He had asked himself that question several times on the ride from Belvoir to Maidenshop with a sobbing child tucked against his chest. It was just not one he wanted to hear from her. Still, he did have an answer.
“God,” he said with great finality. “God gave me a baby.” He drained the cup of tea, not even minding if it burned his mouth a bit.
“She’s yours?” Mrs. Warbler asked. “With the dark hair?”
“She is. Do you think I would be doing all of this if she wasn’t?” He answered Mrs. Warbler, but he spoke directly to Miss Taylor, daring her to make a sharp comment . . . except, for the first time in their acquaintance, she appeared speechless.
About the Author
CATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, “Why do people fall in love?” It remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness. Contact Cathy at [email protected] or the old-fashioned way at PO Box 484, Buda, TX 78610.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
By Cathy Maxwell
The Logical Man’s Guide to Dangerous Women
Her First Desire
His Secret Mistress
The Spinster Heiresses
The Duke That I Marry
A Match Made in Bed
If Ever I Should Love You
Marrying the Duke
A Date at the Altar
The Fairest of Them All
The Match of the Century
The Brides of Wishmore
The Groom Says Yes
The Bride Says Maybe
The Bride Says No
The Chattan Curse
The Devil’s Heart
The Scottish Witch
Lyon’s Bride
The Seduction of Scandal
His Christmas Pleasure
The Marriage Ring
The Earl Claims His Wife
A Seduction at Christmas
In the Highlander’s Bed
Bedding the Heiress
In the Bed of a Duke
The Price of Indiscretion
Temptation of a Proper Governess
The Seduction of an English Lady
Adventures of a Scottish Heiress
The Lady Is Tempted
The Wedding Wager
The Marriage Contract
A Scandalous Marriage
Married in Haste
Because of You
When Dreams Come True
Falling in Love Again
You and No Other
Treasured Vows
All Things Beautiful
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Excerpt from His Lessons on Love copyright © 2022 by Catherine Maxwell, Inc.
her first desire. Copyright © 2021 by Cathy Maxwell. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition MAY 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-289686-5
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-289730-5
Cover design by Amy Halperin
Cover art by Patrick Kang
Cover photographs © Konmac/Shutterstock (cottage); © karamysh/ Shutterstock (garden); © Konstantin L/Shutterstock (sky)
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