It Happened One Night Read online

  “I know.”

  “Say it again.”

  “No looking back.”

  He took her in his arms and kissed her more thoroughly. “I’m proud of you, my girl. I knew you could not be so hen-hearted. You always had spunk.” He smiled so broadly, he thought his face might crack. “Dear God, I am surely the happiest man alive! I love you, Wilma Jepp. I always have. And I always will. I’m hoping you love me a little, too.”

  “More than a little.”

  He grinned like an imbecile at her words. “I don’t care that it took almost twenty-five years to finish what we started in your father’s hayloft. It was worth the wait. But from this moment on, it’s full speed ahead.”

  “Then what are you waiting for, Captain? Let’s get this pitiful excuse for a carriage to Town and start that new scandal you were talking about.”

  Sam threw back his head and laughed with pure joy, gave the horses their heads, and set sail for London and a new life with the only woman he’d ever truly loved.

  About Candice Hern

  CANDICE HERN has always enjoyed escaping into the history and literature of Regency England. After years of rereading the novels of Jane Austen and other women of the period, she by chance discovered the great Georgette Heyer—and all her contemporary stepchildren—and was instantly hooked.

  Candice lives in San Francisco in a house cluttered with African violets, orchids, Regency-period antiques, and mountains of reference books. She loves to hear from readers. Contact her via email at [email protected], or the old-fashioned way at PO Box 31499, San Francisco, California 94131. Please visit her website at www.candicehern.com.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  About the Authors

  New York Times bestselling author STEPHANIE LAURENS began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science, a hobby that quickly became a career. Her novels set in Regency England have captivated readers around the globe, making her one of the romance world’s most beloved and popular authors.

  Readers can contact Stephanie via e-mail at [email protected].

  For information on all of Stephanie’s books, including updates on novels yet to come, visit Stephanie’s website at www.stephanielaurens.com.

  MARY BALOGH grew up in Wales, and after graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English. Her first Regency love story, A Masked Deception, was published in 1985. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling Slightly sextet and Simply quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She lives in Regina, Canada.

  Growing up on Long Island, New York, I fell in love with romance at an early age. I dreamed of being swept away by a dashing rogue riding a spirited stallion. When my hero finally showed up, he was dressed in jeans and drove a Volkswagen, but I recognized him anyway. We married after both graduating from Hofstra University and are now living our happily-everafters in Atlanta, Georgia, along with our very bright and active son, who is a dashing rogue in the making. I love to hear from readers! You can contact me through my website at www.JacquieD.com.

  CANDICE HERN has always enjoyed escaping into the history and literature of Regency England. After years of rereading the novels of Jane Austen and other women of the period, she by chance discovered the great Georgette Heyer—and all her contemporary stepchildren—and was instantly hooked.

  Candice lives in San Francisco in a house cluttered with African violets, orchids, Regency-period antiques, and mountains of reference books. She loves to hear from readers. Contact her via email at [email protected], or the old-fashioned way at PO Box 31499, San Francisco, California 94131. Please visit her website at www.candicehern.com.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  Enter the World of Stephanie Laurens

  Secrets of a Perfect Night: with Victoria Alexander and Rachel Gibson

  The Fall of Rogue Gerrard

  It Happened One Night: with Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and Candice Hern

  It Happened One Season: with Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and Candice Hern

  The Lady Risks All

  Lost and Found

  A Return Engagement

  Rose in Bloom

  Scandalous Lord Dere

  The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor

  Royal Bridesmaids: with Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase

  Royal Weddings: with Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase

  THE CYNSTER NOVELS

  Devil’s Bride

  A Rake’s Vow

  Scandal’s Bride

  A Rogue’s Proposal

  A Secret Love

  The Taste of Innocence

  All About Love

  All About Passion

  The Promise in a Kiss

  On a Wild Night

  On a Wicked Dawn

  Hero, Come Back: with Christina Dodd and Elizabeth Boyle

  The Perfect Lover

  The Ideal Bride

  Temptation and Surrender

  The Truth About Love

  What Price Love?

  In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster

  Capture of the Earl of Glencrae

  The Wedding Planner

  The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh

  Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue

  And Then She Fell

  THE BASTION NOVELS

  Captain Jack's Woman (prequel)

  The Lady Chosen

  A Gentleman’s Honor

  A Lady of His Own

  A Fine Passion

  The Edge of Desire

  Beyond Seduction

  Mastered By Love

  To Distraction

  THE BLACK COBRA NOVELS

  The Untamed Bride

  The Elusive Bride

  The Brazen Bride

  The Reckless Bride

  THE CASE BOOK OF BARNABY ADAIR

  Where the Heart Leads

  The Masterful Mr. Montague

  Loving Rose

  Also by Jacquie D’Alessandro

  CONFESSIONS AT MIDNIGHT

  SLEEPLESS AT MIDNIGHT

  NEVER A LADY

  NOT QUITE A GENTLEMAN

  LOVE AND THE SINGLE HEIRESS

  WHO WILL TAKE THIS MAN?

  Also by Candice Hern

  Bride Sale

  Her Scandalous Affair

  Once a Scoundrel

  Once a Gentleman

  Once a Dreamer

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT. “The Fall of Rogue Gerrard” Copyright © 2008 by Savdek Management Proprietory Ltd. “Spellbound” copyright © 2008 by Mary Balogh. “Only You” copyright © 2008 by Jacquie D’Alessandro. “From This Moment On” copyright © 2008 by Candice Hern. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  EPUB © EDITION AUGUST 2008 ISBN: 9780061982125

  Version 10042013

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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