Seductive Secrets

© 2008 Lynne Connolly

The Secrets Trilogy, Book 1

Nick is back.

After eight years of facing public scandal and private humiliation with her head held high, Isobel’s courage fails when the man she never stopped loving returns and asks her to marry him. Once he discovers her secret, he won’t visit her bed more than once. And she can’t bear his rejection.

Nicholas, Marquis of Cardington, is confident he can cope with the baggage Isobel carries from her first marriage. It doesn’t matter that the beautiful widow once left him to elope with another man. After all, he was partly to blame for that disaster. All that matters is he has always loved her, and now she’s free to accept his proposal.

Only on their wedding night does Nick learn the terrible secret Isobel has harbored for eight long years. To win his wife’s trust will take every ounce of tenderness he possesses—when what he really wants is to show her the passion he saved for her and her alone.

But just as Isobel begins to believe her heart is safe with Nick, the blackmailers who drove her first husband to suicide reappear. And they want their pound of flesh.

Isobel must finally trust Nick will all her secrets—and her life—or their enemies will destroy them both.

Warning: Keep a man handy for judicious use during the graphic sensual sex scenes. A fire extinguisher might be useful, too.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Seductive Secrets:

Nick felt his anticipation increase as he prepared for bed. He could almost taste it. He meant to savour every moment of the night ahead, help his new wife to do the same. He hoped the fear he’d felt in her when he kissed her earlier was natural reticence. She’d been a widow for over a year—time to get used to her own company at nights. Now it was time to accustom herself to something else.

Handing his waistcoat to his valet, he studied the embroidered flowers rioting over it as though he’d never seen them before. The frivolous design reflected the joy he felt today; finally making the woman he’d always wanted his wife. There were shadows but his optimistic mood made him sure he’d overcome them. He’d have to be careful, that was all.

He stripped, washed, shaved and allowed his valet to help him into a long, enveloping robe. Too hot for an evening as balmy as this but he didn’t want to alarm Isobel by an excessive show of masculine nakedness. He planned to take it as slowly as she needed.

He passed through the sitting room that stood between the bedrooms and grunted in satisfaction when he saw everything was in order. He didn’t stop but knocked softly on the door to her room.

When he heard her quiet, “Come,” he turned the knob and went in.

Isobel was standing by the open window, looking down into the garden. Her dark gold hair streamed over her shoulders, her loose bed robe showed her figure, slim but beautifully rounded in all the right places. He caught his breath, and had to concentrate to hear her words. “There are people still there,” she said. “Gardeners, at this hour.”

His anticipation rose several degrees. He took his time, steadying himself, but the sight of her like this intoxicated all his senses. “It’s quite early, really.” He crossed the room to join her and stood close but didn’t touch her. They watched the gardeners attending to the plants in the soft dusk. Some gardening jobs were better done out of the heat of the day and nurturing tender plants was a constant job.

All that passed through Nick’s mind but his concentration was on something else. He felt Isobel flinch when he put his arm around her, careful not to trap her glorious hair. He kept his hold light. She needed relaxing and softening before he’d go any further. After all, she was his wife, not a mistress or a passing fancy and he hoped to spend many years with her. It might take more than one night, though he hoped not. He ached for her.

“Come with me.” He led her faltering footsteps away from the bed, towards the inner door to the sitting room.

Isobel turned to him, a question in her eyes. “What is this?”

“You ate nothing during the wedding breakfast. I want to see you eat something now.”

He took her to one of the two chairs set before the table and drew it back for her. “I’m really not hungry,” she protested but she sat down.

“Nevertheless, please try to eat something.”

He lifted the lid of the nearest serving dish and she gasped. “Scotch collops!” She reached forward and lifted another lid. “Lemon cream!” Her lovely eyes lifted to his in surprise. “How did you know they were my favourites?”

Smiling, Nick lifted another lid to show her the fresh salad, delicately sprinkled with her favourite dressing. “I asked.” Just her smile made the trouble worthwhile. “When we went into the ballroom I stopped and sent for your maid. She told me what you liked and I sent to the kitchens for them. I doubt I’m a favourite there, with the wedding breakfast to arrange and then this.”

She laughed. “I must make sure it’s made up to them. They deserve my thanks.” She helped herself to some of the meat and salad. “Perhaps I am a little hungry.”

He poured wine for them both and took a little salad, just enough to keep her company. Unlike Isobel, he’d partaken of the banquet set before them earlier and he needed nothing more.

It was pleasant to watch her, knowing with lazy certainty that he could do it for years to come. He