The Earl’s Daughter and the Reformed Rogue

By Elizabeth Reed

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 4,991).

Claire, despite having to persuade her father, an influential Earl, of her choice of husband, is happy to be marrying her fiancé, Marcus, the second son of the landed gentry. He has everything she could hope for in a groom: intelligence, wit, an adventurous and easy nature, not to mention the fact that he is dashingly handsome and excites her in more ways than one!

Despite seeing all Marcus’s good qualities, she cannot overlook his colourful past reputation, with the result that she reluctantly asks him on the eve of their wedding day if he will promise to remain true and be faithful to her. Claire knows full well that she stands to lose Marcus, if he wishes to keep a separate private life.

Marcus, for his part, is taken aback by Claire’s ultimatum, which is not at all the custom among London society. It is not that he does not have a liking for his fiancée—in truth, he finds Claire to be beautiful and of good character—it is just that he is unsure if she will be able to cope with his desires, or even if he wants her to, as his perception of Claire is only that of a good and pure gentle lady.

It is only when Claire and he have a brief moment of passion that Marcus starts to realise that his future bride may have a very passionate side of her own. And if he should dare agree to her demand, he might just find out that Claire is all the woman he will ever need or desire!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: LB Books
• Release date: Mar 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507014288

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 Earl’s Daughter and the Reformed Rogue

Elizabeth Reed

Published by LB Books, 2015.

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

THE EARL’S DAUGHTER AND THE REFORMED ROGUE

First edition. March 11, 2015.

Copyright © 2015 Elizabeth Reed.

ISBN: 978-1507014288

Written by Elizabeth Reed.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Further Reading: The Viscount’s Good Wife

Also By Elizabeth Reed

Chapter 1

Marcus was taken very much by surprise as he heard the determined words spoken from the lips of his beautiful fiancée.

‘Claire, you surely cannot mean what you are saying? What has brought about this change in your mind all of a sudden?’ he asked with curiosity.

‘But I do, Marcus! I mean every word I have just said. I want to go ahead with our nuptials, but only if you can remain true to me,’ she said stubbornly, as she stopped walking and looked up at him directly in the eyes so he could make no mistake of the strength of her conviction. ‘I know it is not important for some ladies that their men are faithful—they will happily turn a blind eye to their husband’s private activities—but I am not one of these women. I knew before I met you that you had quite a colourful past.’

Marcus interrupted her with an awkward cough, not really knowing how to respond. It was just not the done thing for a gentleman to be questioned and interrogated by his future wife on such delicate matters.

‘A lot of what you have heard about me is mostly gossip, I assure you,’ he said dryly. Marcus tried to defend himself, feeling a tad guilty for the first time about his past, as he looked