The 1807 Season of the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society Series is now available!
Set in Regency London, eight women gather every Wednesday to play cards and repair relationships. With each game, someone’s got to lose. It’s up to that person to share their deepest secret with others–a secret that all have sworn never to share. Secret children born out of wedlock, terrifying fears, embarrassing truths are all shared amongst the women, but these ladies will do everything they can to help each other and those they love. Join the ladies of the Wagering Whist Society and experience first loves, second-chance romances, and romance where it’s never expected. Each book can be read as a stand-alone novel.
About me: Meredith Bond’s books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. An award-winning author, she writes fun traditional Regency romances, medieval Arthurian romances, and Regency romances with a touch of magic. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith loves to take her readers on a journey they won’t soon forget.
A Trick of Mirrors:
Can the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society help sort out a love quadrangle?
Bee Kendrick secretly accompanies her mirror twin sister Bel to London for her debut, she had only planned on doing so to keep her flighty sister safe. Bel, however, insists that Bee take her place at times but neither ever anticipated the consequences. Two men have decided that Miss Kendrick is the right woman for him. What they don’t realize is that they’re both right. It will take a little sleight of hand by the ladies of the Wagering Whist Society to untangle this trick of mirrors.
Link: books2read.com/u/4AzO5d
A Bid for Romance: Can the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society help a duke’s sister find love where she would least expect it?
Lady Margaret refuses to believe she is as beautiful and charming as people say. With a deadline to marry, she knows she needs to rely on her friends’ help in putting herself forward, and now she’s even seeking out the support of her chaperone’s footman.
Tall, blond, and broad-shouldered, James Douglass, Marquess of Rossburke, has the looks of the perfect footman. This unexpected career path is, unfortunately, the only way the impoverished Scottish nobleman can find to support his passion for painting.
To make sure that love is well served, the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society have to concoct their most devious plan to convince the footman to show his true hand.
Link: books2read.com/u/mKDNjB
An Affair of Hearts: Can the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society turn back the clock to restore the reputation of a lady maligned?
The lovely, kind Elizabeth, the Countess St. Vincent, is determined to re-enter Regency society now that she is widowed. Despite the years that have passed since her fiasco of a debut, one man still remembers and resurrects old rumors. With her reputation destroyed, so are her hopes. Can a newfound friend be the key to burying the past before the season ends?
Charles Aldridge is a watchmaker and businessman fighting to protect a centuries-old industry threatened with extinction. But he is distracted from his quest when he is dragged into the troubles of the beguiling Lady St. Vincent. Every chivalrous bone in his body insists he do all he can to help her. Yet, following his heart may mean jeopardizing his life’s mission.
The Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society will have to play a clever hand to settle this Affair of Hearts… before time runs out.
Link: https://books2read.com/u/3LDlye
Excerpt
Even though she was a little warm after the dance, Bel was exceedingly pleased to see who her aunt was speaking with when she was returned to her side. Somehow, she had managed to catch the attention of Lady St. Vincent and her very handsome friend.
“Ah, here is my niece,” Lady Blakemore said as she approached. “Lord Conway, may I present Miss Kendrick?”
Bel curtsied as her aunt explained, “Lord Conway is Lady St. Vincent’s brother just returned from Italy.”
Bel curtsied. “It is an honor, my lord.” She looked up at him. “Italy sounds awfully exciting. How long were you traveling there?”
“I wasn’t traveling. I have been living in Venice for the past six years,” he said.
“Oh, how fascinating!” Bel received an odd look from her aunt. “I may not like history, but I do enjoy reading about foreign places,” she explained to Lady Blakemore and Lady St. Vincent.
“I feel as though I’ve missed something,” Lord Conway said, looking confused.
“What you’re missing is your invitation to the young lady to dance,” his sister informed him with a laugh.
At the unhappy expression on the man’s face, Bel immediately felt bad for him. She hated being brow-beaten into doing things she didn’t want to do by her sister too. “You need not feel compelled—”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Conway loves to dance, and I saw you dancing in the last set. You looked like you were enjoying yourself immensely,” Lady St. Vincent said.
Lord Conway put a brave smile on and bowed. “Miss Kendrick, I would be grateful if you would dance with me.”
Bel curtsied and smiled warmly up at him. “Thank you, my lord, I would love to.” She placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her toward the assembling dancers. “So that you can get your sister off your back,” she added quietly as they walked away.
An involuntary laugh tried to escape his lips, but he suppressed it well enough. His twitching lips told another story.
Happily, he wasn’t as enthusiastic as her previous partner, which gave her the opportunity to say a word or two whenever the dance brought them together. “You wouldn’t know who wrote this music, would you?” Bel asked. “It’s not by Mozart.” She had no idea whether Lord Conway knew the first thing about music, but it was worth asking.
The gentleman paused his movements and nearly had the lady next to him spin right past when he was supposed to have grabbed her hand. “No, it’s not Mozart. I believe it’s the new contredanse from Beethoven. Did my sister tell you I was a musician?”
“No! Are you?” Bel asked, suddenly even more fascinated by this incredible man.
“Well, I sing. My piano playing is just passable,” he answered when he had a chance.
“Ah, then we complement each other, my lord. I play the pianoforte, but my singing is painful to anyone within earshot.”
He laughed and spun away.
“I think you must be right that this is Beethoven, though,” Bel said, curtsying as the dance ended. “It’s not a piece I recognize, and I do try to keep up with newly released music as best I can.”
“We can ask the musicians if you like,” he offered.
“Oh yes, of course! What a splendid idea,” she said, smiling up at him. He was so handsome! He offered her his arm, and they moved through the crowd to the front of the room where a set of stairs led up to the musicians’ loft.
