THE
MATCHMAKER MEETS
THE
MATCHBREAKER
Liliana’s Letter
The Matchmaker
Lord Grigsby
wants nothing more than to retreat to his study, but a promise to his long-dead
sister has forced him back into society to broker the marriage of his nephew to
the heiress whose money can save the young man’s estate. If only the young
lady’s starchy hired companion would move out of the way.
The Matchbreaker
Hired to launch
an heiress’s society debut, seemingly straitlaced spinster Liliana Ashford’s
future as a professional chaperone depends on the girl’s successful marriage.
But Liliana had her own close encounter with a scoundrel years ago, and she
won’t let her charge be forced into marriage to the same kind of rogue, no
matter how hard the man’s widowed uncle tries to woo Liliana around to the
match.
Secrets and a Scandalous Murder
A shadow from Liliana’s past appears bearing
an unfortunate letter she wrote long ago, and then the earl is murdered,
evoking the scandal of the season. While she scrambles to make a respectable
match for her charge before her own past can be exposed, Grigsby sets about
finding his nephew’s killer—and Liliana’s secrets.
EXCERPT
"You clearly don't approve of the match. Do you intend to openly
oppose it?"
Her head whipped around, and she glared. "It's not for me to approve
or disapprove. Katie—Miss Mercer—will decide."
Passion flashed in her eyes, sending an answering spark through him. She
was magnificent, though so very mistaken. "Really? Then her father is more
liberal than I expected."
She looked him over more closely. "What do you know of this
matter?"
I might ask you the same question. Her tone had been stiff, like the crystallized dome covering bubbling
lava. He fixed her with his sternest glare, not entirely surprised at her
cheek.
His glower didn't impress her. She lifted her shoulders higher. Stood a
little taller, proud, lovely, and filled with indignation.
Quite righteous indignation. He gave into an unmanly sigh, truly weary of
his responsibility for Thomas. "I know a good deal, Miss Ashford. I have
been negotiating for these nuptials. The arrangement is my doing as much as Mr.
Mercer's. Much more than it is my nephew's. He is probably the least culpable,
except for his abominable behavior."
She clenched her hands tightly. "I see."
"Thomas's mother was my older sister. I made a promise to her that I
would look after him." Her gaze softened, and she bit her lip in a way
that made him want to taste the part that she was nipping.
And where had that thought come from?
"And your nephew needs money and an heir."
He nodded. As a woman of the ton,
of course she would understand how marriage worked. Marriage wasn’t about love,
or the bride’s approval, or a plump lower lip that begged to be kissed.
"He needs money most of all. He has a younger brother in the army who
would make a far more dutiful earl."
He covered his mouth with his hand. The words had rolled out, shocking him.
He rarely spoke this frankly with any woman.
Very well, he never spoke this
frankly with any woman.
She released a soft breath. "And there is the matter of the ore."
His mouth gaped and he quickly closed it. Mr. Mercer had shared that
information? Well. "That part of
the county is rich with newly discovered veins of iron."
That information brought her up straighter. She looked away, gazing
intently at a thick, dark spot of foliage, making him want to pry into that
sharp mind.
"I see,” she said. “I believe we should go back in now."
Not yet. He tucked her hand over his arm but did not move.
Buy Links:
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Nook: http://bit.ly/1k81CX3
Alina K. Field Bio and links:
Award winning
author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German
literature, but she found her true passion in reading and writing romance.
Though her roots are in the Midwest, after six very, very, very cold years in
Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a
midcentury home with her husband and a blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for
dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.
Her debut
novella, Rosalyn’s Ring, was the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner in the novella
category.
Visit her at:
Pick your choice
of 5 Q & A’s:
Interview with Liliana Ashford, heroine of Liliana’s Letter
- NicknameMy brother and his friends always called me “Lil” as a nickname.
- JobSadly, I was forced by circumstances to take employment as a companion to a wealthy young woman coming out into society. My job was to help her make a very good marriage.
- Favorite foodI love a freshly made scone with good Devon cream, don’t you?
- Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between?I was poor as a church mouse until I married Grigsby.
- Secret desire or fantasyI should love to see the pyramids and ride on a camel.
- What would you do if you won the lottery?Yes, we do have lotteries, but ladies do not generally participate. Still, if I could dream and find myself with a pot of money, I would establish a charity to help the young girls from the London rookeries into a better life.
Thanks for sharing and all the best with your book,
Tina
1 comment:
Thanks for having me as a guest today, Tina!
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