Saturday, December 8, 2012

A Romantic Proposal...With Maggie Robinson (+Giveaway)


A Romantic Proposal  
on Christmas Eve with Maggie Robinson

About the Author:
Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances. 

Find Maggie OnlineWebsite | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

My November book, Lord Gray’s List, revolves around a Regency newspaper that serves as a clearinghouse for gossip, employment and matchmaking. Who better than Lord and Lady Gray to help another couple become as happy as they are? -Maggie

A Romantic Proposal on Christmas Eve
by Maggie Robinson

December 24, 1821

“I don’t like it, Evie,” Lord Benton Gray said to his wife.
“You never like anything if I’ve thought of it first,” Lady Gray replied, spreading letters out on her desk. Well, their desk. Ben had bought a huge new partners desk for the London List’s office since he now owned the newspaper.
But he didn’t own her. Maybe her heart, perhaps, but she had a perfectly good mind of her own. And right now it was whirring with the intricacies of bringing the young Marquess of Portland up to scratch.
He and Miss Fernanda Abernathy would be married by the New Year, or her name was not Evangeline Ramsey Gray.
“Give the poor boy a few more years of freedom,” Ben begged.
“What good did your freedom do you? Courtesan races. Dancing in the nude in graveyards. I ask you,” Evie sniffed with disdain. “No, when Fernanda and Portland arrive, I shall lock them in the storage room. That should do it.”
“Those methods seem awfully crude for a woman of your intellect, Evie.”
“Well, Portland has been awfully slow. He’s known Fernanda since they were in leading strings. She’s turned down sixteen perfectly decent proposals in the past three years. It’s past time, even if a bit of compromise is involved. You’re on your way to pick up her aunt?”
Ben shuddered. As much as Evie would like to take all the credit, the idea for this ruse came from Augusta Abernathy, Fernanda’s indomitable aunt.
“All right then. Give me a kiss. The happy couple should be here any minute, and one look at you will convince Portland we’re up to something.”
Evie was always up to something.
***
Robert Humphrey, Marquess of Portland, threw his body up against the locked door. Nothing happened except a jolting pain from his shoulder to his pinky finger.
“Devil take it! Where is that newspaperwoman? I thought we were here to deliver Christmas baskets to orphans.”
“Well, at least we won’t starve to death. Cook made quite a lot of figgy puddings,” Fernanda replied. It was rather dark in the closet, but she was sure Robert rolled his eyes.
“You seem unnaturally calm, Fern. Did you plan this?” Robert asked. “Saying your aunt had the grippe and your maid the ague and your footman a toothache, and you had nobody to take you to the poor orphans’ party. A plague on you if you did!”
“Why would I do that? I don’t want to spend Christmas Eve in a closet with the likes of you!” True, Fernanda had been a bit suspicious at the sudden illnesses and her aunt’s suggestion she ask Robert to escort her. This entire affair smacked of Aunt Augusta’s manipulation. In a little while the woman herself would probably be pounding on the door and accusing Robert of compromising her favorite niece.
Robert had not compromised her. Robert was all the way over in the far corner. He hadn’t even tried to kiss her.
He hadn’t kissed her in two years. But when he had, he had ruined her completely.
She would never forget the look on his face afterward—the glazed eyes, the slack jaw, the sudden flush of color on his chiseled cheekbones. Yes, she had had a certain effect on him, and he’d been running from her ever since.
“I suppose you think I’ll have to marry you now that we’ve been trapped together.” Robert didn’t sound quite so belligerent.
“Is that a proposal?” Fernanda asked. “If it is, I’ve had better.”
“Why haven’t you married any of your dozen swains?”
“Sixteen,” Fernanda corrected. “I guess I’m hard to please.”
“You’ve always seemed perfectly agreeable to me.”
It was time for her to roll her eyes. “How you flatter me, my lord.”
“If I was ever in the mood to marry, I might not do any better than you. We’ve known each other all our lives.”
“Familiarity breeds contempt.”
“You hold me in contempt?” Robert took a step toward her.
Fernanda’s heart raced just a little. “I didn’t say that.”
“Do you like me, then?”
“You’re all right, I suppose. For a boy.”
“A boy? I’m four and twenty! I’m man enough for any woman.”
“Prove it.”
“What?”
She enjoyed the crack in his voice. “Kiss me. See if you can improve on the last one you gave me. Let’s see—I think it was the occasion of my thirteenth birthday party.”
“It was two years ago, you witch, and I’ve dreamed about it every night since then. I’m not only going to kiss you now, Fern, but kiss you every night from now on. You’re going to marry me.”
Fernanda smiled in the dark. “I am?”
“You are.”
Neither one of them much cared when the closet door opened some time later and Aunt Augusta gave a practiced, ear-splitting shriek.
~*~*~*~

*Don't forget to stop by Ramblings From This Chick for Elise Rome's Scene*
Available Now:

From duchesses to chamber maids, everybody's reading it. Each Tuesday, The London List appears, filled with gossip and scandal, offering job postings and matches fro the loverlorn-and most enticing of all, telling the tales and selling the wares a more modest publication wouldn't touch.

The creation of Evangeline Ramsey, the London List saved her and her ailing father from destitution. But the paper has given Evie more than financial relief. As its publisher, she lives as a man, dressed in masculine garb, free to pursue and report whatever she likes-especially the latest disgraces besmirching Lord Benton Gray. It's only fair she hang his dirty laundry, given that it was his youthful ardor that put her off marriage for good. 

Lord Gray-Ben-isn't about to stand by while all of London laughs at his peccadilloes week after week. But once he discovers that the publisher is none other than pretty Evie Ramsey with her curls lopped shorty, his worries turn to desires-and not one of them fit to print.

Get Your Copy Today:

Maggie is giving away a copy of her anthology, Lords Of Passion, to one lucky commenter (Open Internationally)! Make sure to leave a meaningful comment below AND fill out the rafflecopter.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
And don't forget to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway

54 comments:

  1. That was a cute dtory. Will we hear of Evie helping out others in the rest of the series?

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  2. wow.. i really love the blurb, thanks for introducing this great story :)

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  3. I like the female chracter in the blurb is outspoken. I look forward to adding your book to my reading list
    .

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  4. I love all of these marriage proposals! I really want your new book Maggie. It is on my TBR list!

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  5. I am loving these little stories. It's like getting a daily Christmas treat!

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  6. so romantic, thank you for the short little story :D I have to agree coming every day for one is delightful. Have a happy holidays!

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  7. Thanks for sharing the wonderful short story! :) Great giveaway as well!

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  8. Hi, Maggie! I'm so looking forward to reading "Lord Gray's List" and have read such great reviews about it.

    This little story today made me chuckle. I love a feisty heroine and Fernanda sounds like the perfect one to read about! Super!

    Thanks for the giveaway today.

    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

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  9. Oh... I love this story. :) Sounds terrific!

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  10. I love how Evie dresses as a man to get what she wants. I do like that she is an independent woman who did what she had to for her family, but finds love.

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  11. Good afternoon, everyone! I'm away from home but will try to answer questions. :) Yes, the rest of the London List series will show how the paper and Evie "fix" things. February's book, Captain Durant's Countess, features a job the captain can't refuse. Lady Anne's Lover has the heroine masquerading as a housekeeper to run away from home. Have the happiest of holidays!

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  12. I think that I would like to read about a spunky lady and her lord. Think of the things someone with her sexy nature can get into. I like that in a woman.

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  13. I loved the banter between Fern and Robert! Thanks for the snippet.

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  14. This short story got my attention; now I have to read Lord Gray's List as soon as I can. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  15. Love the excerpt. I think so many things can get "ironed out" if people spent more time in the closet. Much more fun and no distractions.

    armiefox at yahoo dot com

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  16. Great cover and blurb, will be adding this one on my list of books to read

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  17. I love all these marriage proposals. Great banter between Robert and Fernanda. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  18. ^^ interesting excerpt, new discovery for me but i would be very happy to win this book
    thank you a lot for opening your giveaway to international

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  19. Looking forward to reading this story. Thank you for the giveaway.

    Lori P

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  20. Amusing short. I like that Fernanda grabbed the opportunity to finally get her man.
    bituin76 at hotmail dot com

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  21. Sounds like a great read!! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  22. Thanks for the great excerpt! I love Maggie's books but haven't read Lord Gray's List or A Romantic Proposal on Christmas Eve yet.

    kscathy@yahoo.com

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  23. Hi Maggie -

    I don't care if you write a short story, a story in an anthology or a full length book. If you write a story, whateve he length, I know I'm going to love it!

    The same is true forA Romantic Proposal on Christmas Eve not because of


    The same is true because of Roberts not so wonderfully phrased proposal because it reminded me of mine 43 years ago! Don't get me wrong, my husband asked me very nicely to marry him and it was MY reply that wasn't very romantic! Being a woman of few words (sometimes) all I said to him wasy "When?"! Needless to say, not a very romantic reply!

    Fortunately he siad "soon" and we set a date and this year celebrated our 42nd Annniversary! Maybe someday you can write another story with Fern and Robert telling their children how to ask someone to marry them!

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  24. Sorry - I forgot to leave my email!

    jeannemiro(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  26. I like this phrase from your short story "then Kiss me. See if you can improve on the last one you gave me" so romantic
    Thanks for sharing it with us and making your giveaway International. Have a Merry Christmas! Just loved the cover of Lord Gray's List.

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  27. Awesome!! Aww the scene was so...adorable?? Love it when the characters are trap in a closet! What naughty things they could do. LOL Thanks for sharing

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  28. What a sweet scene, and I'm putting Lord and Lady Gray's story on my list.

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  29. I am loving all these short stories! I want to read more about Robert and Fernanda. What a hoot she is. :)

    Thank you for the chance in the giveaway.

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  30. Loved it! I just love it when the guy makes the proposal a statement not a questions:)

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  31. Sounds like a fun read to find out all the escapades Evie gets up to living as a man.

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  32. I really enjoyed the excerpt. Great book cover too, very eyecatching. How did you get started writing in the historical genre?
    luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

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  33. Thank you Maggie. I haven't read you yet but after reading the interview I can't wait! The chemistry between the H/h jumps off the page and comes alive.

    Please enter me.

    annfesATyahooDOTcom

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  34. Love this excerpt! Thanks for sharing...this is going on my must read!
    ivegotmail8889(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. Hi Maggie! Love you books. I only have a couple and I'm so looking forward to getting more. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  36. Sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

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  37. I've got to get myself locked in a closet w/a certain somebody. It looks like a sure way to get the guy!

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  38. It is so evil posting excerpts of books, now I just want to read more! Thanks for the chance to win it.

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  39. Sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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  40. Sounds like a very interesting read. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  41. I absolutely LOVED Lord Gray and Evie. Thanks for the short story on Fernanda and Robert. Gotta love those tough Heroines. Nothing like a determined Heroine.
    Happy Holidays all.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  42. Never read you before but love the blurb! Thanks! BrittanyG@gmail.com

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  43. Just wonderful. Eager to read more!!

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  44. I really enjoyed it Maggie! I looking forward to reading more about Lord and Lady Gray

    joylynne66(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  45. Great story and I am looking forward to reading more.
    amandavmartin@bellsouth.net

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  46. The reverse psychology practice. That worked pretty good for Fernanda, and her new fiancee didn't seem the least bit put out by it. *giggles* Maggie, when's the next book coming. Lord Gray's List, especially the cover had me fanning myself, but I'm ready for another hot installment.

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  47. Really sweet and funny story. I would't mind been locked with a Lord! Thanks for sharing.

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  48. What a great short story! I swear I can't afford for my TBR list to get any longer but I just keep adding to it...including your books!

    Thanks!

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  49. Just got back home! Thanks for all the great comments! Just in case there was some confusion, Robert & Fernanda don't appear in any previous or future book, but now I'd kind of like them to. :) I know I'd have fun with Great-Aunt Augusta.

    The next book is Captain Durant's Countess, an e-book exclusive on Feb. 21, 2013. Happy Holidays all!

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  50. I'm soooo looking forward to read it! Thanks for sharing the excerpt. Couldn't help myself not to smile reading it.
    And thanks for making it international, too. :)

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  51. Thanks for the short, I'm so looking forward to reading more! Have a Merry Christmas!
    smoofrog @gmail dot com

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