Promo: The Shadow Earl by Stella Riley
Today, I'm delighted to welcome historical fiction author Stella Riley back to Ruins & Reading. Stella is sharing an enticing excerpt from her brand-new release, The Shadow Earl – a historical romantic mystery that sounds highly intriguing. I've added to my TBR list. Check it out!
The Shadow Earl is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Find other tempting excerpts here!
The Shadow Earl
Stella Riley
Excerpt:
London 1780: the ball to celebrate Sophia’s unwilling betrothal to Basil.
The quadrille was half over when Sophia became aware of a change in the ballroom. Conversations stopped, dancers paused mid-figure and the orchestra dwindled to an untidy halt, leaving an airless silence.
Then people fell back opening a path to whatever or whoever was commanding their attention … and Sophia saw that three latecomers had entered the room.
Benedict Hawkridge, Anthony Wendover and Daniel Shelbourne.
They stood apart, silent and still, staring unsmilingly first at Eustace and then at Basil. And finally, still without speaking, Mr Shelbourne moved aside, allowing a fourth gentleman to step forward.
A tall gentleman in black … a gentleman with tawny-gold hair and eyes like frost.
Time stopped. The air in Sophia’s lungs evaporated and she froze, paralysed by shock. Then a spectral gasp broke the hush … someone said incredulously, ‘Good God! Hazelmere?’ … and joy exploded inside her. Kit.
‘Indeed.’ Christian awarded Eustace an ironic bow. ‘Good evening, Uncle. I could almost suppose you were expecting me … but of course you weren’t, were you?’
More silence. Avid eyes swivelled in Eustace’s direction. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. The same eyes looked for and found Basil. Like his father’s, his face was completely bloodless.
Sophia stood frozen, scarcely aware of Basil’s numbing grip on her fingers. Then she whispered, ‘Kit?’
He didn’t hear her. As yet, he hadn’t seen her either. She tried to drag her hand free, pushing at Basil without taking her eyes off Christian.
He saw her then. She watched it happen … watched something she couldn’t identify pass rapidly through those silver eyes … watched his face empty of all expression. Then, halting her with a bow before she could take more than two steps in his direction, he said politely, ‘My apologies, Sophie. I am somewhat tardy, am I not? Suffice it to say that the circumstances that delayed me were … beyond my control.’
She stared at him. Was that all he was going to say?
Meanwhile, approaching his nephew hand outstretched and with an attempt at heartiness, Eustace said, ‘You must forgive our shock. This – having you home again– is the miracle we’d no longer dared hope for. Where have you …? But no. The questions can wait.’
Christian made no move to take the offered hand. He stood perfectly still and let his gaze drift past his uncle to encompass his cousin; then he watched with gentle interest as Basil turned blotchily red.
~ * ~
Blurb:
At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace.
Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo. Finally, his friends – loyal and close as brothers – set out to search in person.
Christian’s startling re-appearance at a grand ball takes society by storm and fuels endless speculation. Where has he been during these three missing years? What happened to him?
And more importantly, how did it happen?
Only one thing is clear. The earl who left England five years ago, has returned a changed man. A man with secrets.
Buy Links:
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About the Author:
Stella Riley
Winner of four gold medals for historical romance (Readers' Favourite in 2019, Book Excellence Awards in 2020, Global Book Awards in 2022 and Book Excellence Award in 2023) and fifteen B.R.A.G. Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.
She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) and the Brandon Brothers trilogy, are all available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.
Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord. She also has a fondness for men with long hair - hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.
Connect with Stella:
Thank you so much for hosting Kit - it's much appreciated.
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