The Lord’s Promise

THE LORD’S PROMISE Fate may be merciless, but love is relentless. LISA CAMPELL CONTENTS Thank you Society’s Secret Sins About the book Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 — Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Epilogue Extended Epilogue Afterword Society’s Secret Sins Do you want more Romance? The Matchmaker's Choice Never miss a thing Thank you About the Author THANK YOU I want to personally thank you for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me. It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to share with you my passion for writing, through my stories. As a FREE GIFT, I am giving you a link to my first novel. It has more than 40 reviews, with an average rating of 5 out of 5. It is called “The Earl's Sinful Quest”, and you can get it for FREE. Please note that this story is only available for YOU as a subscriber and hasn't been published anywhere else. Please click on the cover to download the book. SOCIETY’S SECRET SINS Book#1 The Duke’s Reckoning * * * Book#2 (this book) The Lord’s Promise ABOUT THE BOOK In a world where fate is a ruthless master, they are but two pawns in its game… From the moment Lady Anne Fitzroy met Jace Reeves, she knew their fates were irrevocably intertwined. Alas, the merciless tempests of war tore them asunder, leaving Anne stranded in a desolate, loveless betrothal to a Duke, whose grasp was suffocating and unyielding. Little did she know that her wish would come true at last… Jace Reeves emerged from the battlefield bearing scars upon his flesh and spirit. His heart yearned for the embrace of Lady Anne, the woman who had captured his heart, only to find her ensnared by another. Yet, the flame of his love still burns with fervor, a passionate inferno that refuses to be extinguished. But their reunion is not meant to be easy; for the walls that keep them apart are high and fortified. From Anne's betrothal to Jace's broken spirit, they must fight with every fiber of their being to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. In the face of an implacable destiny, even the most resolute of wills may falter. So, how can they triumph over fate and emerge victorious from its relentless game? Fate may be merciless, but love is relentless. * * * PROLOGUE Devonshire, England. June 1806 Crushed strawberries and tangy apples mixed with a healthy dose of desperation; Jace touched Anne’s lips with his. She knew he was tasting her to remember. His tongue sought solace within the confines of her mouth, entwined with her tongue, and they tangled in a feverish kiss. Jace weaved his fingers into the wildness of her hair, and deepened the kiss, spurred on by her soft moans, the shallow rise and fall of her chest. Behind them, the ocean crashed against the Devon cliffs in a wild frenzy that echoed Anne’s turbulent mood. We sail at dawn. Anne pushed those damning words from her mind and leaned into him, breathing in his scent, in a desperate bid to memorize it. Her fingers clung to the front of his shirt as she buried her face into his shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around her, his head dipping so his lips rested on the crown of her head. Anne craved everything. She wanted the moment to last forever. “Don’t go, don’t go,” Anne whispered against his chest. It was small, but she felt Jace tremble. “I can’t lose you,” she mumbled, her heart splintering as her mind ran to the worst possible outcomes. She raised her head, going up onto her toes so her lips could find his. She poured her anguish and hunger into that kiss, then raked her hands through his brown curls. Jace groaned into her mouth. “I wish I didn’t have to,” he whispered. Blinking back furious tears, she released him and sat facing the vast waters with her feet pulled up, her toes digging into the sand. Jace threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “I must sound like a selfish oaf,” Anne mumbled. “Annie, don’t say that,” he soothed, pressing a kiss to her cheek. She’d wanted to be brave for him, for this moment, but she could not stop the spill of words. “Our life now… I thought it was perfect. I thought you were happy.” “I am. With you, I am happy. But—” “But?” Jace let out a frustrated breath. It had always been hard for him to explain his true feelings, his brows contorting as he considered his words. “Anne,” he said gently, holding her face and staring deep into her eyes, his voice raw with honesty, “you know what I am, and you know I cannot live off my brother’s largesse forever. I do not have the brains for a career in the law, and do you think I would make a successful clergyman?” That surprised a laugh out of her, even if every part of her wanted to argue with him. “See? Even you, who have always believed I can do anything, admit I’m not cut out for a career in the church or the courts. But the military, my love? Don’t you think I will look dashing in my regimentals?” Anne’s gaze scoured every inch of his face. “I wish I didn’t understand you,” she sighed. “I wish you could stay here with me.” Their stares collided, and for a breathless second, his face flickered in doubt, and Anne realized he was struggling just as much as she, despite his bravado. He drew in a ragged breath and placed a feathery kiss on her forehead. “Your father would be proud of you for following in his steps,” she said. “I’d like to think that.” Jace's hands