Exclusive

Rachel Griffiths’ Novel ‘The Trouble With Anna’ Will Quench Your ‘My Lady Jane’ Thirst: Exclusive Excerpt

Historical romances are all the rage right now, whether they’re in the pages of books or on the screen.

If you’re a fan of Bridgerton or My Lady Jane, then The Trouble With Anna by Rachel Griffiths is right up your alley. The novel, which will be released on March 4, revolves around the fierce Lady Anna, who refuses to bow down to her grandfather’s order, via his will, to either marry or lose her inheritance. As Anna strives for her independence, she’s also got to contend with the dashing Lord Julian Ramsay. Anna and Lord Ramsay quickly learn there’s a very fine and flirty line between love and hate.

The Trouble With Anna has all the ingredients for an unforgettable read: Regency romance, he falls first, enemies to lovers, best friend’s older brother, epic banter. Ahead of the book’s release, Swooon is treating you romance lovers to an exclusive excerpt so you can get a taste of The Trouble With Anna magic.

Read the exclusive excerpt below:

Anna marched along the mews behind the Dowager’s house a week later, squinting against the mellow winter sun. She was thinking. Or trying not to think. Or…  she wasn’t quite sure. All she knew was she was badly mixed up and needed to talk to a horse.

Horses didn’t judge. Except stallions—they were the worst kind of snobs. No, for this situation she needed a mare, mature and steady. Sally would know what to make of the whirl of the past week.

Besides, Anna had a present for her.

She looked down at the odd bouquet she carried. Bright chamomiles peeping out from a clutch of grain stalks and carrots, all tucked into a hollow squash.

It had come with a note:

Sally, Esteemed Mare of the Mews

Ramsay Dower House

London, England

My dearest Sally,

An offering for you to admire or eat, as you please.

There are more carrots in your future if you convince your mistress to move up the wedding date.

—Ramsay

Damn the man. What kind of scoundrel sent flowers to a horse?

Anna bit back a grin. For that matter, what kind of man sent a parade of ridiculous presents and even more ridiculous notes, some so gleefully filthy she thought her cheeks might crisp off? How was she meant to feel when he kept bustling her off to the orangerie and kissing her stupid, all the while whispering what he would do to her once they were married, if only she would agree to a special license?

He was relentless. Heartless to tempt her! She wanted to boil him in oil. Snip off his toes and fry them up. Or roast them. Or whatever Cook did to give her little potatoes such a delicious crunch. If Anna didn’t know better, she might almost think Julian cared, might almost think he loved…

Anna shushed herself. Julian had never once mentioned feelings, or caring, or, god help her gasping heart, love.

She reached the stables and peeked her head in. “Good morning, Oliver. I’ve brought a treat for Sally.”

The groom looked up from his sweeping. “Hello, my lady.” He looked over her shoulder and straightened. “And good morning to you, my lord.”

A thrill ran up Anna’s back.

“Good morning, Oliver.” Julian’s voice reverberated from close behind her. “Clear the stables.”

Anna’s face flamed like a bonfire as the grooms and stableboys filed out, careful not to look at her.

When the doors closed on the last of them, Anna spun around.

“Julian! You know what they’ll think.”

“Mmm. Tell me? In detail, if you please.”

Anna’s lips twitched hopelessly.

Julian reached for Sally’s flowers and put them gently on the floor, then slid a hand around Anna’s waist and pulled her firmly against him.

“Nothing to say? Never mind, then.” The gleam in his eye faded away, leaving him oddly solemn. “I have something for you.”

“Not here!” Anna squeaked, blushing down to her feet. She hadn’t stopped blushing since the minute she met him. Forget the coal in its bin and the fat stacks of firewood, her cheeks alone could heat the Dowager’s townhouse.

Julian laughed, low in his throat. “Most definitely here, my lightning, but I had something else in mind.”

He pulled a small box from his pocket and rubbed his thumb over the top, oddly tentative. “It’s not… I hope… My first thought was to weigh you down with the largest stone I could find. But it wouldn’t be practical, not when you spend half your life in the mud. So I commissioned this.”

The box gave a satisfying snick as he opened it, and there, nestled into a bed of black velvet, was a glittering crescent of diamonds.

Anna picked the ring up carefully, turning it so she could see the delicate workmanship that kept the stones flat along the band.

“They’re table-cut diamonds. I told my jeweler to make the ring perfectly smooth, so it won’t be in your way.” His voice went low, rough. “You won’t have to take it off. Not in the stables, not ever.”

Her legs felt suspiciously weak. “It’s like a little galaxy.”

She wanted to snatch the ring and hug it against her chest. She wanted to coo at it and whisper it all her hopes and secrets. It wasn’t grand, but each stone was clear, blinding. Perfect. “Is that an inscription?”

Julian’s cheeks went dark. “It’s nothing. A bit of nonsense.”

Anna turned the ring to read the tiny squiggle: struck by lightning.