A perfect life—until one letter threatens to
unravel it all.
Lady
Vanessa Cambury, Marchioness of Camburton, adores her life of bucolic
contentment with her partner, acclaimed portrait painter Nora White. Together,
they have raised two children from Vanessa’s first marriage and built a home
filled with purpose, ease, happiness, and passion—always passion.
But
when Nora receives word that the child she lost twenty years ago is alive and
in England, ancient heartache threatens to destroy their idyll.
To
salvage their love, they must come to a deeper understanding of who they are—in
the world, and to one another. Nora must learn to overcome the dark
shadows of her past. Vanessa must learn to put others’ needs before her own.
And Nora’s stubborn daughter must find it in her heart to forgive the mother
she thought abandoned her. This unconventional family must rely on the powerful
links of love and mercy to bind them back together.
Inhaling sharply, Nora stiffened in her lover’s arms. Leonor Medinacelli de Redondo, Condesa de Floridablanca, was put to rest in 1790.
Nora White came into the world the same day, fully formed at the age of eighteen.
“Shhh, sweetheart. He is dead. We saw the notice in the paper two years ago.” Vanessa kissed the side of Nora’s neck. “You are far beyond his reach now.” Nora settled somewhat, but her spine never fully relaxed. The mere mention of his name still caused her lungs to burn as if filling up with bile.
Vanessa kissed her again, at the back of her neck, and whispered more soothing nonsense about how much she loved her and how no one could hurt her and how all of it was in the past. Nora tried to feel some comfort, but it wasn’t possible. “Please. Stop coddling me. Do finish the letter. I must lie down in silence before the pain in my left eye blinds me.”
“Oh, Nora, no. Breathe, like we’ve practiced. Please don’t let him have this power over you—”
“Stop it!” Nora shouted, then started crying in pathetic heaving waves. “I’m sorry, Vanessa, but you must finish and then allow me to feel my feelings. Please.”
“Very well. Here is the rest of the letter: ‘I remember thinking how language could be so ironic, to give a cruel man such a pure and innocent name as “white flower.” Oh dear, I really am rambling. I do apologise. In short, when Farleigh’s friends arrived from Spain and decamped in London two years ago, I was immediately taken with Anna de Montizon, the young wife of Farleigh’s very particular friend, Sebastian. Anna is utterly vivacious, opinionated, strong-willed, and captivating. We continue to spend many hours together in joyful company now that summer is here and we are all on the property at Mandeville House. And now to the point: Anna does not look remotely Spanish. She is blonde and, well, I suppose I must simply say it outright, bears a striking resemblance to your dear husband and especially his brother, Dennis, and your son for that matter. To be frank, Anna has the Cambury birthmark at the base of her neck. Anna and Pia were raised in a remote convent in the north of Spain. She has never mentioned the Floridablanca name, nor, I confess, have I welcomed the opportunity to broach such a volatile subject. But Anna turned twenty last month, on the first of May, and I thought perhaps the date might suffice to prove my suspicions that she is related to your dearest Nora.’ Then she continues with the usual niceties about the weather in Cambridgeshire, et cetera, et cetera. Oh, darling—” Vanessa gripped Nora while she wept.
To read the entire excerpt, visit the Bound with Love page over at Riptide Publishing
Megan Mulry writes
sexy, stylish, romantic fiction. Her first book, A Royal Pain, was
an NPR Best Book of 2012 and USA Today bestseller. Before
discovering her passion for romance novels, she worked in magazine publishing
and finance. After many years in New York, Boston, London, and Chicago, she now
lives with her family in Florida.
· Connect with
Megan:
·Website: http://meganmulry.com
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·Email: megan@meganmulry.com
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Series in order and coming soon...
Something different for me but quite intriguing.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
This is the first F/F historical I've seen. Very interested.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like things get intense quickly!
ReplyDeleteTrix, vitajex(At)aol(Dot)com
nice excerpt
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Sounds interesting ,thank you! mevalem258 AT gmail DOT com
ReplyDelete