The Gentleman’s Agreement

By Elizabeth Reed

Book Description: The Gentleman’s Agreement
This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 6,422)

Alison is convinced she is having a continuous run of bad luck, with her cousin marrying Luke, the man to whom she had also formed a strong attachment!
Alison, feeling defeated, is just about to accept her cruel fate and head back to the lonely countryside, still a spinster, when Gregory, her good friend from childhood, makes her a tempting offer.
He asks Alison to marry him so he can collect on his inheritance, which he can only do as a married man as the terms of the will makes clear.
In return for Alison’s help, Gregory is prepared to make a gentleman’s agreement with her. He promises Alison that she will get a taste of adventure and independence if she agrees to his offer.
Ironically, it is only when she comes to find that Gregory has now grown the ability to have an unnerving effect on her senses that she actually considers the possibility of acting on his request—in an attempt to find out what it would be like to lie with Gregory as man and wife!

Warning:  Sexual content included within the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LB Books
• Release date: Jan 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507011225

Elizabeth Reed

As long as I can remember I have always loved everything and anything to do with the romance genre. Enjoying writing, reading and watching a wide range of love stories. I am a true romantic at heart! So after studying for a philosophy degree and then going on to work in a corporate job in advertising, I decided to reconnect with my passion again! I now write mainly romance short stories, with the aim to share all of my ideas with others who also have an interest in romantic fiction. I write in a range of romance subgenres including erotic romance, contemporary, sweet, paranormal/fantasy fiction and historical. I hope to continue writing as long as my ideas keep flowing out from my mind. In early 2014 I experienced my own personal love story, when I married my one true love. I now live together with my husband in London.

Book preview

The Gentleman’s Agreement

Elizabeth Reed

Published by LB Books, 2015.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT

First edition. January 14, 2015.

Copyright © 2015 Elizabeth Reed.

Written by Elizabeth Reed.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Further Reading: Her Lady's Lesson in Passion and Love

Also By Elizabeth Reed

Chapter 1

Alison was convinced more than ever that the old saying held true: Bad luck really did come in threes!

She reflected on the eventful news that she had just received from her cousin Maria. Her cousin was to be married; everyone in the household was in celebration on hearing the announcement, and they were to all have a special dinner party tonight to mark the happy occasion.

Alison had congratulated Maria on her future nuptials with a big smile, hoping her true feelings were not clear to see. She was relieved to take a step back, away from the noise, to gradually fade into the background as other family members surrounded Maria with delight and curiosity to hear the details of the proposal and to look with admiration at her beautiful engagement ring made up of a cluster of coloured precious stones.

Under any other circumstances, Alison would have been genuinely happy for her relative, wishing her well straight from her heart, despite any underlining tension and disagreement that had often lingered between them in the past. But she could not bring herself to feel happy for Maria, no matter how much she tried. Not when her cousin was marrying Luke, the man Alison had also formed a deep attachment to.

She left her family, who were still all loud with excitement in the living room, as she took haven in the empty library to catch her breath and try to compose herself before the dinner party ahead. She could not help but think resentfully that it should have been her; she