SNIPPET:

Lulu

“I see you are awake, my lady,” and as if invited, Rob stepped briskly into the cabin.

“Oh, no, my lord,” swiftly, Clara moved in front of him, barring further entry, “you cannot come in here–” the maid held up a finger as she paused to yawn–“it would ruin Lady Georgina’s reputation.”

St. Just eyed the sleepy woman, then trained his gaze on Georgie and said, “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

Raising her head to upbraid his insolence, Georgie caught a whiff of the hot soup he carried, and her protest turned to a groan; she clenched her teeth and screwed her eyes shut, willing her body to behave. If she cast up her accounts in front of the marquess she would die of shame–dying might just be her best option in any case.

He set the tray on the table and turned to Clara. “I’ve dealt with seasickness before; leave the lady’s care to me, and I’ll have her shipshape in no time.”

“I cannot do that, my lord—” the maid stopped, a huge yawn interrupting her objection.

“You’ll be asleep as soon as I leave the room Clara; then who will be left to tend to Lady Georgina–the dog?”

Lulu bared her teeth at him.

Much Ado About A Widow is now available for pre-order here and will release on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019!

SNIPPET:

The Justine

The cabin door swung open, revealing Lord St. Just, an impossibly broad grin on his face saying, “Wait until I tell you what my men and I just did.”

“You don’t have to tell me, my lord, I already know.” Georgie glared at him and held Lulu tighter–the little animal was shaking, and Georgie was sure if she loosened her grip Lulu would launch herself at the unwary marquess; serve him right too.

“You do?” He frowned and cocked his head, which made him look like a puzzled puppy–Lulu looked just like that whenever she was unhappy–but what did he have to be unhappy about? He was the one who had kidnapped her.

“You have set sail, my lord, with me and my maid aboard against our wills; many sensible people call that kidnapping.” She’d always known this man was a pirate, in fact, she’d told her brother so. She handed Lulu to Clara before the dog could leap out of her arms and tear at his lordship’s throat–if anyone was going to attack the marquess, it would be Georgie herself; plant him a facer and see how he liked being set upon.

“Oh, yes, we had to put out or miss the evening tide,” the impossible man’s grin had returned, showing many straight, white teeth, “but we did manage to steal your trunks, Lady Georgina–if you will consider yourself abducted again, at least rejoice in the fact that you will have clean linen throughout the ordeal.”

Much Ado About A Widow is now available for pre-order here and will release on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019!

SNIPPET:

“On that point, my lady, I fear we must disagree, so I will pen a brief note to Brack, informing him of the change in plan—”

“Aha!” Lady Georgina stepped toward him, an accusing finger pointed at his chest saying, “I knew the two of you had concocted a plan.”

“Your brother may have done, and if so, I will take full responsibility for spoiling it,” he grinned at the outraged woman, her cheeks redder than a hot poker, “but I believe he will agree my idea is the better one, or at least safer under the circumstances–because if your brother didn’t have you kidnapped, I would very much like to find out who did and before you fall into their hands again.”

“My brother?” Lady Georgina stopped as if she’d walked into a wall, her face ashen. “You think Jemmy arranged to kidnap me?”

“We’ll know when we receive a letter from him in a week or so–” taking advantage of her shocked state, Rob turned the key in the lock then withdrew it, leaving the door ajar–“I’ll write to him this instant, tell him our plans to sail to Cornwall, and ask him to come fetch you, your maid, and your dog post haste,” and with nimble feet, Rob slipped through the door and shut it with a bang just as Lady Georgina slammed her hand against the smooth teak panel.

“Wretch! I give you my oath I will make you regret this.”

Much Ado About A Widow is now available for pre-order here and will release on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019!

SNIPPET:

It struck him as unwise to send her onward to her father’s estate. It could very well lead her into danger or doom her to a disastrous marriage and might indeed thwart the plans and wishes of the friend who’d been a steadfast part of his life for more than ten years–that reason, more than the others, gave him pause. If he unwittingly foiled Brack’s plans, he’d never forgive himself.

Decision reached; now to inform the damsel who didn’t even think she was in distress.

“I fear I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to willingly march into danger, Lady Georgina; I have a duty to your brother to keep you safe until such time as he can advise me of his plans for your welfare.” Carefully, trying not to give away his actions, Rob backed toward the doorway; he wasn’t completely certain what the lady was capable of, but he’d wager that she’d try to bash him over the head with the poker if given the opportunity. Another step and he bumped into the cabin door. “Your brother wrote to me asking for my assistance; therefore I must render it.”

“And I am telling you the only assistance I require is in continuing our journey to Blackham.” Her green eyes flashed like emeralds on fire.

Much Ado About A Widow is now available for pre-order here and will release on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019!

SNIPPET:

The Justine

“Of course I do not wish to marry Lord Travers, who is without a doubt the most loathsome creature to whom I have ever been introduced, and that includes Lord Fernley, who is loathsome, but who does seem to have a few redeeming qualities–he plays whist very well, anyway”—Lady Georgina shook her head and her straggling curls bobbed. “Lord Travers has made me uncomfortable ever since I met him,” she said, looking Rob squarely in the face, “which does not, however, mean that I will not marry him.”

A far cry from the answer he’d expected–Lady Georgina was not a predictable lady at all. “But if you have no affection for him, why marry him? Surely there are other gentlemen of the ton who are just as eligible and not as disagreeable as Travers.”

“You know Lord Travers then, my lord?”

“I do, although mostly by reputation; I do not run in the same circles as he.” Rob wouldn’t give a hot ha’penny for Travers’s usual companions–not since the Hellfire Club had a more profligate group of gentlemen assembled. “I daresay he would not have been the choice most fathers would arrange for their daughters.”

“My father is definitely not as most fathers are.”

Much Ado About A Widow is now available for pre-order here and will release on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019!