The Last of Lady Lansdown

by Shirley Kennedy

Overview

In the dawn of the Regency era in Northern England, precious few mourn the sudden and shocking passing of the Earl of Lansdown. Certainly not Jane Elton, the young and beautiful widow whose life he made a misery. After her initial relief, Jane must contend with an unexpected and devastating reality: because she is childless, she and her family must descend several rungs down the social ladder. One hope remains. Could she be pregnant? A son would inherit; otherwise the title and estate will go to the Earl's slightly younger twin brother, his greedy wife, and many unpleasant offspring. Jane must also contend with the unrealistic hopes of her bitter and ambitious mother and dowerless sister. Enter Douglas Cartland, a notorious rake with a tragic past. During these first months of widowhood, Jane's conduct must be above reproach, but she cannot keep her distance. Especially when Cartland contrives to turn up everywhere she looks. Is Cartland really the scoundrel everyone believes him to be? Will Jane forfeit her title, her family's fortunes and her reputation for the sake of forbidden desire? Fate--and Cartland--have many surprises in store.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603818186
Publisher:	Camel Press
Publication date:	05/01/2012
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.77(d)

About the Author

Born and raised in Fresno, California, she has lived in Colorado, Texas, California, Bogota (Colombia) and Calgary (Alberta, Canada), where she earned a BS in Computer Sciences. Before returning to her first love, writing, she worked as a computer programmer/systems analyst for several years. Shirley currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada where she belongs to The Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Las Vegas Writers Group.

Read an Excerpt

Standing quickly, she busily brushed at her skirt. "I must get back. I've been gone much too long."

In silence, they cleared up the remains of the picnic, storing them back in Douglas' saddle bag. She untied Beauty and led her back to the path.

"Need a leg up?"

Without thinking, she responded, "I can do it myself." How could she? She had no mounting block. If she were dressed in something light, she could possibly gather her strength and sling herself over the horse, but her bombazine mourning gown was anything but light. "All right then, I need help."

Keeping a very straight face, he bent and laced his fingers together. She placed her foot in his clasp, her hand on his shoulder. "Ready."

"Up you go, Your Ladyship," he said in a teasing tone. She seated herself firmly in her saddle. "I shall be gone a couple of days, but when I come back, we shall go riding again."

From atop Beauty, she gazed down at him. She liked what she saw: his compelling brown eyes so full of life, the set of his chin that suggested a stubborn streak, the humorous lines around his mouth. She liked his massive, self-confident presence, too. In fact, what about him was there not to like?

Plenty. Whatever attraction she might feel for Douglas Cartland must end right here. "I cannot go riding with you, ever again. In fact, because of certain circumstances, I should not be riding at all."

"You mean, in case you're carrying the earl's child." His reply was so matter-of-fact it took a moment for his shocking words to sink in.

"Ladies do not discuss those matters."

"Unfortunately, they don't--not in this shallow, artificial society," he countered with a gleam in his eye. "What a shame pregnancy and birth are not to be discussed except behind closed doors. They are both in truth natural events, more to be celebrated than censored."

She could see his point but had no wish to argue. "Be that as it may, I won't be riding for a while, not with you or anyone else." Wanting to move away, she flicked the reins, but he held fast to Beauty's harness.

"How do you feel? Do you want the child?"

Strangely, no one had asked her that question before. She should remain silent, yet she wished to answer because she sensed his genuine concern. "There are many reasons why my family would rejoice if I had a child. We could continue to live in Chatfield Court. Millicent could have her dowry…all sorts of good things. Whereas, if I am not with child, our lives will be rather bleak. On the other hand," she pondered, biting her lips, "do I wish to carry the offspring of a man I despised? No, I do not. Now, let go of the harness."

He complied, and she flicked the reins again. Beauty leaped away, carrying her back down the trail in a satisfying, soothing gallop.

Editorial Reviews

"I could not put this book down. It is exactly the type of book that urges me to run to my nearest book store and search for anything else written by the author. I have, without a doubt, found a new favorite author in the romance genre. Everything about this book flowed smoothly and effortlessly. The characters drew me in immediately. I was hooked to the story and found myself sitting on edge, quite often. The relationship between Jane and Douglas is sexy in ways that pull you to them through their dialogue and flirting. The heat is evident and the attraction, undeniable." -Tiffany Schlarman for Reader Views

From the Publisher