My Lady's Dare

Gayle Wilson

Valentine Sinclair, the Earl of Dare, was an enigma, even to those who professed to know him well. For while his morals seemed suspect and his leisure pursuits as reckless as any of his well-heeled peers', there was something lurking beneath the facade of good looks, wit and charm that he so skillfully hid behind.Or so it had seemed, until the night Dare wagered a small fortune for a French gambler's English mistress, and won. Now, with the stunning widow installed at his town house, even the Matchmaking Mamas of the ton were doubting that the Earl of Dare would ever recover his good name, for it appeared that the infamous Mrs. Carstairs was destined to become a Sinclair Bride.

“The woman,” the earl said softly.

“I beg your pardon?” the Frenchman replied.

“You may wager the woman,” Dare said.

“Mrs. Carstairs?” Bonnet asked, his voice astounded. “But this is England, my lord. Not…” The Frenchman’s voice faltered, as if he could not think of a location where one might wager a human being.

“Indeed, it is,” Dare agreed. With one finger he touched the enormous pile of notes on the table between them. “And these are the coins of the realm. Quite a lot of them, as a matter of fact. I’ll wager them all, Mr. Bonnet, on one game. All of this for the woman.”

Bonnet’s eyes had followed the movement of the earl’s hand as it reached out and touched the money. And then they rose again, considering his opponent’s face. “One game?”

“Winner take all,” Dare said softly. “And the only stake you must put up is Mrs. Carstairs.”

Dear Reader,

Much of the beauty of romance novels is that most are written by women for women, and feature strong and passionate heroines. We have some stellar authors this month who bring to life those intrepid women we love as they engage in relationships with the men we also love!

We are very proud of Gayle Wilson, who has won awards for several of her Harlequin Historicals novels, as well as her contemporary romances for Harlequin Intrigue. Known for her gripping and original stories, Gayle’s latest book, My Lady’s Dare, is no exception. This Regency-set tale will grab you and not let go as the Earl of Dare becomes fascinated by another man’s mistress, Elizabeth Carstairs. Nothing is as it seems in this dangerous game of espionage that turns into an even more dangerous game of love!

In Bandera’s Bride, the talented Mary McBride gives her Southern belle heroine some serious chutzpah when, pregnant and alone, she travels to Texas to propose marriage to her pen pal of six years, a half-breed who’s been signing his partner’s name! And don’t miss Susan Amarillas’s new Western, Molly’s Hero, a story of forbidden love between a—married?—female rancher and the handsome railroad builder who desperately needs her land.

Jacqueline Navin rounds out the month with The Viking’s Heart, the sensational story of a fierce Viking who vows to save a proud noblewoman from a loveless arranged marriage.

Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell,

Senior Editor

My Lady’s Dare

Gayle Wilson

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Available from Harlequin Historicals and GAYLE WILSON

The Heart’s Desire #211

The Heart’s Wager #263

The Gambler’s Heart #299

Raven’s Vow #349

His Secret Duchess #393

Honor’s Bride #432

Lady Sarah’s Son #483

My Lady’s Dare #516

Other works include:

Harlequin Intrigue

Echoes in the Dark #344

Only a Whisper #376

The Redemption of Deke Summers #414

Heart of the Night #442

* (#litres_trial_promo)Ransom My Heart #461

* (#litres_trial_promo)Whisper My Love #466

* (#litres_trial_promo)Remember My Touch #469

Never Let Her Go #490

** (#litres_trial_promo)The Bride’s Protector #509

** (#litres_trial_promo)The Stranger She Knew #513

** (#litres_trial_promo)Her Baby, His Secret #517

† (#litres_trial_promo)Each Precious Hour #541

** (#litres_trial_promo)Her Private Bodyguard #561

For my cousin Elizabeth—the pretty one

Contents

Prologue (#u8aec55e4-6185-5acf-b10e-