Please welcome a fellow author from Secret Cravings introducing us to her new Novella
"Gentleman Always Finds Out"
Historical Romance w/some sensuality (3 flame)
Short Story/Novella
Word Count: 19,000/ 59 pages
Available at Secret Cravings Publishing
Blurb:
Ruined and jilted, Mariah Harris, with her cousin,
plots against the rogue who dared to insult her and her family. What she
doesn’t expect is for their plan to lead them astray…on the wrong side of the
law.
Julian Kingsley is ready to give up working for the
crown, only he’s given one last mission. He agrees, but gets more than he
bargains for. When a dalliance with a mysterious woman suddenly reveals her
connections to his case, he’s honor bound to turn her in, but his heart can’t
seem to give her up.
May
15, 1816
London,
England
“Yes,
of course, dear. I thought you understood our plan from the beginning. It is a
sound one, cousin. Once I stop the messenger and beg his assistance, you will
sneak out of those bushes and snatch his bag,” Edwina retorted with a drawl.
“My sources have informed me that he passes through here every night at the
same time. So, we shall not be waiting long.”
How
can she be so sure? Mariah gritted her
teeth and curled her toes in irritation. “If there was ever a moment I regret,
it was telling you about this mess with Crispin. I only meant to find out where
he is staying in London and who with. My poor father is convinced he will come
back, but if he does, it will only be for food and shelter.” Nothing more.
He had successfully made Mariah the largest fool in all of Kent. That
blasted scoundrel!
“Mariah,
I am positive this plan will work. Once the satchel is in our possession, we
will rifle through for anything addressed to Crispin. From there, you will be
free to humiliate the stupid sod and carry on with your life. Now, stop being a
ninny and go hide. Hurry! I think I hear a horse.”
Mariah
wandered into the shrubbery, hoping she did not step on an adder, or even
worse, walk through a spider’s web. Good heavens, if papa ever found out I
dressed in a man’s riding outfit, he would send me away to a nunnery for
certain.
A
few moments passed before the sound of a galloping horse approached. The beast
slowed his gait by trotting as he grew closer, coming to a halt where Edwina
stood next to a wagon.
She
pleaded in a tone befitting a damsel in distress, “Please, sir. I am in need of
assistance. I implore you. I should have been home hours ago, but the cart…”
“Say
no more, miss. I will see what I can do.” the messenger stated plainly. “Should
I dare ask how long you have been stranded for?”
“Only
for an hour, sir. I am on my way to London and thought to stop in Maidstone for
the night.”
When
Mariah popped her head out, she spotted the young man climbing down from his
mount. Off in the distance, a rickety cart approached, the driver swaying in
his seat. Now, we are were done for. Before they had left her
shop, Edwina had managed to convince her that this road was not much travelled
on after dark. Only the gent delivering messages from the militia in the north
would be expected. What were the odds—on this particular night—that another
traveler would pass through?
Sliding
the sack off his shoulder, the messenger crouched down by the rear wheel of the
pony wagon she and her cousin had sabotaged.
Not
long after, Mariah heard the trundling of the other cart squeal until it came
to a stop. A middle-aged man stumbled out, falling flat on his face. Too foxed
to drive successfully, he clearly would not pose a problem to the scenario.
Now
is my chance. Mariah leapt out of the bushes and,
while everyone was too distracted in aiding the sotted fool, she grabbed the
bag before running back to her hiding spot. Only this time, she did not stop.
She ran like the devil until she found the meadow in which she had left her own
clothing and horse.
Heart
racing, she dropped the cap her long hair had been tucked into, kicked off her
shoes, and quickly stripped out of the breeches and loose-fitting shirt she
wore. Then, she slipped on her cream-colored riding gown and strapped the satchel
to the mare, covering it with the blanket she had used to conceal her dress
while in disguise.
She
wasted no time taking her place in the saddle. Wrapping her cape around her
shoulders, she shifted the side so that it hid the blanket as well before riding
back to the inn where she planned on meeting with Edwina. It would be a miracle
if they were not caught after this ludicrous theft.
The
only visual she retained during the trip was the gallows, and it was that image
which kept her from slowing her pace. She had never committed a crime before,
and this would take the bucket as far as mischief went. Never in all her
twenty-one years had she stooped so low. It was unprecedented, outlandish, and
completely unforgivable.
Leave
it to the man she had foolishly thought she was in love with. No one could
drive her to the brink of madness like Crispen. His words meant nothing. In
hindsight, his pledge of love and fidelity was meaningless. His ploy to get
under her skirts had worked, and now she was ruined.
In
return, Mariah would ruin him. And I cannot wait to see his face when he is
discovered.
BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Layna discovered
her love of reading at an early age. When she isn’t devouring salacious romance
novels or writing, she enjoys losing herself in researching ancient history and
mythology, weaponry, and hiking. She lives in Northern Ontario, with her
husband and two daughters.
Layna is a member of the Romance Writers of America,
creator of the Romance Author at Large blog, and is a monthly contributor at 69
Shades of Smut. For updates on her upcoming releases, or to leave her a
comment, you can find at:
Blog/Website: www.laynapimentel.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaynaPimentel
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorLaynaPimentel
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GIVEAWAY
I’ll be giving away a $25
Amazon gc + 5 copies of A Gentleman Always Finds Out. Please visit the
raffflecopter site for details on how you can win: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a6c7b417/
Thank you for hosting me, Holly!
ReplyDeleteAnytime Layna!
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