The Beautiful One by Emily Greenwood ISBN: 9781492613657
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. on 2015-06-02
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Regency, Romance
Pages: 384
Goodreads
“A SIZZLING ROMANCE THAT TOUCHES THE HEART.” —Sally MacKenzie, USA Today bestselling author
A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS…
The ton is buzzing about The Beautiful One, a striking figure in a scandalous book of nude sketches. Only two men know the true identity of The Beautiful One, and they are scouring the countryside, determined to find her.
BUT NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES
The unlikely center of the scandal, Anna Black is forced to flee home as disaster looms. Her tomboy’s heart and impertinent tongue serve her well when she meets the most brooding viscount ever to darken a drawing room. Will Halifax, Viscount Grandville, has his reasons for pushing people away, and when his tempestuous teenaged ward arrives on his doorstep, he presses Anna to take on her care. As Anna begins to melt the Viscount’s frozen heart, she knows the more she loves, the more she has to lose. For although Will cares nothing for what makes Society titter, he has yet to see The Beautiful One.
PLEASE WELCOME ANNA BLACK TO BOOKHOUNDS
Thank you so much for having me here today! To celebrate the release of THE BEAUTIFUL ONE, the first title in my Scandalous Sisters series, I asked Anna Black, my spirited heroine, to answer a few questions so you can get to know a little about her and her love interest, Will Halifax, Viscount Grandville.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Teasing Will. As a viscount used to being charge, he can be very haughty, and that’s just irresistible. Plus, I love making him smile.
What is your biggest dream?
I’ve been dreaming for years of starting a drawing school for young ladies. I might even teach them to paint, and maybe someday, one of my pupils might be recognized as a significant artist. Why should only men have this honor, when both sexes have the talent?
What is your most treasured possession?
Unfortunately, when I fled my home, I couldn’t take much with me—just a few coins and a couple of dresses. But back at home are two books I treasure. They were written by my father and illustrated by me, and they remind me of happy times the two of us spent together, of which, sadly, there weren’t many.
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Excerpt from THE BEAUTIFUL ONE by Emily Greenwood:
Rounding the edge of the wood at the back of Stillwell, he was startled to see his ward standing about. She was looking up at a tree in which, from the movement of its leaves and branches, some large creature seemed to be thrashing. A crow?
As he drew nearer to the oblivious Lizzie, he was almost certain he heard a woman’s voice coming from among the leaves. Lizzie stepped closer to the tree and lifted her hands upward, and he saw that on a thick branch perhaps six feet off the ground were perched two feet in past-their-prime dark ankle boots, and above them he was treated to a view of trim calves he could not regret. The surrounding leaves and branches mostly obscured the rest of his recently hired governess. In the instant before Lizzie became aware of Will, he saw that she held in her cupped hands a fluffy white ball.
Lizzie turned and saw him, her mouth forming into an “O” as a voice called from above, “Lizzie? I’m ready for the owlet.”
“Er,” said Lizzie, looking at him. In the clear afternoon light he noticed that her eyes were a different color blue than Ginger’s had been. But the shape was Ginger’s, as were the eyebrows. Not her fault, but he couldn’t go the route of compassion. It would only muddy what had to be. He looked past her and lifted a hand to rub his eyes.
“Miss Black,” he said, knowing he could not avoid asking, “what on earth are you doing?”
There was a pause as she absorbed his arrival and a shifting of the feet on the branch near his forehead as they drew together, perhaps in an attempt at modesty.
“Ah, my lord,” she said from above him. “Good afternoon. Lizzie and I are engaged in returning a fallen owlet to its nest. It was her idea. She is very caring toward animals.”
He could feel Lizzie’s big blue eyes on him though his own were still covered by his hand. He had no doubt as to whose idea it had been to climb the tree. He hadn’t truly expected Anna Black to be a typical sort of governess, had he?
“Come down at once.”
“If you will wait just a moment, my lord,” she said breezily, “I shall be down directly. Lizzie, the owlet.”
Lizzie cleared her throat. “Here.”
He tapped her on the shoulder before she could lift her arms farther. “Give me that creature, please.”
She looked uncertain, but she clearly didn’t want to displease him, and she handed over the motionless owl. He took it carefully from her and did not return her tentative smile. He could feel her eagerness for him to acknowledge her, but he let it flow past him.
The leaves and branches above them shook as Anna Black crouched down and extended her hand for the animal. Her bonnet, the same horrible blue one, had fallen on its strings around her neck again, and her hair, apparently loosened by her climb, curled crazily about her face as if she were some unkempt urchin, accentuating her pert nose and reminding him of her jack-in-the-box appearance from the coach.
Her pink lips pressed outward at the sight of him; doubtless she was annoyed by his arrival, but her expression didn’t draw an answering wave of annoyance from him. Instead, her lips were making him wonder, unaccountably, what it might feel like to be kissed all over by pink butterflies.
“The owlet, please,” she fairly ordered him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Get down this instant before you fall. I will return the owlet.”
“I am already positioned to do so. If you will just give it to me, I can put it back and then receive your displeasure properly on the ground.”
He grunted. Why did he keep finding himself in out-of-his-control conversations with this maddening woman?
In his palm the owlet’s heart beat with a rapid, stressed flutter. He reached up his hand, and she gently took the animal and disappeared into the foliage.
From above came a few rustling noises, then the angry screech of what had to be an adult owl and a yelp. Fearing Miss Black would fall, he stepped forward to catch her, but at that same moment she jumped neatly down, so that she landed right in front of him.
He grabbed her arms, a reflex to steady her. She didn’t need his help, but their eyes locked, and for a moment he read vulnerability there before it was replaced with the hard glint of independence. She smelled like sunshine and crushed leaves, and he felt the slim softness of her arms and his body’s yearning to hug her close.
She stepped away from him. It had all happened in the space of a few moments.
But as he watched her brush some leaves from her skirts with her head down, that vulnerability he’d glimpsed tugged at him. Who was this woman? Where had she come from? She was clearly educated and intelligent, and though she was too forthright and she dressed terribly, she was not rough, merely unusual.
That life-on-the-edge-of-propriety quality he’d observed in her the night before had suggested that she’d known some hardship, or that she had some burden she might trade for money. And yet today, in the company of his ward, she looked at ease, even if her eyes seemed to be hiding something.
About the Author
Emily Greenwood worked for a number of years as a writer, crafting newsletters and fundraising brochures, but she far prefers writing playful love stories set in Regency England, and she thinks romance novels are the chocolate of literature. A Golden Heart finalist, she lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters.
Connect with Emily Greenwood:
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Giveaway
3 copies of The Beautiful One by Emily Greenwood
i love the time period. there is such a romantic air about it, and because it is such a long period, you can really do a lot – go from the French revolution through Napoleon and even post Napoleon. Just a lot of fun. It is one of my favorite genres.
I agree, Rachel. Such a fun time period, so many aspects to explore.
The regency era is captivating, Prince Regent, Strict rules for women and a lifestyle that was incomparable.
Hello Emily, the excerpt makes for a great and romantic read. If I had to flee my home suddenly I would be devastated. I hate leaving behind my belongings. All the best with the new release.
Glad you enjoyed the excerpt, JoAnne. I know what you mean — I think it would be so stressful to have to leave home quickly and with few belongings. At least Anna lands somewhere pretty interesting 🙂
The Prince Regent was quite a fellow, wasn’t he? He certainly helped set a decadent tone, and he also established some really lovely places that helped give the era part of its charm.
I love any kind of romance but there’s something about this time that is so different from ours going back in time to a love affair just love it.
I do love how different the Regency was than the way we live now. And I kind of love the idea of no phones and computers, even though they are such great tools.
I like the time period. You can use your imagination to see how it was then.
That’s kind of the beauty of it — within reason (like, we know there weren’t cars!) we can imagine so much, especially because people have always been bold or offbeat or brilliant, so there’s endless variety possible.
The inventivenss of the women in this era to find their way, even under the repression of the times. This is what intrigues me.
Monique, I agree! I love how women like Jane Austen found ways to thrive despite restrictions.
I love reading about the era, how they were supposed to dress and to behave, how easily a woman’s reputation could be ruined.
It does make for great drama, doesn’t it — how easily and how far you could fall. That was very much in my mind as I was writing The Beautiful One.
So many things to love about Regency but my favorite thing is how witty everyone is 🙂 It’s especially great when you get great banter between the H/HH
Crystal, the emphasis on wit–especially between the hero and heroine– is one of my favorite things about the era as well. I was so delighted when I discovered Regency romances about a dozen years ago, and have happily devoured them ever since.
Lost my original comment. It’s just the eta itself. It’s fascinating to read about the Balls, house parties, clothing and the unbelievable rules for women. Then there were the Dukes and Earls etc. Liked this excerpt. Can’t wait to read it.
Carol L
Definitely the history of the time period. It is so very different than ours that I can’t help but be drawn into the stories!
I love the time period. There’s just something about the drama that happens in the era to get my blood pumping!
What a wonderful era. So romantic to read about, but in real life, I wonder about those poor oppressed women. Often they had to marry the man chosen for them. They had to watch every movement, every word, because they could lose their reputations, thus their futures, so quickly. But the women we read about always find a way to get what they want. They come out smelling like a rose, with a man they love who usually has lots of money. I love that! These women are strong, smart, determined and they outsmart the men trying to control them. Yep, love those regency romances!
I enjoy the period setting and historical language in Regency novels.
Love what I have read so far. Beautiful cover.
For me it is the history, fashion, and etiquette of this time period.
I’m looking forward to reading this book 🙂