Snippet Sunday: Lily Mine

I’ve been hard at work on a new historical novel for my readers, because what is hotter than an old-fashioned kink relationship?

The new one will be called Disciplining the Duchess and if you follow my blog regularly, then you’ve read snippets from it here and here. I hope to have the Duchess book out by March at the latest. I would share more but I don’t want to tease. (ha! what a tease!)

In the meantime, if you haven’t read Lily Mine yet, you might want to give it a try. Historical heroes are so, so yummy. Lord Ashbourne, the hero of Lily Mine, is wonderfully uptight like so many gentlemen of that period, but also warm and sensual in more private moments. One of my favorite parts of the book is the awkwardness between him and Lily in the beginning of the story, and their curiosity about each other as aristocrat and commoner.

     He watched her from the length of the table. Everything she did seemed novel to him. The way she handled her utensils, the self-conscious way she looked up at him. The way she poured milk in her chocolate, a treat she had exclaimed over, all the rigid role-playing falling away. Did commoners believe the gentry were stiff as all that? Or did she just think him stiff? She had immediately covered her mouth as if she’d misspoken, but he wanted her to yell to the rafters about the treat of drinking chocolate if that’s how she felt. In truth, he felt a growing fondness for her that alarmed him.

     Well, why not feel fond? It was a wondrous thing to have company again. He had eaten in here so many weeks now by himself, rattled around the stuffy country manor, a lonely cuckold. Cuckold. An ugly and humiliating word, even if you were not truly cuckolded because your marriage was fraudulent in the first place. The effect was the same.

     Why was she sitting so far away? The table was yards long, and they at either end of it. No wonder she thought him stuffy. He had not said so much as a word to her as they dined, for nerves. The only sound to break the stultifying silence was the occasional clink of china and the never-ending pitter-pat of late summer rain. Even if they had something to talk about, they would have had to shout to be heard.

     He would tell Hanover to set places next to one another from now on so they could converse together. There were things that needed to be discussed before the new household staff arrived in the days ahead. Lily was making a good go of impersonating the lady of a manor, but no experienced servant would be fooled. As much as it galled him, he would have to tell her all he could about Lilliana. It was only fair to do so if he expected her to impersonate her convincingly.

     When they finished dining, he ushered her around Lilyvale on his arm. He showed her every room, every hall, every stairwell. They toured the kitchens and servants’ quarters, and by the end of their explorations she seemed more at ease. By then the rain had stopped and he led her along stone paths to some of the outbuildings. He avoided the stables for fear he might embarrass her with memories of the night before. He showed her the garden and greenhouse, and again found himself charmed by her awe and excitement at the manicured grounds he very much took for granted. She flitted through the plants and flowers, many going to ruin since the grounds staff had been dismissed weeks ago. She turned to look back at him with bright eyes and a solemn smile.

     “I can save these plants, my lord. If you wish it.”

     “Of course I wish it. I will not deny you the gardens. Please consider them your own. I will hire an army of gardeners to assist you.”

     She smiled wide, made an endearing attempt at schooling her expression to something more proper, and then gave up, much to his relief. He much more enjoyed seeing the true Lily coming alive before him in fits and spurts.

Of course, by the end of the story they get to know one another VERY well. If you’d like to experience the development of their relationship–and their sexy times together too–click the book cover to read the blurb and find buy links!