Available from Harlequin^® Historical and ANNIE BURROWS

      One Candlelit Christmas #919

       “The Rake’s Secret Son”

      The Earl’s Untouched Bride #933

      DON’T MISS THESE OTHER NOVELS AVAILABLE NOW:

      #931 WANTED IN ALASKA—Kate Bridges

      When outlaw Quinn Rowlan mistakenly kidnaps Autumn MacNeil, he never expects the curvy, blond, ambitious singer to make him feel so whole again….

      Only she can help to clear his name in town.

      #932 THE RAKE’S UNCONVENTIONAL MISTRESS—Juliet Landon

      Letitia Boyce paid no heed to London’s available bachelors, for book-learning and marriage rarely mixed. Every heiress in the ton wanted notorious rakehell Lord Seton Rayne—so his sudden kissing of unconventional Letitia took them both by surprise….

      The thrilling conclusion to the Ladies of Paradise Road trilogy!

      #934 THE VIKING’S DEFIANT BRIDE—Joanna Fulford

      Viking warrior Earl Wulfrum has come to conquer—starting with the beautiful, spirited Lady Elgiva. He must break down the walls to his defiant bride’s heart!

      Just one look from a smoldering Viking and her fate is sealed….

      Author Note

      Recently I had the opportunity to look at some cover pictures from Harlequin Mills & Boon’s very earliest publications. As a lover of all things historical, I found it fascinating that it was fairly easy to date each book, simply by the style of the cover art. The 1920s and 30s was replaced by a more patriotic and earnest tone during the war years. Then came a profusion of bright colors which reflected the hopes of a nation emerging from austerity and rationing.

      Whatever decade we live in, though, one thing is certain. Though our lifestyles may change, the deepest needs of each human being remain the same. Each of us longs to feel valued—loved for ourselves, just as we are.

      The hero and heroine of The Earl’s Untouched Bride are both painfully aware of their own deficiencies. So aware that it is hard for either of them to believe another person can truly love them. I hope you enjoy reading their story, which is set against the turbulent times France and England had to face when Napoleon escaped from Elba and tried to reestablish his empire.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter One

      Giddings opened the door to find His Lordship standing upon the step, his face set in such rigid lines a shiver went down his spine. It was a relief when the Earl of Walton looked straight through him as he handed over his hat and coat, turning immediately towards the door to the salon. Thank God young Conningsby had taken it into his head to pass out on one of the sofas in there, instead of staggering back to his own lodgings the previous night. It was far better that it should be a man who could answer back, rather than a hapless member of staff, who became the butt of His Lordship’s present mood.

      But Charles Algernon Fawley, the ninth Earl of Walton, ignored Conningsby too. Striding across the room to the sideboard, he merely unstoppered a crystal decanter, pouring its entire contents into the last clean tumbler upon the tray.

      Conningsby opened one eye warily, and rolled it in the Earl’s direction. ‘Breakfast at Tortoni’s?’ he grated hoarsely.

      Charles tossed the glass of brandy back in one go, and reached for the decanter again.

      ‘Don’t look as though you enjoyed it much,’ Conningsby observed, wincing as he struggled to sit up.

      ‘No.’ As the Earl realised the decanter was empty, his fingers curled round its neck as though he wished he could strangle it. ‘And if you dare say I told you so…’

      ‘Wouldn’t dream of it, my lord. But what I will say is—’

      ‘No. I listened to all you had to say last night, and, while I am grateful for your concern, my decision remains the same. I am not going to slink out of Paris with my tail between my legs like some whipped cur. I will not have it said that some false, painted jilt has made the slightest impact on my heart. I am staying until the lease on this apartment expires, not one hour sooner. Do you hear me?’

      Conningsby raised a feeble hand to his brow. ‘Only too clearly.’ He eyed the empty decanter ruefully. ‘And while you’re proving to the whole world that you don’t care a rap about your betrothed running off with some penniless artist, I don’t suppose you could get your man to rustle up some coffee, could you?’

      ‘Engraver,’ snapped the Earl as he tugged viciously on the bell-pull.

      Conningsby sank back into the sofa cushions, waving a languid hand to dismiss the profession of the Earl’s betrothed’s lover as the irrelevance it was. ‘Judging by the expression on your face, the gossip-mongers have already been at work. It’s not going to get any easier for you…’

      ‘My mood now has nothing whatever to do with the fickle Mademoiselle Bergeron,’ he snarled. ‘It is her countrymen’s actions which could almost induce me to leave this vile charnel house that calls itself a civilised city and return to London, where the most violent emotion I am likely to suffer is acute boredom.’

      ‘But it was boredom you came to Paris to escape from!’

      He