A Gentleman Of Substance

A Gentleman Of Substance
Deborah Hale

A Secret Child…When Lucy Rushton's lover was killed in battle, she was his brother, formidable viscount Drake Strickland, to protect her unborn child. The marriage tore her heart, yet after their vows were sealed, Lucy saw another side to her stern husband - a compassionate, captivating gentleman of substance who lured her in ways Jeremy never had! A Secret Love…Duty-bound to care for lovely Lucy, Drake never expected sharing his home would warm his cold, bare life. And when her eyes flashed with provocative beauty, sending an irresistible invitation, he longed to believe his wife's heart was wholly his.

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#uc0913894-2814-5dc2-acc3-1243881e037a)

Excerpt (#uc0901d9e-df00-5c4d-aee4-28cb386f3783)

Dear Reader (#ub22a3756-81ca-5778-b3bc-a36878818d03)

Title Page (#u35d83c7b-1eba-5af1-8d10-c176329331e8)

About the Author (#uc6a8e65a-bb74-5e50-8b3e-705f37a1c1b2)

Dedication (#ua9223662-97f3-5d97-b10e-aa60f369ade7)

Chapter One (#u0150e7ff-3d3d-5ac7-9b06-003f7abd2871)

Chapter Two (#u189c06d5-356e-5566-90d0-8f16b12c8aa7)

Chapter Three (#ud64dc9ac-941e-5fb0-9b5d-1e09f06d94ce)

Chapter Four (#ued63c5a5-1a4f-54da-80aa-30aa68ee28a5)

Chapter Five (#ub61cde87-29a8-535a-9121-c72532efdeb1)

Chapter Six (#u580926c8-bb35-50c8-ab2f-2723d3e1f9de)

Chapter Seven (#ua41eb613-268d-5ea9-bcf6-93c533e88696)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“Why are you here?”

Lucy asked, her pulse speeding to double time.

“Not to claim my marital rights, if that’s what you presume.” Drake swept her a casual glance, a glint of amusement in his dark eyes. “If our marriage is to serve its purpose, everyone must believe I sired your child. En route to get here, five of the servants saw me, as well as lady Phyllipa—an unexpected bonus. With any luck, tales of my ardent regard for you will spread far and wide.”

“I see. But was it necessary to arrive in quite this state of undress?”

Drake leaned back on the chaise with an air of polite indifference that enraged her. “Merely useful costuming in our charade of a marriage. I did not want to take the chance of anyone mistaking my intentions.” One dark brow cocked expressively. “Why all this virginal prudery, my dear? Surely it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

Dear Reader,

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and Harlequin Historicals has four terrific books this month that will warm your heart and put a twinkle in your eye!

If you haven’t yet discovered Deborah Hale, you’re in for a treat with her second book, A Gentleman of Substance. Viscount Drake Strickland is just that—and so much more—in this juicy, three-hankie Regency-era tale. The taciturn viscount offers a marriage of convenience to the local vicar’s daughter, who is pregnant with his deceased brother’s child. Their unexpected yearning for each other eventually proves too strong to be denied!

Western lovers have two great books in store for them this month. In Jake Walker’s Wife by Loree Lough, a good-hearted, caretaking farmer’s daughter finally finds the man to cherish and take care of her—only, he’s running from the law. And in Heart and Home by Cassandra Austin, a young—and engaged—physician starts anew in a small Kansas town and finds himself falling for the beautiful owner of the boardinghouse next door.

And don’t miss our special 3-in-l medieval Christmas collection, One Christmas Night. Bestselling author Ruth Langan begins with a darling Cinderella story in “Highland Christmas,” Jacqueline Navin spins an emotional mistaken-identity tale in “A Wife for Christmas” and Lyn Stone follows with a charming story of Yuletide matchmaking in “Ian’s Gift.”

Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.

Happy Holidays,

Tracy Farrell,

Senior Editor