title: Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman (London's Greatest Lovers)
author:  Lorraine Heath 
description: Starred Review. Heath's second London's Greatest Lovers historical (after November 2010's Passions of a Wicked Earl) pairs a battle-scarred Crimean War soldier with his compassionate nurse. Mercy Dawson cared for Maj. Stephen Lyons, brother of the duke of Ainsley, after he was wounded. A year later, she arrives at the duke's estate to bring him her infant son, John, whom Stephen fathered. Mercy believes Stephen dead and is shocked when she meets him again at Ainsley's estate, where he is recuperating from terrible injuries to body and mind. Stephen has no memories of his two battle-ridden years, but he knows he must do right by Mercy, whose kindness and love for her son set her apart from Stephen's many other past lovers. As they become reacquainted, their romance ripens with intensity and realistic emotion that will leave even the most seasoned reader teary-eyed. (Dec.) <br />(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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  RICHARD DID HIS BEST TO IGNORE HER . . .
  
  What are you drinking,” Letty asked. “Brandy?”
  
  “A little destruction.” He gave a mock salute and laughed bitterly, then made
  the mistake of looking at her.
  
  Her expression turned serious. “Why do you do that?”
  
  He brought his face intimidatingly close to hers. “Because it makes me feel
  good.”
  
  She drew in a breath and her eyes widened, but to her credit she didn’t move.
  He felt as if he held her heart in his hands. He didn’t want to be handed any
  hearts.
  
  “I like things that make me feel good—strong drink, hard rides across the
  moors”—he lightly touched her cheek—“debauching innocent girls.”
  
  “And shocking people,” she added, her face scant inches from his, her
  expression showing no signs of intimidation.
  
  He could smell the scent of lavender lingering about her, clean and sweet . .
  . and pure. It triggered something inside him. His mouth closed over hers,
  hard and demanding. He intended to do exactly what she accused him of: