Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder.  I’m continuing with my Victorian short story, Heart of Deception, though this will be the final sample from this book. (If I post much more of it and you’ll have the whole thing!)

The story, set in London, 1860, follows Lady Celinda Graham, who is head-over-heels in love with a man to whom her father has strong objections.  In this sample, we find out a good deal more about Andrew.

“Celinda, I have an idea how we can gain your father’s approval for our marriage, but it’s rather daring.  I don’t know if you would agree to it.”  His eyes glinted with a roguish flare.  “I don’t know if you should agree to it.”

As if an icicle had been drawn down her spine, goose-flesh rose on Celinda’s arms.  “What is it, Andrew?”

“Scandal, my love.  But it would make sure that we could marry.”

“Scandal?”  Her voice squeaked. 

He smiled wickedly as he drew her head towards him.  “Let me whisper it in your ear, love.”

* * * *

Andrew glanced around the upstairs paneled hallway of the manor house, making sure he was not seen.  He stopped before a plain oak door, sent one more furtive look over his shoulder, then twisted the knob and entered.  Pulling the door closed, he leaned his powerful body against it, remembering with a smile how little coaxing it had taken for Celinda to agree to his plan.  Was she as excited at the prospect of this tryst as he was?  It made the seduction much easier than expected.

His eyes roamed the room, resting at last on the pink and white ruffles adorning the coverlet on Celinda’s bed.  Her virginal bed.  He loosened his cravat and removed his coat.  After tonight, however. . .   He grinned into the empty room, pleased at how well the ruse had gone so far, and wondered if tonight would go as planned.  If only his conscience had not begun to nag him, to cause him to doubt the reasoning behind the whole ploy. 

Andrew shook his head.  He had to go through with this.  Too much could go wrong if he relented.  He paced around the room, waiting for Celinda, hardly cognizant of his surroundings. Halting next to the fireplace where a small fire burned, he stared into the flickering embers. 

Did Celinda love him?  God, but she was young. She had confessed she thought herself in love last year, but had given up both suitors after her father made strenuous objections.  But she refused to give him up this year and seemed willing to take desperate measures to secure him.  Did this speak of love or lust?  Which would be served tonight?  He knew which one he served.

Come back next week for another little sample from a new work.

Hope you enjoyed today’s sample of Heart of Deception.  If you want to know the rest of the story, it’s available for the tempting price of .99 at Books To Go Now, Amazon, All Romance E-Books, and Barnes and Noble.

Be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.  You’ll be glad you did!

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder.  I’m continuing with my Victorian short story, Heart of Deception.

The story, set in London, 1860, follows Lady Celinda Graham, who is head-over-heels in love with a man to whom her father has strong objections.  In this sample, we find out why Papa objects so much to Andrew.

The first Viscount Hurston, a notorious rakehell in the heyday of the Restoration, had ruined Papa’s great-great aunt and abandoned her.  A long, bitter feud ensued between the families.  So long-lasting that Papa now cited the old grudge as a reason to deny her marriage.  But Papa was not going to have the last word this time.  She would marry Andrew Barclay Finley, Eighth Viscount Hurston by fair means or foul.

“I doubt I can spend time with your father now, my love.” Andrew’s rich baritone voice tickled her ear as he leaned close to her.  His thumbs caressed the tops of her hands as he conveyed them one by one to his warm lips. 

A thrill of desire ran through Celinda’s body at that slight caress.  The touch of his lips sent fire spreading past the pit of her stomach to lodge in a place she could scarcely bring herself to name.  More heat flushed her face.  No one else ever made her feel like Andrew did.  But his words finally registered in her distracted mind and she frowned.  “Why not, Andrew?  If Papa knew you better. . .”

“I’m sorry, Celinda, but I received word this morning that I must leave tomorrow for Hurst Manor.  There is a problem at the estate that I must resolve.  If this problem with the drainage is not rectified, the harvest will suffer as will my tenants next winter.”  His soulful eyes pled as his words could not.  “You understand, don’t you dearest one?”

The endearment melted her heart.  Andrew was so kind, so thoughtful, so dutiful.  How could Papa think him a cad?

“Then what can we do, my love?”  Despair returned, heightening her anguish.  “The season is in full swing and Papa has decreed I must choose a husband this year.  He was quite vexed that I did not last year and has threatened that if I don’t choose someone appropriate he will choose for me.”  Celinda shuddered.  The men her father mentioned as “appropriate,” were ludicrous.

Maybe father knows best, Celinda.  Come back next week for another little snippet to see if  Papa’s objections to the young man are justified.

Hope you enjoyed today’s sample of Heart of Deception.  It’s available for the tempting price of .99 at Books To Go Now, Amazon, All Romance E-Books, and Barnes and Noble.

Be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.  You’ll be glad you did!