Guest Post Caroline Warfield
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Lily Thornton’s Dilemma: a DANGEROUS WEAKNESS Extra
(This introspective scene does not appear in the novel, but it could have)
“My God, he will do anything to protect those he cares about!”
Late into the night, deep in the resources of the women’s quarters, Lily tossed in her bed, haunted by that one thought. She had been an idiot, a foolish prideful idiot. Any other woman would jump at the chance to be Marchioness of Glenaire, just as he said when he proposed the first time.
Memory of that horrid proposal made her heart sink. He had been arrogant. He had insulted her parentage. He had acted as if he stooped to offer her some, some. . .
In the darkness. she admitted to herself that he offered her privilege indeed, at least in the eyes of the ton. If only he hadn’t presumed she would leap at it like one of the fortune hunting, title hungry flibbertigibbets that hung on his every word, she might have accepted him. Instead, she had thrown it back in his face.
When she could no longer deny the consequences of their one night together, she should have gone to him directly. Why didn’t I? she wondered. Any sensible woman would have gone to the baby’s father.
Richard was a duke’s heir. The Hayden family would never tolerate a commoner trapping their precious son. After he married her, he would have hustled her off to the country and buried both Lily and the baby away in shame. She couldn’t bear it. Here in the Sultan’s Seraglio, a world of women ruled by women, she resided close to power and politics. She had respect.
With a groan she turned over. She only had respect until someone discovered she was not the respectable widow she pretended to be.
The scene in the audience hall played over and over in her mind: Richard demanding to see her; Richard’s face when he did; his shock at her pregnancy; the awe with which he looked at her; the gentleness in his touch. His words, just as he touched the place where the baby lay, echoed in her mind. “Marry me. You know we should. We must.”
“We must.” Was it too much to wish that he loved her as well?
DANGEROUS WEAKNESS
Given enough facts, the Marquess of Glenaire can fix anything. One impossible woman is proves to be almost as hard to protect as his heart, especially when Lily’s problems bring her dangerously close to an Ottoman revolution. As Lily’s personal problems entangle with Richard’s professional ones, and she pits her will against his, he chases her across the pirate-infested Mediterranean. Will she discover surrender isn’t defeat? It might even have its own sweet reward.
EXCERPT
The Valide Sultan gestured the other women on and put out her arms to Lily. The attendants passed by with curious glances and respectful silence. Lily sank into the older woman’s arms and began to sob.
“One has worries for you, Zambak. Your tears in the night did not go unnoticed.”
“I’m sorry,” Lily sniffed, struggling for control. “I didn’t know anyone heard.”
“You should know by now most things come to my ears eventually.” The woman smiled down at her. “Better?”
Lily nodded.
“Most but not everything. Was that English lord unkind to you, Zambak? I would not have permitted the meeting if I thought you would be harmed.”
“No! He had reason to be angry with me, but he was not.” Tears threatened again. “He had a shock, seeing me like this and—” Lily swallowed hard, twice.
“I’ve been an idiot!” she exclaimed.
“Hardly that, Zambak, but perhaps you’ve behaved foolishly, no?” The older woman gently touched Lily’s belly.
“I told him I would not marry him. I rejected him in insulting terms.”
“You rejected this wealthy, powerful man’s offer of marriage?”
“Three times,” Lily mumbled.
“Foolish behavior indeed, almost as foolish as conceiving this child in the first place. It is his child?”
Lily nodded.
“He is honor bound.”
“He believes so.”
“And you wish protestations of love. You are as silly as those girls you teach, Zambak. He honored you three times and you insulted him. I do not think he will ask again.”
Tears leaked from Lily’s eyes in spite of her best efforts. “I must talk with him.”
Valide Sultan’s shrewd eyes hardened. “You wish us to arrange another such meeting? It can be done, but to what purpose?”
Lily clamped her jaw tight. What purpose indeed?
“Men do not like to be commanded,” her companion said.
“No.” Lily’s laugh held little amusement. “He would not want to be commanded.”
“What then, Zambak? What is it you wish?”
I could write. I could tell him I changed my mind. I could apologize. I could—
“I think I must go to him,” Lily said. “Nothing less than an apology and surrender will do.”
The Valide Sultan took Lily’s shoulders in her hands.
“If you go, you cannot come back,” she said.
Lily didn’t respond right away.
“You’ve led your marquess in a complicated dance. You will not do the same to us.” The woman’s imperial power, firm and unyielding, radiated from her.
“I understand, Highness. Your great kindness will rest in my heart forever. I will not abuse it,” Lily said.
The old woman searched Lily’s face as if looking for any weakness. “Sahin has told you of dangers.”
“Yes. I’ll be safe at the British embassy.”
“I can see that you are guarded that far, but Zambak, you must be certain.”
“I am.”
As certain as I can be.
Caroline Warfield grew up in a peripatetic army family and had a varied career (largely around libraries and technology) before retiring to the urban wilds of Eastern Pennsylvania. She divides her time between writing and seeking adventures with her grandbuddy and the prince among men she married.
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love the excerpt
Dangerous Weakness is a must read… at least where I’m concerned. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to 1) discover you as a new author to me and 2) reading and review and ARC of this book. This introspective scene would, indeed, have been great. Why didn’t you leave it? 🙂
I’m looking forward to reading your other books.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Liette! I think you will like the others as well.
I think this scene is riveting for me! Going into my To Be Bought list now!
That’s music to an author’s ears, Patricia.
Just for clarification, I usually leave giveaways open for two days. I will choose a random winner after four on Friday. Thanks to all who take time to read!