Читать онлайн «The Devil's Waltz»
Автор Stuart Anne
Praise for USA TODAY
bestselling author
ANNE STUART
“This taut romantic suspense novel from RITA® Award winner Stuart [The Widow] delivers deliciously evil baddies and the type of disturbing male protagonist that only she can transform into a convincing love interest…. Brilliant characterizations and a suitably moody ambience drive this dark tale of unlikely love. ”
—Publishers Weekly on Black Ice (starred review)
“[A] sexy, edgy, exceptionally well-plotted tale. ”
—Library Journal on Into the Fire
“Before I read…[a] Stuart book I make sure my day is free…once I start, she has me hooked. ”
—New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
“A master at creating chilling atmosphere with a modern touch. ”
—Library Journal
ANNE STUART
THEDevil’s WALTZ
For Gackt—the most delicious
450-year-old Norwegian vampire/Japanese
rock star/Georgian rake alive today.
Exquisitely beautiful, he’s the
best inspiration around.
Arigato, Gackt-san.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
EPILOGUE
1
The Honorable Miss Annelise Kempton did not suffer fools gladly. Unfortunately it was her lot in life to suffer them far too often, and to maintain a relatively polite mien in the face of idiocy. It came from being penniless, almost thirty years old, unmarried, not a beauty and far too bright for a woman.
She’d accepted that lot long ago, with her usual lack of self-pity.
Her profligate father hadn’t been able to arrange any chance of marriage, but her godmother, Lady Prentice, had managed to provide her with a season when she was seventeen. Which, as her astringent older sister, Eugenia, had pointed out, was a total waste of money, since Annelise was hardly the type to attract many suitors. Eugenia herself had refused the offer of a season, knowing her own limitations, and married a vicar in Devon, where she happily ran her household, her husband, the church and the village.But no offers had appeared for Annelise, who was taller than most of the indolent young men of society and unfortunately blunt, and her godmother chose to sponsor her younger sister, Diana, the next time around. Diana at last had succeeded, marrying a plump, pompous widower with three children and then promptly presenting him with four more.
And Annelise stayed at home, watching her father lose everything, including, eventually, his life in a drunken riding accident.
Lady Prentice stepped in once more, but there hadn’t been much she could do. Diana would have welcomed her into her home, but Diana’s husband was a toad, the children were spoiled, and she would do nothing more than take care of the litter as it yearly increased.
Eugenia would have taken her—she was a woman who knew her duty, but two strong-minded women could hardly share the same household, and besides, Joseph’s vicarage was barely large enough for their two children and three servants. There was no room for a spinster aunt.
