She decided to try one more time. “I love you. I l—”
“You’re still trying to teach that bird?” Gabriel entered the drawing room.
“Of course I am. I never give up.”
“Yes, about that.” He tugged off his gloves and threw them onto a side table. “Mind telling me why there’s a flock of sheep in the mews?”
“There are three sheep in the mews,” she said. “Three sheep are not a ‘flock.’”
“Flock or not, they are three more sheep than we had in the mews this morning.”
“They’re going to the farm, I promise.” Under her breath, she added, “Just as soon as they’re out of quarantine.”
The farm was the first purchase Penny had made with Mr. Lambert’s seized assets. They’d begun with a smallholding in Kent, but when a parcel of adjacent land had come available, she’d enlarged the place. They rebuilt the old farmhouse and added new barns.
The farm wasn’t only a home for unwanted animals. During the summer, it was their home, as well. Emma, Alex, and Nicola brought their families to visit. Last year, they’d even welcomed Bradford and his boys for a few weeks, just before the Michaelmas school term began—and Gabriel was actually civil to her brother, for the most part.
Gabriel sat down on a bench to remove his boots. “Where’s Jacob?”
“At the park, with Emma and Richmond.”
“The baby?”
“Sleeping.”
He dropped his boot to the floor and gave her a slow, wicked grin. “Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.” She walked toward the bench, moving with a coquettish sway in her hips. He caught her by the waist and hauled her into his lap for a slow, deep kiss.
“I love you,” he said. “You may never teach that damned parrot to say it, but you taught me. You’ll never hear the end of it now, pretty girl. I love you.” Kiss. “I love you.” Kiss. “I love you.”
Penny laced her arms about her husband’s neck. “Fancy a fuck, love?”
Acknowledgments
My editor, Tessa Woodward, has my adoration. Best editor in the world. Yes, Tessa, I have compared you to a fictional dog. Unlike a certain hero, you are entirely deserving of the compliment. I can’t possibly thank you enough. I’m out of words to express my indebtedness, and you know why.
Brenna Aubrey has my devotion. Every writer should be so lucky to have a friend who sneaks a life-size cutout of Chris Evans into her office while she’s out of town.
Brittani DiMare has my gratitude for her heroic patience and my deepest apologies.
Kayleigh Webb and Elle Keck have my warmest appreciation for all they do.
Steve Axelrod, Lori, and Elsie have my admiration. Best in the business.
The Darelings, and the entire extended Dare family, have my undying love.
Mr. Dare has my heart.
Readers, you have my thanks. Always.
About the Author
TESSA DARE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty historical romances. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award (twice) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a book-lover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
tessadare.com
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by Tessa Dare
Girl Meets Duke
The Duchess Deal
The Governess Game
Castles Ever After
Romancing the Duke
Say Yes to the Marquess
When a Scot Ties the Knot
Do You Want to Start a Scandal
Spindle Cove
A Night to Surrender
Once Upon a Winter’s Eve (novella)
A Week to be Wicked
A Lady by Midnight
Beauty and the Blacksmith (novella)
Any Duchess Will Do
Lord Dashwood Missed Out (novella)
Stud Club Trilogy
One Dance with a Duke
Twice Tempted by a Rogue
Three Nights with a Scoundrel
The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy
Surrender of a Siren
A Lady of Persuasion
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright (novella)
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
the wallflower wager. Copyright © 2019 by Eve Ortega. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition SEPTEMBER 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-267215-5
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-267216-2
Cover design by Guido Caroti
Cover illustration by Kirk DouPonce/FictionArtist.com
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
first edition
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida
Uttar Pradesh 201 301
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com