Southern Belle

Southern Belle
Fiona Hood-Stewart

Elm MacBride belongs to a world of wealth, politics and Southern hospitality. But when her husband, a self-absorbed politician who will stop at nothing to seize power, betrays her, Elm flees Savannah to her old friend's chalet in the heart of Switzerland.Meeting a beautiful woman on the ski slopes is the last thing Irishman Johnny Graney thought would happen when he agreed to a family vacation in Gstaad. After all, no woman has been able to capture his heart since the terrible day his young wife was killed. But there's something intriguing about Elm MacBride, in whom he senses an incredible strength.And Elm finds herself equally drawn to Johnny's passion for his home, the Thoroughbred horses he raises–and for her.But the ties Elm has to the world of old politics are not easily severed and she finds herself an unwilling pawn in her husband's game of power, forced to maintain appearances with a man determined to control her every move. And when his desperate actions threaten to destroy her, Johnny must save not only their love, but Elm's very life…

“You spend the night in my arms then walk out as cool as you please to a date with your ex? Oops, I forgot, you’re still married to the man. Perhaps you never meant to leave him? I can assure you that from where I was standing the two of you looked awfully cozy.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“I happened to walk into the Palace Hotel at lunchtime today. Unless I’m much mistaken, you were on a sofa by the window of the lounge smiling at someone who was kissing your hand. You didn’t seem too upset about it.”

She drew back, shocked at just how angry he was. “Harlan came here to try and persuade me to return to Savannah—he’s worried that my absence makes him look bad. I told him that wasn’t an option right now. We had lunch and now he’s leaving again.”

“Do I look stupid, I wonder?” Johnny asked conversationally, hands stuffed in the pockets of his corduroys.

“No, you look jealous,” she retorted, matching his tone. “And with no reason to be.”

“Jealous? Ha! That’s a good one. Why on earth would I be jealous? After all, we’re just having a holiday fling, aren’t we?”

“Yes. I suppose we are,” she replied quietly, looking him straight in the eyes.

“If that’s what you really feel, then I agree wholeheartedly,” he responded stiffly.

Also by FIONA HOOD-STEWART

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Look for the latest novel by

FIONA HOOD-STEWART

SAVANNAH SECRETS

Southern Belle

Fiona Hood-Stewart

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

To Carter Parsley,

the other Southern Belle

With love

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to all those who have helped me while writing this book. To Remer and Susan Lane, Howard and Mary Morrison, Remer and Christina Lane and Fran Garfunkel of Savannah, Georgia, for their generous hospitality and helpful input. To Bill Riley for the reference to the Samovar, which he told me over dinner at a castle in Switzerland, and last but not least to those whom I share my life with and who patiently bear with my writing every day: John, Sergio and Diego. As always my thanks to my editor Miranda Stecyk and the team: Dianne Moggy, Amy Moore-Benson and Donna Hayes.

Contents

Part I (#u17409cca-4b9e-5482-9f77-324ca0da86fc)

Chapter 1 (#u967b044d-08ff-5569-ba5d-a5e44d84e4e9)

Chapter 2 (#u5ccdf0f5-be24-59ab-b2a9-c9c935a1a06a)

Chapter 3 (#uf86530ec-6746-5a06-bf50-b5889aab43ed)

Chapter 4 (#u45c2207c-d9e5-5895-88d9-2e7d0190b1cd)

Part II (#u6c974833-51b1-5030-893f-2e3451014be3)

Chapter 5 (#uad54503d-e085-517e-a27e-2e28339c823a)

Chapter 6 (#u9106d594-0d4d-5a61-a00a-c8fd57371912)

Chapter 7 (#u4d3149da-1c40-5a90-87d7-a619286a896c)

Chapter 8 (#u15b0acc9-fa78-5a39-9608-33bfc79f643f)

Chapter 9 (#u4c262dc7-9d16-59df-b543-06f58ed23ff1)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part III (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)