“Ah, love.” Mickey O’Connor tilted his head, long inky locks of hair slithering over his broad shoulders. “Don’t you know by now that decent is the last thing anyone would be a-callin’ me? No, the lass stays with me and me men, here where I can keep me eye on her night and day until I can see to this bit of bother.”
“But she thinks me her mother,” Silence hissed. “How can you separate us when—”
“An’ who said anything about separatin’?” Mr. O’Connor asked with feigned surprise. “Why, darlin’, I said the babe had to stay with me, I never said you couldn’t as well.”
Silence inhaled and then found she had trouble letting the breath out again. “You want me to come live with you?”
Mr. O’Connor grinned as if she were a pet dog that had finally learned a trick. “Aye, that’s the way of it, sweeting.”
“I can’t live with you,” Silence hissed furiously. “Everyone would think…”
“What, now?” Mickey O’Connor cocked his head his black eyes glittering.
She swallowed. “That I was your whore.”
He tutted softly. “Oh, an’ we can’t be havin’ that, now can we, what with your reputation bein’ all snowy white an’ all?”
Her hand was half raised, the fingers balled into a fist before she even realized it. She wanted to hit him so badly, wanted to wipe that smirking smile from his face with all her soul.
Except he was no longer smiling. He watched her, his face expressionless, his eyes intent, like a wolf waiting for the hare to break from cover.
Trembling, she let her hand fall.
He shrugged, looking mildly disappointed. “Ah, well, it’d be a great inconvenience to have you livin’ under me roof anyway. I ’spect you’ve made the right decision.”
He turned away from her, sauntering gracefully toward his throne. She’d been dismissed, it seemed. He no longer found her interesting enough to play with.
In that moment, with rage and grief, and yes, love, swirling all inside her being, Silence made her decision.
“Mr. O’Connor!”
He stopped, still turned rudely away from her, his voice a rumbling purr. “Aye?”
“I’ll stay.”
Table of Contents
Front Cover Image
Welcome
Dedication
A Preview of Scandalous Desires
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
Other Titles by Elizabeth Hoyt
Praise for Elizabeth Hoyt’s Novels
Copyright
OTHER TITLES BY ELIZABETH HOYT
The Raven Prince
The Leopard Prince
The Serpent Prince
To Taste Temptation
To Seduce a Sinner
To Beguile a Beast
To Desire a Devil
Wicked Intentions
PRAISE FOR
ELIZABETH HOYT’S NOVELS
Wicked Intentions
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! A magnificently rendered story that not only enchants but enthralls. With its mesmerizing plot and unforgettable characters, Wicked Intentions will make readers eager for the next Maiden Lane novel.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Hoyt brings steamy sensuality to the slums of early eighteenth-century London… earthy, richly detailed characterizations and deft historical touches.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A great book… and a wonderful start to a series… Wicked Intentions will make it onto my favorites of 2010 and will be reread with enthusiasm until book two makes its way to the shelves.”
—SmexyBooks.com
“Hoyt brings mystery, romance, and intrigue to debut her latest series… and you are never left without wanting more… I can’t wait for the next book in the series.”
—TheMysticCastle.com
“Fantastic… I can’t wait to read more in this series.”
—TheBookGirl.net
To Desire a Devil
“Hoyt brings her Georgian-set Legend of the Four Soldiers series to a riveting conclusion… Rich with dangerous intrigue, suffused with desire, and spiked with wit, To Desire a Devil is nothing less than brilliant.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! The kind of powerfully emotional, sensual romance, tinged with fairy tale, that readers have come to expect from this gifted storyteller.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Wow! Hoyt knows how to write historical romances right! She blends the details of a historical setting with all the romance a reader could want. Her books pull you in from the first page… I am in awe… This book is a must-read for fans of historical romance!”
—RegencyRomanceWriters.com
“Hoyt’s skills are some of the best in the industry… Sharp dialogue, strong characterization, smart heroines with spines, and yummy tortured heroes… this book is really, really good.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Wonderful… an amazing series… high drama and suspense… Hoyt is an expert at storytelling.”
—HistoricalRomanceSociety.com
To Beguile a Beast
“Hoyt works her own brand of literary magic… in the exquisitely romantic, superbly sensual third addition to her extraordinary Georgian-set Legend of the Four Soldiers series.”
—Booklist
“4½ Stars! Top Pick! A magical love story that reads like a mystical fable and a very real and highly passionate romance. Hoyt has found a unique niche that highlights both her storytelling abilities and her considerable talents for depth of character and emotion.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Desert Isle Keeper! Books such as this one are the reason I read romance… Just about as good as it can get.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Everything a historical romance should be… Every aspect of this tale is first-rate. I loved this book from beginning to end… definitely one for the keeper shelf!”
—RomanceReaderatHeart.com
To Seduce a Sinner
“Superbly nuanced historical romance.”
—Chicago Tribune
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! Hoyt’s magical fairy-tale romances have won the hearts of readers who adore sizzling sensuality perfectly merged with poignancy.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Hoyt expertly sifts a generous measure of danger into the latest intriguing addition to her Four Soldiers, Georgian-era series. Her ability to fuse wicked wittiness with sinfully sensual romance is stunning.”
—Booklist
“I thoroughly enjoyed this story of action, mystery, and hot, hot romance.”
—FreshFiction.com
To Taste Temptation
“Hoyt… is firmly in control of her craft with engaging characters, gripping plot, and clever dialogue.”
—Publishers Weekly
“4½ Stars! Hoyt’s new series… begins with destruction and ends with glorious love.”
—RT Book Reviews
The Serpent Prince
“Exquisite romance… mesmerizing storytelling… incredibly vivid lead characters, earthy writing, and an intense love story.”
—Publishers Weekly
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or per
sons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Nancy M. Finney
Excerpt from Scandalous Desires copyright © 2011 by Nancy M. Finney
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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First eBook Edition: February 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-57488-4
Elizabeth Hoyt, Notorious Pleasures
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