The Elusive Bride

The Elusive Bride
Deborah Hale

To protect her home and people, Cecily Tyrell would marry the devil himself! And if rumor held any truth, she would mayhap do so! A royal command bound her to wed Lord Rowan DeCourtenay, a knight of some renown…but a widower of shadowed repute. Still, he was the warrior she needed–but was he the man she wanted?Headstrong, valiant and dangerous she was, for Cecily Tyrell alone made Rowan DeCourtenay yearn to dismiss the guard around the citadel of his heart. Though would their love, born in disguise and adventure, survive when all his soul's dark secrets were finally exposed?

There was not enough rain in heaven to quench the heat of his desire for this woman.

Rowan’s gaze rose to meet hers. To discover the answer to his question. What he saw confounded him.

“Dear God, lass, don’t look at me so! Did I not say it would be your own choice? Cast me aside if you cannot love me, but don’t look on me with fear.”

For a moment her body seemed to melt against him, eager to mingle her flesh with his. It stiffened again at his words. Had he said anything so terrible?

Rowan gasped with shock and pain as her fingers twined in his hair and wrenched his head back.

“Damn you, FitzCourtenay, you are a devil! Why could you not just take what you wanted? Why must you make me choose? Can you not see it will tear me apart…?

Acclaim for Deborah Hale’s recent books

The Bonny Bride

“…high adventure!”

—Romantic Times Magazine

A Gentleman of Substance

“This exceptional Regency-era romance includes all the best aspects of that genre…. Deborah Hale has outdone herself…”

—Romantic Times Magazine

“…a nearly flawless plot, well-dimensioned characters, and a flame that will set your heart ablaze with every emotion possible!”

—Affaire de Coeur

My Lord Protector

“Invite yourself to this sweet, sensitive, moving and utterly wonderful tale of love from the heart.”

—Affaire de Coeur

The Elusive Bride

Harlequin Historical #539

#540 MAID OF MIDNIGHT

Ana Seymour

#541 THE LAST BRIDE IN TEXAS

Judith Stacy

#542 PROTECTING JENNIE

Ann Collins

The Elusive Bride

Deborah Hale

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

Available from Harlequin Historicals and DEBORAH HALE

My Lord Protector #452

A Gentleman of Substance #488

The Bonny Bride #503

The Elusive Bride #539

For my daughter, Deidre Siobhan Hale,

and my sister, Ivy Marion Moore.

Their spirit inspired Cecily Tyrell and enriches my life.

Contents

Chapter One (#ubbe492b1-bdfc-509a-b040-ddc9bb094d57)

Chapter Two (#uc24be1ea-f311-5d11-9cb4-3d5fa1dc97a6)

Chapter Three (#ua40e9d60-63b1-516c-a928-08ba52433af7)

Chapter Four (#u4ced6eea-4b3a-5404-9141-71cc109a937b)

Chapter Five (#u5d84a944-2cd8-5b9c-bbd1-b4e5e6184457)

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)