Excerpt: 'Enticing Miss Eugenie Villaret' by Ella Quinn

HEA shares an excerpt from Ella Quinn's new Regency romance, Enticing Miss Eugenie Villaret.

First, here's the blurb:

William, Viscount Wivenly, plans to remain the most eligible of bachelors. He refuses to surrender to the schemes of husband-hunting ladies and matchmaking mamas. Fleeing the pressure of the ton, he's bent on finding refuge in the West Indies. What he finds instead is a fascinating stranger, a woman so unlike those of his society that he can't resist such a beguiling distraction…

Determined to let nothing complicate her mission to protect her family's livelihood while covertly rescuing orphaned slave children, Miss Eugénie Villaret does her best to evade suitors. But when dashing William lures her down a path of forbidden adventure and delicious danger, she may be convinced that business can indeed be mixed with pleasure—and persuaded to add passion to her priorities...

Here's the excerpt …

July 1816, England

William, Viscount Wivenly, caught a glimpse of sprigged muslin through a thinly leafed part of the tall hedge, behind which he'd taken refuge.

"Are you sure he came this way?" an excited female voice whispered.

Damn. He didn't like the sound of that. Will found himself in sympathy with the fox at a hunt.

"Quite sure," came the hushed response. "You must be careful, Cressida. If I reveal to you what Miss Stavely told me in the strictest confidence, you must vow never to repeat what I'm about to say. I swore I'd never breathe a word."

"Yes, yes," Miss Cressida Hawthorne replied urgently, "I promise."

He'd been dodging the Hawthorne chit for two days now, and unfortunately she wasn't the only one. The other woman sounded like the newly betrothed Miss Blakely.

"Well then"—Miss Blakely paused—"I really shouldn't. If it got out, she'd be ruined!"

"I already promised," Miss Hawthorne wheedled.

After a few moments, the other girl continued. "Miss Stavely said she followed Lord Wivenly to the library so that they'd be alone, and he'd have to marry her."

"What an excellent plan." Miss Hawthorne's tone fell somewhere between admiring and wishful.

"Well, it wasn't."

Even thinking about the incident with Miss Stavely made Will shudder. There were few worse fates than being married to her in particular. Fortunately, the lady was not as intelligent as she was crafty. The minute she'd turned the lock, she had announced he would have to marry her. However, she'd failed to take into account the French windows through which Will had made his escape.

"What do you mean it wasn't a good idea?" Miss Hawthorne asked.

"Have you heard a betrothal announcement?"

Their footsteps stopped. Drat it all, there must be another way out of here. He surveyed the privet hedge, which bordered three sides of this part of the garden. Across from him was a wooden rail fence about five feet high. Large rambling roses in pale pink and yellow sprawled along it, completing the enclosure. Whoever designed this spot had wanted privacy. Will's attention was once again captured by the voices.

"No," Miss Hawthorne said slowly, as if working out a puzzle. "So it didn't work."

"Do you know what Miss Stavely failed to take into account?"

When Miss Hawthorne didn't reply, Miss Blakely continued. "She didn't bother to ensure she had a witness at hand. Miss Stavely said Lord Wivenly looked her up and down like she was a beefsteak and told her he'd ruin her if she wished, but not to think he'd take her to wife."

Perhaps not his finest moment, though Will had wanted to scare the chit. Not that it had worked. She had practically launched herself at him.

"Oooh, how wicked." Miss Hawthorne giggled. "He's so handsome, and has such nice brown hair. I'd love to be compromised by him." She paused. "But only if he had to marry me, so you must make sure to bear witness."

Will had no intention of marrying Miss Hawthorne or any other fair English maiden. Harpies in disguise, all of them. More interested in being Viscountess Wivenly and the future Countess of Watford than in their duties as a wife. From what he knew of her, Miss Hawthorne would probably only allow him in her bed for the purpose of getting her with child. Surely he could do better. At least he hoped so.

When it came time for him to be leg-shackled, he'd be the one choosing. Yet even that would not be for at least another year or two. In the meantime, Will would be damned if he'd allow himself to be trapped into marriage. Thank God he'd already made plans to leave England for a while.

The sounds of the ladies' shod feet came closer.

Damnation. Will glanced around. The only escape was a large mulberry tree in full fruit. His valet, Tidwell, would have a fit about the stains, but needs must. As quickly and quietly as possible, he ascended the tree, careful not to let the slick leather soles of his boots slide off the branches.

"I am sure I saw him go this way," Miss Blakely said.

From his perch in the tree, Will had a view of the tops of their ridiculous bonnets. Why women had to use all those ribbons and furbelows on their hats defied logic.

"As did I," Miss Hawthorne replied. "I wonder where he could have got to."

"Do not worry. I shall be vigilant. We will find a way to ensure you are Lady Wivenly."

The hell she will. Will scowled. Did a lady exist who would not be impressed with his title, and would allow him to do the hunting? Probably not.

Find out more about Ella and her books at www.ellaquinnauthor.com.