Novels by Monica Vansa

Cole landed awkwardly, falling face flat on the horse's back. His face hurt at the collision, and he could feel the stallion moving beneath him, too fast for him to control. The wind hurled at his hair, raising it to its highest point.On top of the horse, in that fearsome speed, he slowly raised his head up but was soon forced to close his eyes as the harsh wind burned his eyes. However, on second thought the boy quickly snapped his eyes open again as he realized there was no rider on the horse. And his father who had been riding the stallion was nowhere in sight.The young lad's heart beat at what that meant, and he wanted to look back to confirm if his father was behind him or if something else had happened to him, but at the speed, they were galloping he knew he could risk falling off the horse as he wasn't in a comfortable position—yet. So he grabbed hold of the horse's mane and struggled forward.With hi

Her hair was drawn back from her face, exposing her high cheekbone. It must be the work of her lady's maid. Cole mused. Considering how short it was, it must have taken a lot of time, and pins to thrust it up in that updo. Cole frowned in the next second as something occurred to him.Now that he thought of it, he had never seen Emily with any lady's maid. Not here, nor at Durham, when he had picked her up from her brothers' manor after their marriage.If he was to recount back to that time, she hadn't travelled with any too. Which was strange? Women he knew wouldn't even think to do anything by themselves, let alone travel by themselves. What was even strange was how he was only noticing it now? He prided himself on being observant, but he had to admit this one had slipped past him. Of course, he could excuse his behaviour by saying he had been blinded by his anger at the time and had not given a fig or two about whom she travelled with

THAT NIGHT Emily wore the most seductive gown Cole had ever had the misfortune to see on her person. In a flash, he was on his feet. Not because society would demand it. But because he found himself staring at her in awe and astonishment as she accepted a chair from the footman, sat down and placed her napkin on her lap. Barely sparing him any glance.It was all for the best, Cole thought as he let his eyes roam off her face. Giving them access to roam freely on her body, resting on the smooth curve of her neck and then the rounded top of her breast.Gad! Cole thought. Wasn't that a little too exposed? Following their hot argument, they had maintained their separate distance; they had barely seen each other until now. Cole hoped she had forgiven him. Because he felt bad as it is. And that kiss at his study, he was yet to figure out what it meant.Glancing down at his food, Cole wondered if he should be eating her or his

“You left me at the manor!” Emily complained. It was remarkable how that sounded like an accusation. In fact, it was indeed an accusation. Cole straightened in his chair. “I should expect you to know why?”“Because you think I trapped you?” she scoffed.His eyes narrowed. “You did trap me, but what I have failed to understand is how you managed to do so.Gritting her teeth, Emily leaned forward. His eyes were narrowed. “If I recall correctly. It was my brothers who forced your hand, and not me.”“Oh please, do stop hiding behind your brothers back and own up to what you have done. You did entice me with the prospect of lips that haven't been kissed before, all the while bidding your time for when your brothers or anyone for that matter would find us. How long did you have to keep me entertained before they arrived? Twenty minutes, thirty minutes? At least tell me I lasted long enough for them

FAIR EYELIDS fluttered at the belabouring clanking coming from the other room.A banging, thumping sound that irritated Emily to the core, causing her to toss and turn on her bed wishing she could escape it, but no matter how much she tried to or even covered her ears with a fluffy pillow, the sound still burrowed into her subconscious, irritating her until such a time when she couldn't take it any more.Angrily, Emily flung the covers from her body, sitting up in one flash. Her short blond tresses were dishevelled. Her face marred with a deep, deep frown. She turned to her side where her husband had slept last night and noticed he had already roused and gone. Judging by the huge dip on the bed. He must not have been gone too long. Emily raised a hand to her head, wincing as the pounding started again. That clank and bang sound that whizzed as if things were being knocked apart.However, what she didn't understand was why it sounded

As they cut across another corner, Emily made one more attempt. Hugging his neck and wriggling around, trying to slip from his arms. She succeeded for a while, but he soon heaved her up again, holding her tighter than before. She could taste defeat in her mouth but wasn't willing to admit it yet.Within her mind, she searched for solutions. She raked it for any way to extricate herself from this humiliating position, and in that silence realized she had been unconsciously staring at her husband's buttocks while thinking. A blush rose to her cheeks, and soon whatever scheme Emily had been hatching was temporarily forgotten as she stared shamelessly at Cole's buttock which she realized was tantalisingly close to her eye level.If she reached out her hand just so and touched it what would it feel like? The young woman wondered. But did she dare? Emily bit her lips, contemplating.They had already walked for a while wh

LADY BANBURY was hosting a ball, and it was all the rage. Two balls In a year and It was rumored that her invitation was highly coveted. Only the very best would you find in her ball. Her mama was making a fuss over her, directing her lady's maid as she sees fit. She wanted Julia to wear an ivory gown with a plunging neckline, whatever her mother could be thinking. Julia was excited, Victoria would come to the ball. They had each listed some beaus they set their cap for. Julia wanted John Wakefield, the duke of Wychford because he was tall and dandyish and the earl of Tonfield. Someone who would marry her and then let her be. Once she produced the heir and the spare she would be left to her own devices, to do as she wished with enough money to fill her pockets. Someone who wouldn't challenge her or demand more from her.~~~~JULIA'S DANCE CARD was almost full. Her ne

JULIA WAS OVERJOYED, she was quickly spotting a grin on her face, and from the look of things, she would soon win lord Tonfield. She lifted her face, and her eyes collided with Sebastian. Julia sucked in a breath and quickly cast her eyes away.She knew Sebastian was back, but Julia hadn't expected to meet him here of all places. She would have thought tha3t he hadn't recognized her, but judging by the fury that emanated from him, she would have to think otherwise. Julia made a mental note to herself to finish up quickly and quietly let herself out.Standing outside the establishment, her winnings tucked deep into the narrow pockets of her greatcoat. Julia grinned from ear to ear. With one hand in her pocket, holding her money prisoner, and the other on her hat holding it over her head, Julia scoured the place for any passing hackney. She had just spotted

London, England. 1830JULIA WAS ANXIOUS, it was almost time for her to slip out to the gaming hell. She wasn't afraid, not one bit, but she would hate for her to be caught. What a scandal it would cause for her family that the eldest daughter of the Cavendish was nothing but a vile woman, not to be associated with. Not that it bothers her what the ton has to say about her, but she was worried that should she be caught, her sister, Camila might lose her chances of making a suitable match with a Duke or an Earl. Considering the fact that her mother, Ophelia Cavendish, would soon hold a ball in the honor of her sister for her come out, and Julia would hate to be the one to cause such uproar in the ball should her pastime be found out.Apart from her sister, and her friend who covers for her, nobody else knows what she has been up to for the past three

Leicestershire, England.March 1814.COLE FLETCHER sneaked out of the house and into his father's stable. At age twelve, he was already as tall as a young man. A trait that runs in the family.Some days ago, his father had brought in a new horse and the instructions had been it shouldn't be mounted. But being the stubborn lad that he was, he disregarded his father's warning and sneaked in.There had been no horse in their stables he hadn't mounted before. Honestly, he didn't know why his father like to fret about frivolous things. He was as capable as any stable master his father had, if not better, the boy thought as he pulled the stable door open and stepped inside. The cool morning air following him inside.He knew where the stallion had been kept, in the last stall, separate from the other horses. Cole was excited. The thought of stealing his father's new horse out to the open field made his blood tingle. The boy grinned mischievously. Of

"Let me make this clear to you, I do not condone what you have done with my house or the idea that you are here? I left you at Blakewood manor for a specific reason.""Which is?"His eyes roamed her face and he pulled away from the wall. Running one hand over his hair. He turned towards her. "To punish you of course. "For a moment, Cole wondered whether she had heard. Her face showed no reaction to his words; she seemed frozen, petrified. Then her brows rose. "I see."Cole was quite certain she didn't see anything. Because punishing her wasn't the only reason he had left her at Blakewood Manor. The earl had discovered he wanted his wife, despite what she did, despite how she tricked him. And that angered him. The idea that he could still want her after all that, after all, she had done, caused him to question his sanity. This series of events eventually led to some hard decisions he made.&nb