An excerpt from new release The Willful Wallflower by Meredith Bond #newrelease #revengeofthewallflowers

The Willful Wallflower: A Zodiac Regency Romance
by Meredith Bond
Heat level: Sweet Romance

A sweet, tender, romance with a touch of humor by USA Today Best Selling Author, Meredith Bond.

At the tender age of fifteen, Emilie Pelham fell for a handsome older man of eighteen who kissed her and then never wrote or sought out her company again. Five years later, Emilie is a happy wallflower who wants nothing to do with men—and especially not one in particular, now the Marquess of Willingham. And yet that is precisely who the matchmaker, hired by her mother, insists is Emilie’s soulmate. Well, she would rather see the surprisingly thoughtful nobleman disgraced than marry him. She is formulating a plan to do just that for she is not one to change to her mind once it’s made up.
Gabriel, the Marquess of Willingham, was a young man ruled by his passions, but he learned his lesson. Now, he keeps a tight rein on his emotions. Since inheriting his father’s title, however, his grandmother has insisted he begin looking for a wife. He is happy to marry, just so long as no emotions are stirred. This is not good enough for Gran, though, who hires a matchmaker to find Gabriel’s soulmate. When the woman pairs him with the beautiful girl who opened his eyes to the dangers of passion, however, he annoyed when the same feelings try to overpower his newfound control.
Neither Emilie nor Gabriel are prepared, however, for the feelings they stir in each other. Neither could have foreseen that a passion sparked years ago could possibly rekindle no matter how hard they fight against. Will hearts be broken a second time or will love prevail?
In this cat and mouse game, it’s possible they both might lose—or both might win.

“Lady Preston, the matchmaker Mama hired, asked her to host a dinner last night so we could meet the man chosen for me,” Emilie told her sister.

“Oh, yes! My goodness! Mother told me about this, but I’d forgotten it was to be last night. Remind me why I wasn’t invited?” Eliza asked.

“Lady Preston asked that we keep it as small as possible,” Emilie explained. “I suppose so as to not overwhelm the gentleman.”

“Ah, I suppose that makes sense.” Eliza leaned forward. “So, how was he? Who was he?”

“You would not believe!”

Eliza widened her eyes. “Lord Easton?” her sister guessed.

“No. Try again.”

Eliza thought for a moment. “Lord Cumberland? Not Lord Humphrey, he’s already married,” she thought aloud.

“Who is the person I would least like it to be?”

“No!” Eliza exclaimed.

“Yes.”

“Not…”

“Lord Willingham,” Emilie said with a nod.

“Oh my word! What did you do?”

Emilie gave a little laugh. “Actually, I wasn’t the first one to object. Evan had that honor. He accused Lord Willingham of defiling me.”

“What?” The word came out as a breath of disbelief.

“I said he had done no such thing, but I did tell everyone assembled that he had kissed me—and then never contacted me again.” She placed her now empty teacup on the table in front of her. “You should have seen his grandmother’s expression,” she said with a chuckle.

“Lady Willingham was there?” Eliza’s eyes widened again.

Emilie nodded.

“So, will Lady Preston find another match for you?”

“No! She still thinks that Lord Willingham is my soulmate, if you can believe it!”

Eliza’s mouth fell open for a moment, but then she said back looking thoughtful. “Well, he did kiss you—and you let him.”

“It was pointed out,” Emilie reluctantly acknowledged. “But that means nothing. And besides, clearly he didn’t mean to, or wasn’t impressed after he did since he never spoke to me ever again.” She hated the look her sister gave her, as if she felt sorry for her. “Please, Eliza, it’s fine. I am very happy—now—that he never did so. He’s clearly a thoughtless, self-centered man, just like the rest of them.”

“But, Emilie…”

“No, really, I am not interested in him, or anyone. You know that!”

“Em…”

“Eliza.”

Her sister just looked at her sadly for a moment or two, then asked, “So, what are you going to do?”

“He asked me to go driving with him tomorrow. Evan said he wasn’t sure he was going to allow it,” Emilie said with a shrug.

“Do you want to go driving with him?”

“No! After what he did to me?”

“It would give you a chance to rail at him,” Eliza said with a giggle.

Emilie smiled. “But what good would it do? It’s been so many years. I’m really not interested in him anymore.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to yell at him just a little? Maybe get a bit of retribution?”

Emilie straightened her head and stared at her sister. “Retribution? As in… kiss him and then never speak to him again?”

“Well, no, obviously not that,” Eliza said with a wave of her hand.

“But make him feel as bad as I felt when I never heard from him?” Emilie asked slowly, thinking about this. The idea did sound… enticing.

Eliza gave a little shrug and then shook her head. “Forget it. It’s a silly, childish idea. Go out for a drive with him. Maybe he is a nice sort, after all. I mean, you liked him enough to kiss him once.”

“Yes,” Eliza said, not really paying attention to her sister anymore. No, now she was thinking about retribution. Revenge. How could she do it? She was certain she could think of something. She gave her sister a little smile. “You know, you really are the best sister one could ever have.”

Eliza looked a little startled. “Oh, well, er, thank you?”

More titles releasing in March

Revenge of the Wallflowers