THE VISCOUNT'S VOW-Excerpt 3 G-Rated

This is one of my favorite scenes in The Viscount's Vow. It takes place in Vangie's vardo (wagon).
 

Ian placed a hand on Vangie’s shoulder. “I’m so very sorry.”

Oh, how she needed a comforting touch. But not his. Never again his.

She wrenched away from him.

Her voice ringing with scathing condemnation, she said, “Tell me, Lord Warrick, are you terribly disappointed I’ll not have a distended belly proclaiming to the world I carry your seed before you discard me?”

Vangie heard him suck in a great gulp of air.

“She was lying, Vangie.”

She clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sobs demanding release.

Was she? Or was Lucinda telling the truth, and Ian the liar?

When she didn’t respond he pressed, “Lucinda knew you were behind me. Her lies were contrived to cause you pain and grief.”

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “We’re legally married. By all that is holy, I swear it.”

What did he know of holiness?

Vangie struggled to turn over, the weight of the quilt covering her adding to the burden of her grief. She pinned him with a direct look.

“Tell me one thing,” she rasped. “Did you or did you not venture to London for the express purpose of causing my downfall?”

“Vangie. . .”

“Perhaps downfall isn’t accurate. Putting me in my place? Giving me my just due? Ruining me?”

He said nothing. Had guilt rendered him speechless? She searched his face. His handsome features were etched with sorrow, and his eyes . . . was that regret? Or . . . could it be? Were those tears awash in the silvery depths?

Her heart twisted painfully. Blast and damn. No. She’d not feel compassion for him. She was the victim. She would offer him no quarter, no mercy.

“Well, did you?”

“That was before I. . .”

Pain, razor-sharp pierced her heart and left it bleeding. “It’s a simple question, Ian. Yes or no?”           

“It’s not that simple—”

With a doggedness that surprised even her, Vangie persisted. “Yes or no?”

“Sweeting, I’d been told. . .”

Told? Fury whipped anew. She bit out, “Yes. Or. No?”

Absolute, resolute, demanding truth’s validation, either to mend her shattered heart or annihilate it completely, Vangie would have her answer. No more a corked-brained, beguiled miss, blinded by love. Looking through the twin lenses of betrayal and deceit, she could at last see Ian clearly.

His eyes pleaded with her to understand. His voice low and filled with self-condemnation, he uttered but one syllable.

“Yes.”

The Viscount's Vow is Available at Amazon.com

http://amzn.com/B00EZ8RBN2/

To celebrate The Viscount's Release, I'm having a giveaway on my blog. Items you can win include a Kindle, ebooks, bookmarks, and teacups. 

http://blueroseromance.com  

  

I'd love to hear from you.

http://collettecameron.com 

I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Linedin, Google+, Tumblr, & Wordpress too.

 

 

 

THE VISCOUNT'S VOW-Excerpt Two G-rated GIVEAWAY TOO!

In this scene, our reluctant bridegroom and bride share another dance.

 

You didn’t eat much, wife.”

They were alone on the dance floor. Ian deftly twirled Vangie around his aunt’s smallish ballroom, mindful of the interested gazes watching them.

Stealing a glance at the smiling and nodding onlookers, he suppressed a frown. He felt like a curiosity on display at Bullock’s Museum. He wished others would take to the floor, so he could dispense with the devoted bridegroom facade.

The twelve courses at dinner had been torturous. His wife hadn’t taken more than a dozen bites nor said as many words. He’d tried to eat the succulent foods Aunt Edith had gone to such efforts to have prepared, but his anger made everything dry as chalk and every bit as tasteless.

“I’d not much appetite, my lord.”

He chuckled. “Don’t you think you might address me by my given name, wife?”

“Why?” she asked pertly. “I’ve known you but four days, certainly not long enough to be so familiar with you.”

He lowered his head, breathing in her ear, very aware every eye in the room was trained on them. He’d give them something to gossip about. “Because I want you to, wife, and you did promise to obey.”

He nipped her ear.

She jumped and a tiny yelp of surprise escaped before she clamped her lips together. Her eyes were shooting sparks again; only this time they were directed at him.

“What’s my name, wife?”

“Please, don’t call me that. I too have a name, as you well know.”

Drawing her closer, her breasts pressing against the breadth of his chest and cresting the edge of her bodice, he murmured, “Indeed, but Evangeline sounds . . . angelic, and we both know you’re no such thing.”

“Pardon?” She stiffened, trying to shove away from him. “I don’t under—”


His head descended again. “Say it, or I’ll trace your ear with my tongue.”

He grinned as her breath hissed from between clenched teeth. She stumbled, her fingers digging into his shoulder and hand. A very becoming flush swept across her face.

“Will you cease?” Her worried gaze careened around the room. “We’re being watched.”

Voice husky, he said, “Say my name, sweeting.”

Giving her a gentle squeeze, he started to dip his head, caressing her elegant neck with his hot breath.

“Ian, your name is Ian,” she gasped breathlessly, twisting her head away.

 

The Viscount's Vow is Available at Amazon.com

http://amzn.com/B00EZ8RBN2/

 

To celebrate The Viscount's Release, I'm having a giveaway on my blog. Items you can win include a Kindle, ebooks, bookmarks, and teacups. 

http://blueroseromance.com  

 

  I'd love to hear from you.

http://collettecameron.com 

I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Linedin, Google+, Tumblr, & Wordpress too.

 

 

 

 

THE VISCOUNT'S VOW Excerpt-G Rated

 

It's always fun to see what happens when the hero and heroine first meet. In this scene, Ian and Vangie have just been introduced. They have no idea how complicated things become as a result of this waltz.

 

 

Noticing the numerous pairs of eyes watching him escort Miss Caruthers onto the polished floor, a wry smile touched Ian’s lips.

“I haven’t danced with any other ladies this evening. No doubt the rumormongers are hissing envious conjectures as to why I’ve asked you.”

She shot him a startled look before glancing around the ballroom.

“Why did you?”

“To see if what I’d heard was true.”

Ian watched for a reaction.

She opened her mouth then closed it. They waltzed around the dance floor for a few moments in silence. The string quartet was quite satisfactory. Ian allowed the lilting strains to soothe his troubled spirit.

“What did you hear?”

Miss Caruthers’s soft question reminded him of his purpose.

“That you are an excellent dancer.”

It was true. She moved with natural grace, following his lead, all the while holding herself in a most proper stance. He had to acknowledge she was a superb actress. Her gaze remained fixated on a spot above his left shoulder, except for one brief instance when she’d flicked her cobalt-blue gaze upward and unintentionally met his eyes.

“Is that all?” she asked softly.

He’d never seen eyes such a dark blue before. “All?”

“You’ve heard nothing else about me?

Her eyes held the perfect combination of trust and innocent curiosity. So convincing was she, that when their gazes fused, a peculiar jolt stabbed the center of his being.

What was it?

 ~ ~ ~ ~

Here's the book trailer for The Viscount's Vow

 

 

The Viscount's Vow is Available at Amazon.com

http://amzn.com/B00EZ8RBN2/

To celebrate The Viscount's Release, I'm having a giveaway on my blog. Items you can win include a Kindle, ebooks, bookmarks, and teacups. 

http://blueroseromance.com  

 

I'd love to hear from you.

http://collettecameron.com 

I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Linedin, Google+, Tumblr, & Wordpress too.