title: Abandoned & Protected: The Marquis' Tenacious Wife (Love's Second Chance Series) (Volume 4)
author:  Bree Wolf 
description: <b>Read an excerpt:</b><br /><br />All noise was drowned out by the blood rushing in her ears as Henrietta stood in the clearing, staring at the bear of a man who had just now unmasked her, a delighted smirk on his face. His eyes slid over her in frank perusal, touching not only her lips and the curve of her neck but also venturing lower.<br /><br />Refusing to be intimidated, Henrietta took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, her right hand coming forward, bringing the foil with it.<br /><br />Instantly, his eyes snapped up to meet hers. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it not unusual for an English lass to ride out on her own?" he asked,amusement curling his lips. "And with a weapon no less?"<br /><br />Henrietta's mouth pressed into a thin line as her eyes narrowed. "Maybe you are less acquainted with English customs than you think, <i>my lord</i>."<br /><br />Smiling, he took a step closer, his eyes drilling into hers. "I doubt that," he whispered, and his breath brushed over her skin, making her shiver."Ye've done yer best to conceal that ye're a woman," he continued, his eyes sweeping over her form as though trying to glimpse beneath her clothes, "which means that someone would be verra displeased with ye if he were to find ye this way." He met her eyes. "And yet, ye are here."He nodded. "This is important to ye."<br /><br />Henrietta swallowed,suddenly acutely aware of the powerful man towering over her. Although she was tall for a woman, he seemed like a giant, and Henrietta had to admit that she was no match for him. That thought coincided with the realisation that they were, indeed, alone.<br /><br />What she had considered an asset had now turned into a threat. What did he want?<br /><br />"There's no need to be scared," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "I mean ye no harm."<br /><br />"I am not," Henrietta hissed, forcing herself not to take a step backwards. "However, I would appreciate it if you got back on your horse and left."<br /><br />Again, a smile curled up the corners of his mouth. "Ye're willing to let me leave? Are ye not afraid I might betray yer secret?"<br /><br />Henrietta tensed. Would he? Or rather could he? After all, she hadn't even given him her name. So, how on earth was he to find her? "You are not from these parts," she mumbled, considering her options.<br /><br />He laughed. "What gave me away, lass?"<br /><br />Gritting her teeth, Henrietta fought the urge to run him through. And yet,despite his mockery, his words felt like a caress, and she shivered at the term of endearment.<br /><br />In all her years, no man had ever unsettled her the way this brute did. From what she could tell, no man had ever wanted to. Curt words and harsh replies had always been her best defence against the opposite sex.<br /><br />Maybe in his country, people did not consider civility a requirement for proper communication.<br /><br />"Have ye made up yer mind?" he asked, clearly amused with the situation.<br /><br />Raising her gaze to meet his once more, Henrietta took a slow step forward, her eyes cold as steel as she spoke. "Leave. Now." She lifted her foil,just barely, but his eyes caught the movement, and instantly, his hand shot out, twisting the foil out of her hand.<br /><br />Henrietta gasped as he dropped the weapon to the ground and grabbed her. Forcing her chin up, he looked deep into her eyes. "Ye still have a lot to learn," he whispered, his gaze dropping to her lips, "but I'd love to teach ye."<br /><br />As a shiver went through her, Henrietta swallowed and forced herself to remember what she had taught herself. "I demand that you release me immediately," she snarled, ignoring the amused gleam that came to his eyes.<br /><br />To her relief, he did as she had asked and took a step back. "Ye should head home," he said, picking up the foil and handing it back to her hilt-first. "A storm is brewing."<br /><br />Glancing at the sky, Henrietta noticed that the clear blue sky had turned dark, heavy with grey clouds. Then she took a hold of her foil and stepped back,eyes on the man who had just taught her a valuable lesson.<br /><br />Complacency would be her end. She needed more practice, real practice. What she needed was a real opponent.<br /><br />"Farewell," he said, back on his black horse as though rider and steed formed a strange symbiosis. "Until we meet again."<br /><br />Mounting her mare, Henrietta stopped as his words reached her. "We will not meet again," she snapped. "I can assure you that I will do everything within my power to avoid a future meeting."<br /><br />A smile on his face, he nodded, then softly kicked his horse and came toward her. <br /><br />Henrietta drew in a deep breath and swallowed as he stopped beside her, his knee touching hers.<br /><br />"We <i>will </i>meet again," he said, his eyes holding hers, a promise in them that shook Henrietta to her very core. "I will find ye, lass." He nodded. "Be assured of <i>that</i>." He held her gaze for a moment longer, then spurred on his horse and shot past her, galloping across the clearing like a warrior ready for battle.<br /><br />And for the first time in her life, Henrietta was at a loss.<br /><br />***<br /><br />As London came in sight, Connor slowed down his gelding, watching the sunset on the horizon as it cast a warm glow over the city. Drenched from head to toe, he smiled. The downpour had been exactly what he had needed, and for the first time since his father had died, Connor looked into the future with a happy heart.<br /><br />He had asked for excitement. He had gotten more than that. A lot more.<br /><br />Yes, he would ride into London. He would do as Mr. Granten had instructed, and he would claim his father's titles.<br /><br />However, before he returned to Scotland, he would claim something much more valuable to him than anything he had ever laid eyes upon.<br /><br />Remembering the fierce look in her eyes, Connor chuckled. She was a wildcat, not a proper lady, and he wouldn't have her any other way.<br /><br />Despite his slightly advanced age, Connor had never been married, and although his parents' match had been arranged, they had developed a deep love for one another, and, therefore, they had never pressured him to choose a bride let alone chosen one for him.<br /><br />As was customary in his family,marriages were often arranged between cousins, and before today, while he had not been looking forward to wedding his cousin, Connor had had no objections.<br /><br />Today, however, had changed everything.
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  Abandoned & Protected
  
  The Marquis’ Tenacious Wife
  
  (#4 Love’s Second Chance Series)
  
  by Bree Wolf
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Abandoned & Protected − The Marquis’ Tenacious Wife
  
  by Bree Wolf
  
    
  
    
  
  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, brands,
  media, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s
  imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
  
  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely
  coincidental.
  
  Cover photography by Larisa Koshkina
  
    
  
  Copyright © 2016 Sabrina Wolf
  
    
  
    
  
  [www.breewolf.com](http://www.breewolf.com/)
  
    
  
    
  
  All Rights Reserved
  
  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
  whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the
  use of brief quotations in a book review.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  To My Mom, who Taught me how to be a Mother
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Acknowledgments
  
  A great big heaping mountain of thank-you to everyone who lent a helping hand
  in the deve