Miss Devon's Choice
Sally Britton is a bestselling indie author, with four historical romance novels. She contributes to the Historical Hussies blog and teaches a young writer’s class at her local library. Sally received her BA in English from Brigham Young University. She’s always read voraciously and eclectically.
Sally started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter and she’s never looked back. Sally lives in Arizona with her crime-fighting husband, four children, and their dog. She loves researching, hiking, and geeking out over her favorite books and movies.
A scarred and lonely viscount and an independent young woman are forced into an arranged marriage. What hope do they have for a happily ever after?
Rebecca Devon lives under the severe eye of her aunt and the iron will of her father. Though she wears what she is told and befriends the people they choose for her, she spends every moment longing to do as she wishes. Knowing freedom will only come through marriage, her hopes for a happy union are stolen away when her father arranges her marriage to a complete stranger.
Christian Hundley, Lord Easton, has learned the hard way that English society won't accept a person who looks or behaves differently than their ideal. He has hidden himself away from scornful eyes for years, until his aging grandfather takes matters in hand and finds Christian a bride. Knowing he must agree to the marriage, Christian shields his heart. If the whole of society cannot accept him, why should his bride?
Rebecca knows she must have love in her life, but Christian is convinced there is nothing so fraught with danger and pain as entrusting one’s heart to another. Rebecca does everything she can to change his mind, but Christian is determined to remain aloof. Can an arranged marriage ever be anything other than a business partnership?
While this is the fifth book in the Regency romance series, Branches of Love, it can be read as a stand-alone romance.
Snippet:
“You will be titled, wealthy, and exert influence where you choose. I will leave you to your books, your friends, whatever it is you wish to occupy your time with and you will be a proper wife to one of my standing.”
“That is what you expect from me?” Rebecca asked softly. “All that you want? And what are the advantages for you, Christian? A pliable wife?”
He actually laughed. The sound, dry and without humor, made her flinch.
“I don’t hope for that much. My advantage, perhaps the only one, is that I have a wife who clearly understands this arrangement. I asked for this match. I asked for a wife who only cared for my title. It doesn’t matter that it’s you. It wouldn’t matter if it was another.”
He continued speaking, glaring at her now, “You agreed to this marriage, under these circumstances. How could you think I would want more?”
Something inside Rebecca cracked, her eyes burned, and she opened her mouth to shout, I never agreed to anything! But she couldn’t. He might think nothing of wounding her, but she had seen just enough of him that she began to understand. There were scars on his heart as well as upon his body. She would not create more.
“That is what you expect from me?” Rebecca asked softly. “All that you want? And what are the advantages for you, Christian? A pliable wife?”
He actually laughed. The sound, dry and without humor, made her flinch.
“I don’t hope for that much. My advantage, perhaps the only one, is that I have a wife who clearly understands this arrangement. I asked for this match. I asked for a wife who only cared for my title. It doesn’t matter that it’s you. It wouldn’t matter if it was another.”
He continued speaking, glaring at her now, “You agreed to this marriage, under these circumstances. How could you think I would want more?”
Something inside Rebecca cracked, her eyes burned, and she opened her mouth to shout, I never agreed to anything! But she couldn’t. He might think nothing of wounding her, but she had seen just enough of him that she began to understand. There were scars on his heart as well as upon his body. She would not create more.
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