Not only have my INVITATION TO SCANDAL Arc copies arrived, Leap Day is also around the corner.

Look out men, here we come… February 29th heralds in the Leap Year. Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage to the man who’s stolen their heart.

So, keeping in the Leap Year theme, since my Arc’s of INVITATION TO SCANDAL are here. Whoever wants one has to answer my question at the end of the post and be in to win.

In the twenty-first century, in many of today’s cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn’t look down on such women. Leap years have sort of faded in importance.. However, that hasn’t always been the case.

When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years. That day was February 29th.

The first documentation of this practice dates back to 1288, when Scotland supposedly passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their choice in that year. Tradition states they also made it law that any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.

In my soon to be released Regency romance, INVITATION TO SCANDAL, Rheda Kerrick, my heroine, has turned down a marriage proposal, determined to find her own financial security.  She’s trying to set up a Cavalry horse breeding stud. Unfortunately she can’t afford stud fees and decides my hero, Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore’s Arabian stallion, Caesar, is perfect for the job. Now all she has to do is ‘borrow’ his horse without him finding out…

I bet you can guess how well that goes! Read the excerpt to find out.

…His forceful gaze swept over her trying to ascertain their identities. A shiver of fear sliced her insides. Damn the moon. She prayed it was dark enough, and her disguise good enough, that he would not know who she was. Perhaps he would think her one of Lord Hale’s stable boys.

She ground her teeth in resignation. What was the worst that could happen? He was too late; the deed had been done, with one horse anyway.

Eyes sharp as flint slashed in her direction, and she took a step back.

Ignoring her, Lord Strathmore bent to study his horse. “Have you been having an enjoyable evening, Caesar? I hope you have not let the Strathmore name down, and you have performed appropriately.”

In a voice she hoped mirrored a young boy’s she said, “Actually we were debating if he had enough stamina to service the second filly.” Perhaps Lord Strathmore would think her being here, with his stallion, was a genuine mistake if she continued as if she’d done nothing wrong.

“I think you will find Strathmore males are perfectly capable of pleasuring more than one female in one night.”

A chuckle escaped from his companion while Jamieson gave a discreet cough. Rheda, thankful for what little darkness the moon provided simply blushed, his insinuation not lost on her.

Lord Strathmore approached until he towered over her, menace pouring from every pore. Rheda thought the effect was somewhat spoilt because he looked thoroughly enticing in his formal dinner wear. “We shall have to discuss how you are going to repay me for Caesar’s services – Miss Kerrich, Miss Rheda Kerrich – Rhe.”

You can win an ARC copy of INVITATION TO SCANDAL by leaving a comment about how, if you were to propose, you’d do it .

Want another chance to win one of my Regency romances? Visit the Contest page on my website and enter the February contest to win a ePub copy of  To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. Closes 29th Feb.