Ruined By The Reckless Viscount. Sophia James

      The Lady in Red

      Viscount Winterton abducts a woman to protect her—but he kidnaps the wrong girl in red! The scandalous carriage dash leads to the ruin of Lady Florentia Hale-Burton’s reputation...and the viscount’s apparent demise.

      Years later, Flora discovers her kidnapper is alive and as entrancingly handsome as she remembers! Disguised, she agrees to paint his portrait in an attempt to understand the man who’s haunted her fantasies. Is it revenge that has brought her this close to him again...or something even more reckless?

      ‘I am sure in your profession you must have some days in less than your petticoats, Miss Kensington.’

      ‘Miss…Kensington?’ Her voice sounded rusty, her fright evident in every single syllable, and she trembled as she took in breath. ‘I think…you are indeed…mistaken.’

      ‘Acacia Kensington?’ He heard the horror in his tone. ‘You are Miss Acacia Kensington, the paramour of my cousin Thomas, are you not?’

      She shook her head hard, the long blonde hair falling loose now in a swathe across her shoulders and down over her chest.

      ‘I am not, sir. I am…Lady Florentia Hale-B…Burton…youngest daughter of…of the Earl of Albany.’ Each breath was raw with the effort of talking.

      ‘Hell.’ He could not believe it. ‘Hell!’ he repeated, and all the clues fell into place. The servant running down the road before the park, screaming. The ring. The priggish dress. Her voice.

      He’d kidnapped the wrong woman—rendered her unconscious and subjected her to the sort of danger and terror she’d probably never manage to recover from.

      For the first time in his life he was almost speechless.

       Author Note

      I love characters with secrets from the past—and if that past is intertwined with danger then it is all the better!

      James Waverley, Viscount Winterton, is back in England after ruining Lady Florentia Hale-Burton’s chances of marriage.

      But the spark that was ignited between them six years ago is about to burst into flames…and this time Florentia has devised an ingenious plan to discover just who ‘Winter’ really is.

      Ruined by the Reckless Viscount

      Sophia James

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      SOPHIA JAMES lives in Chelsea Bay, on Auckland, New Zealand’s North Shore, with her husband, who is an artist. She has a degree in English and History from Auckland University and believes her love of writing was formed by reading Georgette Heyer in the holidays at her grandmother’s house. Sophia enjoys getting feedback at sophiajames.net.

      Books by Sophia James

      Mills & Boon Historical Romance

      The Penniless Lords

      Marriage Made in Money

      Marriage Made in Shame Marriage Made in Rebellion Marriage Made in Hope

      Men of Danger

      Mistletoe Magic

      Mistress at Midnight Scars of Betrayal

      The Wellingham Brothers

      High Seas to High Society

      One Unashamed Night One Illicit Night The Dissolute Duke

      Stand-Alone Novels

      Knight of Grace

      Lady with the Devil’s Scar Gift-Wrapped Governesses ‘Christmas at Blackhaven Castle’ Ruined by the Reckless Viscount

      Visit the Author Profile page

      at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       Author Note

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Extract

       Copyright

       Chapter One

      London—1810

      The door of the approaching carriage opened as it stopped beside her in a sudden and unexpected haste.

      ‘Get in now.’

      ‘I beg your pardon.’ Lady Florentia