A Scandalous Portrait

AN ARTIST'S HEART — Esme Sedgewick had always been indifferent to men, having devoted her passions to her painting, but the libertine Duke of Milbourne infuriated her as no other man could. He had accosted her on the stairway of the notorious courtesan Harriette Wilson, whose portrait Esme was secretly painting, and kissed her quite thoroughly. No matter that he had mistaken her for a lady of the night -- or that Esme had found the embrace surprisingly enjoyable -- she would make sure to avoid the arrogant lord for the sake of her reputation, and of her heart!A LIBERTINE'S ARTHugo Carstairs was a hardened rake, a connoisseur of fine art -- and of fine women. And the lovely Miss Sedgewick was indeed a fine specimen. Carstairs had been plagued recently by an increasing sense of ennui with the usual London round of entertainments, and taking the prim artist as his mistress would provide a welcome, if brief, diversion. No doubt she'd put up a show of resisting him at first, but once Carstairs initiated a woman into the art of passion, she was never again unwilling...