Kryssie Fortune: Meet a Brigade Major Lord Rothbury, a soldier in Wellington's army #regency #romance #waterloo #herbalist #1815 #excerpt

Trouble's coming.

Trouble's coming.

Napoleon has escaped Elba.
The allies are amassing an army in Brussels, Brigade Major, Lord Rothbury among them.

Like so many others, he put his personal life aside to fight for his country.

Afterward, he'd have to deal with his scandalous past, his sister's future, and woman he loved but couldn't marry.

Good afternoon, Brigade Major.Do have a glass of wine and join me. Can you tell me a little about your history?

Really? You need to ask? I thought everyone in London knew my story.

I came up to town as a young cub and fell in love with a dashing widow, Lady Lavinia. She let me court her – and spend my allowance on her – then she met my father.

He was older, richer, and more worldly wise. He was also dumb enough to marry her.

I embarrassed the pair of them, sulking and telling everyone how badly the pair of them had treated me. So so my father packed me off to fight in the Peninsula war.

I grew up the first time we faced enemy troops. I made some good friends there, but I will never marry. There's a woman who fascinates me, but marriage isn't on the cards for me.
Besides, my father bankrupted the estate, lavishing jewels and pretty gowns on his new wife. I inherited it a few years ago, but he left me nothing but debts. He’d even spent my sisters’ dowries.

You mentioned a woman you loved but couldn't marry. Will you tell me about her?

Beth’s a serving girl, so beautiful she dazzles me. She breaks rules on a whim and has an imagination you wouldn’t believe. She tried to tell me she was an heiress once. As if. No heiress would wear clothes as threadbare as hers. She’s lusty too. The first time we met… Ah, but a gentleman never kisses and tells.

So, once Napoleon's defeated, what will you do?

Wellington recalled me to his staff once the trouble started. I never expected to see Beth again when I sailed to Belgium. Only, like so many members of the ton, her employers decided to spend the summer in Brussels. The fools think war’s a game.

Once the battle’s won, I need to marry money. It's the only way I can afford to launch my sisters into society. Lavinia squandered the family fortune after she married my father. I blame myself for that. If I hadn't fallen for her, she'd never have got her claws into my father.

My sisters deserve better than to live in genteel poverty. It’s tearing me apart, having to decide between bettering their future and running off with Beth.

Do you expect Beth to help you, or to cause problems?

Beth’s a problem, all right. The first time we met, I saved her from Lavinia’s new husband. He’s a drunken sot who beds any whore who comes his way.

Later, in Belgium, I rescued her from two troopers. God knows what would have happened if I hadn’t come along, but they’d have hurt her. Badly. They’d tricked her into going with them. She knows herb law and healing, you see.

The silly chit sneaked out after midnight to heal their wounded comrade. Thank goodness I heard her scream. I soon spanked some sense into her.

If money were no problem, where would you like to live?

I’d moved back to the family estate and repair the damage my father did. Instead, I’ve sold it to finance my sisters’ first season. That leaves me with nothing, but since I introduced Lavinia to my father, that’s exactly what I deserve.

What’s your best talent? And can you use to earn a living after the coming battle?

I’m an exploring officer in Wellington’s army. I’m good at rooting out enemy positions.

When I’m in London, I shoot at Manton’s Gallary. I’m a crack shot, and he gives me a discount. He says others come to watch me and learn. I try to help them if I can, but I don’t suffer fools gladly.

What’s your favorite food?

Anything well-flavored that’s not cooked over a campfire. Roast beef is one of my favorites, but I’ve learned to eat whatever’s set before me. I guess that applies to my life too.

With that, Brigade Major Lord Rothbury finished his claret and left.

Buy links for Wickedly Used

Amazon USA Amazon UK Amazon Canada Amazon Australia

Or read for free on kindle unlimited

Blurb of Wickedly Used

While he is no stranger to pleasurable company from ladies of the night, Major Richard Rothbury of the royal dragoons is not the kind of man who will stand idly by as a woman is taken against her will, and when he witnesses a disreputable cad attempting to force himself on a girl in a back alley, he does not hesitate to intervene.

But after the grateful young woman offers herself to Rothbury, he is shocked to discover that not only was she no harlot, she was a maiden and he has deflowered her. Furious at the girl's scandalous behavior and her carelessness with her own safety, Rothbury chastises her soundly.

Though she is due to inherit one of the largest fortunes in England, the fact that she cannot touch the money until she marries or turns thirty has kept Elizabeth completely at the mercy of her cruel uncle, and for years she has been treated as if she were a servant. Her encounter with Lord Rothbury is by far the most exciting thing that has ever happened to her, but while he shows great concern for her safety, he refuses to believe that she is anything more than a serving girl.

Despite having made it clear that he doesn't consider a match between them to be possible, when Elizabeth disobeys him Rothbury proves more than ready to strip her bare, punish her harshly, and then enjoy her beautiful body in the most shameful of ways. But can she dare to hope that he will one day make her his wife, or is she destined to spend her life being wickedly used?

Kryssie Fortune Bio

Kryssie Fortune writes hot sexy books full of hunky heroes and sensual heroines. So far she’s written seven paranormal romances, five contemporary ones, and she’s working on her third Regency romance – but regency just got sexy.

If you’re looking for Georgette Heyer, you might need a fainting couch after reading Kryssie’s historicals.

Since Kryssie hates cliff hangers and unhappy endings, she guarantees each and every book is a stand-alone romance where the heroine always finds her happy-ever-after.

Excerpt from Wickedly Used

Hidden behind their masks, the patrons behaved too freely. Druid’s Walk became a place for pleasure and indiscreet sex. Seeing that serving girl go there alone roused his protective instincts. He needed to ensure her safety, but it took him a while to make his way through the crowd.

His size always made him stand out, and tonight, he drew predatory looks from some of the ton’s ladies. He’d been immune to women’s charms since his first love ruined his life. He didn’t understand why that serving girl called to him on a primal level.

Finally, he reached Druid’s Walk. Looking far ahead, he saw a group of Cits accost her; he clenched his fists and started toward them. Those louts needed to learn better manners. Just as he approached, she broke free and vanished into the night. The silly chit ran further into the Walk’s notorious depths.

Five drunken idiots had harried the woman who fascinated him. He released the cold fury that lived inside him and strode toward them. Menace dripped from his gaze. Dangerous and deadly, he knew five to one weren’t bad odds… for him. He’d honed his fighting skills during his seven years fighting in the Peninsular War. Teaching drunks who thought they were invincible some manners came naturally to him.

He tapped the nearest one on the shoulder. “You need to treat ladies with more respect.”

The drunk said nothing, just flailed his arms wildly, trying to hit the dragoon’s head. Sidestepping, Rothbury planted his right fist in the drunk’s face and his left in his gut. The man doubled over and threw up.

The other four rushed him in a group. Rothbury’s first punch broke a man’s nose. His second dislocated another’s jaw. One kick and another drunk doubled over on the ground. Two more punches and the last two sprawled on the mud at his feet.

Breathing steady and even, Rothbury towered over them. If they’d have been in his unit, they’d have been on a charge. Tonight, he’d leave them sprawled on the pathway and follow the blonde who’d enchanted him.

The need to possess her clawed at his soul. Her beauty drove him wild and turned his balls blue. Not that he could afford a mistress or even a couple of hours with a whore. If she was the innocent she seemed, he’d see her safely home. But he wanted her to be wicked and willing.

By the time he found her again, she’d attracted Lord Dawlish’s attention. That man’s reputation was so dark his peers had blackballed him at White’s.