The Seduction Of Ellen. Nan Ryan

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      “There is nothing nice about you, Mister Corey.”

      He smiled and in that smooth, half-mocking voice that only added to his magnetism, said, “You can be cruel. Anybody ever tell you that? Real cruel.”

      “I have had excellent tutors,” Ellen coldly informed him.

      “Well, if that were the case, why didn’t you…?”

      “Don’t start with me! You know nothing of my life or the circumstances that govern it and I will not be appraised by a common carnival barker!”

      For a long moment Mister Corey said nothing as he watched the expression on her face. When he spoke, it was in low, soft tones. “We live not as we wish to, but as we can. Or so the philosopher says.”

      “Really?” she answered hatefully. “And if I want to hear any more of your trite little platitudes, I’ll be sure to let you know.” She gave him a smug look, pleased with herself.

      But as usual, he surprised her. Leaning close, he said, “What about when you want me to kiss you again? Will you let me know?”

      “Oh! That will never happen, I assure you. I did not want you to kiss me that morning at the station. And the day will never come when I do want you to kiss me!”

      “What about the night?”

      “Neither morning, noon or night. Not ever.”

      He grinned wickedly. “Say that to me again in twenty-four hours.”

      “Gladly!”

      Nan Ryan “brings us a hot story with the unique flavors of New Orleans, heated passion, mystery and the spice of her signature sensuality.”

      —Romantic Times on The Countess Misbehaves

      Also available from MIRA Books and

      NAN RYAN

      WANTING YOU

      THE COUNTESS MISBEHAVES

      THE SCANDALOUS MISS HOWARD

      The Seduction of Ellen

      Nan Ryan

      

www.mirabooks.co.uk

      For

      my dear sister Glenda Henderson Howard

      With love, affection and most of all,

      gratitude for being there with me during the bad times as well as the good.

      Contents

       Part One

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Part Two

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       Chapter Nineteen

       Chapter Twenty

       Chapter Twenty-One

       Chapter Twenty-Two

       Chapter Twenty-Three

       Chapter Twenty-Four

       Chapter Twenty-Five

       Chapter Twenty-Six

       Chapter Twenty-Seven

       Part Three

       Chapter Twenty-Eight

       Chapter Twenty-Nine

       Chapter Thirty

       Chapter Thirty-One

       Chapter Thirty-Two

       Chapter Thirty-Three

       Chapter Thirty-Four

       Chapter Thirty-Five

       Chapter Thirty-Six

       Chapter Thirty-Seven

PART ONE

      One

      London, England

      Early April 1899

      It was growing dark when Ellen Cornelius stepped down from the hired coach before a gloomy tenement house in London’s West End. Ellen gazed at the dilapidated building and inwardly shuddered. She did not want to go inside.