Nina Rowan gets hooked on historical mischief

Readers and authors had so much fun with Forever's Get Hooked on Historicals blog tour in October that the publisher decided to do it again with a new batch of authors. The challenge this time for the five authors — Jennifer Haymore, Nina Rowan, Kristen Callihan, Sue-Ellen Welfonder and Kate McKinley — required each author to write a 500- to 800-word original piece based on the same general "criteria."

HEA features author Nina Rowan, whose 'Twas the Night Before Mischief comes out Tuesday (Dec. 10). (The other authors' contributions are listed with links at the end of this post.)

The criteria received by each author for the original piece:

Hair color: Reddish-brown hair, the color of mahogany.

Social status: Dishonored heiress.

Family situation: It's complicated.

Hero's archetype: Rake.

Scene takes place in: The cloak room.

Here's what Nina came up with:

"Don't be such a ninny, Nellie."

Trying to shut out the echo of her mother's voice, Nellie Fox ducked behind a row of greatcoats in the darkened cloak room. She pressed her hands to her hot cheeks. Tears stung her eyes but she blinked them back furiously, refusing to cry over Matthew Turner yet again.

It didn't matter that Matthew was sweeping through the London season with a beautiful, new wife on his arm. It didn't matter that Nellie was still smarting with humiliation from Matthew's broken engagement to her less than a month ago.

She swiped at a stray tear and tried to muster the courage to return to the ball. Her mother would die of shame if she saw Nellie cowering in here like a mouse.

Nellie took a breath and stepped out from behind the coats just as the door opened. A shaft of light pierced the darkness. Her heart leapt at the sight of the tall, broad man who stood in the doorway. She tried to duck back behind the row of cloaks, but the man's gaze landed on her like an arrow hitting a bull's-eye.

Nellie's mouth went dry. Lord Craven! The notorious rake who had recently returned from the Continent, awash in rumors of debauchery and upheavals within his very wealthy family.

He pushed the door open farther and walked inside. Now the light shone on his rugged features and thick, dark hair, his powerful body sheathed in a black jacket and gray silk waistcoat…

"Hiding, are you?" he asked, his voice a deep rumble that sank into Nellie's blood.

"No, my lord." She swallowed hard, ashamed and more than a little piqued that he had discovered her secret. "I merely…needed a moment alone."

"Ah, but you're not alone anymore." Craven closed the distance between them, his gaze still on her face. "Miss Fox, isn't it?"

Nellie nodded, unable to speak past the odd heat filling her throat. She lifted her eyes to his, shocked at the sudden bolt of awareness crashing through her.

Exciting. Reckless. Bold. The words flared to life in her mind. That's what Lord Craven was, with all those tales of immorality and adventure clinging to him. He was the exact opposite of a ninny.

And, oh heavens, he smelled delicious. A mixture of wood smoke, cognac, a hint of fresh pine… a scent that Nellie imagined had been invented solely to elicit this warm, swirling feeling inside her.

"You're crying."

His voice broke through her haze of awe. She swiped her damp cheeks, cursing her inability to hide her emotions.

"No, my lord. Just a bit warm."

Craven studied her, a frown tugging at his beautifully shaped mouth. Then he reached out to tuck his hand beneath her chin. Nellie almost gasped at his touch, the way he tilted her face toward him as if he wanted to look directly into her eyes.

"It's Turner," he said, his voice dangerously soft.

"I…I beg your pardon?"

"You were meant to wed that bloody Matthew Turner."

Nellie stared at him. She didn't think a man like Lord Craven even knew her name, let alone that she'd once been engaged.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"I make it a point to know such things." He moved his hand to curl a stray lock of her reddish-brown hair around his fingers. "And I know Turner for the utter fool he is to cast off a woman like you."

Nellie stared at him, her heart racing as his blue-eyed gaze penetrated her to the core. A faint smile curved his lips. Nellie wondered with a shocking rush of heat what his mouth would feel like on hers.

"Perhaps you ought to create a scandal of your own," Craven murmured. "Show them all that you're not hurt in the least. Quite the opposite, in fact."

Oh, how Nellie wished she could be the opposite of what she was. She longed to be the kind of woman who didn't run into a cloak room to hide from her troubles.

"How would I do that?" she asked.

"Simple." Craven released the lock of her hair, smoothing his large hand over her shoulder and down her arm to her hand. A delightful and utterly astonishing cascade of shivers tingled her skin.

And when Lord Craven's hand closed firmly around hers, Nellie experienced the strangest mixture of sensations—her knees weakened at the same time that a wave of strength infused her spine.

"Come with me," Craven said, guiding her toward the door. "You and I will give them all something sensational to gossip about."

A reckless excitement surged through Nellie, thrilling her with its unfamiliarity. She tightened her fingers around Lord Craven's hand as they walked together out of the shadows.

Here's the blurb about 'Twas the Night Before Mischief (Dec. 10):

'Twas the night before mischief and all through the house, a lady was plotting -- it was time to break out!

When Penelope Darlington is persuaded to elope with a most unsuitable suitor, she wastes no time. With visions of passion and adventure dancing in her head, she steals away in the middle of the night, just before her father's Christmas feast.

Fearing for his daughter's reputation, Henry Darlington begs Darius Hall, the Earl of Rushton's daring yet discreet son, to bring Penelope home. When Darius finally catches up to Penelope he is shocked. She's not the silly little girl he expected, but a beautiful woman with a sharp mind and an allure that cannot be ignored.

Now forced to kidnap Penelope in order to bring her home, Darius and his new charge spend the next several days-and nights-in very close quarters. Penelope wanted passion and adventure, but she never could have imagined the pleasures Darius can provide ...

To find out more about Nina and her books, visit ninarowan.com.

Check out the blog stops by the other four historical authors:

• Sue-Ellen Welfonder, author of Once Upon a Highland Christmas, at Buried Under Romance

• Kate McKinley, author of Duchess in the Dark, at Smut Book Club

• Kristen Callihan, author of Shadowdance, at The BookPage Blog

• Jennifer Haymore, author of The Rogue's Proposal, at Dear Author