TAMING OF MEI LIN

      THE LADY’S SCANDALOUS NIGHT CAPTURING THE SILKEN THIEF

       Did you know that these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

      My Fair

       Concubine

      Jeannie Lin

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

       Chapter One

      China, Tang Dynasty—AD 824

      Fei Long faced the last room at the end of the narrow hallway, unsheathed his sword and kicked the door open.

      A feminine shriek pierced the air along with the frantic shuffle of feet as he strode through the entrance. The boarding room was a small one set above the teahouse below. The inhabitants, a man and a woman, flung themselves into the corner with nowhere to hide.

      His gaze fixed on to the woman first. His sister’s hair was unbound and her eyes wide with fear. Pearl had their mother’s thoughtful features: the high forehead and the sharp angles that had softened since the last time he’d seen her. She was dressed only in pale linen underclothes. The man who was with her had enough daring to step in between them.

      Fei Long glanced once to the single wooden bed against one wall, the covers strewn wide, and his vision blurred with anger. He gripped the sword until his knuckles nearly cracked with the strain.

      ‘Bastard,’ he gritted out through his teeth.

      He knew this man he’d come to kill. This boy. At least Han had been a boy when Fei Long had last seen him. And Pearl had been a mere girl. Now she was a grown woman, staring at him as if he were a demon risen from the underworld.