By: Vivienne Lorret
Released April 12, 2016
Avon Impulse
Avon Impulse
The Debutante Is Mine
The Season's Original Series
USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret launches a new historical romance series featuring the Season’s Original—a coveted title awarded by the ton’s elite to one lucky debutante...
From the Season Standard: ”A true Season’s Original embodies the class, grace, and style of the ton. Such an honor ensures the recipient their pick of eligible suitors…“
Lilah’s Appleton’s prospects are looking dim. With one last chance to find a titled husband before she’s forced to wed her wretched cousin, she must make this Season count. Plain, forgettable Lilah must become the Season’s Original. Desperate, she seeks help from the devilishly charming, untitled, and thoroughly unsuitable Jack Marlowe. All she must do now is resist the tempting rogue…
Bastard son and self-made man, Jack Marlowe loathes the aristocracy. When he meets Lilah, he expects her to be like all the other greedy husband-hunters. But she’s far more dangerous. Her alluring smiles and sharp tongue intrigue him. Before he knows it, he agrees to help her find a husband, revealing tricks to ensnare any man. The only problem is, his plan works too well—on him.
When Lilah becomes the belle of the ball, Jack realizes he may lose her forever-unless he can take a chance on love and claim his debutante...
Lilah’s Appleton’s prospects are looking dim. With one last chance to find a titled husband before she’s forced to wed her wretched cousin, she must make this Season count. Plain, forgettable Lilah must become the Season’s Original. Desperate, she seeks help from the devilishly charming, untitled, and thoroughly unsuitable Jack Marlowe. All she must do now is resist the tempting rogue…
Bastard son and self-made man, Jack Marlowe loathes the aristocracy. When he meets Lilah, he expects her to be like all the other greedy husband-hunters. But she’s far more dangerous. Her alluring smiles and sharp tongue intrigue him. Before he knows it, he agrees to help her find a husband, revealing tricks to ensnare any man. The only problem is, his plan works too well—on him.
When Lilah becomes the belle of the ball, Jack realizes he may lose her forever-unless he can take a chance on love and claim his debutante...
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In the midst of the terse exchange, Jack Marlowe kept a steady eye on Lilah as he moved into the room. Briefly, she wondered if he was trying to remember her name.
He would not be able to, she knew. And for once, she wouldn’t care a fig. Jack Marlowe was the one man whose amnesia would make her elated beyond measure. Nonetheless, she sat straighter, waiting for him to give up the attempt and for his gaze to leave hers.
His mouth quirked at one corner. “Miss Appleton. A pleasure to see you again.”
A jolt of surprise snapped through her, causing the pulse at her throat to quicken. A flood of heat prickled her cheeks and her ears turned hot too.
“Mr. Marlowe, have you been introduced to my niece?” Aunt Zinnia asked, disapproval lacing her tone.
He inclined his head in something resembling both an answer and an absent gesture of greeting. However, everyone in the room knew that ladies of the nobility deserved first consideration, not last. “I took the matter upon myself, earlier today in fact.”
Aunt Zinnia’s gaze sharpened. “Do you mean to say that you introduced yourself to Miss Appleton?”
“Yes,” he answered with a chuckle.
“Jack, that simply is not done in society,” Mrs. Harwick added fondly but with a waggle of her finger.
“It is fortunate, then, that Miss Appleton and I did not meet in society but in the garden instead.” He turned to Lilah, an unrepentant grin on his lips. “Unless you would consider our first meeting on the street this morning.”
So he had seen her. The smile, the salute—those had been for her? Something warm inside of her fluttered. For an instant, she nearly forgot how much she disliked him. Nearly.
“The street!” Aunt Zinnia gripped the edge of her armrests. The subtle nuances in her expression that usually relayed her disapproval were now quite evident. “Marjorie, were you aware of this?”
“Of course not. Had I known, I would have made the proper introductions. After all, Jack has been Maxwell’s friend since they were in school together.”
This did not appear to appease Aunt Zinnia. “Lilah, you must think of your reputation. To be seen engaging in conversation with a man to whom you have not been introduced—and in a public square, no less—could endanger your options of finding a suitable match. We cannot afford to make any errors.”
Lilah knew this all too well. “Aunt Zinnia, there was no ‘exchange’ in the street whatsoever.”
“I beg to differ,” Jack added, the certainty in his tone drawing far too much attention. “I distinctly recall your smile cast in my direction.”
All eyes fell upon her. She clasped her hands to make sure she wasn’t holding cymbals after all.
“No, I was laughing at the man who had the audacity to ride a war horse in the middle of town,” Lilah corrected, forcing that errant fluttering to cease. “You must excuse Mr. Marlowe, for I believe he would like nothing more than to incite riots wherever he roams.”
USA Today bestselling author, VIVIENNE LORRET loves romance novels, her pink laptop, her husband, and her two sons (not necessarily in that order … but there are days). Transforming copious amounts of tea into words, she is an Avon Impulse author of works including: Tempting Mr. Weatherstone, The Wallflower Wedding Series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series, The Duke’s Christmas Wish, and the Season’s Original Series.
