How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride
by Lyndi Lamont
Steamy Victorian Romance (Short Story)
A marriage contract, nothing more…until darkly handsome Evan Channing and demure Lydia Blatchford meet. Yet the rules are simple for an arrangement such as theirs. There should be no misunderstanding, no illusions of anything more. But the rules are about to change…
Lydia wants the kind of love and romance she reads about in books. Fortunately, she hasn’t specified which book, and Evan has a copy of Richard Burton’s new translation of the Kama Sutra, with its ancient wisdom on love and courtship. He sets out to win his high-born bride, blending seductive promises with exotic lessons in love-making.
Lydia is prepared to tolerate this man she’s been sold to, but his scorching kisses send her pulses racing. Can an arranged marriage lead to love?
Disclaimer: This is a short 30 page romantic short story with bonus material** It is not a full-length novel. Contains scenes of Victorians breaking society’s rules, marital sex and ancient wisdom from the Kama Sutra.
(Previously published under the title Love… By the Book by Amber Quill Press,)
Available from Amazon, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble/Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.
4 Angels… “Love…By the Book is a scintillating mix of lust and sexual exploration. Lydia’s character has the typical ideals of the time period. Marriage is for convenience not for passion or love, no matter what she truly longs for on the inside. Evan is sexy, yet his character has a wonderfully tender side. Evan wants to learn to make Lydia enjoy marriage as much as he intends to. He shows her just how hot marriage can be… Ms. Lamont has done a very nice job of bringing a bit of the exotic into her writing. I look forward to reading more.” – Dawnie, Fallen Angel Reviews
All through dinner, she was aware of his presence at her side. His quick smile, pleasant manners, his long, long fingers that occasionally brushed her hand. Then there was his deep voice murmuring in her ear during the meal. It mattered not what he said, the very sound of his voice sent alternate waves of heat and cold through her. She was barely been able to eat a bite, though she’d drained her wineglass more than once before the champagne toast was served. She drank that as well.
Now, feeling a bit woolly-headed, she walked out onto the balcony for some fresh air where a slight breeze cooled her heated face. The men were still having their port in the dining room while her mother and Phoebe sat and visited with Mrs. Channing. Lydia knew she should go back inside and converse with her future mother-in-law.
Lydia was eager to learn more about Evan’s childhood. She knew his father had died when he was a babe in arms, murdered during the Sepoy Uprising, and that Mrs. Channing’s Indian in-laws had protected her and the infant Evan from a similar fate. She must have loved her husband greatly, for she had never remarried.
It was a tale worthy of one of her favorite romance novels, but she wasn’t in the mood to be sociable. Thank heavens it was a small gathering, just her immediate family, Evan, his mother and his uncle Frederick. She’d never have been able to deal with a crowd tonight.
When the men entered the room, her gaze flew to Evan. He looked around the room, frowning, until he spotted her standing by the open door. A smile creased his face as he headed straight for her. She clutched the doorjamb as her heart started pounding.
“There you are,” he said, stopping in front of her. “I feared you’d left.”
“I just needed some fresh air,” she explained.
“Are you well?” he asked, taking her hand solicitously. Heat radiated from him, shooting up her arm.
“I’m fine, just a bit warm.”
“I am, too,” he said, guiding her to the railing looking over the small garden at the back of the house. The scent of roses and honeysuckle wafted up.
“Since our engagement is official, I’ll send the announcement to the Times tomorrow, and then speak to the vicar about having the banns read. Shall we set a date now?”
She stiffened, staring straight ahead. Official. The word pounded in her head. Once the announcement was published, there would be no backing out. She closed her eyes, not knowing what to say.
“Lydia?”
Gently, he grasped her chin and turned her head toward his.
When she looked up, his expression was concerned.
“What’s wrong, my dear?”
Everything. But she could not say so. In truth, she was afraid of the weeks to come. Of what this marriage would mean.
How it would change her life.
He moved his hand to her shoulder. “Are you apprehensive?”
She managed a jerky nod.
“So am I,” he whispered.
She stared at him in astonishment. “Truly?”
“Truly. This is a big step for both of us. I realize we don’t know each other very well. If you’d like a long engagement—”
“No. Waiting will just make things worse.”
He quirked a dark brow. “How so?”
Taking a step back, she spread her hands. “It will just give me more time to dread—”
She broke off at the injured look on his face. “Forgive me, but surely you understand this marriage was never my preference.”
He turned away from her and ran a hand through his hair.
“Yes, I know, but I hoped you had become resigned to it.”
“I have. At least I have tried to be,” she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth. “That’s why I think it best just to plunge ahead. Once the banns have been read thrice, we can wed almost immediately.”
He turned back, a frown still marring his forehead. “Will that give your mother enough time to plan?”
She shrugged. “All I need is a new gown.”
“But won’t society think it odd we married in such haste?”
She looked him in the eye. “Let me make one thing clear. I do not give a fig for what society thinks. If you supposed you were marrying a social butterfly, let me banish that notion right now.”
He smiled at her. “Harry said you were sensible, but this surprises me. I’m happy to agree to a short engagement.” He stepped closer, towering over her. “The sooner I can make you mine, the better.”
Her heart pounded and her breath caught as he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers for but a second before backing away. She drew in a deep breath. Her first kiss and it had been over almost before it was begun. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
“Shall we go inside and discuss the wedding plans with your parents?”
“Not yet. There is something else I’d like to say.” It was now or never.
“Yes, my dear, what is it?”
She licked her lips then plunged ahead. “I know how these things work. Arranged marriages, that is. I won’t expect fidelity from you.”
His shocked expression surprised her. “Is that what you think, Lydia? That I’m marrying you with the intention of cheating on you?”
“Perhaps not now,” she said. “But in a few years… It’s not as if ours is a love match. I won’t cut up a fuss if you decide to take a mistress. As long as you are discreet.”
“How very… sophisticated of you,” he said, his tone dry enough to parch a desert.
She took a deep breath before continuing. “And once I’ve produced the requisite heir and spare, I assume I’ll be free to seek my pleasure elsewhere.”
The thunderous look on his face startled her and she stepped back.
“You will do no such thing,” he said fiercely, reaching for her.
“Ours may not be a love match now, but I fully intend to see it turns into one.”
With that, he pulled her into his embrace, trapping her arms between them as his encircled her shoulders and waist.
Covering her mouth with his, he kissed her with a heady combination of passion and anger. Her resistance crumbled in the face of his onslaught. She clutched at his lapels and returned his kiss, even parting her lips when his tongue probed them. Overwhelmed by the sensations his lips provoked, she let her eyes drift shut as she clung to him.
When he let her go, he was still visibly upset. “There will be no more talk of infidelity. Have I made myself clear, Lydia?”
Copyright 2007. 2012 by Lyndi Lamont
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED