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Julian has a secret. He's infatuated with his best friend, Richard, and always has been. The trouble is that Richard is married to the toast of London society, a belle of the ball that Julian knows he can't compete with.
Just about the time Julian decides it's hopeless to dream about Richard, though, he finds out that the happy couple might not be so perfect for each other. Richard and his lady wife have some secrets of their own, secrets that might just destroy all of them. Can Julian convince Richard that the web of deception, smoke and mirrors might just work in their favor?
Excerpt:
Kent countryside, returning to London, 1801
Julian pulled off his cloak, shaking the rain from the garment. He glanced at the clock in the entrance hall of the Inn, almost surprised to see that he wasn’t late after all. He turned toward the door to the parlour and hearing voices, thought perhaps Richard and Katerina had already arrived. However, as he approached he realised he didn’t recognise the voices.
“Yes!” a woman was saying, “surely you know her, she married an Englishman a while back."
“Know her?” a man replied. “Of course I know of Lady Katerina Douglas, the toast of London society.”
“And the wife of the richest man in England!” the woman added. “Not sure how she pulled off that trick.” The voice held a tinge of disdain now.
Julian was glad that Richard was not here yet; he wouldn’t appreciate such common chitchat about his wife. He'd never taken to Katerina but his reasons were very personal.
The Innkeeper saw him then, and hurried over smiling. “Welcome, Sir Julian, welcome. It has been a while since we last saw you.”
“Thank you, Smith. Some of your fine ale, if you please? And I trust you have some hot coffee. My friend, Sir Richard and his lady wife are meeting me here shortly, breaking our journey back to London.”
Nodding and muttering to himself, Smith moved away, calling for his serving girl even as the sound of the outer door opening could be heard. “Sir Richard, your Ladyship, what an honour,” Smith said obsequiously, backing into the parlour.
"Goodness, my man, move, move. Let me get to the fire," demanded the young woman as she swept into the small room. Tall, with hair so black as to be almost blue, green eyes sparkling, Katerina Douglas was as haughty as she was beautiful.
“Betty, Betty, get in here, girl!” Smith called again and a young girl rushed in and then almost immediately out again to fulfil the innkeeper’s hastily whispered orders.
Julian watched Katerina glancing around the room, ignoring the two strangers seated at a corner table who were blatantly staring at her, then smiling politely when she saw Julian. Staying near the fire, she regally extended a hand for Julian to kiss, which he did with no sign of the reluctance he felt. He had much practice at hiding his jealousy of this beautiful woman’s hold over the man he admired so much, the man who brought out feelings in him that he had never felt for another living soul.
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