A Reckless Promise

A Reckless Promise
Kasey Michaels

London’s Little Season is so scandalous…It was an offhand vow often made on the battlefield. But Darby Travers, Viscount Nailbourne, now has his late comrade’s young daughter on his doorstep. Worse, his new ward comes with an overprotective, mistrustful chaperone – the child’s aunt, Sadie Grace Boxer. Darby is quite sure that behind her lovely façade, lies a secret.Sadie Grace faced many trials working alongside her brother in his surgery, but none prepared her for the world she’s thrust into on his passing. Navigating the ton, with its endless ball gowns and parties, is difficult enough, but hiding the truth about her niece while the handsome and sophisticated Viscount watches her every move proves nearly impossible. When the past catches up with her, will she be able to trust in Darby…

London’s Little Season has never been so scandalous

It’s the kind of vow often made on the battlefield. Darby Travers, Viscount Nailbourne, never imagines he’ll have to honor it. Yet here she is on his doorstep—his late comrade’s young daughter, and Darby’s new ward. Worse, she comes with the most overprotective, mistrustful, bothersome chaperone—the child’s aunt, Sadie Grace Boxer. Darby is quite sure that behind her lovely facade, the woman is guarding a secret.

Sadie Grace faced many trials working in her brother’s surgery, but none prepared her for the world she’s thrust into with his passing. Navigating the ton, with its endless ball gowns and parade of parties, is difficult enough, but hiding the truth about her niece while the sophisticated viscount watches her every move proves nearly impossible—particularly when his searing gaze tempts her to bare all. But when her family’s past catches up with her, she’ll have to trust in Darby…no matter the cost to her heart.

Praise for New York Times bestselling author Kasey Michaels (#ulink_9e201aaa-62a8-54f7-b927-372189805cbd)

“Kasey Michaels aims for the heart and never misses.”

—New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts

“Michaels holds the reader in her clutches and doesn’t let go.”

—RT Book Reviews on What a Gentleman Desires,

4½ stars, Top Pick

“Michaels…outdoes herself… For lighthearted fun,

you can’t do better than this.”

—RT Book Reviews on An Improper Arrangement

“This mistress of the genre is on the peak of her career.”

—RT Book Reviews on A Scandalous Proposal,

4½ stars, Top Pick

“A poignant and highly satisfying read…filled with simmering sensuality, subtle touches of repartee, a hero out for revenge and a heroine ripe for adventure. You’ll enjoy the ride.”

—RT Book Reviews on How to Tame a Lady

“Michaels’ new Regency miniseries is a joy.… You will laugh and even shed a tear over this touching romance.”

—RT Book Reviews on How to Tempt a Duke

“Michaels has done it again.… Witty dialogue peppers a plot full of delectable details exposing the foibles and follies of the age.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review, on The Butler Did It

A Reckless Promise

Kasey Michaels

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

Dear Reader (#ulink_8ade6dbd-2aa4-5ea9-960c-6005d545c622),

A promise is a promise is a promise.

Darn.

Darby Travers, Viscount Nailbourne, may have used stronger language to express his reaction to discovering that a promise made has become a promise he must keep.

Not that he considers reneging, not even for a moment, for he is an honorable if suddenly suspicious gentleman.

Darby is also a sigh-worthy hero: witty, urbane, sophisticated, rakishly handsome, apparently carefree. But scratch the surface and find the man beneath: the steel, the loyalty…and the carefully guarded heart.

Now imagine this man saddled with a female ward…because of a promise.

Grab a box of chocolates, curl up on something comfy and come along as seven-year-old terror Marley Hamilton turns the viscount’s life upside down, while her unimpressionable and secretive aunt, Sadie Grace Boxer, confounds his head and heart at every turn.

Is A Reckless Promise the next great American novel? Nah. Sometimes a girl just wants to have fun!

Happy reading!

To Jennifer Stevenson

Great writer, fantastic friend

Contents

COVER (#u6a2549b0-3f97-5bd9-b860-53f5ce30b219)

BACK COVER TEXT (#u76237997-72b5-5be3-9c50-699e4ea4a520)

Praise (#u5ff703ea-5e92-5c34-92b6-73a08f195cd5)

TITLE PAGE (#u3b98917d-86ce-590e-b2e3-6dd0f50bd5e0)

Dear Reader (#ue685a12a-52ec-56c9-916b-78ead06aa01e)

DEDICATION (#ua8d33309-060e-5b35-92fc-e105ee5ac3e4)

PROLOGUE (#u28512fa0-f07d-5459-b801-4fd254c9112a)

CHAPTER ONE (#u2dff25f9-a751-5f95-9af7-bd52dd8facc7)

CHAPTER TWO (#u38f0ed75-3764-54f0-961a-9d2d302d4392)

CHAPTER THREE (#u763c060a-a7d0-5356-9f5c-b135be5d744f)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u95044697-7b7d-5492-bf88-2a851d93a1fd)