Valbourg turned and drew her against him, one hand gently grasping her chin and tilting it back.
His fingers were warm against her skin, the scent of him sweet in her nostrils. Catherine tried to pull away but he held her too firmly. Then his mouth closed over hers—and she had no desire to go anywhere.
Desire exploded like a dried-up seed bursting in the welcome rains of a long-awaited storm. The touch of his mouth, the slow, sensual caress of his lips, set her blood pounding and made her heart race, so that in an instant the protective wall she had built around herself shattered, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.
But, oh, how she wanted this. To feel the strength of his arms around her and to experience the mastery of his kiss. It was everything she had imagined it would be and more. Equal parts heaven … and hell.
AUTHOR NOTE
For the final book in my Gryphon Theatre trilogy I decided to focus on two characters who made their first appearance in NO OCCUPATION FOR A LADY: the dashing Lord Valbourg, eldest son of the Marquess of Alderbury, and the beautiful Catherine Jones, a gifted actress whose ethereal voice earns her the nickname ‘Angel of London'.
Catherine has come a long way from her humble beginnings in remote Wales. Celebrated now as one of London’s finest talents, she lives life on her own terms, refusing to take lovers or to be cast in the role of rich man’s mistress, as so many actresses are. But her reasons for remaining chaste aren’t prompted by a desire to maintain her virginal reputation. Something far more important is at stake. Something Catherine isn’t willing to put at risk.
Valbourg, too, has reasons for keeping the beautiful songbird at a distance. As sole guardian of his late sister’s child, and heir to his father’s title, he knows what entering into a relationship with her would do. But when it comes to love logic seldom enters into it. Sometimes the only way of keeping what you have is giving up what you desire most.
I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the world of Regency theatre, as I did creating the cast of characters who populated it. Then, as now, the theatre is a vibrant world filled with gifted performers, eccentric characters and diverse personalities. I hope the characters whose lives revolved around the Gryphon Theatre engaged and entertained you as much as they did me.
No Place for an Angel
Gail Whitiker
GAIL WHITIKER was born on the west coast of Wales and moved to Canada at an early age. Though she grew up reading everything from John Wyndham to Victoria Holt, frequent trips back to Wales inspired a fascination with castles and history, so it wasn’t surprising that her first published book was set in Regency England. Now an award-winning author of both historical and contemporary novels, Gail lives on Vancouver Island, where she continues to indulge her fascination with the past as well as enjoying travel, music and spectacular scenery. Visit Gail at www.gailwhitiker.com
Previous novels by this author:
A MOST IMPROPER PROPOSAL*
THE GUARDIAN’S DILEMMA*
A SCANDALOUS COURTSHIP
A MOST UNSUITABLE BRIDE
A PROMISE TO RETURN
COURTING MISS VALLOIS
BRUSHED BY SCANDAL
IMPROPER MISS DARLING
NO OCCUPATION FOR A LADY**
NO ROLE FOR A GENTLEMAN**
*part of The Steepwood Scandal mini-series
**linked by character
Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
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Contents
Chapter One
The Gryphon Theatre, London—summer 1828
The single rose arrived precisely on schedule, exactly one half-hour after Catherine Jones took her bows and walked off the stage at the Gryphon Theatre.
The rose, cut at the peak of perfection and tied with a white satin bow, was brought to her dressing room by the same young man who appeared after every performance; an envoy sent to deliver the long-stemmed tribute on behalf of an admirer who preferred to remain...anonymous.
‘Curious, don’t you think, Lily,’ Catherine mused to her dresser, ‘that after all this time, the gentleman still refuses to identify himself.’
‘Downright queer, if you ask me, miss,’ Lily said bluntly. ‘The other men who send you gifts all want you to know who they are in the hopes you’ll