Introducing Smirke
By Cari Hislop
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About this ebook
It's the beginning of August, 1815. The dishonourable John Sebastian Smirke, a heartless pretty narcissist, has had another genuine offer of marriage rejected by a sneering Papa. Offended and infuriated, he executes the perfect revenge; blackmailing the virgin concerned into his bed. His web is skilfully woven; success is assured until he's caught in his own web. Fate throws him a safety rope, but it looks too much like a noose. Fate shrugs its shoulders as Smirke insists on running the gauntlet.
Cari Hislop
I'm an American married to an adorable English Goblin who makes me laugh every day. I'm an artist with a degree in fashion design, but I've always been a story teller. Stories are everywhere; in every scent, every glimpse out of the corner of the eye. The most magical moments of my life have been born of 'what if?'. I've been making up stories as long as I can remember, but I was ten before I 'wrote' my first story. It was a romance - the young girl's parents are killed by a plane falling on their house so of course she moves to England. Don't ask me where she got the money or the passport! I knew I wanted to grow up to be an author. All my artistic talents converge on my favorite subject: people. I find both individuals and general humanity endlessly fascinating. My genre: Regency romances (historical romances set in late Georgian England) Rated: PG13 (PG13 as in 1985) Style: Each of my stories tend to have their own humor depending on the character's personalities, but they always make me laugh. My plots are character driven and my stories evolve with the characters. Other than the hero and heroine somehow ending up together at the end, I never know what will really happen in the story until it happens. Note: After much deliberation I decided to use English spelling rather than American English spelling in my stories. This will sadly irritate some people, but the USA is the only country to use American spelling while the rest of the English speaking world uses English spelling. I don't think of my books as a series, but all my characters inhabit the same Regency Universe. Most of the main characters are either related or know of each other so my stories often intertwine. If you ever have any questions about my stories or would like to receive an e-mail to let you know I've finished a book please e-mail me at... cari.hislop@regencyromancenovels.com Happy Reading! Cari Hislop
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Introducing Smirke - Cari Hislop
Introducing Smirke
Copyright 2008 Cari Hislop
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment.
This eBook is distributed free of charge and may be shared with other people, but it may not be sold, nor may it be shared in any format other than that in
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Thank you for your support and for respecting the hard work of this author.
Books by Cari Hislop can be read online at the author’s official website:
regencyromancenovels.com
or can be downloaded for reading on your choice of eBook reader from
smashwords.com
Other books in the Regency World of Cari Hislop include:
Lucky in Love
A Companion for Life
The Hired Wife
The Invisible Husband
Taming the Shrew
Redeeming a Rake
An Unlikely Hero
Introducing Smirke
Chapter 1
July 30 1815
Panic hushed number fourteen, Lincoln Inn Fields as the servants listened to their employer screaming curses at his valet in-between blows. Limbs trembled as the master emerged from his chamber in a haze of lemon-violet scented rage. His favourite mirror had been shattered into a mosaic of reflecting shards threatening seven years of misfortune. The dishonourable John Smirke’s pleasurable afternoon was suddenly threatened by a foolish superstition invented by ugly people. The enjoyment of gazing at his favourite reflection ruined, he sought out the next pleasurable sensation of the day. Even in a rage he was aware of the soft caressing fabrics moving against his body. A quilted black satin dressing gown enveloped his trim figure festooned in fresh white linen elegantly tucked into buff leather breeches unbuttoned at the knees. Black garter ribbons knotted over white silk stockings fluttered against perfect shaped calves outlined by white silk stockings. The proud forehead disappeared into carefully combed long blonde curls restrained by another black ribbon tied in a perfect bow at the nape of the neck. Servants muttered prayers of gratitude under their breath as the pretty man passed oblivious to their existence.
Pastel bluish-green walls decorated with life sized paintings of naked women eating and drinking cast a sickly shadow over the angry man as he sailed into the dining room. He waited impatiently as the footman rushed to pull out his chair and then scowled as the housekeeper whispered hurried directions to the new manservant as covered dishes, chocolate pot and tableware were artfully arranged before the seated devil.
Picking up his knife and fork, black marble eyes turned towards the beautiful old woman, a conspicuous chain of keys hanging from her waist. "I’m expecting a visitor this afternoon. Show