Distinguished Rogues, book 4
London’s ballrooms and bedrooms thrive on scandal and decadent pleasure and the summer of 1814 will be no exception for the fourth Distinguished Rogues.
Widowed beauty, Arabella Lawson, Lady Farnsworth, knows the value of independence after being trapped in a marriage that left her unfulfilled. Although she longs for a lover at last, she’s expected to chaperone her flirtatious niece during her first season. However, given the way the girl keeps disappearing every chance she gets, there is little hope of a good or speedy result. While searching for her charge yet again, she blunders into one of Lord Rothwell’s scandalous assignations. This time it’s Arabella’s turn to be on the receiving end of his hungry kisses, and she’s far from prepared to make the most of the opportunity.
Gossip may paint Merrick Bishop, the Earl of Rothwell, as a notorious scoundrel when it comes to women, but this season his intentions are honorable. Duty bound to marry, he’s determined to discreetly court an open-minded bride and prove the gossipmongers wrong by being on his very best behavior… until in his frustration, he mistakenly kisses the wrong lady and discovers that everything about the encounter feels so very right. Merrick never once believed he had a chance with shy Arabella, and when the unthinkable happens, she turns to him not for an affair or hopes of marriage but for his friendship and protection from her own family.
Can a rogue with a reputation for breaking hearts convince a widow who only hopes for an affair that their feelings are not only the stirrings of desire but the beginnings of the deepest and truest love?
An Accidental Affair is the fourth steamy regency historical romance novel in Distinguished Rogues series but can be read as a stand-alone. Arabella also appears in the last book (Hunting the Hero) of the Wild Randalls series.
- Virgin Widow
- Secret Admirer
- Reformed Rake
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Praise for An Accidental Affair …
★★★★★ “One of the things I really admired about Merrick is that he takes responsibility for his family. He is loyal to them and they are very loyal to him. I don’t want to give too much away here but parts of this story just melted my heart.” ~ Crystal @ Reviews by Crystal
★★★★★ “AN ACCIDENTAL AFFAIR has lots of mayhem, angst, panic, fear, romance and love set in the summer of 1814 in London. It takes place in ballrooms, in the city and the country and the descriptions are vivid and make me feel like I am there.” ~ Jo @ Romance Junkies
★★★★★ “Ultimately, this was a story of one loving man teaching the gift of love to one wounded woman, told beautifully and with fantastic pacing!” ~ Mary @ Buried Under Romance
★★★★★ “I found An Accidental Affair to be a historical romance treat – it is sweet and engaging and I could hardly put it down.” ~ Julie @ Romantic Reads and such
★★★★★ “Beautiful historical romance with a heroine I absolutely loved and a rogue so honorable and decent I couldn’t help but fall for” ~ LexySky
Read an Excerpt
Being good was a damned nuisance. Merrick Bishop, Lord Rothwell, steered Lady Harrison away from curious onlookers for a moment’s privacy.
When they were alone and safe from prying eyes, Louisa’s lit up with mischief. “I thought you came to my ball to further your search for a wife, Rothwell?”
“I did.” He sighed at her suggestion that he was after more than just information from her tonight. Louisa might be very lovely and have curves enough to tempt a man away from honorable intentions, but she had connections he needed to make use of first. Merrick wanted a wife this season, not a potential scandal. He’d put the decision off long enough. He was
thirty and at an age when the future, not just his but others, preyed on his mind. “There is still much you can tell me about my quarry. What did you discover?”She smiled at him fondly and ran her hands over his forearms. “A pity it must be so, but I agree it is high time you married. With your connections and wealth you should have had even the most cautious of fathers lining up to offer up their daughters for marriage to you by now.”
He frowned. “That has not been my experience. I only need one.” If he wanted to find himself the right sort of wife, then he needed access to information about the candidates and their
families before he approached them. Louisa had her ear in the right circles, and the wrong ones too. Merrick cast an anxious glance along the hall, hoping no one was lingering close enough to overhear their conversation. He didn’t want to ruin what he’d started before he’d truly begun. “Where is your husband tonight?”“Oh, the card room, I imagine. You know how he is when there are high stakes involved. Except”—her brow furrowed and her head turned toward the hall door—“he did seem rather interested in the guest list, so I think he may have his eye on someone I invited tonight. I do hope it’s not one of your possibilities.”
Merrick studied her face, wondering if Louisa had it in her to be the least bit jealous of another woman. “Does that disturb you? That he might be meeting with a lover of his own even now?”
She made a face and then laughed. “Only if he chooses someone I dislike. I do not like to share with my enemies.”
He laughed along with her, but he wasn’t the least bit amused. Marriage was a serious business. When he found the right woman, Merrick would not share. He knew his own mind well enough to believe that when he found a woman who matched his criteria and married her, he would be entirely possessive about her company. “Tell me.”
Louisa’s gaze softened. “It is as you feared.”
He cursed under his breath. “Why?”
“I’m not entirely sure.” She frowned. “The old rumors about your father’s frequent dalliances are circulating again, as well as whispers of your own more recent affair with that dreadful actress. I warned you anyone who named herself after fruit would be trouble. But she has cried so
convincingly over the loss of your affection and everyone thinks you were a monster to her.”
Book Info
Publish Date: 12 March, 2014
Digital ISBN: 978-0-987561-47-3
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-925239-41-6
Genre: Regency Historical Romance
Related Books
Distinguished Rogues Series
1. Chills – Jack and Constance
2. Broken – Giles and Lillian
3. Charity – Oscar and Agatha
4. An Accidental Affair – Merrick and Arabella
5. Keepsake – Kit and Miranda
6. An Improper Proposal – Martin and Iris
7. Reason to Wed – Richard and Esme
8. The Trouble with Love – Everett and Whitney
9. Married by Moonlight – Gilbert and Anna
10. Lord of Sin – Julian and Portia
11. The Duke’s Heart – Sinclair and Kitty
12. Romancing the Earl – Price and Lenore
13. One Enchanted Christmas – Otis and Margaret
14. Desire by Design – Alexander and Sylvia
15. His Perfect Bride – Harry and Ophelia
16. Pleasures of the Night – Teddy and Eugenia
17: Silver Bells – Hector and Ruby
18. Seduced in Secret – Winston and Charlotte
19. Yours Until Dawn – Drew and Aurora
20. No Ordinary Lady