Scandalizing the Ton,Used

About the Author Diane Gaston's dream job had always been to write romance novels. One day she dared to pursue that dream and has never looked back. Her books have won Romance's highest honours: the RITA Award, the National Readers Choice Award, Holt Medallion, Golden Quill, and Golden Heart. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three very ordinary house cats. Diane loves to hear from readers and friends. Visit her website at: http://dianegaston.com Product Description Lady Wexin, once the Ton's foremost beauty, has been abandoned by her family and friends, and creditors hound her. Her husband's scandalous death has left her impoverished, and the gossipmongering press is whipped into a frenzy of speculation when it becomes clear the widow is with child. Who is the father? Only one man knows: Adrian Pomroy, Viscount Cavanley. He has cultivated the reputation of a rake, but in truth yearns for something useful to do. Delicate beauty Lydia Wexin could pose an intriguingand stimulatingchallenge. From Booklist Ever since her husbands scandalous death, the beautiful Lady Lydia Wexin finds herself hunted down by gossiphungry reporters. While out on the town one day, Lydia is rescued from a particularly pushy journalist by notorious rake Adrian Pomroy, Viscount Cavanley. After Adrian sees Lydia safely home, the two, not expecting to ever meet again, share one unforgettable night of passion. But when Lydia discovers she is pregnant, she once again finds herself the object of scandal as both the press and society try to find out exactly who is responsible for her delicate new condition: Lydias late husband or her mysterious new lover. In her latest impeccably crafted historical Regency, Gaston deftly matches up a delightfully different plot and a cast of superbly nuanced, realistically complex characters to create a quietly compelling romance. John Charles Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Once the finest ornament of the beau monde, a beauty so astounding and sublime a man would kill to possess her hand in marriage, the notorious Lady W mourns her murderous husband in secret. How much knowledge did she possess of her husband's villainous acts?The New Observer, November 12, 1818'Leave me this instant!'A woman's voice.Adrian Pomroy, the new Viscount Cavanley, barely heard her as he rounded the corner into John Street. Not even halfway down the road he saw the woman stride away from a man. The man hurried after her. They were mere silhouettes in the waning light of this November evening and they took no heed of him.Adrian paused to make sense of this little drama. It was most likely a lovers' quarrel, and, if so, he'd backtrack to avoid landing in the middle of it.'One moment.' The man kept his voice down, as if fearing to be overheard. 'Please!' He seized her arm.'Release me!' The woman struggled frantically to pull away.Lovers' quarrel or not, Adrian could not allow a woman to be treated so roughly. He sprinted forwards. 'Unhand her! What is this?'The man released the woman so quickly she tripped on her long hooded cloak. Adrian clasped her arm before she fell, holding her until she regained her balance. From the mews nearby a horse whinnied, but otherwise it was quiet.The man backed away. 'This is not as it appears, sir. I intend no harm to the lady.' He raised his hands as if to prove his words.The lady? Adrian assumed he'd rescued some maid from a stableman's unwanted advances, but the woman's cloak was made of fine cloth, and the man was dressed more like a tradesman than a stableman.Adrian turned to the lady. 'Did he harm you, ma'am?''No.' The hood of her cloak shrouded her face. 'But I do not wish to speak to him.'The man stepped forwards again. 'I merely asked the lady a few questions''I will not answer them,' she cried from beneath her hood.Adrian had the advantage of size on the man. He straightened his spine to make certain the man knew it. 'If the lady