After careful consideration, I have decided to replace Malcolm Jasper with another hero in His Wicked Lady.

Click here to reserve your copy today!

Since Malcolm made it abundantly clear he doesn’t want to be in this book, I have asked around and found out Dr. Westward will replace Malcolm.  If you read The Earl’s Stolen Bride, he was the gentleman who delivered Chloe’s baby at the end of the book.  This is the cover for The Earl’s Stolen Bride:

Book 4 in the Marriage by Deceit Series.

Chloe was the heroine.

Anyway, putting Dr. Westward in will change some things in the book.  I’ll point out some examples below.

Old Scene (with Malcolm):

In the ball scene where Regan took Malcolm by the hand and led him to the dance floor, this is what happened.

“I’ll tell you the truth. I just noticed you a moment ago. But,” Regan continued when Malcolm seemed ready to reply, “you’re a good looking gentleman, so I thought, ‘Why not dance with him?’”

Though a hint of red graced his cheeks, he said, “I don’t think you should be so bold. What if you get us into a scandal?” He glanced around them. “You’re fortunate no one noticed the way you hauled me over here.”

New Scene (with Dr. Westward):

“I’ll tell you the truth. I just noticed you a moment ago. But,” Regan continued when Dr. Westward seemed ready to reply, “you’re a good looking gentleman, so I thought, ‘Why not dance with him?’”

Dr. Westward clucked his tongue at her. “My dear lady, if you wanted to make this ball more interesting, you really should be more bold. What’s the point of being here if there’s no scandal?” He glanced around them. “Let’s do something to get everyone’s attention.” Then, in a very startling move, he pressed his body right up against hers and led her into a dance that shocked the whole Ton.

Malcolm (who won’t tolerate anyone messing with his reputation)

Old Scene (with Malcolm as the hero):

The butler came in with the tea and crumpets, and Helena waited until everyone had a cup before turning her attention to Regan. “I should explain how we do things,” Helena began. “We want to arrange a marriage for you with a gentleman who will be a best fit for you. We have quite a few questions to ask you. It’ll take an hour to ask them all. I hope you don’t mind, but we want to be thorough.”

New Scene (with Dr. Westward as the new hero):

The butler came in with the tea and crumpets, and Helena waited until everyone had a cup before turning her attention to Regan. “There’s no reason for us to arrange a marriage for you.  You and Dr. Westward were so scandalous at the ball the Ton is demanding you two marry.”

“Right,” Melissa Jasper (Malcolm’s sister) said.  “Because of what you two did, we have no role in this book.”

“Which is awful since the title of this series depends on us arranging marriages,” Helena agreed.

“This is not so,” Regan said.  “We are bending the rules.  For the sake of keeping the plot intact and preventing the author from massive rewrites, we’ll proceed with the arranged marriage.”

Old Scene (with Malcolm):

It wasn’t until his wedding day that Malcolm saw just who Lady Cantrell was. They’d already exchanged vows, sealing their fates together, when he lifted her veil.

He gasped and lowered her veil. Believing it’d been a trick of the eyes, he blinked a couple times, shook his head, and lifted it again. But it was still the same face that greeted him. And what more, the blonde had the nerve to wink at him.

“I bet you wish you’d taken the time to meet me now,” she said, a satisfied grin on her face.

He gasped again and put the veil back down. It couldn’t really be her. The lady from Lord Roderick’s ball. The one who’d brought her son over to his townhouse. It just couldn’t be.

He spun on his heel, went straight for his sister, took her by the arm, and practically hauled her out of the Duchess of Ashbourne’s drawing room.

Dr. Westward (whose favorite pastime is getting into trouble)

New Scene (with Dr. Westward):

It wasn’t until his wedding day that Dr. Westward saw just who Lady Cantrell was. They’d already exchanged vows, sealing their fates together, when he lifted her veil.

He gasped.  “It’s you!  The lady that scandalized the Ton with me at the ball.  I’ve looked everywhere for you, and here you are.” He picked her up in his strong, muscular arms.  “I have some ideas on how we can keep the Tittletattle writing about us for years to come!  Let’s see what mischief we can come up with!”

Without waiting for the others in the room to say anything, he whisked her off to their townhouse.

Old Scene (with Malcolm): 

Before Malcolm had time to ask Regan why she dared to come into his bedchamber, she opened the door and said, “You really didn’t think I had a key to get in?”

“I locked the door because I didn’t want you here,” he replied, feeling much too exposed, especially in the glow of the candlelight. She was, no doubt, going to be noting the differences between him and her first husband, and who knew if she’d find him lacking?

“This is our wedding night,” she said, not hiding the surprise in her voice. “Why wouldn’t you want me here? Aren’t you eager to get started on the children you want?”

“No. I can wait.”

“Malcolm, I didn’t think it was possible for a gentleman to be apprehensive about his wedding night.”

“I’m not apprehensive. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day. I need some time alone.”

New Scene (with Dr. Westward):

Before Dr. Westward had time to ask Regan why she came into his bedchamber, she opened the door and said, “You really didn’t think I had a key to get in?”

“That’s not what surprised me,” he replied, taking off the rest of his clothes.  “I’m just wondering why you’re using a key when the door was never locked.”

“Hmm…” She glanced at the key in her hand.  “I think the author forgot to edit that part out.”

“If that’s the case, I hope the author gets a good editing team because a big slip like that could take away from the steamy love scene we’re about to have.”

Taking a good look at his marvelous body, she threw the key aside and went over to him.  “If we make it hot enough, maybe they won’t notice.”

******

It’s changes like that which will make the story different with Dr. Westward in it.