One Unashamed Night. Sophia James
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Praise for Sophia James
HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY
‘James weaves her spell, captivating readers with wit and wisdom, and cleverly combining humour and poignancy with a master’s touch in this feel-good love story.’
—RT Book Reviews
MASQUERADING MISTRESS
‘Bold and tantalising, plotted like a mystery and slowly exposing each layer of the multi-dimensional plot and every character’s motivations, James’s novel is a page-turner.’
—RT Book Reviews
ASHBLANE’S LADY
‘An excellent tale of love, this book is more than a romance; it pulls at the heartstrings and makes you wish the story wouldn’t end.’
—RT Book Reviews
To lie with a man in a snow-filled night, safe after adversity.
A man with a man’s body, a man’s tastes, the smell of his skin woody and strong, his muscles even in the dimness defined and substantive. She was presented with a fine handsome man and a night that would hold no questions.
The ghost of a smile played around Bea’s lips before sense reined it in. Of course she could not take advantage of the situation. She was a lady and a widow. Besides, already she thought his body had relaxed into sleep, the even cadence of his breath confirming it. To him she was nothing more than a warm skin to survive against. When the tip of her finger reached out to the ridge of his shoulderblade and traced the muscle in air, she wished that she might have been braver and truly touched him.
So unwise, another voice cautioned, the knowledge of her plainness leading only to rejection that would be embarrassing to them both.
Sophia James lives in Chelsea Bay, on Auckland, New Zealand’s, North Shore, with her husband, who is an artist, and three children. She spends her morning teaching adults English at the local Migrant School, and writes in the afternoon. Sophia has a degree in English and History from Auckland University, and believes her love of writing was formed reading Georgette Heyer with her twin sister at her grandmother’s house.
Previous novels by the same author:
FALLEN ANGEL
ASHBLANE’S LADY HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY MASQUERADING MISTRESS KNIGHT OF GRACE
MISTLETOE MAGIC
(part of Christmas Betrothals)
ONE UNASHAMED NIGHT has characters you will have met in HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY.
Look for Cristo’s story. Coming soon.
AUTHOR NOTE
ONE UNASHAMED NIGHT is the second book in a family trilogy about the three Wellingham brothers, Asher, Taris and Cristo. Asher, the Duke of Carisbrook, appeared in HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY, and I received many letters from fans who were fascinated by his younger brother, Taris, and wanted to read his story.
Well, here he is! Lord Taris Wellingham is an intensely private man, and one who keeps the world at bay in order to preserve his greatest secret. Cristo’s book is yet to come. He has had only a vague mention so far, but as a spy for England in France he has his own demons and distance.
I’d like to dedicate this book to three wonderful women in my life. Pat Rendall, for her insight into the world of darkness, my mother Jewell Kivell, for enthusiastically reading the first draft, and Linda Fildew, my fantastic editor, for her patience with and belief in all of my books.
One Unashamed Night
Sophia James
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Maldon, England—January 1826
The darkness was pulling him down even as he fought to escape it, his eyes widening to catch a tiny tendril of light, the flare of it making him shout out,