Table Of ContentONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
Beyond the Storms of Fate,
a Glorious Love Would Flourish...
Once and Always
Across the vast ocean sailed Victoria Seaton, a free-spirited
American beauty left suddenly orphaned and alone. Eager to
claim her long-lost heritage, she was amazed at the formal
elegance of Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her
distant cousin ... the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Sought
after at plays, operas, and balls by London’s most fashionable
ladies, Jason remained a mystery to Victoria. Bewildered by
his arrogant demeanor, yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she
came to sense the searingly painful memories that smoldered
in the depths of his jade-green eyes.
Unable to resist her spitfire charm, Jason gathered her at last
into his powerful arms, ravishing her lips with his kisses,
arousing in her a sweet, insistent hunger. Wed in desire, they
were enfolded in a fierce, consuming joy, free at last from the
past’s cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of blinding anguish,
Victoria discovered the shocking treachery that lay at the heart
of their love ... a love she had dreamed would triumph ...
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
ONCE AND ALWAYS
JUDITH MCNAUGHT
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
Published by POCKET BOOKS
For orders other than by individual consumers, Pocket Books
grants a discount on the purchase of 10 or more copies of
single titles for special markets or premium use. For further
details, please write to the Vice-President of Special Markets,
Pocket Books, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-6785
8th Floor.
For information on how individual consumers can place
orders, please write to Mail Order Department, Simon &
Schuster, Inc., 200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ 0767S.
POCKET BOOKS New York London Toronto Sydney Tokyo
Singapore
The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you
purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that
it was reported to the publisher as “unsold and destroyed.”
Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for
the sale of this “stripped book.”
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and
incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used
fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS
POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc. 1230
Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
Copyright © 1987 by Judith McNaught
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book
or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information
address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0-671-73762-7
First Pocket Books printing January 1987
25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon &
Schuster Inc.
Cover art by Yuan Lee Printed in the U.S.A.
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
CONTENTS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
To my father, who always made me feel that he was proud of
me and
To my mother, who helped me do the things that made him
proud
What a team you are!
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
Once and Always
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
Chapter One
ENGLAND
1815
“Oh, there you are, Jason,” the raven-haired beauty said to her
husband’s reflection in the mirror above her dressing table.
Her gaze slid warily over his tall, rugged frame as he came
toward her; then she returned her attention to the open jewel
cases spread out before her. A nervous tremor shook her hand
and her smile was overly bright as she removed a spectacular
diamond choker from a case and held it out to him. “Help me
fasten this, will you?”
Her husband’s face tightened with distaste as he looked at the
necklaces of glittering rubies and magnificent emeralds
already spread across her swelling breasts above the daring
bodice of her gown. “Isn’t your display of flesh and jewels a
little vulgar for a woman who hopes to masquerade as a grand
lady?”
“What would you know about vulgarity?” Melissa Fielding
retorted contemptuously. “This gown is the height of fashion.”
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ONCE AND ALWAYS - JUDITH MCNAUGHT
Haughtily she added, “Baron Lacroix likes it very well. He
specifically asked me to wear it to the ball tonight.”
“No doubt he doesn’t want to be troubled with too many
fasteners when he takes it off you,” her husband returned
sarcastically.
“Exactly. He’s French—and terribly impetuous.”
“Unfortunately, he’s also penniless.”
“He thinks I’m beautiful,” Melissa taunted, her voice
beginning to shake with pent-up loathing.
“He’s right.” Jason Fielding’s sardonic gaze swept over her
lovely face with its alabaster skin, slightly tilted green eyes,
and full red lips, then dropped to her voluptuous breasts
trembling invitingly above the plunging neckline of her scarlet
velvet gown. “You are a beautiful, amoral, greedy . .. bitch.”
Turning on his heel, he started from the room, then stopped.
His icy voice was edged with implacable authority. “Before
you leave, go in and say good night to our son. Jamie is too
little to understand what a bitch you are, and he misses you
when you’re gone. I’m leaving for Scotland within the hour.”
“Jamie!” she hissed wrathfully. “He’s all you care about—”
Without bothering to deny it, her husband walked toward the
door, and Melissa’s anger ignited. “When you come back from
Scotland, I won’t be here!” she threatened.
“Good,” he said without stopping.
“You bastard!” she spat, her voice shaking with suppressed
rage. “I’m going to tell the world who you really are, and then
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Description:Across the vast ocean sailed Victoria Seaton, a free-spirited American beauty left suddenly orphaned and alone. Eager to claim her long-lost heritage, she was amazed at the formal elegance of Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin...the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Sought af
