The Return of the Marquess

By Elizabeth Reed

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 5,616).

Rebecca is stunned into silence when she spots Gregory her old friend and former lover at the grand masquerade ball. As they acknowledge each other’s presence she flees the party trying to avoid any confrontation from occurring between them.

But Gregory has no intention of making it easy for Rebecca! He has returned from his travels, having successfully sought out his fortune and made himself into a very wealthy Marquess.

Yet, he is still not content. He is looking for answers, with Rebecca being the only one who can confirm the truth that he seeks: Rebecca, who has vowed to forget all that had happened between them in the past and only to look to the future.

She tries to hold on to her resolve against Gregory’s demands and questioning.

But alas, Gregory knows Rebecca all too well, even after their long separation! And he knows just what he needs to do to break Rebecca’s defences and unleash the passion that he knows burns strongly from within her!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: LB Books
• Release date: Mar 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507095478

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 Return of the Marquess

Elizabeth Reed

Published by LB Books, 2015.

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

THE RETURN OF THE MARQUESS

First edition. March 5, 2015.

Copyright © 2015 Elizabeth Reed.

ISBN: 978-1507095478

Written by Elizabeth Reed.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Further Reading: The Patient Earl

Also By Elizabeth Reed

Chapter 1

‘Gregory?!’ Rebecca spoke in surprise, as she felt her heart go still.

‘I wasn’t sure if you would recognise me in this mask,’ came a husky deep reply that sent a delightful shiver running through her body.

‘I heard the rumours that you were back, but I never quite believed until now, seeing you here in the flesh.’ Rebecca resisted the urge to reach up and touch him. She instead backed into the high wall of the hedge behind her, not knowing quite how to react to seeing him after all this time.

Gregory had been wrong in thinking that she would ever be unsure of his identity. He was hard for anyone to forget, with his tall, broad build and dark devilishly handsome features, all of which added up to give him a powerful physical presence that was only matched with his free-spirited and charismatic persona.

All the memories of him came rushing back into Rebecca’s mind, bringing with them all the suppressed feelings she had tried to bottle up inside up to the present moment.

‘Even so, I can see you are surprised to see me. Did you miss me, Becky?’ He spoke with familiarity as he called her by her pet name.

‘I didn’t think you would ever come back. Well, not for a long time, at least. You wished to see the world . . . I thought it would take longer for you to return.’ Rebecca babbled on nervously, trying to hold her resolve and refusing to look at him directly