Temptation Read online

  Critical acclaim for the marvelous romances of

  JUDE DEVERAUX

  TEMPTATION

  “An exciting historical romance that centers on the early-twentieth-century women’s rights movement. . . . Filled with excitement, action, and insight. . . . A nonstop thriller.”

  —Harriet Klausner, Barnesandnoble.com

  “[A] satisfying story.”

  —Booklist

  “Deveraux[’s] lively pace and happy endings . . . will keep readers turning pages.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  HIGH TIDE

  A Romantic Times Top Pick

  “High Tide is packed full of warmth, humor, sensual tension, and exciting adventure. What more could you ask of a book?”

  —Romantic Times

  “Fast-paced, suspenseful. . . . [A] sassy love story.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Exciting . . . may be Jude Deveraux’s best novel in her stellar career. . . . Fans of romantic suspense will gain much pleasure.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “In this fast-paced escapade, Jude Deveraux delivers adventure and romance as mysterious and sultry as the Everglades themselves.”

  —BookPage

  “Jude Deveraux not only keeps you guessing but mixes crime and human morality with humor in the most unexpected moments. . . . Real-life characters, tension-building suspense, intense passion, and [a] dynamic climax make this a fantastic read.”

  —Rendezvous

  THE BLESSING

  “Plenty of romance, fun, and adventure . . . fans won’t be disappointed.”

  —San Antonio Express-News

  “[A] fun and entertaining love story . . . a wonderful read. . . . A must for Deveraux fans.”

  —The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

  “The Blessing is another bestseller by one of the all-time greats.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “A heartwarming story.”

  —Kerrville Daily Times (TX)

  AN ANGEL FOR EMILY

  “All sorts of clever turns and surprises. Definitely a keeper. . . . Wow!”

  —The Philadelphia Inquirer

  LEGEND

  “First-rate reading. . . . Only Jude Deveraux could mix romance with tongue-in-cheek humor and have it all come out so perfectly right.”

  —Rendezvous

  THE HEIRESS

  “Deveraux’s novels are always eagerly awaited by her fans, and The Heiress lives up to her usual standards.”

  —The Pilot (Southern Pines, NC)

  REMEMBRANCE

  “Brilliant. . . . Unforgettable. . . . As romantic as A Knight in Shining Armor. . . . Ms. Deveraux . . . is a superb craftsman and a mesmerizing storyteller.”

  —Kathe Robin, Romantic Times

  A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR

  “A glorious love story that spans centuries, worlds, and souls. . . . Enchanting and extraordinary.”

  —Chicago Daily Herald

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  To Lorna and Ron with love

  One

  1909

  NEW YORK

  “And in conclusion, ladies . . . and gentlemen . . .” There was a murmur of amusement in the big auditorium, for there were very few men who attended Temperance O’Neil’s lectures. They couldn’t stand to hear the truth of what Temperance said, couldn’t stand to hear and see what they had done to the American family.

  “I say that the fight must continue, that we have not yet begun to make inroads into this problem, but we mustn’t give up. We must continue!”

  At that Temperance stepped back from the podium and dropped her head so only the wide wheel of her trademark hat could be seen. It was an instant before the women could get to their feet and start applauding. Looking up, Temperance gave them a dazzling smile; then slowly and with humility, she walked off the stage.

  “You were wonderful,” said Agnes Spinnaker as she put a small hand on Temperance’s shoulder. “As always.”

  “Let’s just hope it did some good,” Temperance said as she twitched the curtain aside and looked out at the audience again. They were still on their feet, still clapping hard.

  “You have to go back out,” Agnes said loudly so she could be heard over the noise of the crowd. “You have to say something more. Do you have anything planned?”

  “Oh, I have something planned, all right,” Temperance said as she began pulling long pins from her hat. “Hold these, will you? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  “What in the world are you going to do?”

  “Watch,” Temperance said as she pushed aside the curtain, then went back onto the stage. As she stepped up on the little box that held the podium, she waited for the applause to die down; then when the room was quiet, she waited another few seconds. No one sat down, but the three hundred or so women stood in place, their hands ready to start clapping again; for whatever Temperance said, they were ready to applaud.

  In the absolute quiet of the auditorium, Temperance looked down at the oak lectern in front of her, as though she were looking at notes and about to read from them.

  But then, in one fast movement, she grabbed her big hat and threw it so it sailed high above the heads of the women, twirling, twisting, higher and higher. There wasn’t an eye in the room that wasn’t on that hat, one of her hats, one of Temperance O’Neil’s hats.

  The hat came down near the back row, and half a dozen women made a leap for it. Momentarily there was a tussle, with skirts rising above ankles, and buttoned leather shoes waving in the air. Then there was a squeal and a pretty young woman jumped up from the middle of the melee and waved the hat as though it were a flag won on a battlefield.

  In the next instant the crowd went wild with excitement, clapping, yelling, stamping feet; there were even some whistles.

  Temperance stepped down from the podium, gave a great wave to the excited young woman in the back clutching her newly won hat, then quickly left the stage.

  “Oh, Temperance,” Agnes said, “that was brilliant. Truly brilliant. I would never have thought of that.”

  “How many are out there?” Temperance asked as she walked briskly toward her dressing room, nodding toward the backstage door.

  “Not too many. At least not as many as last time. After what happened last week, people are a little afraid of being hurt.”

  Inside her dressing room, Temperance reached down to open a hat box on the floor and grimaced. She knew that her theatrics helped her cause, and heaven knew that she needed all the help she could get, but she didn’t like people to be hurt.

  “How clever you are to have brought another hat. I guess you planned that gesture at the end.”

  “Of course,” Temperance said. Agnes was a good person and she was useful, but she certainly had no imagination. “Is Willie out there?”

  “Oh, yes. You know he’d give his life for you.”

  “Mmmm. Let’s just hope he can get me out of here quickly tonight. My mother’s ship arrived today. I haven’t seen her in three whole months!”

  “I’m sure she’ll be very glad to see you. You look wonderful.”

  As Temperance glanced into the mirror, adjusting the replacement hat on her head, she smiled at Agnes. The newspapers alleged that Temperance surrounded herself with homely women so Temperance would look better by contrast. But when Temperance’s mother had read that, she’d smiled and said, “But who wouldn’t be plain-faced when next to you, dear?�