JEWEL
OF THE EAST
(The
Devil DeVere #5)
Victoria
Vane
Having
once lived his life only for larks, laughter, and ladies of easy
virtue, Captain
Simon Singleton has returned from the war with the colonies
a shambles
of a man. Now free from six years of captivity, he's still fettered
by irrational fears that confine him to a life of seclusion.
Once
the crowning jewel of the most lavish brothel in London, the exotic
Salime finds her reputation and livelihood destroyed by a bitter
rival. With a closely guarded secret stripped away, Salime fears
no man will ever desire her again. Seeking aid from one who once
saved her life, Salime accepts a proposition to repay her debt by
becoming a companion to his war-scarred friend.
Circumstance
brings these two damaged souls together; but fate
ignites a love story worthy of the Arabian Nights.
Medford
Abbey, Kent- 1785
A
sharp rap soon sounded on the door. Ludovic, Viscount DeVere glanced
up from his periodical to the entrance of a liveried footman. "A
message for you, my lord."
The
servant offered the wax-sealed missive on a silver salver. "It
was delivered by a most…unusual…courier." The footman gave a
sniff of disdain.
"Indeed?
What do you mean?" Ludovic asked in a bored drawl.
"'Tis
a behemoth blackamoor, my lord."
"Mustafa?"
Ludovic threw down his periodical and snatched up the missive. "What
the devil?"
"He
awaits in the kitchen. Insufferable rude creature he be. Just stands
all akimbo. Refuses to speak or to depart without an answer from your
lordship."
"The
man cannot speak. He has no tongue. They took it when they castrated
the poor devil."
The
footman's eyes bulged. He involuntarily crossed his legs. Ludovic
broke the seal and scanned the contents with a deepening frown.
Most
honored Efendi,
It
is with the greatest humility that I appeal to he who once
safeguarded my life. It is with exceeding distress that I must
entreat you once more, being much in need of a friend and protector.
Your
most devoted and obedient servant,
Salime
Ludovic
read the cryptic note once more. Salime in want of a protector? What
a sticky situation that
created. At first he wondered why she'd appealed to him, but then
again, there were few people she trusted. Given their shared history,
he would never deny her aid. Moreover, Salime had been instrumental
in helping him to achieve his present state of connubial bliss. For
that alone he owed her his undying gratitude.
"Tell
him I shall be in touch with his mistress shortly…and that she
should notify me at once should her circumstances become any
more…distressed."
"Aye,
my lord." The much-chagrinned footman departed.
Ludovic
glowered after the departing servant. Salime had never been in want
since coming to London. He wondered what could be behind her request,
but then abandoned both letter and the dilemma the moment another
surprise came bursting into his library. "Ned?" Ludovic
leaped up to greet his best friend. "What the devil has brought
you all the way from Yorkshire to Kent?"
"I
have most portentous news, DeVere," Ned sputtered with
excitement. "News I could hardly relay by messenger. So I came
down myself."
"What
kind of news? Out with it, Chambers," Ludovic commanded.
"Mayhap
you should pour us a drink first."
Ludovic
lifted a sardonic brow. "A drink? Not so urgent after all?"
"'Tis
fortification you'll need for the shock you're about to receive."
"Shock?
Me? You know I am not easily shocked, Ned." Ludovic paused with
his hand on the brandy decanter and a slight frown marring his face.
"Come to think of it, I'm damned if I can recall a single
occasion that has wrought from me such a profound reaction as shock."
Ned
flung himself into Ludovic's favorite chair. "There's a first
for everything, DeVere. Now that drink?"
Ludovic
sloshed amber liquid into two glasses, handing one to the would-be
herald, who downed it in one draught. Ludovic quirked a brow.
"It
was a devilish long ride," Ned explained.
"All
to deliver this shocking
report of yours?" Ludovic perched a hip on the corner of his
mahogany desk.
"Yes!
It's Lazarus all over again!"
"Lazarus?
Am I to surmise that someone has been miraculously raised from the
dead?"
"Actually,
he might as well have been," Ned declared. "I can hardly
countenance it after all this time."
"You
are trying my patience, Ned."
"It's
Simon. He's returned."
"Good
God!" The glass slipped from his hand to shatter at Ludovic's
feet. "You can't mean Sin is alive
after
all this time? He was pronounced killed in action six years ago."
"I
mean exactly that!" Ned exclaimed. "He is indeed alive and
may even be in London as we speak. I have the news straight from
Baron Singleton. His ship was expected to arrive several days ago."
"Why
am I only hearing of this now?
I see the bloody Singleton regularly at Parliament."
"Probably
because the good baron doesn't like you, DeVere. He believes you were
an abominable influence on his son."
"Then
he would be right." Ludovic smirked and then stared at the
shattered glass at his feet.
"Looking
a bit white there, my friend. This is known as shock."
"Admittedly,
I am incredulous. How can this be? Where the devil has he been?"
"Interned
as a prisoner of war for the greater part of six years."
"Six
years?
In all that time there were no exchanges?"
"Very
few. The colonials refused to give up ours when they claimed their
men were only released on the point of starvation and death. I
daresay 'tis no exaggeration. I've seen a number of reports on the
deplorably inhumane conditions of our prison hulks. Indeed it's said
that the colonial prisoners set fire to the
Whitby,
choosing to go down in flames, rather than die of starvation and
disease." Ned shook his head. "What a hellish business war
is."
"But
if Sin was a prisoner, he should have been released nigh on a year
ago when the treaty was signed."
"Apparently
he was too ill to travel. Only made it as far as Bermuda before he
was struck with the bloody flux or some such and required months of
convalescence…poor sod."
"We
must go to him, Ned. At once."
"He'll
not be the same man," Ned voiced what they were both thinking.
"No,"
Ludovic shook his head. "Likely never again."
AUTHOR
BIO
Victoria
Vane is an award-winning author of smart and sexy romance. Her
collective works of fiction range from historical to contemporary
settings and include everything from wild comedic romps to
emotionally compelling erotic romance. Her biggest writing influences
are Georgette Heyer, Robin Schone, and Sylvia Day. Victoria is the
founder of Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the
Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog. Look for her sexy new
contemporary cowboy series coming from Sourcebooks in 2014.
CONTACT:
victoria.vane@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.victoriavane.com
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com
Twitter: @authorvictoriav
victoria.vane@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.victoriavane.com
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com
Twitter: @authorvictoriav
Please check out my blog page for my book review of Jewel of the East ....http://arlenasbookreviews-arlenadean.blogspot.com
THE DEVIL DEVERE SERIES AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
A Wild Night's Bride (book#1)
The Virgin Huntress, (book#2)
The Devil You Know (book#3)
The Devil's Match, (book#4) August 2012
I have enjoyed the whole series by this author Victoria Vane.
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