The Wagered Widow

the long version

HE INSISTED ON TREATING HER LIKE A TROLLOP ...and Rebecca Parrish, a most respectable young widow, found him utterly odious. What right had this supercilious rake, Trevelyan de Villars, to incessantly force his attentions on her? Rebecca far preferred Trevelyan's charming friend, the noble Sir Peter Ward. But what Rebecca soon discovered duly horrified her. For her dear Sir Peter and the contemptible Trevelyan had formalized a bet--that Trevelyan could seduce the very proper widow within a month's time. Still, Trevelyan's attentions grew ever more passionate. And Rebecca found (to her horror!) that she thrilled to his touch. As her heart strove to resist this irresistible cad, she suddenly saw what he really was: A libertine no more--now at last and forever in love! (This is something of a prequel to The Golden Chronicles series and The Tales of the Jewelled Men series, coming after the other prequel, *The Mistress of Willowvale*.)