The Rambunctious Lady Royston (Regency Classics: Alphabet Series #3)

A Kasey Michaels Classic Alphabet Regency

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Affaire de Coeur, on The Rambunctious Lady Royston:

“Once again Kasey Michaels presents us with all of what is best in regency romance and a wonderful example of why its fans are legion.”

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Zachary St. John, Earl of Royston, didn’t know he was looking for a wife when he encountered Miss Samantha Ardsley. He didn’t even know he had encountered Miss Ardsley, for the cheeky thing was dressed in her brother’s clothes at the time, and calling herself Samuel Smythe-Wright.

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She didn’t care about Zachary’s title or consequence, or even his devilish good looks — and she certainly didn’t wish to be married to him. But married to him she was, because she amused him, he said, and because he needed an heir.

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What neither of them expected was to tumble into love.

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An Excerpt:

A Curious Proposal:

"As my friends, such as they are, will tell you, I am a very unlikable man. I am hated or endured for my politics—depending upon your leanings—work and play hard as is my wont, and take what I desire when I see it. Yet, as I said, I’m bored with my existence. In fact, the only emotion I have felt since the grief engendered by my brother's death was my extreme annoyance with you yesterday. Today you have amused me, my second voyage into this phenomenon called emotion in two days. I have astonished myself. I look at you and I am already assured you would never bore me, or at least not for some time. Therefore it would seem my first problem is solved.”

There was really nothing to say to that, so Samantha, believing she was for once in her life behaving prudently, said nothing.

"Strangely, solving the first problem also solves the second. You’re young in years, but not that young, and probably haven’t been young in most ways in a decade, at least where it counts. Therefore, I shall approach your father this afternoon for your hand. The wedding shall take place before the month is out. I like things to be neat, don't you?"

Samantha jumped to her feet. "You’re out of your mind!" she accused shrilly.

"That had occurred to me, Sam." He started towards the door. "And close your mouth. It makes you look simple-minded, and that’s the one thing I know you are not."

"My name is Samantha," she shouted at his retreating back. "And I wouldn't marry you if you came wrapped up in priceless gold chains and were next in line for the throne."

He turned towards her and smiled. "Really? I don't know of another woman in England who would cast me aside so quickly. I hope you never come to love me, for you would lose all your fire."

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