Swept Away

Swept Away
Candace Camp

“I have no evil designs against your virginal body.”

Julia was not sure why his words filled her with such cold. “Then you are speaking of a marriage in appearance only?”

“Certainly. What else could possibly be between us?” Deverel asked.

“Nothing, of course,” she answered. “Is that what you want—to tie yourself to a loveless marriage?”

“It’s not a question of what I want. Or of what you want. It is a question of what we have to do. Or do you not believe that you have a certain duty to your family?”

“Of course I believe I have a duty to them.”

She had sworn she could not marry the man who had ruined her brother—but had he really been responsible for that? Everything inside her quailed at the idea of facing a lifetime in a loveless, even antagonistic marriage. Yet she knew that to refuse to do it would be the act of a coward.

Julia looked Deverel squarely in the eyes. “All right,” she said. “I will marry you.”

“A smart, fun-filled romp.”

—Publishers Weekly on Impetuous

Swept Away

Candace Camp

Swept Away

Contents

Title Page (#u290dcd34-a0b4-5506-ad26-f28b3e86fa63)

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue (#uda294eb9-b781-5e25-8ac7-17c06e03513a)

Julia pulled the cap low on her head, hiding her face in the shadow of the brim, and edged closer to the horse whose head she held. Every muscle in her body tensed, and her eyes were glued to the man strolling down the opposite side of the street. It was Lord Stonehaven, all right. She would recognize that arrogant, muscular stride anywhere.

The horse shifted nervously as her hand unconsciously tightened on the bridle. Julia ran a soothing hand down his neck. The last thing she wanted was to alert Stonehaven. In just a few more steps they would have him. Her eyes went involuntarily to the darkened doorway beyond her quarry. She could see no sign of Nunnelly or Jasper, even knowing that they were there. It was a well-recessed doorway; that was why they had chosen this particular spot for their ambush.

She waited, scarcely daring to breathe. In another moment they would have the man responsible for her brother’s downfall. Lord Stonehaven took one step, then another. Suddenly, without a break in his stride, he stepped out into the street, bypassing the doorway. Julia clenched her teeth against the shriek of frustration that rose in her throat. Damn the man! How did he always manage to thwart them?

She knew it was over, the attempt failed like the other two times, even as the two men bolted out of the black doorway toward their quarry. Lord Stonehaven was simply too good a fighter for them to subdue him without the element of surprise. Nunnelly still had a welt across his forehead from their last attempt to prove it.

Stonehaven whirled as Nunnelly and Jasper charged, and he slammed his walking stick into Jasper’s midsection. The young man doubled over, and Lord Stonehaven neatly sidestepped him and drove a fierce right uppercut into Nunnelly’s jaw. The burly Nunnelly staggered back, dropping the sack that they had intended to pull over Lord Stonehaven’s head. Nunnelly’s feet got tangled up in the sack, and he fell to the street. Stonehaven reached down and grasped the man’s jacket, hauling him up.

“All right, you!” Stonehaven’s crisp voice carried clearly across the street. “I want some answers—now! What the devil do you mean, attacking me? This isn’t the first time, either.”

For an answer, Nunnelly swung at him, but Stonehaven stepped sharply back to avoid it, releasing Nunnelly. Jasper, still bent over from the earlier blow to his midsection, charged the man, but Stonehaven turned and brought his hand down hard on the young man’s neck, sending him sprawling to the ground.