Sinful Surrender (The Elusive Lords #1)

" . . . he fell into the vast category of all men other than James -- the group who had a better chance of ridding London of its fog than gaining her affections."

“You just couldn’t leave well enough alone. You were determined to have what you wanted and damn everyone else.”

And her feelings for James? To her shame, they weathered the storm of his disparagement and scorn.

For a week, she’d been lost in a fog of disillusionment, heartache, and shame, barely managing to get through the days.

That the news of James’s courtship had so distressed her she’d taken to her bed and cried herself to sleep.

“I would hardly call a schoolgirl crush the kind required for anything as long-lasting as a marriage. It didn’t even endure an evening of sex,” she scoffed ...

No baby meant no life with James. It was only then she’d admitted to herself how she’d yearned for a living, breathing link to the man she loved. Would undoubtedly always love.

“What the hell did I miss? I hope this has nothing to do with Missy. Because if this is you trying to discourage her, while I’m grateful you’re applying yourself so diligently to the task, I think you’re taking it too far.”

She took a brief inventory of him, from his boots right up to his neckcloth. At last she looked at his face. "You´re right about one thing, I never knew you. I loved a figment created by my quite vivid and romantic imagination."

James stiffened at her works. While he had given little credence to her professions of love, hearing her affirm his sentiments caused the oddest ache in his gut.