Exclusive Excerpt from Masked Heart

by Calli Hall

There was no more family, and she had never had true friends. The few people she had thought she could rely on had betrayed her in the worst way one could imagine.

Despite that, she had not been opposed to the beginning of a friendship with the aristocrat, only to then be left once more.

She, or rather he, was simply lonely. Under all of the layers of make-up and clothing the young man behind the masquerade longed for someone.

A person could survive alone, but not really live. He knew that. The reason for his displeasure likely laid with the Duke. Up to now he had constantly been at the side of Madame P.. He was not amicable or even well-disposed, but he was there.

That alone had been enough for her. She had been noticed.

How pathetic! She smiled cynically at herself. She was jealous because the Duke hadn’t offered her a snide remark as usual. Maybe he had been hiding in women’s clothes for too long if he was reacting to Lexerton with such feelings.

This was not only ridiculous, but also dangerous. If the Duke were ever to find out the truth about Madame P., or rather him, the hangman would be redundant— the Duke himself would tie the knots for the noose. Continue reading →