An Affair for the Season

By Leigh Michaels

Julia Sherwood has fulfilled her duty to her husband by giving him his heir. Now she's free to take a lover – and when a man from her past offers the excitement and danger of an affair, she simply can't say no. But will her liaison with James lead to true love, or disaster?

 

A Regency-period novella 

• Language: English
• Publisher: PBL Limited
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201011864

Leigh Michaels

Leigh Michaels (https://leighmichaels.com) is the author of more than 100 books, including contemporary romance novels, historical romance novels, and non-fiction books including local history and books about writing. She is the author of Writing the Romance Novel, which has been called the definitive guide to writing romances. Six of her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest for best traditional romance of the year, and she has won two Reviewers' Choice awards from Romantic Times (RT Book Review) magazine. More than 35 million copies of her books have been published in 25 languages and 120 countries around the world. She teaches romance writing online at Gotham Writers Workshop.

Book preview

An Affair for the Season

by Leigh Michaels

Copyright 2013, 2021

This is a work of fiction. Characters and events portrayed in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold.

An Affair for the Season

Julia Sherwood is bored with the London Season, and since she has fulfilled her duty to her husband by giving him his heir, she’s free to take a lover. When a man from her past offers the excitement and danger of an affair, she simply can’t say no. But will her liaison with James lead to true love, or disaster?

Table of Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

A Note from the Author

About the Author

Other Books by Leigh Michaels

-1-

Always before, the notes from her lover had been delivered discreetly – though as the Season began to wind down and Julia’s time in London grew shorter, the messages had occasionally come in unexpected ways. The one thing she’d never anticipated, however, was to sit down at the breakfast table, flip through her morning’s post, and find a letter addressed to her in the slashing black handwriting which had become so familiar in the last few weeks.

Julia drew a quick breath at the sight, and across the table her husband looked up from his newspaper with faint interest. Is something wrong, ma’am? Not bad news, I hope?

Of course not. I... She coughed, hoping to imply that she’d merely swallowed wrongly.

Lord Sherwood’s gaze dropped back to his newspaper. I see Stilwell created another dust-up in the Commons yesterday. I suppose it’ll have to be discussed in the Lords.

Will you be going to the chamber, sir? She kept her voice casual as she slipped James’s note out of the stack of letters, tucking it under her knee where the frilly skirt of her morning dress, draped over the seat of her chair, would conceal it. Foolish, perhaps, to think her husband would take any interest in her letters. She shouldn’t have reacted without thinking. But now that she’d hidden the note, she couldn’t exactly bring it out again without drawing his attention. She supposed she’d simply have to sit here, toying with her toast, until Sherwood left the table.

Just as I always do, yes. He turned a page. And what is your plan for the day? More shopping with your friends?

Not knowing what James’s note said made it difficult to give a sensible answer, so Julia chose to be vague. I haven’t decided. One does become weary of the shops.

You’d best take advantage of the opportunity. The business of the House of Lords seems likely to adjourn today, and I’ve a mind to return to Everleigh immediately. Tomorrow, in fact.

She couldn’t stop herself from responding. So soon?

His gaze sharpened. A moment ago you said you were weary of the shops.

But I am not weary of London, sir.

Only yesterday you seemed to be longing to see our son.

The mere reminder of her baby, that small and delightful bundle who snuggled so confidingly against her, made Julia’s heart ache. But he was at Everleigh with his nurse, who was confident that a mother was an unnecessary complication in an infant’s life. Well, of course I miss him. I wish we’d brought him with us. She brightened. "We could direct his nurse to bring him to London after all."

Sherwood had focused on his newspaper again. The city is no place for an infant. It will be far easier for us to go home. Have your maid start packing today.

With relief, Julia remembered the best of all possible excuses. I can’t miss Lady Stone’s ball, for I promised her I would attend.

Because she assured you that anyone who doesn’t make an appearance at her event will most certainly regret it?

Had Sherwood read her mind? Those were the exact words the elderly Lady Stone had used. Julia shivered at the idea that he might be eavesdropping on her thoughts, and then realized what must have happened instead. That sounds very much as if you, too, have encountered her.

Yesterday, just outside my club – on a street no true lady would walk down, so of course Lady Stone was there. He folded the newspaper and laid it aside. Anything you and Lady Stone agree on, a mere male cannot stand against. Very well, ma’am. I won’t tear you away until after Lady Stone’s ball.

Relief flickered along Julia’s nerves – foolish though it was to feel that way. One ball more or less, a few days one way or the other, could make no real difference. Her Season and her affair were coming to an end.

Sherwood looked at her sharply, as if he’d caught her reaction. I didn’t realize, however, that you and Lady Stone were such bosom friends.

Julia shrugged. "You’ve often said that for an old gossip, Lady Stone wields an enormous amount of power in the ton."

And so she does. He rose from his chair. Your reminder that it is unwise to cross her is a timely one. He bent over her for a moment, and Julia’s stomach went tight. But he merely dropped a casual brush of the lips atop the lacy matron’s cap that covered her dark hair. However, the day after Lady Stone’s ball, we are off for home.

The very day after? But the ball might run into the early morning hours, and...

"You can rest in