“I would welcome the chance to see Caroline again,” Frances mused. “And you could visit with Bart. He’ll probably return to London soon.”

“You’re very persuasive. All right. If you want to go, we’ll go.” With a quick, fluid gesture, he raised their linked hands and twirled her as if in a scandalous waltz, so that she faced away from him, turned toward the house. He slid a hand down her back and placed a heated kiss just where her neck met her shoulder. She shivered, and not only because the breeze quickened, ruffling her skirts and nipping at her exposed skin.

“Now let’s go inside. There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is that?”

“Oh, nothing, really. It’s just an excuse to get you back into bed.” He stepped up to walk at her side toward the house. “Wasn’t that a favorite trick of yours before we married? You see, I have a good memory too.”

Author’s Note

Writing historical romance is a wonderful job for those who like to poke through the details of the past. For this story, I got the chance to study historic paint pigments with fantastical names: orpiment, atramentum, cinnabar. I also asked my medically-inclined relatives questions like, “What kind of injury would take away the use of my hero’s arm, but wouldn’t require its amputation?” Ah, research.

For the record, Henry has Erb’s palsy, a type of paralysis due to torn nerves (in the brachial plexus, if you too are medically inclined). Though a recovery wasn’t possible during the Regency, if Henry lived today, he could have surgery to correct much of the nerve damage.

Soldiers who fought in the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo really did receive a medal. Its name? As Henry says: “Waterloo. Always Waterloo.”

As for the chilly spring at the book’s end, the year of 1816 was extremely cold, probably due to a massive volcanic eruption in Indonesia in 1815. But in Winter Cottage, we can assume that Henry and Frances found ways to remain quite cozy.

Acknowledgments

I always thank my husband first, because he’s been a wonderful support ever since I began writing romance. Thanks, hon—I couldn’t write heroes without you.

Many thanks to the Sourcebooks team: my editor Deb Werksman; Susie Benton; and the art, marketing, and publicity teams. It’s a pleasure to venture into Regency England with you!

Thanks, as always, to Paige Wheeler, for her wondrous expertise and guidance. I also owe a great debt to my brother, who helped me figure out the perfect way to injure Henry, and to my eagle-eyed beta reader Amanda. Gratitude and huzzahs to my darling family and friends, and to the bright and inspiring authors I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few years.

And finally, thanks to my wonderful readers for finding my stories. In honor of Henry and Frances, a special shout-out to all you lefties out there.

About the Author

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest.


Coming soon from Sourcebooks Casablanca

To Charm a Naughty Countess

by Theresa Romain

Caroline, the popular widowed Countess of Stratton, sits alone at the pinnacle of London society and has no wish to remarry. But when the brilliant, reclusive Duke of Wyverne—her counterpart in an old scandal—returns to town after a long absence, she finds herself as enthralled as ever.