“Neither.”
Joy flooded her. Her lips turned up in an irresistible smile although she didn’t move closer. “So are you glad?”
“Yes.” Then as if to make sure she didn’t misunderstand, “About both. About everything. Most of all that I had the remarkable good sense to marry you, Lady Ranelaw.”
She recognized the light in his black eyes as a joy to equal her own. With a tenderness that pierced her heart, he cradled her jaw. He touched her as though she were fragile as glass, strong as steel. He touched her as though she contained his whole world.
“I’m glad too.” She heard the betraying croak in her voice. “Now say something provoking before I bawl all over you like a lost calf.”
He stroked her face in gentle reproof. “You leave me speechless. I find myself all out of provoking remarks, my beloved.”
She rounded her eyes in theatrical shock. “Good God, I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” His kiss felt like an act of worship. Her throat closed with poignant emotion and she blinked back tears. His voice dropped so deep, she had to strain to hear it. “In fact, there’s only one thing I want to say, dearest Antonia.”
She stared mistily into his glowing eyes, her heart brimming with so much love, she thought it must surely burst. “What’s that?” she whispered.
“I love you and I always will.”
He smiled as if she were more precious than all the jewels on the earth. She managed a wobbly smile back, while tears inevitably won the battle.
“My wonderful Nicholas, that’s just perfect.”
Acknowledgments
So many people to thank! First I’d like to thank the wonderful team at Avon in New York who as ever has been a delight to work with. In particular, I’d like to thank May Chen, my editor; Amanda Bergeron; Pamela Spengler-Jaffee; Wendy Ho; and Christine Maddalena. I’d like to send a particular thanks to the brilliant art department—you’ve excelled yourselves with this gorgeous cover. I love it. Thanks too to the team at Avon/HarperCollins Australia, especially Anna Valdinger and Monica Svarc. I’d also like to thank my agent, Nancy Yost, for her continuing support.
As always, I’d like to thank the writing friends who enrich my life so immeasurably. My deepest gratitude to Annie West, Sharon Archer, Christine Wells, Vanessa Barneveld, Kandy Shepherd, Pamela Clare, Nancy Northcott, Anna Sugden, Jeanne Adams, Helen Bianchin, Pamela Palmer, Miranda Neville, Louisa Cornell, Tawny Weber, Jennifer Low, Sarah Mayberry, Kathleen O’Reilly, and Nicola Cornick. You’re all wonderful! Special thanks to the multitalented Paula Roe, who looks after my Web site in between writing her own wonderful books.
My life wouldn’t be the same without the rambunctious, irreverent, and funny Romance Bandits. My fellow Banditas, you always make me smile. I’d also like to thank the remarkable women at The Romance Dish: PJ Ausdenmore, Buffie Johnson, Gannon Carr, and Andrea Williamson.
I belong to a number of organizations that are a continual source of encouragement, information, and good old-fashioned fun. These include Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of New Zealand, the Australian Romance Readers’ Association, and Romance Writers of America.
I’d also like to thank the wonderful reader friends I’ve made since Claiming the Courtesan came out in 2007. I can’t tell you how much your ongoing enthusiasm for my stories means to me.
About the Author
Always a voracious reader, ANNA CAMPBELL decided when she was a child that she wanted to be a writer. Once she discovered the wonderful world of romance novels, she knew exactly what she wanted to write. Anna has won numerous awards for her historical romances, including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill, and the Australian Romance Readers Association’s most popular historical romance (twice). When she’s not writing passionate, intense stories featuring gorgeous Regency heroes and the women who are their destiny, Anna loves to travel, especially in the United Kingdom, and listen to all kinds of music. She lives near the sea on the east coast of Australia, where she’s losing her battle with an overgrown subtropical garden. Anna loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her through her website at www.annacampbell.info.
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By Anna Campbell
Midnight’s Wild Passion
My Reckless Surrender
Captive of Sin
Tempt the Devil
Untouched
Claiming the Courtesan
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