Lord Greville's Captive

Nicola Cornick

Years before, he had come to Grafton Manor to be betrothed to the innocent and beautiful Lady Anne–a promise that was broken with the onset of war….Now Simon, Lord Greville, has returned as an enemy, besieging the manor and holding its lady hostage. Simon's devotion to his cause swayed by his desire for Anne, he will not settle for the manor house alone.He will have the lady–and her heart–into the bargain! Yet Anne has a secret that must be kept from him at all costs….

Anne grabbed the hilt of the sword. It came free of the scabbard with a satisfying hiss of metal.

She spun around. Simon had started to move toward her, but he was too late. As he took the final step she brought the tip of the blade up to rest against his throat like a lover’s caress. Simon stopped abruptly. The smile in his eyes deepened to something like admiration.

“I cannot believe,” he said, “that I was so careless.”

Lord Greville’s Captive

Harlequin

Historical

Praise for international bestselling author and RITA

Award finalist Nicola Cornick

The Rake’s Bride

“Vivid detail…rollicking tug-of-war…subtle humor…”

—Publishers Weekly

Bluestocking Brides

The Notorious Lord, One Night of Scandal and The Rake’s Mistress

“Intense sexual tension between best friends who are discovering they’re actually in love…very entertaining…a highly readable series.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“The Notorious Lord…magically weaves dialogue between a spunky heroine and an irresistible rake that had me hooked through the entire book.”

—Romance Junkies

“Vivid evocations of the Regency…richly drawn and believable characters which you will hate to say goodbye to when you reach the final page.”

—CataRomance

Deceived

“Masterfully blends misconceptions, vengeance, powerful emotions and the realization of great love into a touching story.”

—4? stars from Romantic Times BOOKreviews

Nicola Cornick

L ORDGREVILLE’S CAPTIVE

Available from Harlequin

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Prologue

Grafton, Oxfordshire, England

Summer 1641

It was high summer and the village of Grafton was garlanded for a feast to celebrate the betrothal of the Earl of Grafton’s only daughter to the eldest son of Fulwar Greville, the Earl of Harington. This dynastic match was no surprise, for the two Earls were old friends, one-time comrades in arms and godfather to each other’s children. It was a day of great rejoicing.

In her chamber in the west wing of the old manor house, Lady Anne Grafton’s women were helping her dress for the banquet.

‘Do you like Lord Greville, Nan?’ Anne’s young cousin Muna asked, as she slid the petticoats over Anne’s head in a ruffle of white. ‘He seems to me quite stern and cold.’

‘Like his sire,’ commented Edwina, Anne’s former nurse, with a shiver. She pulled Anne’s laces tight. ‘They do not call him the Iron Earl for naught.’

Anne laughed, stopping abruptly as the pull of the laces stole her breath. ‘Oof! Edwina, you are smothering me!’ She slipped obediently into the red velvet gown that her nurse was holding for her. ‘Uncle Fulwar is the kindest man in the world,’ she said, muffled. ‘As for Lord Greville—’ She stopped. The truth was that she did not know Simon Greville well, for all that their fathers had served together in the wars on the conti