"There’s no need to act the blushing maiden. We both know all too well the circumstances that led to our union."
When Lily secretly takes her cousin’s place in an arranged marriage, little does she realise the desire, or the dangers, that await her.
The Marquess of Westford only offered to marry disgraced Elizabeth Cosgrove to save her family’s honour. He has no idea that an innocent girl has taken her place.
When the passion he arouses in Lily only confirms his belief that she’s a wanton, how can she ever convince him of her virtue?
Genre: FICTION / Romance / RegencyThe Substitute Bride has ranked in the Top 1000 Regency Romances in Amazon Books and in Amazon Kindle.
It has been featured several times on Radish Fiction where it has over 11,000 subscribers and nearly 400,000 views.
It was only a small chapel but the walk up the aisle seemed the longest ever. Reaching the altar Lily looked up to see a tall, dark figure standing there.
The man turned to her and she suppressed a gasp, thinking for a moment it was the wrong man.
He wasn’t elderly - he was perhaps little more than thirty-five, she guessed - and his dark, chiselled features were set in a rigid fury. He nodded abruptly to her, more an acknowledgement of her presence than any form of greeting.
Lily was so terrified that she closed her eyes as the curate read the solemn words. She and the tall man were both facing him, but Lily’s mind wandered from the Book of Common Prayer and she looked up at the profile of the stranger who was about to vow matrimony to her.
She was both relieved and troubled that he was so much younger than they had imagined. Troubled because perhaps if Betsy saw this man, she might not be opposed to marriage with him as a respectable future. Lily agonised over whether she should speak up and perhaps fetch her cousin. It would cause shock and outrage to reveal the deception now, but far less, perhaps, than a month hence with the marriage irrevocable. For the truth would be revealed eventually.
Troubled, also, because her secret hope had been than an elderly husband might be less inclined to require of her those duties that older women alluded to in hushed remarks. But this man was clearly… virile. If only Betsy could have given her better advice about those duties.
As if he sensed her gaze on him the man turned slightly to her and Lily quickly lowered her eyes again. Not that he could see where she was looking through the dissembling lacework.
"I, Gervase Revelston Dainard, take thee, Elizabeth Ann Cosgrove…"
| Language | Status |
|---|---|
|
German
|
Already translated.
Translated by Jenny Riemer
|
|
|
Author review: Jenny Riemer was brilliant to work with and I am delighted by her wonderful German translation of my book. |
|
Portuguese
|
Already translated.
Translated by Vania Nunes
|
|
Spanish
|
Already translated.
Translated by Alexandra Martínez de Eulate
|
|
|
Author review: Alexandra Martínez de Eulate was wonderful to work with and I am delighted with the translation. |
