Desire Wears Diamonds

Raves for the Jaded Gentleman Novels

Obsession Wears Opals

“Passion and adventure seamlessly blend as
Bernard stirs a tale steeped in intrigue and secrets, keeping pages
turning and interest high.”
–RT
BookReviews

“Renee Bernard has redefined what makes a
hero and heroine heroic”

–
Tin Ong,
GoodReads

Passion Wears Pearls

“Chemistry between the characters sparks and
crackles with a vibrant energy that sh

ivers up your spine keeping you on the edge
of your seat well into the night.”

–Veiled Secret Reviews

“Renee Bernard hits another one out of the
park!”
– Lindsey Ross, GoodReads

Ecstasy Wears Emeralds

“Sensuality fills the pages.”

–Publishers Weekly

“Level of emotional force that makes sure you
cannot put this book down!...Ms. Bernard skillfully weaves a tale
of love and learning, friendship and betrayal to lead you down a
merry path…”

–Veiled Secret Reviews

Seduction Wears Sapphires

“An amazing read, I enjoyed it immensely…Ashe
and Caroline are wonderful characters that made me fall in love
with them from the beginning of the story.”
–Night
Owl Reviews

“A fine book, well crafted, well researched,
and an entertaining romantic novel…Historical romance fans will be
delighted, I have no doubt.”
–The Book
Binge

“What a refreshing new take on two people who
from first sight are determined to detest each other…I was
immediately engrossed with the fiery, witty dialogue and the
curiosity of how this couple, who loathed each other upon their
meeting, would come full circle to a beautifully shared love in the
end.”

–Fiction Vixen

Continued—

Revenge Wears Rubies

“Sensuality fairly steams from Bernard’s
writing. This luscious tale will enthrall you. Enjoy!”
–Sabrina Jeffries,
New York
Times
bestselling author

“If you’re a fan of spicy hot romances mixed
with a bit of intrigue and set in Victorian London, don’t miss this
one!”

–The Romance Dish

“Galen’s journey from emotional cripple to
ability to love is a captivating, erotic romance.”

–Fresh Fiction

More praise for the “grand mistress of
sensual, scorching romance”*

“Sinfully sexy. . . Wickedly witty, sublimely
sensual. . . Renee Bernard dazzles readers . . . Clever, sensual,
and superb.”

–Booklist

“Scorcher! Bernard debuts with an erotic
romance that delivers not only a high degree of sensuality but a
strong plotline and a cast of memorable characters. She’s sure to
find a place alongside Robin Schone, Pam Rosenthal, and Thea
Devine.”
–*RT BookReviews

“Very hot romance. Readers who enjoy an
excellent, sizzling Victorian story are going to thoroughly enjoy
this one.” –Romance Reviews Today

“Shiverlicious! A captivating plot,
charismatic characters, and sexy, tingle-worthy romance. . .
Fantastic!”

–Joyfully Reviewed

“Crowd-pleasing.”
–Publishers Weekly

“[This] steamy historical romance is [a]
great debut for this new author. . . Filled with steamy and erotic
scenes. . . The plot is solid and the ending holds many surprises .
. . Tantalizing.”

–Fresh Fiction

The Jaded Gentleman Titles by Renee
Bernard

REVENGE WEARS RUBIES

SEDUCTION WEARS SAPPHIRES

ECSTASY WEARS EMERALDS

PASSION WEARS PEARLS
OBSESSION WEARS OPALS

The Mistress Trilogy by Renee Bernard

A LADY’S PLEASURE

MADAME’S DECEPTION

A ROGUE’S GAME

Off World Chronicles by Robin Geoffreys

TREASON’S HEART

A Story from The Eternity Gambit©

Comic Book

AZRAEL’S GIRL

**

www.reneebernardauthor.com

www.Facebook.com/ReneeBernardAuthor

Twitter.com/ReneeBernard

**

Listen to Renee Bernard on
BlogTalk Radio!
“Canned Laughter and Coffee” is a live weekly
Internet radio program interviewing current popular romance authors
hosted by Renee Bernard. Professionally produced by COS Productions
as part of their Readers Entertainment lineup, this program gives
readers a chance to “meet” their favorite authors and find new
must-reads through an informal chat and the opportunity to hear the
craziness behind the scenes of the romance industry. Visit
www.readersentertainment.com
and just click on Readers Entertainment Radio! Or tune in online on
Tuesday nights at 8:30pm EST to listen live!

Desire

Wears

Diamonds



Desire Wears Diamonds

By Renee Bernard

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 R. Renee Bernard

Smashwords Edition,
License Notes


This ebook is licensed for
your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or
given away to other people. If you would like to share this book
with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each
recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or
it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to
Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting
the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance
to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events,
or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 by R. Renee Ferguson

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced,
scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without
permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of
copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase
only authorized editions. And feel free to send the author extra
money should you enjoy the book beyond its cover price.

This book is dedicated to Anne Elizabeth.
She knows a warrior’s heart and I am confident that Michael would
find a welcome respite at her table.

He is a quiet soldier, Anne, and like you, a
gentle soul.

I love you, Sister-Friend.

And to Geoff and the girls. You are my life.
Thank you for making it an adventure.

And finally, to my Beloved Readers.

This one is literally written for you. Every
note from you, every kind review and post fueled my desire to write
a better book. And you inspired me to keep going.

This book is Yours.

If there’s been a theme to these last few
months, I’m going to say it was about friends. I gained so many new
incredible friends and was blessed to keep the great ones I already
had, to the point that I overheard myself boasting that I’d
achieved a Mark-Twainian (I made that up but I hope it comes
across…) level of success. I have an inner circle of trusted souls
that have given me new confidence—as if life were still a high
school cafeteria and I finally found my peeps. (Did I say that
right? Can you tell I’m thrilled to be at the nerd and geek table?
Is it okay that at my age I just used the word peeps for the first
time?) In any case, to the Universe, I want to say thank you for my
friends. (But of course, Universe, if you want to throw in a
lottery win for good measure, I would never complain.)

Every once in a while, you get lucky and
your agent, who is brilliant and supportive, also turns out to be a
great friend and the brother you never knew you were missing. I
want to thank Eric Ruben for his patience, his kindness, his humor
and of course, for the most glamorous client/agent dinner I’ve ever
experienced. I am spoiled forever.

I want to thank Lindsey Ross, for being my
muse and sister-friend. More than a reader, I have to say that
without her amazing support and personal encouragement, there’s no
telling where I would be today. Lindsey made me feel like a rock
star, which if you’ll refer back to the first paragraph of these
acknowledgements, is an incredible accomplishment. If nothing else
ever came, I’d count myself a lucky woman for the friendship we
share.

I have to thank Ian Parton for his guidance
on British military history and the details that can make or break
a historical romance (which means if anything in this fictional
work related to British military history is broken, it’s my
fault—not his!) And special thanks are given to Juanita Decur, for
being my historical period costuming muse and at the end of the
day, my friend. And to Megan Bamford, for making the world seem
cozier and more wonderful by just being herself. Not only is she
assisting me in my quest for unofficial Aussiehood, she bought me
an English Title and made me a Lady (a feat my mother is still
amazed at and that the DMV will have to contend with when I renew
my driver’s license and insist it goes on there!) A trip to
Brisbane is on my list of life goals and I’m determined to get
there!

I want to also thank Lisa Watson. She is my
lost twin sister and my only regret is that I somehow didn’t find
her until just recently. Lisa, if I didn’t believe in serendipity
and the amazing blessings that can come from turning right instead
of left, you’re the living example that it’s all true and that all
things are possible. I love you.

And of course, I have to thank my mom.
Because despite the craziness, she still takes all my calls and
laughs with me until we cry. You were my first best friend and you
are the gold standard by which all others will forever be
measured.

I used to be respectable and chaste and
stable,

but who can stand in this strong wind

and remember those things?

Love has taken away my practices

And filled me with poetry.

—RUMI

PROLOGUE

Bengal, India

1857

There were some things in the articles of
war and codes of military honor that never translate into battle.
Michael Rutherford had tried hard not to think about it too much.
He wanted to believe in officers and gentlemen and the almost
religious requirements of the British military to establish order
amidst chaos. As if the way a man packed his kit or laced his shoes
could alter the course of a battle or change the world…

But that was the tall lanky boy who had
joined the army so many years before. That was the naïve son of a
gameskeeper who had thought to head out into the world to make his
fortunes and find his way. He’d longed for the dark green jacket of
the light infantry where his skills with a rifle would win him
fame.

And he might have achieved it, if…

If
he hadn’t been pulled from the
line after a bit of exhibition shooting arranged by the unit
leaders where he’d astonished them all and struck a glass marble
from atop a rose at over a hundred and fifty yards without damaging
a single petal. If a British general hadn’t decided to take him on
as his personal attendant and guard. If he hadn’t saved the man’s
life twice and guaranteed that the man’s continued desire to stay
alive hinged on Michael’s presence, transforming him into the
world’s biggest rabbit’s foot.

He’d existed in a twilight of rank, more
servant than soldier, and all bodyguard for a man he’d genuinely
despised for his icy manners and arrogance. But loyal Englishmen
didn’t think of a commander’s character when they accepted his
orders or pulled the trigger. Obedience and loyalty were tied
inextricably together and by the time the man he’d become had
looked up, Michael Rutherford was convinced that he was as far from
honor as a man looking up at the moon.

He’d experienced the worst that war could
offer and realized that fear was a weapon all its own. He’d noted
how the Englishmen claimed civility and demeaned the natives but
then acted with a savagery that belied their humanity.