Beneath the Major's Scars

Beneath the Major's Scars
Sarah Mallory

When a tainted beauty… After being shamelessly seduced by a married man, Zelah Pentewan finds her reputation is in tatters. Determined to rise above the gossip-mongers, Zelah knows she can rely on no one but herself.…MEETS A FORMIDABLE BEAST! But her independence takes a knock when a terrifying stranger must come to her aid. Major Dominic Coale’s formidable manner is notorious, but Zelah shows no signs of fear. She doesn’t cower at his touch as she begins to get a glimpse of the man behind the scars… The Notorious Coale Brothers They are the talk of the Ton!

THE NOTORIOUS COALE BROTHERS

They are the talk of the Ton!

Twin brothers Dominic and Jasper Coale

set Society’s tongues wagging

with their disreputable behaviour.

Get to know the real men behind the

scandalous reputations in this deliciously

wicked duet from Sarah Mallory!

Major Dominic Coale

He’s locked away in his castle in the woods,

with only his tormenting memories for

company, until governess Zelah Pentewan

crosses the threshold …

BENEATH THE MAJOR’S SCARS

December 2012

Jasper Coale, Viscount Markham

Used to having his own way where women

are concerned, Jasper would bet his fortune

on being able to seduce beautiful

Susannah Prentess—but she proves

stubbornly resistant to his charms!

BEHIND THE RAKE’S WICKED WAGER

January 2013

AUTHOR NOTE

Identical twins—fascinating, aren’t they? And they have been used very often in plots—by Shakespeare and Georgette Heyer, amongst others.

I have identical twin boys myself, and they came as a bit of a shock. It was only after the birth that I learned there were twins on my mother’s side of the family, and as she and I were both born under the star sign of Gemini—the twins—perhaps I should have been more prepared! However, I know from experience that twins are individuals, so when I decided to write about Jasper and Dominic Coale I wanted to give them very different stories. I began with Dominic, the younger brother. This is his story.

It was common practice amongst the English aristocracy for younger sons to join the army, and so it is with Dominic. He goes off to fight in the Peninsula War, but after suffering terrible injuries he finds his life takes a very different turn from that of his twin.

When Zelah (and the reader) first meets Dominic he has retired to Rooks Tower, an isolated house on Exmoor. He is irascible and a confirmed recluse, but Zelah’s young nephew Nicky has seen beyond his defensive shell and considers Dominic a firm friend. It is through Nicky that Zelah and Dominic meet and discover a mutual attraction, although they are both reluctant to acknowledge it. Zelah has been hurt before, and is determined upon an independent life, while Dominic believes his scarred face and body must repel every woman. They both have lessons to learn if they are to achieve happiness.

Some time ago I wrote a Christmas story—SNOWBOUND WITH THE NOTORIOUS RAKE—which is set on Exmoor, the beautiful wild moors in the south-west of England. Ever since I have wanted to use Exmoor again, so this is where Dominic buys his property, Rooks Tower, and it is here that Zelah falls in love with the proud man behind the horrific scars.

I really enjoyed writing Dominic and Zelah’s story, and I hope you have as much pleasure reading it.

About the Author

SARAH MALLORY was born in Bristol, and now lives in an old farmhouse on the edge of the Pennines with her husband and family. She left grammar school at sixteen to work in companies as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company. Her first book was published shortly after the birth of her daughter. She has published more than a dozen books under the pen-name of Melinda Hammond, winning the Reviewers’ Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond and the Historical Novel Society’s Editors’ Choice in November 2006 for Gentlemen in Question.

Previous novels by the same author:

THE WICKED BARON MORE

THAN A GOVERNESS

(part of On Mothering Sunday)

WICKED CAPTAIN, WAYWARD WIFE

THE EARL’S RUNAWAY BRIDE

DISGRACE AND DESIRE

TO CATCH A HUSBAND …

SNOWBOUND WITH THE NOTORIOUS RAKE

(part of An Improper Regency Christmas)

THE DANGEROUS LORD DARRINGTON

Look for Sarah Mallory’s THE ILLEGITIMATE MONTAGUE part of Castonbury Park Regency mini-series Available now

Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Beneath the

Major’s Scars

Sarah Mallory