Devil's Bride

400 Pages·1998·8.56 MB·English

by  Stephanie Laurens

S L
tephanie aurens
D
evil’s
B
ride
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and
incidents either are the products of the author’s imagina-
tion or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead,
is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either
the author or the publisher.
DEVIL’SBRIDE. Copyright © 1998 by Savdek
Management Proprietory Ltd. All rights reserved under
International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
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Adobe Acrobat E-Book Reader edition v 1. November
2001 ISBN 0-06- TK
First Avon Books Printing: March 1998
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
Bar Cynster Family Tree
Chapter
1‘‘The duchess is so very... very... well,
really, most charming.
2‘‘What in the devil’s own name are you
about, woman?’’
3 She was stranded in a cottage with a
dying man…
4 The only benefit Honoria could discover
in her position on Sulieman’s back…
5 After an hour of subtle interrogation,
Honoria escaped the Dowager…
6 It was an illusion—all an illusion—a
typically arrogant sleight of hand.
7 Next morning, Honoria attended Sunday
service in the church…
8 Two mornings later, Devil descended the
main stairs, tugging on…
9‘‘Yes?’’Devil looked up from a ledger as
Webster entered the library.
10 Three days later, Devil stood at the
library windows…
11 Investigating Tolly’s murder proved
more difficult than she’d thought.
12‘‘I don’t believe it!’’Seated before her
escritoire, Honoria stared…
13‘‘I make it 334.’’Honoriare stacked the
lists in her lap…
14 As the evening wore on, the gaiety
increased.
15‘‘Thank you, Emmy.’’Standing, arms
folded…
16 Donnnnnnng. Devil spared not a glance
for the long-case clock…
17 Success bred success. Late the next
night, as he let himself into his hall…
18 The ballroom at Somersham Place was
filled to over-flowing.
19 When, years later, Honoria looked back
on the first months of her marriage…
20 The next morning, as soon as he was
free of his most urgent business…
21 Vane stared at Devil, unfeigned horror in
his face.
22 By two, Honoria had started to pace. At
four, she summoned Sligo.
23 The next morning, Honoria woke late,
alone, Devil long gone…
24 Vane was waiting in the library when
Honoria and Devil entered.
25 Devil knew something was desperately
wrong the instant…
Epilogue
The Bar Cynster was in session.
They were all there, lounging
About the Author
About the Publisher
Front Cover
The Bar Cynster Family Tree
Lady Eleanor. . .SEBASTIAN Helena Rebecce Almira ARTHUR Louise
McEnery 5TH de Stansion, Butterworth Vennacombe
(d) DUKEOFST. IVES Comtesse d’Lisle (d)
(d) [The Dowager]
CHARLES
SYLVESTER
DEVIL
6TH DUKE OF
ST. IVES
RICHARD
SCANDAL
BARTHOLOMEW
[TOLLY]
Amanda
*
GEORGE Horatia Augusta–Herbert MARTIN Lady Celia
Rotherwell Marquess of Hammond
Huntly
SPENCER
VANE
HARRY
DEMON
RUPERT
GABRIEL
ALASDAIR
LUCIFER
*
Amelia SIMON Heather Elizabeth Angelica
Henrietta Mary