Exclusive Extract: The Viscount’s Convenient Bride by Josie Bonham

The Viscount’s Convenient Bride is the latest release from author Josie Bonham.

Josie lives in the English midlands, surrounded by towns full of history such as Evesham, Stratford-Upon- Avon, Warwick and Worcester. Which is perhaps why her favourite reads are historical. Out of all the periods to choose from the Regency Era stirs her imagination the most. The true Regency lasted from 1811 until 1820 but dates as wide as 1789 to 1837 have been included in the extended Regency period. For Josie the true flavour of this period emerges after the iniquitous hair powder tax of 1795, unsurprisingly, scuppered the fashion for hair powder almost overnight.

Josie has always dabbled in stories but it took the combined efforts of her sister and eldest niece to set her on the path to writing novels. Her Regency romances, with a dash of adventure and intrigue, are the result.

As part of the blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources, we are lucky enough to have an exclusive extract of The Viscount’s Convenient Bride to share with you (an extract is beneath the blog tour banner).

The Viscount’s Convenient Bride tells the story of Luke and Kitty.

Luke, Viscount Enstone’s, resolve to avoid a love match is tested to its limit when he accepts responsibility for the Davenport family.

Luke has found it hard to sort out his late father’s affairs. A dishonest secretary and ailing land agent have left the family estates in disorder. With new people in place, he sets off to one of his smaller properties to discover the extent of an obligation that seems out of keeping with the cold-hearted father he remembers. Who is the young woman living at Shepley Hall and what was her connection to his father?

Miss Kitty Davenport has waited for a long time to find out if the new Viscount Enstone will continue the support his father gave to her family and her patience is wearing thin. Will he carry on paying for her young brother’s education and even assist him in finding a career? For herself, all she needs is help to find a suitable position as a companion and to escape from the unwanted attentions of a persistent suitor.

Luke, the new Viscount Enstone has recently sold out of the army returned to England after his father’s death. A dishonest secretary and ailing land agent have left the family estates in disorder. Luke decides to visit one of his smaller estates personally. He’s curious as to why his father helped the Davenport family. Kitty Davenport and her schoolboy brother are penniless without his help. She waits anxiously to learn their fate.

The parlour was the best kept room in the house and she had made it cosy with her embroidered cushions and tapestries. She walked across to the window and closed the drapes to cut out the late afternoon gloom. Lord Enstone followed her in and she indicated the larger of the two tan leather armchairs positioned either side of the fire.

“Please be seated.”

He nodded and stood by the chair until she had taken the other one. At least he was treating her with respect, but it was his fault she was in this mess. Anger welled up but she stared at the floor and quickly doused it. He was under no legal obligation to them after all. He could throw her out today if he wanted to. She tried to steady her breathing. Her palms felt clammy and yet she was shivering. Why didn’t he say something? She looked up to find him watching her with his head tilted and his lips slightly pursed. If only she knew what he was thinking. A tremor went through her.

“My father was ill for some time before his death and things have not been looked after as they ought, Miss Davenport. My new agent is struggling to make his way around all the properties to see what needs to be done. Your brother explained a little of your situation when I was called to his school but at the time it made little sense to me. I have been unable to come here personally until now, for which I apologise.”

Kitty closed her eyes and counted to ten. Their situation, as he called it, clearly wasn’t of much interest to him. Her nails dug into her palms. She forced herself to smile and open her eyes.

“Are you in full possession of the facts now, my lord?”

He gave her another appraising glance. “No, I don’t think I am, perhaps you would explain it all to me.”

She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Nothing but the truth would do, shaming as it was. “Our fathers were old friends. My father died within a few days of gambling away our home and the investments that provided our only income. Since his death we have been living on your father’s charity.”

You can get a copy of The Viscount’s Convenient Bride by Josie Bonham here.

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