The Demure Miss Manning

The Demure Miss Manning
Amanda McCabe

ADVENTURES OF AN ENGLISH DEBUTANTEThe perfect diplomat’s daughter, Mary Manning has spent her young life following her father around the world, behaving in a most agreeable way. So stealing a kiss from military hero Sebastian Barrett is most out of character – and a mistake she’ll never make again!A mission to Brazil seems the perfect way to escape his tempting emerald eyes. But when he too arrives upon the sultry sands of Rio, Mary realises there’s no running from the perfectly wicked way Sebastian makes her feel…

‘Miss Manning, haveyoumet the great hero of the day?’ Lady Alnworth said.

He turned to smile at Mary, and it took all her long years of careful diplomatic training to keep her own polite smile in place. A chivalric knight of old, only in a red coat instead of gleaming armour. On him, that uniform seemed—different. Exotic. Alluring.

‘How do you do, Miss Manning?’ he said, bowing over her hand.

His breath through her glove made her shiver. His hair was a golden brown, shimmering as if he spent much time in the sun. It gave him such a warmth she wanted to get close to. So very vital … burning with raw, energetic life.

Yes, she thought. No wonder all the young ladies of London were in love with him. If she wasn’t careful she would soon be one of them!

Author Note (#ulink_9da03836-338a-55e9-bab9-070bd8558988)

I don’t know what last winter was like where you are, but here it was cold, grey and long! I am not a winter person—ever … So I definitely loved escaping to the warm beaches of Brazil, even if it was only in my imagination.

I also loved watching the romance of Mary and Sebastian unfold against the palm trees and real-life political intrigue of 1808 Rio. They started to feel like real friends—two people whose adventures I loved following every day. I was never sure where they would go, but I knew they definitely belonged together—two strong, kind-hearted, brave people, who are too honourable and stubborn for their own good! Maybe I was just feeling extra-romantic after my own wedding last summer! I hope you enjoy their adventures, too …

For more behind-the-book history and deleted scenes from The Demure Miss Manning be sure to visit me at ammandamccabe.com.

The DemureMiss Manning

Amanda McCabe

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

AMANDA McCABE wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen—a vast epic, starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class. She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers’ Best, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, one dog and one cat.

Contents

Cover (#u822d34ca-a521-5822-bc6f-08c499d4d1f3)

Introduction (#ue1952346-4fd9-5b4b-bdab-0f328ed3f490)

Author Note (#ulink_80ccd6f5-b4d1-5ff9-a98e-7bf3758dc367)

Title Page (#u76d170fe-dc8e-53f6-b497-25e90b93d9c0)

About the Author (#uc0fc1643-0bd6-5c46-a0bb-732bf75455a8)

Chapter One (#ulink_0d0c2aeb-9981-5416-ab1d-407d3f785672)

Chapter Two (#ulink_a78aa8ca-cade-591e-8362-e260c2c43b3d)

Chapter Three (#ulink_ded4a8df-1455-5314-8e21-9ceea4da7727)

Chapter Four (#ulink_506ccf3f-634d-5500-869b-39436a9d2e20)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Author Note (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_7ada1466-f9e2-5a6e-b898-0caff69b142b)