The Vision of a Viscountess
The Widowers of the Aristocracy Book 2
By Linda Rae Sande
Genre: Regency romance
Love looks with the mind, but not with the eye... which explains Cupid’s success
When Baron Jasper Henley is caught kissing a marquess’ niece in the gardens during a ball, he agrees to marry the girl. It’s not the first time he’s been forced to marry—he and his late wife had been caught kissing in front of the same fountain prior to his marriage proposal—but he had always intended to marry Sophie.
While on a visit to London to visit her uncle and his new wife, Marianne Slater is happy to attend the Season’s entertainments—even if she can’t see very well. The world is a blur unless it’s close-up. Usually a wallflower at balls, Marianne is stunned when a gentleman approaches and offers to escort her in the gardens. A clear-eyed innocent kiss suddenly results in the blurry whirlwind of a quick wedding and its subsequent aftermath.
Determined to show his new bride the wonders of the ancient world in Sicily as part of his next archaeological expedition—their wedding trip—Jasper will do whatever it takes to see to it Marianne can see more clearly. But as things come into focus for her, Jasper may find his own vision clouded by an unexpected revelation. Can the insights he discovers from bits of history open his eyes to future possibilities? He may prefer blindness in “The Vision of a Viscountess.”
When Baron Jasper Henley is caught kissing a marquess’ niece in the gardens during a ball, he agrees to marry the girl. It’s not the first time he’s been forced to marry—he and his late wife had been caught kissing in front of the same fountain prior to his marriage proposal—but he had always intended to marry Sophie.
While on a visit to London to visit her uncle and his new wife, Marianne Slater is happy to attend the Season’s entertainments—even if she can’t see very well. The world is a blur unless it’s close-up. Usually a wallflower at balls, Marianne is stunned when a gentleman approaches and offers to escort her in the gardens. A clear-eyed innocent kiss suddenly results in the blurry whirlwind of a quick wedding and its subsequent aftermath.
Determined to show his new bride the wonders of the ancient world in Sicily as part of his next archaeological expedition—their wedding trip—Jasper will do whatever it takes to see to it Marianne can see more clearly. But as things come into focus for her, Jasper may find his own vision clouded by an unexpected revelation. Can the insights he discovers from bits of history open his eyes to future possibilities? He may prefer blindness in “The Vision of a Viscountess.”
Excerpt
His phobia forgotten, Jasper weaved his way through the crowd to where the young lady sat, glancing about in search of a companion or chaperone who might introduce them.
“Hello,” she said, coming to her feet in a graceful move that segued into a deep curtsy. Her gown, a column of white silk de Naples embroidered with white silk threads, had obviously been made by one of the best modistes in London. The fact that it was white suggested she was unmarried.
“Hullo,” Jasper managed as he gave a bow. He dared a glance to his left and then to his right. “Pardon me, but I... it looks as if your companion, or chaperone—”
“Aunt,” she interrupted with a sly grin.
“Has gone missing,” he continued, worry evident in his voice. How could such a delectable creature be left alone among the palm trees at the back of Lord Attenborough’s ballroom?
“She’s dancing with Lord Devonville.”
One of Jasper’s eyebrows cocked up. “Ah. Poor thing,” he murmured, not intending for her to actually hear the comment. Her brilliant smile had him a bit mortified when he realized she had heard. Besides the dimple that appeared in her left cheek, her porcelain skin bloomed with a pretty shade of pink while her bright blue eyes focused on him to the point he realized she could see, although perhaps not well. “Oh, pardon me. I didn’t mean it like that,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Oh, I won’t tell him. I promise,” she countered, her face still displaying an expression of delight.
Jasper blinked. “You know him well enough to tell him should you wish to?” he wondered aloud, daring a glance at the dancers who were still performing the cotillion. They would continue to do so for at least another fifteen minutes.
The young lady nodded. “Devonville is my uncle.”
“Hello,” she said, coming to her feet in a graceful move that segued into a deep curtsy. Her gown, a column of white silk de Naples embroidered with white silk threads, had obviously been made by one of the best modistes in London. The fact that it was white suggested she was unmarried.
“Hullo,” Jasper managed as he gave a bow. He dared a glance to his left and then to his right. “Pardon me, but I... it looks as if your companion, or chaperone—”
“Aunt,” she interrupted with a sly grin.
“Has gone missing,” he continued, worry evident in his voice. How could such a delectable creature be left alone among the palm trees at the back of Lord Attenborough’s ballroom?
“She’s dancing with Lord Devonville.”
One of Jasper’s eyebrows cocked up. “Ah. Poor thing,” he murmured, not intending for her to actually hear the comment. Her brilliant smile had him a bit mortified when he realized she had heard. Besides the dimple that appeared in her left cheek, her porcelain skin bloomed with a pretty shade of pink while her bright blue eyes focused on him to the point he realized she could see, although perhaps not well. “Oh, pardon me. I didn’t mean it like that,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Oh, I won’t tell him. I promise,” she countered, her face still displaying an expression of delight.
Jasper blinked. “You know him well enough to tell him should you wish to?” he wondered aloud, daring a glance at the dancers who were still performing the cotillion. They would continue to do so for at least another fifteen minutes.
The young lady nodded. “Devonville is my uncle.”
About The Author
A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include Shrek and Shrek 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local
cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks.
She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. See her upcoming books on her
website.
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