Tarnished Amongst the Ton

Tarnished Amongst the Ton
Louise Allen

THE SECRET LIFE OF MISS PHYLLIDA HURSTHaving survived the scandal of her birth with courage and determination, the beautiful Phyllida has reached a precarious balance within the ton. And in just one moment Ashe Herriard, Viscount Clere, blows her world and her carefully made plans to pieces.Brought up in vibrant Calcutta, Ashe is disdainful of polite London society, but something about Phyllida intrigues him. There’s a mystery surrounding her. A promise of secrets and a hint of scandal – more than enough to entice him!

Praise for Louise Allen:

MARRIED TO A STRANGER

‘Allen delivers a lovely, sweet story, demonstrating how strangers can build a relationship based on lost love. The gentle yet powerful emotions of a grieving brother are sure to touch readers, as will the budding romance between him and a shy but emotionally strong woman. Allen reaches into readers’ hearts.’

—RT Book Reviews

SEDUCED BY THE SCOUNDREL

‘Allen takes a shipwreck spying adventure with lots of sensuality and spins it into a page-turner. The strong characters and sexy relationship will definitely satisfy readers.’

—RT Book Reviews

RAVISHED BY THE RAKE

‘Allen illuminates a unique side of the Regency by setting her latest adventure in India…’

—RT Book Reviews

PRACTICAL WIDOW TO PASSIONATE MISTRESS

‘With the first in her new trilogy, Allen hooks readers with her charming and well-portrayed characters, especially the secondary cast. You’ll cheer on the hero and the strong-willed heroine to the very end of this highly enjoyable and addictive read.’

—RT Book Reviews

Colour rose over Miss Hurst’s bosom and up her throat to stain her cheeks. It was delicious, Ashe thought, like the flush of pomegranate juice over iced sherbet on a hot day.

She was no wide-eyed innocent if she took the meaning of his glance and words so promptly. But then she was obviously no sheltered Society miss.

How old was she? Twenty-five? Twenty-six? Attractive, bright, stylish but not married. Why not? he wondered. Something to do with her secret lives, no doubt.

‘I would very much appreciate it if you did not mention that we had met before this evening, my lord.’

‘Members of the ton are not expected to be shopkeepers, I assume?’

‘Precisely.’

‘Hmm. Pity my maternal grandfather was a nabob, then.’ He was unconcerned what people thought of his ancestry, but he was interested in how she reacted.

‘If he was indecently rich, and is now dead, there is absolutely nothing for the heir to a marquisate to worry about. Society is curiously accommodating in its prejudices.’ Her expression was bleak. ‘At least as far as gentlemen are concerned. Ladies are another matter altogether.’

‘So I could ruin you with this piece of gossip?’

‘Yes—as you know perfectly well…’

AUTHOR NOTE

When I finished writing FORBIDDEN JEWEL OF INDIA, which was set in India in 1788, I couldn’t help wondering what would happen in the future to my hero and heroine, Nick and Anusha Herriard. What better way, I reasoned, than to travel forward in time to the Regency and find out?

This story is the result of that time-travelling, and finds the Marquess and Marchioness of Eldonstone—as they now, reluctantly, find themselves—arriving in London with their son and daughter, Ashe and Sara.

Ashe, I discovered, is not enthusiastic about finding a suitable wife, and I was as surprised as he was by the young lady he encounters on the dockside. The Herriards may be unconventional, but are they—let alone Society—going to accept Phyllida Hurst, with her shady background and layers of secrets?

Ashe doesn’t know either, but he can’t help being attracted—even if it leads to adventures with naughty artworks, a wicked crow and a sinister crime lord. I hope you enjoy reading TARNISHED AMONGST THE TON as much as I did writing it.

About the Author

LOUISE ALLEN has been immersing herself in history, real and fictional, for as long as she can remember. She finds landscapes and places evoke powerful images of the past—Venice, Burgundy and the Greek islands are favourite atmospheric destinations. Louise lives on the North Norfolk coast, where she shares the cottage they have renovated with her husband. She spends her spare time gardening, researching family history or travelling in the UK and abroad in search of inspiration. Please visit Louise’s website—www.louiseallenregency.co.uk—for the latest news, or find her on Twitter @LouiseRegency and on Facebook.

Previous novels by the same author:

THE DANGEROUS MR RYDER* (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) THE OUTRAGEOUS LADY FELSHAM* (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) THE SHOCKING LORD STANDON* (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) THE DISGRACEFUL MR RAVENHURST* (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) THE NOTORIOUS MR HURST* (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) THE PIRATICAL MISS RAVENHURST* (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) PRACTICAL WIDOW TO PASSIONATE MISTRESS** (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) VICAR’S DAUGHTER TO VISCOUNT’S LADY** (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) INNOCENT COURTESAN TO ADVENTURER’S BRIDE** (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) RAVISHED BY THE RAKE† (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) SEDUCED BY THE SCOUNDREL† (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) MARRIED TO A STRANGER† (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56) FORBIDDEN JEWEL OF INDIA

* (#ulink_e6442753-f8a5-55bd-9bdd-a21f420834d5)Those Scandalous Ravenhursts** (#ulink_e6442753-f8a5-55bd-9bdd-a21f420834d5)The Transformation of the Shelley Sisters† (#ulink_e6442753-f8a5-55bd-9bdd-a21f420834d5)Danger & Desire

TARNISHED AMONGST THE TON

features characters you will have already met in

FORBIDDEN JEWEL OF INDIA

and in the Silk & Scandal mini-series:

THE LORD AND THE WAYWARD LADY

THE OFFICER AND THE PROPER LADY

and in Mills & Boon

Historical Undone! eBooks:

DISROBED AND DISHONOURED

AUCTIONED VIRGIN TO SEDUCED BRIDE** (#ulink_6c3f9664-82d9-5e5f-a8cd-bc9140b30d56)

Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Tarnished Amongst the Ton

Louise Allen

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

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.