The Wednesday Club Series by Sahara Kelly

“Your pleasure is my pleasure, Miss Fairhurst.” Sir Ragnor Withersby to Miss Judith Fairhurst, in a cupboard, the British Museum, London 1817 A skill at cards is not usually part of a young lady’s repertoire. An astounding skill at piquet? Unheard of. Yet here’s Miss Judith Fairhurst, a natural at the game, facing renowned expert Sir Ragnor Withersby across the table—and thoroughly defeating him... more“Your pleasure is my pleasure, Miss Fairhurst.” Sir Ragnor Withersby to Miss Judith Fairhurst, in a cupboard, the British Museum, London 1817 A skill at cards is not usually part of a young lady’s repertoire. An astounding skill at piquet? Unheard of. Yet here’s Miss Judith Fairhurst, a natural at the game, facing renowned expert Sir Ragnor Withersby across the table—and thoroughly defeating him. Their first hand arouses his interest, their first kiss arouses a lot more, and elegant man-about-town Sir Ragnor is about to find out what it’s like to tumble headfirst off a dangerous cliff into unknown waters. There will be gambling, of course. Potential scandals, cheats and revelations will abound. There will be new friends, sculptures, a strange decanter of brandy and a very nice bottom. Perhaps Fate has set their feet on a path to pleasure, but not all their steps will be smooth. Some games must be very carefully played… less

“I believe there’s some sort of disturbance in the æther surrounding mothers as spring approaches. They’re bound and determined to get their offspring settled…” Lord Linfield to Miss Glynde-Beauchamp, The Derby Ball, London, February 1818 Miss Rose Glynde-Beauchamp is both charming and intelligent, but not quite in the highest tier of London’s most eligible young ladies... more“I believe there’s some sort of disturbance in the æther surrounding mothers as spring approaches. They’re bound and determined to get their offspring settled…” Lord Linfield to Miss Glynde-Beauchamp, The Derby Ball, London, February 1818 Miss Rose Glynde-Beauchamp is both charming and intelligent, but not quite in the highest tier of London’s most eligible young ladies. Her mama, however, is determined to see Rose married well, whether she likes it or not, and that means the threat of Almack’s rather than the fun of the Wednesday Club. For an unusually gifted young lady like Rose, it’s a potential nightmare hanging over her head. Enter Lord Miles Linfield, whose mama is also on a similar marriage-rampage. Commiserating with Rose, Miles hatches a convenient plan that will save them both from endless maternal nagging. They discover a shared interest in music, which takes them down an unexpected path to a few surprises. They must solve a theft, get soaked to the skin, deal with a very unusual ménage, wear outrageous clothing and rescue a wayward copyright from greedy hands. Rose has to let go of some erroneous notions, and Miles must try and control some of his. Was Shakespeare right? Is music truly the food of love? That may well depend on just how hungry one is when the right melody comes along… less

Lydia gathered her skirts. “Shall we drown her in the punch? Drive a violin bow into her left ear? Command us, O General. We shalt do thy bidding.”“I have pins in my reticule…” Ivy looked thoughtful.Lady Maud chuckled. “Nothing so drastic, darlings, but I do appreciate the creativity.” She paused. “Especially the violin bow. I rather like that. Messy, but effective... moreLydia gathered her skirts. “Shall we drown her in the punch? Drive a violin bow into her left ear? Command us, O General. We shalt do thy bidding.”“I have pins in my reticule…” Ivy looked thoughtful.Lady Maud chuckled. “Nothing so drastic, darlings, but I do appreciate the creativity.” She paused. “Especially the violin bow. I rather like that. Messy, but effective.”Lady Maud Sydenham, on the matter of an unwelcome guest, to Miss Lydia Davenport and Miss Ivy Siddington, The Wednesday Club, London, Spring 1818Ivy Siddington adores her Wednesday Club friends, along with Miss Prudence Hartsmere-Drake, niece of the Duke of Maidenbrooke. Chaperoning Prudence is a delight, but the Duke...well, he’s the kind of problem that keeps a girl awake at night when she’s not dreaming of a hero just like him.A boorish lackwit, a moment of madness – and the consequent scandal results in a massive upheaval in Ivy’s life. Scarcely able to comprehend it, she finds herself in the middle of an adventure she could never have imagined, and an attraction that quietly grows into passion.There will be a garden, a madman, and a fountain, not to mention a daring moment of crisis and a cruelly murdered bonnet. But love will triumph, and Ivy’s heart will bloom at last – along with her flowers. less

Lydia lifted her reticule, rattling it as she neared him. “I have tools,” she smirked.“Excellent. We’ll be able to dig simultaneously.” Mowbray grinned back. “Who knows what we’ll find?”“Some prehistoric monster, d’you think?” She turned to walk beside him, heading for the front door.“Should that occur, please don’t bring it here Miss Davenport,” commented Woodleigh as he held the door open for them... moreLydia lifted her reticule, rattling it as she neared him. “I have tools,” she smirked.“Excellent. We’ll be able to dig simultaneously.” Mowbray grinned back. “Who knows what we’ll find?”“Some prehistoric monster, d’you think?” She turned to walk beside him, heading for the front door.“Should that occur, please don’t bring it here Miss Davenport,” commented Woodleigh as he held the door open for them. “His Grace would insist putting it into the library and the maids have only just finished in there.”Mr Linfield and Miss Davenport on departing the Maiden Shore estate to seek fossils, Summer 1819Lydia Davenport, a devout member of the Wednesday Club, is feeling rather left out, since she has no handsome husband warming her bed for her, unlike her friends Judith, Rose and Ivy. Ever impulsive, she decides to take advantage of their summer holiday at Maiden Shore on the south coast of England and declares her intent to take a lover. The one tiny problem? She has no idea who the lucky man will be.Mowbray Linfield is thrilled to spend the summer with his friends at Maiden Shore. It is a beautiful home where the shackles of convention can drift away and be replaced by fun and frolics on the beach. He finds his interest in fossils matched by Lydia’s fascination with them and his opinion of her is confirmed—she is unique.Will Lydia find her lover? Maybe, but along the way there will be bare bottoms, wet bottoms and pinched bottoms, fossils, ale and scandalous swims. There will be storms, danger and desire, along with friendship and, as always, laughter. All of which will go toward proving that finding a lover is one thing—falling in love is quite another. less

She’s waited since the summer for him to come back. Now he has, but he’s not in London just to see her. Sir Ronan O’Malley has a family problem and he’ll need the help of not only Prudence Hartsmere-Drake, but the other Wednesday Club members who are in town for Christmas. The matter is urgent, more so than many realize, but Ronan knows he must settle it before he can get to the most important item on his Christmas list – Miss Prudence!