Chapter One

        Justin Stowe, fifth Earl of Howden, splayed the invitations in his hand as he would a deck of cards. Intimate little suppers, a ball or two, three musicales, whist parties and the theater. Grimacing, he looked from them to the view beyond the tall windows of his library. The blizzard still raged, white whirling flakes that blotted out the landscape and threatened to keep him marooned for days.
        Excellent.
        He tossed the invitations in the fire and watched the papers catch. The last to go was a card bearing his name in a flowery, female script. The flames teased at the writing, devouring his family name, but leaving his title. How appropriate. It wasn't he who was so desirable a mate, but his prospects.
        It amazed him that, despite his reputation as a rake and hell-raiser, his title made him the catch of the season. Perhaps when he was more used to being the fifth Earl, after his cousin's untimely demise half a year past, he'd grow accustomed to the plots to leg-shackle him. Even here, in the wintry depths of Hertford, merciless matchmakers had descended on him from every quarter. He had begun to think of himself as the fox in a particularly single-minded hunt.
        He grinned at the image and, with the toe of his polished Hessian, pushed the rest of the card into the flames. While the blaze consumed it, Justin raised a glass of brandy, saluted the fire and swallowed a generous mouthful. The storm would provide a few days respite before the hounds gave chase again.
        A discreet knock at the mahogany door ushered in Ordway, the butler he'd inherited along with Howden House.
       "My lord? There is a female at the door-—"
        "A female? Out in this?" Justin glanced through the windows at the snowdrifts piling high against the panes. Ice-crusted tree branches sagged under the weight.
       "Is there no end to their machinations?"
        "I would not venture to say, my lord."
        Justin sighed. "I suppose you had better show her in."
        "Perhaps you could come out, my lord. The lady appears to be near expiration."
        "Near exp--what the hell?"

I hope this except intrigues you enough to read more!

Snowbound is one of four erotic novellas in Secrets, Volume 2. Order online through the publisher, Red Sage Publishing, Inc. or through Amazon. com

Or, if you'd like an autographed copy, while they last, email me for instructions.

Would you like to read a snippet of A Lady's Quest, my novella in Secrets Volume 1?

I'm pleased that Secrets (Volumes 1 and 2) is available in hardcover from Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Sarah and Justin. You can read the rest of their love story in Secrets, Volume 2!

Illustration is from Illustrations from Northanger Abbey. Thank you!

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Last updated: February 9, 1999

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