Spotlight on Lord Maxwell’s Quest |

Lord Maxwell Trent has never remained in one place for long. His fascination for history and quest for antiquities has taken him from Pompeii to Greece to Egypt, and now the search of an ancient sword has brought him to London—and back into Miss Rosemary Fairview’s orbit.

Miss Fairview has always valued her independence. Raised by travel-mad parents and fascinated by her mother’s archaeological journals, she knew that she’d never be content to settle into the dull life of running a household. When word of the lost sword brings Rosemary to London, she finds herself in pursuit of the same relic as her nemesis, Lord Maxwell Trent.

They know it’s impossible the sword once belonged to The Maid of Orléans. But that one sliver of hope, the what-if, propels them on the quest to discover the truth.

Danger stalks them from Mayfair’s drawing rooms to the maze of London’s rookeries. Can they work together to find the sword—and to survive? And will they realize that perhaps they shouldn’t have been competitors at all, but something more?

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BN/Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lord-maxwells-quest-jane-charles/1139848358?ean=2940162258087

EXCERPT:

Partnering with Rosemary was an awful idea, and if he wouldn’t be distracted by worrying about her safety, Max would never have agreed to the proposition.

“You are going to be difficult, aren’t you?” she demanded as the hackney took them from Mayfair and into Whitechapel. The streets were busy tonight, which he found surprising given it wasn’t during the Season.

“I was more concerned with you being so,” he retorted.

“Yes, well, I have a plan to go about locating the sword.”

“As do I,” he informed her.

“How do you know that mine isn’t better?”

“How do you know that mine isn’t?” he countered.

“Oh, this is impossible.” She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window.

This might be the most difficult challenge he’d ever taken on. Not searching for the sword but working with a stubborn woman until it was located.

They said nothing further until the hackney pulled before the address of Madame LaFante.

After helping Rosemary onto the pavement, Max paid the driver then gathered their belongings and prayed it didn’t take them too long to find the sword.

Rosemary had marched ahead and rapped on the door. It was soon opened by a footman. “I’d like to see Madame LeFante,” she announced. “Lady Victoria Westbrook has sent me.”

“Us,” Max added as he stopped behind her.

The footman looked them over, then opened the door wider so that they could come inside.

“Would you please give her this?” Rosemary handed over the note to the footman, which he took, then disappeared down a corridor.

“I’d assumed bawdy houses were darker, or gauche,” Rosemary whispered.

“I’m certain she’s redecorated,” Max decided. Though, it could have been this bright then, not that anyone would have noticed after the sun set, the lamps lit, and rooms filled with men seeking intimacy for a short time. “We need to discuss this wisely and rationally.”

“I’m being very rational, and my plan is sound and sensible.”

“Why are you so confident?” he demanded.

“Because the women at Westbrook House helped me. They know the rookeries, and many were raised within and provided me with locations where someone might attempt to fence such an item or where I might overhear information, such as the tavern we’d both visited.”

He’d assumed she’d gone to her chamber and mapped out the best route to track the antiquity. Instead, she had questioned those familiar with the rookeries.

“I obtained my information from a better authority,” he informed her.

“Why do you always think you are right about everything? I find the women I spoke with highly informative and trust in their judgement.”

“Lady Victoria was correct.”

They turned to find an older woman, long after her prime, wrinkled, but still lovely and sharp.

“Her missive warned of the two of you bickering.”

“Yes, well, I apologize. It is not the best impression to leave,” Rosemary murmured.

Madame LeFante simply laughed.

“I hope you have two chambers that we might use for a short time. I don’t believe even a week will be necessary,” Rosemary explained.

“Two? No, I only have one.”

“Oh, that will never do,” Rosemary insisted.

“I’m afraid it must,” she insisted. “Come along. I’ll show you up.”

“We can’t share a chamber,” Max hissed. He’d thought having his own bed to sleep in would bring him at least some peace while undertaking this search with Rosemary.

This would be worse than that night in Jerusalem. He’d barely slept and was all too aware that she slumbered in his bed. Yes, Rosemary aggravated him to no end, but that didn’t change the fact that he found her desirable. So often he’d wanted to kiss her, simply so she’d cease arguing with him. At least, that was the excuse he made to himself, knowing it was a lie since there were several occasions when he’d wanted to kiss her, and not all of them were when they argued, such as when her eyes sparkled when she held an antiquity or she showed her enthusiasm during an excavation.

Blast! There was hardly ever a time that he didn’t want to kiss her for one reason or another, but he never would, for the same reason he’d not crawled into the bed in Jerusalem. She was an innocent miss no matter how worldly in her travels.

However, he’d never admit such to her, even if she were the one holding a knife to his throat because she’d never let him forget the admission.

“We aren’t even married,” Rosemary quickly objected.

“I recognize a married couple when I hear one.” Madame LeFante laughed again. “Besides, Lady Victoria introduced you as Mr. and Mrs. Milton Smythe, and that is who you are as long as you are here.”

Bloody hell.

MEET JANE CHARLES

USA Today bestselling author Jane Charles is a prolific writer of over fifty historical and contemporary romance novels. Her love of research lends authenticity to her Regency romances, and her experience directing theatre productions helps her craft beautiful, touching stories that tug at the heartstrings. Jane is an upbeat and positive author dedicated to giving her characters happy-ever-afters and leaving the readers satisfied at the end of an emotional journey. Lifelong Cubs fan, world traveler and mother of three amazing children, Jane lives in Central Illinois with her husband, two dogs and a cat. She is currently writing her next book and planning her dream trip to England. Be sure to join Jane in her private reader group Romance & Rosé: https://www.facebook.com/groups/romanceandrose