Publisher's Synopsis
Download for FREE with Kindle Unlimited This is a 8,000 words CLEAN stand-alone story with an HEA, so no cliff-hangers! Anne's father, Lord Furston is a man who is set in his ways. He is conservative, and has become even more so since the death of Anne's mother. He uses his routine as a comfort to ease her passing. The only thorn in his side is that his daughter is still not married. He arranges for her to marry Lord Bourne, a man about his own age, but with a great wealth. Anne agrees to meet with the Lord, though she does not like the idea. It is not the Lord himself that makes an impression on Anne, but his son Drake. When Drake declares his undying love for Anne, she must make a decision. Does she make her father happy and accept an easy life as Lord Bourne's wife? Or does she choose Drake? It is no easy choice. ---------------------------------------------------------- EXCERPT FROM BOOK Anne remained quiet much of the next morning as she and her father each busily prepared for their trip to Wolford. Lord Furston interpreted his daughter's silence as an acquiescence. He thought she had come to her senses, and realized that he had her best interest at heart and that being married to a powerful Lord like Lord Bourne would be good for her life. Lord Furston was dreadfully incorrect on all accounts. Anna was thinking very deeply as her maid helped her get ready. Her hair was plaited and she was squeezed into a bulky gown. Anne felt that she looked her best in a simple house dress, but the situation called for more formal attire. She had ribbons put in her hair, and her face powdered. Her maid chattered away about how lucky she was, and how Lord Bourne's servants spoke most highly of his character. Anne was polite to her maid, whom she cared for dearly, but she did not expose the contents of her heart. Anne Furston was considering running away. She was not starry-eyed. She understood that if she ran away, she would be required to become a seamstress, a governess, or some labor-intensive position. This did not frighten her. Her privileged existence had not rendered her incapable of labor, and in fact delighted in helping the servants whenever her father did not take care to notice. It was undoubtedly a radical idea to consider, but she felt that her father was pushing her to it. She could not marry a man her father's age, no matter how kind and generous he was. She was a believer in romantic love, and although she was not seeking to be married, she had not ruled out the possibility of falling in love. She had seen the way her parents loved each other, and she wanted to emulate such a love. She had assumed her father would respect those wishes, despite his conservatism, and it was possible that had her mother lived, this might have been true. But her father was very changed and very serious about her marrying against her will. She had a plan. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a 8,000 word stand-alone story with an HEA, so no cliff-hangers! Story contains mature themes and language, and is intended for 18+ readers only.
