Standing there at the edge of the lake, she let the material fall to her feet and graciously stepped out of it. Her heart was beating fast. Faster than she expected.Swivelling around she turned to face him in nothing but her chemise and corset, which was holding her breast up like a lover's hand. She felt his eyes rake over her body from up to down, landing briefly on her breast before going up to her face. He folded his hands under his chest and gave her an amused look. Widening his stance.Clearly, he didn't believe she would go through with it. Emily didn't believe it either, but then something shifted in his eyes and Emily felt it linger once more on her breast. His chest rising and falling in slow breathing, his stomach contracting and extracting. Emily's body somersaulted into a flutter of warm feeling at what she saw there. She didn't know if he knew it, but he was eating her up with his eyes. Emily was glad to know she wasn't as invisible a

London, England.Present-day, May 1831.THE BALLROOM at the duke of Hanton's town house was ablaze with lights of a thousand candles all placed prettily in a glistening chandelier and crystal brackets interspersed along the wall. At one corner of the room stood Emily Bertram with tears in the back of her eyes as she watched the last man she had pinned all her hopes on, take his newly betrothed, to the dance hall. It was official now. She was going to die an old maid, without even being kissed before.The young woman was already three and twenty, and she was yet to find a husband, which meant she was practically on the shelf. One more year, and she would be firmly on the shelf.Mayhap, she could be a great aunt to her brothers' children if they ever got around to marrying one, the young woman thought. But then her lips wobbled, and tears threatened to spill. She wanted to cry out in hysteria, she wanted to sob. She d

The blond man under Cole, during that momentary lapse in time, had regained his strength. He flipped Cole under him and pummel his face until what was left of it was a bloodied eye and a swollen, cut lip.“That's enough!” The brother with the long scar, named Julian, said from behind them. “Brother, I think you would agree with me that this isn't the time to show your physical prowess but the time to act fast before the ton discovers what is going on here. Goddamn it, our sister had just been ruined.”The blond man stepped off Cole, but it seems that not everyone agreed to what Julian, the eldest of them had said, for the man behind them, the one who had been cracking his bones grumbled. “At least he should be made to understand that a Bertram, is not to be trifled with.” when Julian said nothing, he grumbled again and ran his hand over his blond hair. “Bloody hell Julian, I think you are turning soft.”Julian craned his head back a

THE EARL OF TONFIELD pulled the curtain close as their carriage drew past the last house and skidded out of town, heading to the place where the duel was supposed to take place.One might think his demeanour had improved considerably since last night, but judging by the ferocious scowl which seems to have planted itself firmly on his face, one would have to think otherwise.It had been decided it was for the best if the duel should take place as early as possible before most of the ton got wind of where, and when the duel was to take place. Hence, the reason they were heading out of town at such an ungodly hour.The cold morning air penetrated through the confines of the carriage even though the curtains had been properly closed, and their path were marked by various stops and rutted potholes blighted by the moon which had already begun its descent back to the sky.On a day like this, when faced with an impending, t

Durham, England1831.COLE FLETCHER calmly took Emily's right hand in his own and halfheartedly listened to the vicar. Through cold frigid eyes, he assessed her, standing there before him in a fine white muslin gown and over it was a soft silk shawl, draped over her shoulders, and a small-cap to match, trimmed with lace.At that moment she looked so innocent he had thought mayhap she hadn't schemed to trap him. But then she lifted her face and Cole stared into those knowledgeable emerald green eyes and concluded Emily Bertram wasn't sad, which could only mean one thing. She was in agreement with the marriage. For if she was not, she could have at least fought back, showed some resistance, but now she calmly stood there before him in her white muslin gown and her blond tresses beautifully piled on top of her head.Swallowing bitterly, he stared at her through narrowed eyes, his li