La Bella Isabella Page 5

  “So, do you not think the man in question will not also have demanded the same rights as you?” he asked.

  She shrugged her slight shoulders.

  “He is a man. How do I know how men’s minds work? If my father can…can sell me in such a manner, for a few acres of land, how can I expect another man to need to know who his wife will be? He will have the luxury of a mistress. I believe in the sanctity of marriage.”

  Gently, Harry pulled her dress up properly, for although she had released her arms, she had not covered her breasts.

  “In that, you are wrong, my love. He only has eyes and body for you. I also demanded to know to whom I was to be betrothed. And on receiving that information, was happy to agree. For although perchance our courtship has not been conventional to date, I’m damned glad La Bella Isabella has retired from the stage. Instead, I look forward to many private performances in the future. But my one husbandly demand is this. No nipping out in carriages on a dark night without me!”

  Biography

  Ever since I won not one but two Cadbury “Where Does Chocolate Come From?” competitions in primary school, I was convinced one day I would write a book. My parents encouraged me. My schoolteachers despaired of me—flowery, romantic, not factual. Hey, I loved weaving stories about anything and anyone!

  So what happened to my grand ideas?

  Life got in the way.

  So more years later than I am prepared to disclose (a woman has to have some secrets!), here I am, with Breathless Press giving me my big chance. Thanks, B.P.

  Married to my own hero (how cheesy is that?) after a couple of failed hero attempts, we live on the edge of a Scottish forest with two cats and three children as frequent visitors. And now two grandkids. Lucky or what?

  I write on my laptop in my study, watching the birds on the bird table, the strange big, black, fluffy “I’m pretending to be a bird” cat sitting on the table and trying to convince the many birds he is invisible, occasionally seeing deer and red squirrel moving past. I am privileged.

  As a non-closet romantic, sometime neurotic, and lover of words, I so enjoy getting involved with my characters. I hope you do too.