The Unlikely Lady

Valerie Bowman

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Table of Contents

About the Author

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For my mother, Judith Hammond Bowman Rhodes, who instilled in me not only a love of historical romance novels but also a gift for storytelling. Anyone who has ever heard her tall tales about mountain lions and pack rats knows this is true.

My mother once told me that having a romance novelist in the family was her greatest dream come true.

I love you, Mom.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This particular book would not be what it is without a handful of wonderful people who generously gave their time to read it and give me their opinions. I would like to thank …

Mary Behre for her always insightful and honest feedback on my characters and their motivations and for saying, “Nope. That’s not gonna work,” when she needs to.

Ashlyn Macnamara for her knowledge of the time period and humoring me and my rompish, outlandish plots. I don’t call you the “Regency Google” for nothin’.

KC Klein for reminding me to give my characters a little hell now and again.

Virginia Boylan for her absolutely spot-on read and editing critique that have made my writing stronger.

Holly Ingraham, whose unwavering support and excellent editorial direction continue to make every book I write even better.

CHAPTER ONE

London, April 1816

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Mrs. Cat, show yourself and let’s get this over with, shall we?” Jane Lowndes wiped the dark, wet hair from her eyes. It was raining. Hard. The downpour had begun nearly five minutes ago and she’d been standing outside the mews behind her father’s town house for nearly ten.

Jane could live with the rain herself. Who cared about hair or clothing being ruined? She could even stand the fact that her spectacles were foggy. But her book was getting wet and that was not acceptable. She’d tucked the leather-bound volume under her arm as best she could while she balanced a wooden bowl in her hands, but she truly needed to get the book inside and dry it by the fire.

Jane squinted into the gray mist. A soft meow signaled the arrival of the cat. The brown, mangy-looking animal must have heard her. The cat came running along the stone wall at the far side of the stables, heading straight toward Jane. Apparently, even rain wasn’t enough to keep the feline from her free meal.