Yours and Mine
A.E. Bennett
Publication date: December 21st 2021
Genres: Adult, Historical, Historical Romance, Romance
She told a lie. He confirmed it. Now they’re secretly betrothed against their families’ wishes…
Lady Octavia Dorchester is the most desired young lady in the Realm. Now that she has twenty years behind her, society has deemed her ready to marry. Although she’s not enthusiastic, she promises to act like a proper lady and look for a good husband—just like her powerful father Lord Roman Dorchester wants.
Lord Gerald Verte has been painfully shy his entire life. He’s never been comfortable in society and lives in the shadow of his older brother, the imposing Lord Tristian Verte. Despite his desires to remain indoors and away from people, he promises his older brother that he won’t shame the family name, no matter how much his anxiety threatens to overwhelm him.
After sharing a dance at a ball held in Octavia’s honor, both she and Gerald know what no one else believes—it’s love at first sight.
When their respective family members object to the match, Octavia lies about their betrothal and Gerald corroborates her story. Raising the ire of both Lords Dorchester and Verte, Octavia and Gerald are torn apart and kept from one another until tragedy strikes.
This high-heat romance with a guaranteed HEA is a prequel to Gathering of the Four: Book One of the Serrulata Saga but can be read as a standalone.
“Lady Octavia.”
The whisper of her name by the familiar and welcome voice sent several jolts of shock and then pleasure through her body.
She turned and looked down at the man who would occupy the seat to her right during the entire meal.
“Hello, Lord Gerald,” Octavia said. She held her skirts outward elegantly as the servant behind her moved the seat under her so she could sit.
She’d wound up far away from the head of the table, where Lord Hamden, host and head of the House, sat with his wife by his side. To the right of Lady Hamden sat her own mother, Agatha Dorchester, who looked rather confused about the entire chair switching game. Selma, somehow, had wound up several chairs ahead of Octavia and was already involved in what appeared to be a jovial conversation with ladies and gentlemen a few years her senior. The young Lord Braxton, her betrothed, was seated to the left of his father, just close enough to engage in Selma’s conversation without having to lean across the table rudely. Octavia cocked her head, realizing she was too far down the table to attract her mother’s or sister’s attention. She squared her shoulders and directed her gaze to the man seated across the table. She’d felt the eyes on her as soon as she’d sat down but only now turned her head in acknowledgment.
“My Lord Verte,” Octavia said without malice but allowing a certain hardness to creep into her voice, “how fortunate you and your brother were seated across from each other this evening. We can all converse, then. How is your health? Well, I hope?”
She felt Gerald shift uncomfortably next to her and resisted the urge to clench a fist. Clearly, his brother was making him miserable. Damnation to the man!
“Why, Lady Octavia.” Lord Tristian Verte was staring at her with polite animus. “How pleasant it is to see you.”
Octavia raised a wine glass to her lips, took a sip, and smiled.
A.E. Bennett (she/her) lives in Washington, D.C. She is originally from North Carolina.
GIVEAWAY!
The Serrulata Saga bundle!
One paperback copy of each of the books in the series - Gathering of the Four, Yours and Mine, and Test of the Four
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You are welcome!
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