Two PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED Windham Regency Novellas THE COURTSHIP—Percival Windham, the Moreland spare, is politely fending off matchmakers and merry widows alike as he endures three interminable weeks at a summer house party. Esther Himmelfarb is trudging through the same three weeks at the same house party, trying to keep a handsome cousin out of trouble while she dodges proposals from gouty barons, and propositions from upstart peers. Percival is far above her touch, Esther is not at all who Percy had in mind, but some things are meant to be! THE DUKE AND HIS DUCHESS—In this second prequel novella to the popular Windham series, Percival and Esther Windham face the tumultuous and bittersweet first years of marriage. Between an aging patriarch, a full nursery, money troubles, and political difficulties, true love is slipping from sight. Then Percival's past delivers a double helping of trouble at precisely the wrong time, and Percival and Esther must decide whether their marriage becomes an alliance of convenience or an enduring love story.
Author
Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels. It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside. While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?") Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing—and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.) To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
