Meet the hero and heroine of The Lady from Spain by Gail Eastwood, Book #4 in Regency Masquerades, six sparkling Regency romances in one ebook–currently 99 cents!
At the ballroom door…
Master of Ceremonies: Hmm, this next pair is arriving a bit late –many of the guests are already assembled. He is handsomely attired in evening black, with a fine white silk waistcoat and a cravat that shows considerable artistry. But, with his half mask I can’t quite be certain who he is. Possibly Lord Danebridge? He is on the list and has not yet arrived. I’ve heard he has just returned from abroad and made his appearance at Drury Lane the other night.
The woman with him is attired in a Spanish costume, a tightly fitted black dress adorned with rows of long fringe. She has an admirable figure, indeed! But her lace mantilla hides most of her face. Most ladies are not wearing exotic costumes tonight, so I would lay odds this is the mysterious lady the gossip columns are calling “the Spanish Spitfire,” who was with the baron at the theater. These two are so deeply engaged in their discussion they don’t seem to notice they are approaching the entrance! I can’t help overhearing at least part of what they are saying.
Lady (in a hushed voice tinged with Spanish accents): “You know I did not want to come here, or to socialize with anyone at all. Please tell me we shall not have to stay very long.”
Gentleman: “Ah, but señora, to have refused the invitation would have been the height of discourtesy.”
Lady: “You had no need to involve me. This is not at all how I should be spending my time!”
Gentleman (in a soothing tone): “Did you have a more pressing engagement? Or an expectation to find the men you are hunting for, this very evening?”
Lady: “No.”
Gentleman: “Well, then, I believe the ball should be vastly more entertaining than however else you would have spent the time.”
Lady: “I did not come to London to be entertained, I assure you. This is a mistake!”
Gentleman: (stopping and turning her to face him) “Is it? I am enjoying your company, and I thought you did not seem terribly averse to mine. What could be the harm in it? Are you afraid somehow I will uncover your secrets? (He looks at her intently.) I wish you could bring yourself to truly trust me.”
Master of Ceremonies: This is becoming quite personal! Time to interrupt them. But I do wonder what secrets she is hiding.
Waves to get their attention. “Ahem. Sir? Madam? Are you attending the ball this evening?”
Gentleman: “Oh, I do beg your pardon. Yes, we are. Didn’t mean to stop the flow of traffic, as such.”
Master of Ceremonies: “Not at all. Welcome! May I ask is that you behind the mask, Lord Danebridge?”
Gentleman: “Yes, indeed. You are very sharp tonight, my good man. And the lady with me is Doña Sofia Alomar de Montero, recently of Spain.”
Master of Ceremonies: “Welcome back to Town, my lord. You have been missed. And welcome to London, doña.”
The lady’s striking green eyes seem somehow familiar, although at this moment they are noticeably filled with misgivings. Those do not appear to be the eyes of a Spanish doña. Yet how could she seem in any way familiar? Danebridge did not sound altogether convincing when he stated the lady’s name. And what men could she be hunting for? It is too much of a puzzle.
Giving up, the Master of Ceremonies simply bows to her. “I hope you will enjoy your stay, madam, and enjoy your evening with us here.”
From behind the drapery by the balcony French doors…
Gail Eastwood here, secretly observing. I know that both Jeremy Hazelton, Lord Danebridge, and this lady supposedly from Spain are harboring secrets, from each other and everyone around them as well! Although she just recently arrived on a ship from Spain, the doña is really Falcarah “Falcon” Colburne, returning to England on a mission to avenge her parents’ deaths in Spain. Jeremy has been secretly working for the government during the war, and now on his way home has been asked to do one more assignment –learn if the lady from Spain is a spy. His desire to be with her has moved far beyond investigating her and unveiling her secrets. He would like to unveil a great deal more –including her heart. When his mother and his young son arrive in London, too, and his investigation and “help” expose Falcon to graver danger than she already courts, the course of love is not going to run smoothly!
“A wonderful love story full of cleverly plotted intrigue and deception topped off with an intensely powerful resolution.” –Romantic Times
Read Jeremy and Falcon’s story in The Lady from Spain, one of six sparkling Regencies in Regency Masquerades, an ebook set which also includes books by Brenda Hiatt, Lynn Kerstan, Allison Lane, Alicia Rasley and Elena Greene. Regency Masquerades is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo Books. Buy now for just 99 cents!
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And now for a giveaway!
A Perilous Journey features another risk-taking heroine, Gillian Kentwell, who runs away from home to escape a loathsome betrothal. Unable to dissuade her from this, her twin brother tags along on this road trip from Devonshire to Scotland, with Bow Runners in pursuit. Along the way, they are aided by a man who steals Gillian’s heart, but who is he really, and is their love meant to be?
Winner of the 1994 Golden Leaf Award “Best Regency” and finalist for CoRWA’s Award of Excellence
Also, winner of two national competitions for Regency Romance writing:
–“Top ‘o the Trees” Competition sponsored by The Regency Plume
–“Romancing the Novel” Competition, Regency Division, sponsored by NE Ohio Chapter RWA
“A delightful read that will warm the cockles of your heart…an adventuresome journey, jam-packed with enchanting characters and lively drama.” –Affaire de Coeur
Do you like heroines willing to take risks to act on their goals? Do you forgive characters whose goals may turn out to be mistaken? Comment and fill out the Rafflecopter thingy to be entered to win an ebook copy of my very first Signet Regency, A Perilous Journey. All winners will be announced on Sunday.
I would like to tag along with Gillian on that Perilous Journey. Hers sounds like a very strong character; i love a heroine who is not a doormat.
Maribelle, Gillian is most definitely not a doormat type, often to the dismay of her much lower-key twin brother. Putting them into motion in this story was a lot of fun! It takes a strong hero to be her counterpart in a love relationship, but fortunately she finds one.
Very descriptive. Darn it, I am going to have to shuffle my TBR list and this one keeps making it’s way higher even though I have other stuff I HAVE to read!
LOL, Vanessa! I totally relate. And now the problem’s doubled between my print book TBR pile and the ebook TBR “pile” in my Kindle!
I have to say, after being to Spain five times to visit my husbands family that green eyes are not a surprise to me! There is a wide variety of looks from blue eyed, blonde hair, green eyed red hair brown eyes with blonde, brown or black hair! Such a good looking, jaw dropping people! My little Irish grandmother claimed it was all the Celtic raiders from times gone past….
Victoria, good point! I agree that Spanish people are very handsome, and diverse. I don’t know if the diversity is greater today than in the early 19th century, but it might be. A Englishman such as the Master of Ceremonies at a ball in period probably would not know this, anyway. But Falcon is half-Irish, and she looks a lot like her Irish mother, which becomes a factor in the story. A lot of Irish went to Spain because it was a Catholic country, so more hospitable to the Catholic Irish. This helps confuse my hero when he is first trying to figure out who Falcon really is. That was fun!
I appreciate a heroine who acts on her own when her motives are admirable. I’m not so impressed with a heroine who is impulsive but in a selfish or ignorant way.
Interesting characters
I appreciate a heroine who stands up and is gung ho on what she wants and goes for it. Making mistakes is part of life and you learn hopefully. I don’t like people who walk all others to get what they want. If she goes after what she wants and realizes it’s not what she thought it would be and corrects it-that would take strength and courage.
I enjoy heroines who have ambitions beyond (or in place of) the usual goal of making a brilliant marriage with a man who will be madly in love with them. Stories with a family matter to resolve (caring or providing for siblings, recovering the family’s lost or stolen fortune, clearing a bewitched reputation) are right up my alley.
I meant “besmirched” not bewitched. But bewitched is also an interesting plot point, I think.
Sounds great!! Beautiful cover!
I do appreciate a woman who is will ing to take a risk when the cause is important. We have our intelligence to aid us even if we do not have the brawn. Both stories sound enjoyable.
Thank you all so much for your comments, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading! I love hearing what you think. I apologize for not responding to all of them –Elena and I have been away at the NJ Romance Writers Conference over the weekend, and my cranky computer wasn’t very happy being away from home. Congratulations to Melody G. for winning the ebook giveaway of A Perilous Journey! I wish you all could have won. Thanks for checking out our Masquerade Ball! I hope you’ll share some more conversations with us here at the Risky Regencies very soon. 🙂