PJ's Birthday Bash - - Elizabeth Michels

I'm delighted to welcome Elizabeth Michels to my birthday week celebration! Not only is Elizabeth a woman who sparkles with wit and charm, just like her stories, but she is also another September 20th birthday sister. Julie Anne and Elizabeth both share my birthday. That's just all kinds of awesome! Elizabeth's next series, The Spare Heirs kicks off March 1, 2016 with the release of The Infamous Heir. I can't wait! 

Elizabeth is the award-winning author of the Tricks of the Ton series and the upcoming Spare Heirs Series.  She grew up on a Christmas tree farm in rural South Carolina. After tip-toeing her way through school with her focus on ballet steps and her nose in a book, she met a boy and followed him a thousand miles away from home to Kansas City, Missouri. They spent their summers visiting his family in Middlesbrough, England soaking up culture, history and a few pints along the way.  Elizabeth attended Park University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Interior Design.

Elizabeth now spends her days creating plots and concocting characters at her home in a small lake-side town in North Carolina. When she is not typing as fast as human movement will allow, she is caring for her husband and little boy. Elizabeth Michels is a lover of happily-ever-afters; whether in her writing life or in her home life, she spends her days with one word on her lips--love.  She invites you to read her stories, get lost and enjoy.  www.elizabethmichels.com

Happy Birthday from THE REBEL HEIR and Elizabeth Michels

Bristol, England

1817

“All you have to do is blow out this candle,” Ash said, producing one of the small tapers from his pocket with a flourish and a smile just as he always did. 

Whether he was selling love potions to ladies or investment opportunities to gentlemen, a smile and some showmanship always helped matters along.  And matters needed to be helped along if he was to be on the road out of town tonight.  He glanced to the clock on the drawing room mantle.  Dinner had already been a lengthy affair, but he hadn’t been able to refuse the invitation with so many local gentry gathered in one place for the night.

“That’s all?” One of the ladies who had gathered around him asked, her eyes wide in disbelief…or perhaps that was anticipation.  It was difficult to tell when she wore such thick spectacles.  “I’ll look young forever?”  She added in a soft dream-like voice.

“Is it a magic candle?” Another lady asked as she stepped closer to investigate.  Her gaze was trained on the small piece of wax he held between his fingers.

“Some believe so, my lady.” He spoke only to her although five other ladies leaned in to hear every word.  “I discovered the secrets of the flames of Claughbania when I was on a distant isle.  The women there were all young and beautiful—much like present company.”

He paused to scan the group, noticing the round of blushes just before several fans were put into motion.  “I lived with the native people for three months in quite rustic conditions, everyday asking for their secret to everlasting youth.  And every day I was denied the answers I sought.  Until finally, one long, sleepless night, I went for a walk and found a man sitting before a fire.  He was an elder and he shared with me the very candles I have with me today.”

He looked into each of their faces, waiting to continue his story for dramatic effect and taking in their believing looks of awe.  That was when he caught sight of the dark haired gentleman across the room he’d met at dinner.  That man was traveling through town just like Ash, only St. James was from London.  One day, Ash would return to London as well, but certainly not any time soon.  St. James was watching him with a thoughtful gleam in his eye.  Everything about that man screamed mysterious and that was coming from someone who was currently selling candles of eternal youth to a group of hopeful ladies in a stranger’s drawing room. 

Ash held the candle up as he continued.  “The wax was melted in the flames of Claughbania- a vicious volcano on the isle said to hold the spirit of a beautiful Greek goddess.  The wick, well that’s a secret I swore to keep forever.  If I told you, I would be putting my own life at risk.”

“Oh dear! Don’t do that Lord Crosby!” One lady cried even as she batted her lashes at him.

“I agree,” another lady added.  “You can’t endanger yourself in such a manner.  What would we do without you?”

“I appreciate your concern,” Ash said with a grin.  “Now, as it happens, I have only six of these candles left in my possession and for five pounds one could be yours.  But you must purchase it tonight.”

“Why tonight?”

Ash lowered his voice as if telling a grave secret.  “It must be extinguished by the light of a waning moon.”

“Oh, that is interesting.”

“Isn’t the moon tonight waxing?”  Ash heard a deeper voice ask. 

He looked up to see St. James.  The man had moved across the room to lean on the mantle only a few steps away.  Ash tensed, but didn’t allow his annoyance to show in his face.  “That’s what I said—the light of a waxing moon.”

He lowered his gaze back to the ladies who surrounded him, determined to finish the business that brought him here this evening.  “Eternal beauty could be yours tonight.  Imagine looking young forever.”

“I’ll take one,” one lady demanded.

“As will I.”

“Thank you for your business,” he murmured as he passed around the candles and lined his pockets with their pin money, ignoring St. James who was watching the transaction with interest rather than stopping it.  He didn’t know what that man was about, but the faster he left this place, the more at ease he would be.  He smiled down at the last lady as he handed her the small candle.  “You’ll wake tomorrow with the shining looks of a twenty year old.”

“Thank you, Lord Crosby.”

“Anything for you ladies.  And happy birthday.”  He nodded to their hostess for the evening before moving away, finally able to shoot St. James with the glare he’d kept hidden for the last ten minutes.

“The Flames of Claughbania?” St. James asked in a whisper as he followed Ash across the room.  “If your brothers ever discover you used the good name of Claughbane to sell candles you purchased in the next village over…”

Ash spun on his heel to face the man.  He’d buried his past long ago and had never looked back.  How did this man know?  Bluff—that was the only way out of this alive.  “They’re candles of eternal youth.”

“Clearly.  And if your brothers ever hear of this they will burn you alive in the volcano you just invented.”  St. James’ voice was low enough not to be overheard, which coincidentally made the man sound lethal.  Perhaps he was lethal—to a man like Ash anyway.

“How do you know of my family?” Ash ground out through teeth clinched into some form of a smile.

“I know a great many things, Mr. Ash Claughbane of the Isle of Man.  You’re the youngest of four and your eldest brother recently inherited a dukedom.  Yet you spend your time…”  St. James broke off with a glance over his shoulder to the ladies still gathered near the fireplace.

“If my brother sent you, you can save your speech about being honorable.”

“No one sends me anywhere,” St. James corrected.

Ash studied him for a second before asking, “Who are you?”

“If you’re ever in London, come see me.” St. James slid a calling card into Ash’s hand.  There printed in black embossed type was The Spare Heirs’ Society with an address printed below.

“What is The Spare…”  Ash began but when he looked up, St. James was already moving toward the door. 

London and a society of any sort?  Ash had been on his own too long to be interested in that.  Yet he found himself following after St. James and stuffing the card into his pocket.  Perhaps it was time to return to London after all…

Happy Birthday, PJ! Do you know where we could find some candles of eternal youth for our birthday cakes this year?

I don't, Elizabeth but I'll sure let you know if I do! Thank you for the sneak peek into your new world of spare heirs. I have March 1st marked on my 2016 calendar! 

What do you say, readers? How do you keep young? Is it a matter of diet? Exercise? Attitude? Reading lots of romance novels? Let's dish!

Two randomly chosen people leaving a comment will receive a package of books from my prize stash. (U.S. only)

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment will receive a paperback copy of Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels. (open to any address serviced by bookdepository.com)

The Infamous Heir
By Elizabeth Michels
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release Date: March 1, 2016

Ethan Moore is the disinherited second son of nobility, and that’s all he should have ever been. But everything changes when his eldest brother’s disappearance grants Ethan the noble family title. Though he expects a lavish season under his new title, Roselyn, the lady his brother left behind, has other ideas. She is determined to solve this case and sees Ethan as the prime suspect.

With the help of a secret society he was once part of, Ethan searches for the truth of his brother’s disappearance. As he battles Roselyn to prove her wrong, an unforeseen attraction kindles between them. While Roselyn will do whatever it takes to prove him guilty, Ethan will do anything to ignite the burning flames rising between them…