A Spy's Devotion
The Regency Spies Of London book 1
by Melanie Dickerson
In England’s Regency era, manners and elegance reign in public life—but behind closed doors treason and deception thrive. Nicholas Langdon is no stranger to reserved civility or bloody barbarity. After suffering a battlefield injury, the wealthy, well-connected British officer returns home to heal—and to fulfill a dying soldier’s last wish by delivering his coded diary.
At the home of the Wilherns, one of England’s most powerful families, Langdon attends a lavish ball where he meets their beautiful and intelligent ward, Julia Grey. Determined to maintain propriety, he keeps his distance—until the diary is stolen and all clues lead to Julia’s guardian. As Langdon traces an evil plot that could be the nation’s undoing, he grows ever more intrigued by the lovely young woman. And when Julia realizes that England—and the man she is falling in love with—need her help, she finds herself caught in the fray. Will the two succumb to their attraction while fighting to save their country?
At the home of the Wilherns, one of England’s most powerful families, Langdon attends a lavish ball where he meets their beautiful and intelligent ward, Julia Grey. Determined to maintain propriety, he keeps his distance—until the diary is stolen and all clues lead to Julia’s guardian. As Langdon traces an evil plot that could be the nation’s undoing, he grows ever more intrigued by the lovely young woman. And when Julia realizes that England—and the man she is falling in love with—need her help, she finds herself caught in the fray. Will the two succumb to their attraction while fighting to save their country?
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Excerpt from A Spy's Devotion
“Your sister plays well indeed,” Julia said. “She is very gracious to take my place at the pianoforte.”
“Leorah does play well and is gracious but still not quite grown up at heart, I’m afraid. She’s only three years younger than I. Tell me, Miss Grey, would you believe that my elegant little sister used to put toads and lizards in her pockets, walk through muddy creek beds in her bare feet, and defeat her brothers in archery competitions?”
Julia couldn’t help laughing, then immediately felt guilty, hoping Phoebe hadn’t seen her laughing under the gaze of Mr. Langdon’s smiling face.
His smile was too appealing for anyone’s good.
“You shouldn’t tell such tales. Your sister would not like it.”
“On the contrary, she loves to tell those stories even more than I. She regaled the entire company of guests at my parents’ last dinner party with how she wrestled a poor defenseless rabbit from the jaws of a fox when she was ten.”
Their turn came and they obeyed the rules of the dance, taking each other’s hand and whirling to the music. When they had another chance to speak, she said, “Your sister reminds me of my cousin, Phoebe. Even now she enjoys a good tromp through the woods on the family’s country estate. She would go fishing with the groomsmen if my uncle would allow it.”
They switched partners for a few moments, Julia congratulating herself on again turning the conversation to Phoebe. When she faced Mr. Langdon, he had a strange look on his face.
“When you dance with me, I want to hear about you, not your cousin.”
Blushing as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, Julia tried to think of what to say. Should she give him a good set down? He was rude to tell her what she could or could not speak of. But she sensed that he had caught on to her scheme of trying to manipulate him into an attraction for Phoebe.
How annoying to be so transparent.
“So when a lady dances with you, she must stick to the subject you choose?”
“No.” He leaned his head nearer hers and said softly, “But you should know that I find you quite as interesting as your cousin Phoebe.”
“Leorah does play well and is gracious but still not quite grown up at heart, I’m afraid. She’s only three years younger than I. Tell me, Miss Grey, would you believe that my elegant little sister used to put toads and lizards in her pockets, walk through muddy creek beds in her bare feet, and defeat her brothers in archery competitions?”
Julia couldn’t help laughing, then immediately felt guilty, hoping Phoebe hadn’t seen her laughing under the gaze of Mr. Langdon’s smiling face.
His smile was too appealing for anyone’s good.
“You shouldn’t tell such tales. Your sister would not like it.”
“On the contrary, she loves to tell those stories even more than I. She regaled the entire company of guests at my parents’ last dinner party with how she wrestled a poor defenseless rabbit from the jaws of a fox when she was ten.”
Their turn came and they obeyed the rules of the dance, taking each other’s hand and whirling to the music. When they had another chance to speak, she said, “Your sister reminds me of my cousin, Phoebe. Even now she enjoys a good tromp through the woods on the family’s country estate. She would go fishing with the groomsmen if my uncle would allow it.”
They switched partners for a few moments, Julia congratulating herself on again turning the conversation to Phoebe. When she faced Mr. Langdon, he had a strange look on his face.
“When you dance with me, I want to hear about you, not your cousin.”
Blushing as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, Julia tried to think of what to say. Should she give him a good set down? He was rude to tell her what she could or could not speak of. But she sensed that he had caught on to her scheme of trying to manipulate him into an attraction for Phoebe.
How annoying to be so transparent.
“So when a lady dances with you, she must stick to the subject you choose?”
“No.” He leaned his head nearer hers and said softly, “But you should know that I find you quite as interesting as your cousin Phoebe.”
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Melanie Dickerson is an award-winning author who earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama.
She has taught in Georgia, Tennessee, Germany and the Eastern European country of Ukraine. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA), she now spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama. |
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It's Time For A Giveaway!
Melanie Dickerson
is graciously giving away a Print copy of her novel
A Spy's Devotion
is graciously giving away a Print copy of her novel
A Spy's Devotion
Giveaway runs from 12 am MST (Mountain Standard Time) February 29th, 2015 through 12 am MST March 7th, 2015. I will email the Winner and they will have 7 days (1 week) to claim their book.
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