Guest blog by Victoria Vane
In most romance novels, there comes a moment of realization that one or both of the characters are in love. Generally this self-acknowledgment becomes the catalyst, or actualization of the romance and is followed by a verbal profession of deeper feeling.
But what happens when both characters are terrified to walk out on that limb? To acknowledge what's really in their hearts? When these moments finally arrive where the character, especially the one who is so closely guarded must speak up or chance losing what they secretly desire most – these are the moments that make a reader sigh and ofttimes cry.
Viscount Ludovic "the Devil" DeVere, is such a man. Hardened and jaded, his life experience has taught him to distrust any notions of love or fidelity. But, oh when the might do fall, it's truly a sigh-worthy event!
From A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE:
"Expectations and demands—titles, money, time, attention. The female half of the species are little better than vampires, sucking away one's very lifeblood. Thankfully, I learned my own lesson early."
From THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS:
Hew protested, "Just because one woman turned out to be a shameless grasping jade—"
Ludovic interjected, "And where ever an ass falls; there he will never fall again.”
"I indeed marvel at that, Vic.”
“That I have remained unwed?”
“No, that you are still an ass.” Hew grinned, adding, “although yet an unmated ass.”
“And that is precisely the state I intend to maintain. A man who lives alone is a god unto himself.”
“And a devil unto others.” Hew gave an exasperated sigh…Hew shrugged. “I hate to think you a hopeless case. You’ve never kept a mistress above a month, never formed any lingering romantic attachment. Tell me, Ludovic, is there anything you truly care about?”
The viscount considered the question for a long moment. “Horses, he answered. “I care a bloody great deal about my stables.”
“If you weren’t my own brother, I’d think you one heartless bastard.”
Ludovic laughed outright. “Don’t let the blood connection stop you.” He then poured some brandy into his tea and raised his cup in salute. “You already know it's true, little brother; and for the record, it’s all the more reason I should not be the one to procreate!”
From THE DEVIL YOU KNOW:
Annalee looked to DeVere with a scowl. "I don't relish the mortification of collecting my husband from the round house come morning. Do you understand me, my lord?"
DeVere smirked. "Absolutely, my lady." He added to Ned in an undertone, "Since I don't see the ring in your nose, I can only imagine she's put one through your ba—"
"Ah! We've arrived!" Ned pronounced as the carriage lurched to a halt. "I'll escort Annalee inside and return directly."
Ludovic watched them depart arm-in-arm, musing how three short years of so-called connubial bliss had nearly emasculated his best friend. He pulled a flask of brandy from his breast pocket, up-ending it in a salute to the beneficent guardian angel who had allowed his own near escape from the same woeful fate.
Also from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
"No man loves his fetters, be they made of gold," DeVere remarked.
"Perhaps she just didn't care for his philandering ways?" Diana suggested tersely, feeling more than a slight affinity to the duke's daughter.
"But it is a man's world." DeVere gave a smug smile and raised his glass.
Diana felt her hackles rise. "So you believe all women should blindly accept profligacy and faithlessness in marriage?"
"Let us say, she would be much more content who does."
"I differ with you on that score, my lord," the duchess remarked. "I say the sauce for the gander is just as good for the goose."
DeVere's expression hardened. "Speaking as one with no personal inclination toward monogamy, my answer is then why wed at all?"
At last comes the culminating moment when DeVere begins to questions his own beliefs.
FROM THE DEVIL'S MATCH
"I know you much better than you think, my dear. You have a two-sided nature, one that craves to be cherished on the one hand and to be fucked senseless on the other. The second I could easily and willingly meet, yet I suffered reservations about being able to provide the first. You know I have never believed in monogamy."
"Yes," she said tightly. "You have made that clear on many occasions."
He made a frustrated sound. "Because I have seen so few true examples of it in my life. Look no further than my own originations, for God's sake!"
"Love requires a desire to sacrifice, Ludovic. To give up purely self-indulgent pleasure in return for something deeper and more meaningful."
"Have you ever loved before, Diana?" he asked, deftly turning the tables.
The question caught her off guard. "No," she said softly, but then her armor came up. "I once thought perhaps I could have, but I never really had the chance to find out."
"Is that what truly eats at you?" he asked. "Incessantly and relentlessly plagues you? Refuses to ever give you any peace?" He dug deeper. "The lost opportunity? Never knowing for certain whether you have the capacity for it or not?" He twisted the knife.
"Yes! Damn you!" she cried, feeling the brunt of his counterstrike full force.
"Damn me, indeed," he murmured, "for I suffer the same."
Do you have a favorite romantic couple?
What are your favorite "key moments" in romance?
Comment for a chance to win a digital copy of
A BREACH OF PROMISE by Victoria Vane
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria Vane combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. Her writing influences are Georgette Heyer for fabulous witty dialogue and over the top characters, Robin Schone , Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for creative vision in melding history with eroticism. Ms. Vane also writes award nominated romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee.
CONTACT:
victoria.vane@hotmail.com
Web: http://authorvictoriavane.com
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com
Twitter: @authorvictoriav
A Breach of Promise
A Wild Night's Bride
The Virgin Huntress
The Devil You Know
The Devil's Match
also
TREACHEROUS TEMPTATION, Coming from Entangled Publishing December 2012
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
thanks for a great post and congrats on the newest release! I’d have to go ol’ skool and say Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy. Since so many books are based on that couple, I’ll just go to the originals
I love the moment when they are just realizing that they have feelings for the other and the first declarations 
Hi Erin!
I agree with you on Elizabeth and Darcy- a great romantic couple! Another couple on the top of my list is Jessica and Lord Dain from LORD OF SCOUNDRELS by Loretta Chase.**Spoiler alert** I love that she shoots him! LOL!
Victoria
My favorite romance couple is from Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas. Beside the fact that Sebastian and Evangeline are a great combination of characters, I think that Kleypas’ strategy to put them face to face right away, and then in the same carriage (and same inn bedroom) to and from Gretna Green for a good part of the book, made the all storyline even more intriguing. Nobody can escape the chemistry in such an intimate proximity.
My fav couple would be from Kristen Callihan’s Firelight. The sexual tension & the chemistry between Miranda & Archer was amazing. I cried buckets at the end.
I tend to like the honorable hero type stories; the part(s) where he can’t help himself & loses his control around the heroine gets me all tied up in knots!
@ Mina- I love Sebastian! He was such a rogue.
@ Linda- I also read Firelight (and Ember as well) and thought the chemistry was incredible! I very much enjoyed the stories even though I don’t generally read paranormals.
Victoria
I like Sebastian and Evie from The Devil in Winter. I like the happily ever after.
Contest update: There will be winners tonight!