Ravished (Signet Historical Romance) - Softcover

Henley, Virginia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0451207378 ISBN 13: 9780451207371

Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group, 2002

Inhaltsangabe

Praised for creating “the best in romantic fiction”(Rendezvous), New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley returns to nineteenth-century London in a scandalous love story that burns with the heat of forbidden passion on every page....

 

Ravished

All her life, flame-haired Alexandra Sheffield has been expected to marry the wealthy Lord Christopher Hatton—a man whose title and inheritance make Alex the envy of all London. But desperate for a life filled with adventure and passion, she is in no hurry to marry the spoiled aristocrat. Instead, she is consumed with longing for another man—Lord Hatton’s devastatingly dangerous twin brother, Nicholas.

 

Ravished

 

All his life, Nick Hatton has had his pick of beautiful women, but he’s also had enough sense never to hazard his heart. That is, until his irresponsible brother gambles away his inheritance and plans to refill his pockets by marrying spirited young Alex. Driven by a fierce need to protect her, Nick will risk anything to prevent his brother’s scheming seduction. But when the girl he sets out to save becomes the glorious woman he longs to ravish, he must force himself to resist her wild beauty and reckless flirtation—before his desires erupt in a single, scorching moment that can never be undone.

 

Ravished

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling author and the recipient of numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Her novels have been translated into fourteen languages. A grandmother of three, she lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband.

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Prologue

 

Hatton Hall, July 22, 1792

``Lord Hatton's heir shall not make his way into the world arse-first, if I have any say in the matter!'' The red-faced midwife pushed hard on the baby's buttocks in an effort to turn it about, then brushed her hair back from her sweating forehead.

            On the big bed, the young Irish girl's beauty had been replaced by a pale, haggard look brought on by the ordeal of childbirth. Lady Kathleen Hatton had gone into labor at dawn and it was now almost midnight.

            Meg Riley, Lady Hatton's serving-woman, who had been Kathleen Flynn's nurse when she was a child, wrung her hands in dismay. ``She's in agony, woman. Deliver the child as quick as ye can!''

            The midwife, who had detected two heads when she arrived, pressed stubborn lips together. She was offended at having her authority challenged before the two young maids who hovered anxiously by the door. ``The Irish think they know everything! Unless you have experience delivering twins, I suggest you keep your advice to yourself. Twin births are dangerous; naught but harm and hazard!'' In spite of her air of authority, the midwife secretly felt panic. She took a firm hold of the tiny shoulder that now presented itself and pulled with relentless resolve.

            Lord Hatton's heir made his appearance into the world two minutes before midnight; mercifully, the mother lost consciousness. The midwife handed the child to Meg Riley. ``Wash him and I shall present him to his father immediately. The poor man has waited long enough.''

            The ``poor man'' has removed himself to his library where he'll hear no screams and where the fine brandy will ease his wait, Meg thought with outrage. As she bathed the male child, Meg examined him carefully. He was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen, with tufts of dark hair curling upon his head and black eyelashes fringing his gray eyes. She wrapped him in a swaddling blanket and approached the bed. When the midwife reached for the small bundle, Meg said, ``Ye cannot leave Lady Hatton; ye have to deliver the other child!''

            ``Her labor has stopped, and it could be hours before it starts again.'' The midwife took the heir she had successfully delivered and made her way to the library.

            Mr. Burke, Hatton Hall's majordomo, opened the library door for the midwife, greatly relieved that, at last, all seemed well.

            ``Is it a boy?'' Henry Hatton demanded, arising from his leather wing chair amid a blue haze of cigar smoke.

            ``Yes, indeed, my lord. Congratulations on a fine son.'' The midwife beamed and unwrapped the blanket to display her trophy.

            Lord Hatton's eyes kindled with male pride. ``He's absolutely perfect, if I do say so myself. This calls for a celebration! Burke, summon the steward and the footmen and we'll drink a toast.'' Henry suddenly bethought himself. ``How is Lady Hatton? Pleased with herself, no doubt?''

            ``Her work isn't finished yet, but I don't want to force things.''

            ``Get it delivered. I don't want Kathleen to suffer discomfort.''

            ``Twin births can be hazardous, my lord. We don't want to injure the child.''

            ``Don't worry unduly. I have my son, my heir; that's the important thing. Just make sure no harm comes to this one. I've decided on the name Christopher­.­.­. Christopher Flynn Hatton!''

*                       *                       *

              By the following night, the entire household was in a panic. The second twin was still unborn, despite everything the midwife had done to induce the birth. Even the cook had been summoned for gruel and molasses and Mr. Burke, filled with alarm, had rushed upstairs a dozen times with hot bricks to warm her feet.

            Kathleen Hatton lay in a torpid state with glazed eyes while Meg Riley bathed her tenderly, praying fervently as tears rolled down her anguished face. Just before midnight, Lord Hatton stormed into the chamber for the third time in as many hours.

            ``It must be dead, my lord,'' the midwife pronounced desperately in the face of his anger.

            ``That Spawn of Satan had better be dead!'' He strode impatiently up and down the chamber, issuing threats to everyone and taking perverse satisfaction in his ability to make them cower.

            As the last stroke of midnight died away, the second twin finally made his appearance into the world. Meg Riley looked down in wonder at the child whom the midwife handed her to cleanse. It was another boy, identical to the first in every detail. The same perfect limbs, the same tufts of dark hair, the same black eyelashes fringing his gray eyes, the same tiny cleft in the center of his chin. `` 'Tis another boy, my lord.'' Meg held out the beautiful baby.

            ``Keep him away from me!'' Lord Hatton roared. ``He's a hazard to us all! Keep him away from my son, Christopher!'' He picked up his first-born protectively and strode from the chamber.

            While the midwife looked helplessly at her dying patient and Meg cradled the rejected child, the cook shook her head ominously. ``Twins born more than twenty-four hours apart, born under two different signs of the zodiac­.­.­. 'tis unnatural!''

            The young maids nodded their agreement. A bad omen indeed.

            Having at last done her job, Lady Kathleen Hatton slipped away with a gentle sigh of relief.

            ``Twin births are naught but harm and hazard,'' the midwife lamented.

            ``My beautiful boy,'' Meg Riley crooned as her tears ran freely. ``Since they think ye're Old Nick's spawn, we might as well call ye Nicholas, and yer middle name shall be Flynn, after yer sweet, gentle mother, who's now with the angels, God rest her soul.''

 

            Though Henry Hatton blamed his second-born for his wife's death, as time went by he learned to grit his teeth and tolerate him, since it was impossible to keep the twins separated. From the moment they learned to walk, the boys spent every waking hour...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2002
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0451207378
• ISBN 13: 9780451207371
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Auflage: 1
• Anzahl der Seiten: 416
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: GPSR Kontakt; gpsr@libri.de; ; Friedensallee 273; Hamburg; 22763; Deutschland