A Lady of Quality

A Lady of Quality
Louise M. Gouge

Miss Catherine Hart may be merely a paid companion, but she’s the loveliest creature Baron Lord Winston has ever encountered.The only obstacle is determining the mysterious Miss Hart’s social pedigree, before the handsome diplomat can court her in earnest. Revenge, not romance, led Catherine Du Coeur to hide her aristocratic name and seek out the man who accused her father of treason.She expected a cold-hearted cad, but Winston appears honorable and compassionate. Against all odds Catherine is drawn to the very adversary she intended to ruin. And soon both will face a choice—one involving pride, old loyalties and forgiveness.

FALLING FOR THE ENEMY

Miss Catherine Hart may be merely a paid companion, but she’s the loveliest creature baron Lord Winston has ever encountered. The only obstacle is determining the mysterious Miss Hart’s social pedigree before the handsome diplomat can court her in earnest.

Revenge, not romance, led Catherine Du Coeur to hide her aristocratic name and seek out the man who accused her father of treason. She expected a cold-hearted cad, but Winston appears honorable and compassionate. Against all odds, Catherine is drawn to the very adversary she intended to ruin. And soon both will face a choice—one involving pride, old loyalties and forgiveness.

“My dear Miss Hart.”

Lord Winston moved to the chair beside her, took her hand and brushed his thumb across her damp face. “It was my privilege and honor to shield you.” His green eyes shone with an ardor she had never imagined she would receive even in her most sublime girlhood dreams.

The footman cleared his throat, the sound of it holding a slightly menacing hum.

Lord Winston blinked, grinned sheepishly and sat back in his chair. “There is another matter in the book that disturbed me.”

Catherine inhaled deeply to recover herself. “And that is?” The words came out on a breathy sigh.

This time, Lord Winston had the grace to ignore her discomfiture. “I cannot think well of Edward Ferrars because of his secret engagement. He was living a lie, which no gentleman should ever do if he expects to be highly regarded. I simply cannot tolerate a liar.”

As if cold water had been dashed in her face, Catherine’s mind and emotions cleared, and her giddy, girlish sensibilities yielded to good sense.

LOUISE M. GOUGE

has been married to her husband, David, for forty-eight years. They have four children and seven grand-children. Louise always had an active imagination, thinking up stories for her friends, classmates and family, but seldom writing them down. At a friend’s insistence, in 1984 she finally began to type up her latest idea. Before trying to find a publisher, Louise returned to college, earning a B.A. in English/creative writing and a master’s degree in liberalstudies. She reworked that first novel based on what she had learned and sold it to a major Christian publisher. Louise then worked in television marketing for a short time before becoming a college English/humanities instructor. She has had thirteen novels published, several of which have earned multiple awards, including the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Please visit her website at http://blog.Louisemgouge.com.

A Lady of Quality

Louise M. Gouge

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

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that

not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

—Ephesians 2:8–9

This book is dedicated to my beloved husband, David, who has stood by my side and encouraged me through my entire writing career. I would also like to thank Laurie Alice Eakes, Nancy Mayer and the Beau Monde Chapter of RWA for helping with my research into the Regency era. Thank you, Ramona K. Cecil, for your invaluable critiques and suggestions. Merci beaucoup to Leslie Carroll for translating my French passages. And of course, many thanks to Rachel Burkot,

my wonderful Love Inspired Historical editor,

whose insights always improve my stories.

Contents

Chapter One (#ufa7195f5-d6cb-5314-aee0-e1d6ba3b8961)

Chapter Two (#ua79a19d1-ce9c-56af-a11d-73f4e733f658)

Chapter Three (#ubb7f7638-4fd6-5333-9d14-6c3be541611b)

Chapter Four (#uea9c6fd9-527f-57f1-b10e-f6a8a40e8632)

Chapter Five (#uf10a505e-c7c2-5b1e-8d00-67d95cd8090e)

Chapter Six (#u8b38e917-8323-565a-8b6d-ca32c2b96d64)

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)

Chapter Twenty-Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)