Lady Bess Read online

  Contents

  Lady Bess

  Dangerous, he was so dangerous to her well being.

  Also by Claudy Conn

  What reviewers are saying about Claudy’s books

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  ~ One ~

  ~ Two ~

  ~ Three ~

  ~ Four ~

  ~ Five ~

  ~ Six ~

  ~ Seven ~

  ~ Eight ~

  ~ Nine ~

  ~ Ten ~

  ~ Eleven ~

  ~ Twelve ~

  ~ Thirteen ~

  ~ Fourteen ~

  ~ Fifteen ~

  ~ Sixteen ~

  ~ Seventeen ~

  ~ Eighteen ~

  ~ Nineteen ~

  ~ Twenty ~

  ~ Twenty-One ~

  ~ Twenty-Two ~

  ~ Epilogue ~

  After the Storm

  ~ Prologue ~

  ~ One ~

  Lady X (unedited)

  Prologue

  Hungry Moon: Quicksilver

  ~ Prelude ~

  ~ Prologue ~

  About Claudy Conn

  Read more about Claudy Conn’s books

  Lady Bess

  Dangerous, he was so dangerous to her well being.

  The smile in his blue eyes made her want to press herself against him and feel those arms of his slip around her body.

  She wasn’t completely inexperienced, after all. She had a Season and had allowed a few bucks a kiss or two. How else was a girl to know who she wanted, she had told herself while she experimented.

  In her early years, away at school with Donna and all their friends, they had met ‘town boys’; all the girls had dared a kiss or two in the dark with them. It had been clandestine, it had been wildly naughty, but it had been a part of growing up. That had been wayward behavior, indeed, but she wasn’t sorry for it. Her philosophy was simple. Men could kiss and move on—why not women? How else would a woman know what it was all about?

  She had overheard servants talking about men and how they wanted a lady on their arm and a tart in their bed. Well, she wanted to be both for the man of her choosing. The notion tickled her.

  What the devil was wrong with her? This man was a rogue, a charming rogue, and she knew, absolutely knew, he was only conducting a mild dalliance. Surely he flirted with her to pass the time and could not be in earnest. She had no doubt that flirting, for him at least, was probably no more than a hobby he had perfected. However, it didn’t matter. She was enjoying it all too much to care what his motives were.

  “Our mare is a maiden,” she said and felt the blush fill her cheeks in spite of the fact that she had put quite a bit of effort into sounding casual and sophisticated about it.

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. Bold Tim is quite the gentleman, skilled, experienced, and he will know just how to approach her, and unlike other stallions, he won’t hurt her when he is done,” he said on a low, seductive note.

  His tone, his Scottish burr, lush with something else, something she didn’t want to name, swept her into a dream. Dangerous, he was so dangerous to her well being. He talked about Bold Tim as though he were suggesting he was as gentle as his stallion. Was he talking about how he would handle her? And, yes, she wanted him to handle her.

  Oh, oh, but she was thinking like a tart—a tart! It was so much more than just being naughty and outrageous. It was delicious fun.

  “I am certain Bold Tim … with all his experience,” she said in a low voice, “will know just what to do.” Her eyes met his with a look intended to display that she knew just what they were talking about.

  She saw the surprise in his blues, and a gurgle of laughter escaped her. She had succeeded in oversetting him. He had not expected she would know how to respond to his outrageous dalliance. She smiled to herself—schoolgirl, indeed!

  She meant to have a little fun with him, for she could see he meant only to have a little harmless fun with her and then send her on her way. She wanted at that moment to show him that having a little fun could get him into a great deal of trouble.

  “Are ye, like I, certain his experience will be enough?” he murmured, obviously caught up in the moment. “We shall see … m’dear.”

  Also by Claudy Conn

  Risqué Regencies

  Myriah Fire

  Oh, Cherry Ripe

  Rogues, Rakes & Jewels

  Taffeta & Hotspur

  Wildfire Kiss

  Runaway Heart

  Netherby Halls

  After the Storm

  Coming soon: Lady X (occult historical romance)

  ~

  Through Time Series

  Through Time-Pursuit

  Through Time-Whiplash

  Coming in June 2013: Through Time-Slamming

  ~

  Legend Series

  Prince Prelude—Legend

  Spellbound—Legend

  Aaibhe—Shee Queen (Novelette)

  Shee Willow—Legend

  Prince in the Mist (Novella)

  Trapped—Legend

  Free Falling—Legend

  Catch & Hold—Legend

  ~

  Shadow Series

  ShadowLove—Stalkers

  ShadowHeart—Slayer

  ShadowLife—Hybrid

  ~

  Hungry Moon Series

  Hungry Moon: Quicksilver

  ~

  DarkLove (published by Wild Rose Press)

  What reviewers are saying

  about Claudy’s books

  Advance praise for Lady Bess

  Another 5 star adventure from the mind of Claudy Conn to take you down the rough road to romance and the battles along the way.

  ~ Jutzie, Amazon.com top 1000 reviewer

  5 out of 5 stars

  Fanning the flames of Myriah Fire!

  What was once an innocent, if rollicking, regency romance has exploded with passion as Claudy Conn revisits Myriah Fire to turn up the heat.

  The addition of unbridled sexual passion to Myriah Fire’s strong story brings dimensions of maturity and depth to the struggles faced by Myriah and Kit, without diminishing any of the innocence, joy or charm found in the original story. This revised version of Myriah Fire allows Claudy’s regency followers to appreciate what her paranormal romance fans have discovered—mind-bending eroticism.

  A truly captivating tale with a blast of added sizzle, Myriah Fire will kindle the flames of your heart and burn up the night.

  ~ Vonnie Faroqui, Ink Slinger’s Whimsey

  Love, love, love Myriah Fire!

  It’s a brilliant, fast-paced, and ‘true to its title’, ‘going to catch you on fire’ romance. Looking forward to more! Hoping Claudy Conn plans to share more of her historical treasures with us.

  ~ Candice Stauffer, author

  Myriah has always been my favorite

  This is a sweet, funny, charming romance. The characters are likeable and the story is well told. I loved all of the Claudette Williams (now Claudy Conn) books, but this one has always been my favorite. I hope she will put out more of her backlist.

  ~ lmjolicoeur on Smashwords

  5 Stars for Rogues, Rakes, and Jewels!

  Being a huge fan of Jane Austen, with Emma and Pride and Prejudice being two of my favorite romance novels, I was thrilled when Claudy sent me her regency romance to review. This novel had everything: danger, a villain, twists, and more secrets between characters then I could count. I really enjoyed the story and the strong female lead. One thing that I will say about Conn’s Regency romance is this is no Jane Austen. There was serious heat in the book between the main characters. That just made this an even better Regency piece. I recommend it for a fun and delightful read. I will look to read her other Regenc
y romances now.

  ~ Emily Walker’s Reviews

  5 Stars

  Another fun regency by Claudy Conn. Full of characters who come to life and pull you into the story. And as always the evil villain lurking about ready for his chance to wreak havoc. From the forests of Nottingham to the streets of London, there is plenty of excitement and page-turning adventure from beginning to end.

  ~ Reviews by Jutzie

  ShadowLove—Stalkers is hot, Hot, HOT

  ShadowLove—Stalkers is filled with steaming action and dramatic tension … Claudy delicately plants the seeds for future development and characters without distracting from the excitement and romance of Stalkers. The result is that she has a paranormal, vampire series, of romance novels, which carries her own unique and spicy aroma.

  ShadowLove—Stalkers is hot, Hot, HOT … and yes, I am blushing.

  ~ Vonnie Faroqui, Ink Slinger’s Whimsey

  Five Cups and a CTTR (Coffee Time Reviewer’s Recommend) Award

  ShadowLove—Stalkers is a story that immediately hooks the reader. It reminds me of a roller coaster just beginning, only to plunge into speed, drawing the reader into non-stop action. Intense and spellbinding, this paranormal romance kept this reader engrossed until the conclusion. I loved the passion and chemistry between the main characters. With tremendous action and well thought out characters, this fantastic read sizzles and sparks like a firecracker.

  ~ Coffee Time Romance & More

  Trapped Legend has my pulse skyrocketing!

  A clever, fast paced, unpredictable blend of action, adventure, mystery, magic and steamy hot loving … I picked it up and couldn’t tear myself away from it until I read the last page.

  I highly recommend each book in Claudy’s Legend series. You’re seriously missing out on some wonderful adventures if you haven’t read the previous stories. It’s by far one of the most exceptionally crafted, enchanting Fae series I’ve ever read.

  ~ Candice Stauffer, author

  Five Stars for ShadowHeart—Slayer

  This second in Conn’s Shadow series is filled with vampires, a vampire slayer, demons, wizards, a Fae prince and an unlikely romance. Claudy Conn does an excellent job of making this a standalone story while incorporating some of the characters from the first book and introducing us to several new characters. The war is still brewing and now the fae are becoming involved. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

  This is another one I couldn’t put down and read in a single sitting. I got so caught up in the action I was sad to see it end. Fans of the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and vampire genres should enjoy this as well.

  ~ Wild About Bones on GoodReads

  One hot and thrilling book

  I fell for all three of the main characters, fun loving Maxie, dark and brooding Julian, and one hot Fae, Breslyn. However, it wasn’t just the characters that kept me on the edge of my seat, it was the entire involved plot that included jealously, betrayal, magic, murder, and, of course, hot passion … The well-written out mixture of myth and legend, not to mention the characters, all in today’s world has me Joyfully Recommending Spellbound—Legend as one book you won’t want to miss.

  ~ Jo, Joyfully Reviewed

  Lady Bess

  By

  Claudy Conn

  Copyright Page

  Lady Bess

  By Claudy Conn

  http://www.claudyconn.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Claudy Conn

  Edited by: Karen Babcock

  Cover Artist: Kendra Egert

  All rights reserved

  Published in the United States of America

  May 2013

  Names, characters, and events depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  Excerpt of After the Storm

  Copyright © 2013 by Claudy Conn

  Excerpt of Lady X

  Copyright © 2013 by Claudy Conn

  Excerpt of Hungry Moon: Quicksilver

  Copyright © 2012 by Claudy Conn

  Dedication

  MY DAD WAS tall and handsome, with such wondrous black and silky hair. He stood out amongst men because he was also honorable and decent, and I always saw a light that seemed to glitter around him.

  He met my mom when he was eight and she was seven. He told her then that he would marry her one day. He did.

  His imagination fueled mine, and I would enter the worlds he created for me with his stories. His stories became my own.

  However, later, because my dad believed in the rules, as a teen I was a sad chore for him to manage. As I said, he believed in the rules of the day, and I so did not. We butted heads for awhile.

  Then I grew up, and how we laughed over my ‘escapades’—and I even confessed some to him that neither he nor my mom had been aware of.

  We lost him more than two years ago, and I miss him, his stories, his way with words, and his advice, with all my heart.

  He was so clear-sighted and easy to talk to, and when we had one of our ‘talks’, early on when I was a young adult and still bucking the system, he told me I had been right, and that the rules I was forever fighting needed breaking.

  So here is to you, Dad: miss you and love you always.

  Coincidence, Webster’s Dictionary instructs us, is an accidental and remarkable occurrence of events, and/or ideas, at the same time in a way that sometimes suggests a causal relationship.

  In this tale, is it coincidence that will, through unremarkable situations, bring about the remarkable.

  A chance occurrence will send Lady Bess hurtling into a series of events she never envisioned would be in her future, and because of those events, her future enfolds.

  Is coincidence, then, just another word for fate?

  ~ One ~

  LADY ELIZABETH, KNOWN to her friends as Bess, took a high stock fence and nearly lost her top hat. She straightened it on her head of black, windswept hair while still in motion and looked behind for her partner to keep up. How she loved this, being almost a part of her horse and racing through the woods. It made her feel glorious and eased her restlessness. She was always so restless.

  She smiled to herself and shouted into the wind, “Donna, you wretch! Hurry!”

  Bess saw that Donna was still not encouraging full speed from her horse, and she shouted again as she took the next fence flying.

  She landed on the other side and slowed her horse to wait for her friend to do the same. Instead, Donna slowed her horse to a lope before sedately, but in good form, taking her fence and pulling up to a trot beside Bess.

  Bess’s horse, still excited, pranced beneath her, wanting to run, but Bess slowed her mare long enough to catch her breath and complain, “Why are you lagging? You know we need to be at full speed if we are to win, child.” This last was a lifelong tease between them.

  Donna shook her head of auburn waves, somewhat disheveled beneath her top hat, and said, “Child, is it? I will have you know that a married lady has a superior place in society!” With that she stuck out her tongue and laughed. “Child, indeed!” And then she added, “We passed the marker—I have been trying to tell you.”

  “Married or no, I have an entire year on you, child.” Bess wagged a finger as she turned her horse about. She shook her head. “You are just a madcap child bride. Now come on, and this time, put some neck into it.”

  So saying, Bess urged her horse forward, led her friend to the fork in the trail, and with a whoop of laughter set her pace at the next fence, taking it easily, lightly, and in beautiful form. “That is how it should be done,” she told her friend from the other s
ide as her horse pranced, obviously ready to move off.

  Donna followed suit and grinned with pleasure as she bantered, “But if we were on fox, which is what we are supposed to be paced for, we wouldn’t go neck or nothing.”

  “Yes, I know, but the men don’t mean for us to win. So they told us to pace for a fox, not a deer, but I don’t trust them. They can’t have women beat their time, now can they?” Bess said and laughed.

  “Yes, oh Bess, yes, you are quite right.” Dawning lit in Donna’s hazel eyes.

  “They told us the truth but don’t mean to abide by the rules—at least that is my opinion. A hunter pace it may be, but they are pitting themselves against us.”

  “Odious cheaters,” Donna exclaimed.

  Bess laughed. “Right then, their tricks may take them to the devil—as we race in and take the ribbon. Come on then, let’s ride!”

  The remaining course took them through plotted fields, with ribbons showing the way, and over a stream they took as swiftly as they were able, though doing so got them thoroughly splashed.

  They laughed as they approached the last fence and headed for the finish line, where they could see members of their local hunt gathered and shouting them on.

  It was a thrilling moment, and Bess felt suspended in time as she cooed to her mare and softly urged her on, asking her for that last bolt of energy. She knew her horse was only just beginning to feel fatigued and still had that last bit to give her as they moved into an open gallop.

  “Heart, Missy,” she told her mare. “You have so much heart, and you will have a wonderful rub down and all the grass you can eat in your lovely pasture when we are done.”

  They sailed over the last fence, with Donna and her horse close behind as they rode hard past the crowd to the finish line.