Welcome, welcome, welcome! I hope everyone had fun watching the Superbowl. I was hoping the 49ers were going to win, but alas they didn’t. It’s okay though, they went from the very bottom to being in the Superbowl. I think that’s pretty impressive!
My family and I had fun putting our names down for the Superbowl squares. We had our names down for multiple and my son had his name down on only one. He ended up winning $40 at the end of the second quarter and $30 at the end of the third! I couldn’t believe it. I might be taking him to Vegas, haha.
Today the fantastic A.S. Fenichel asks us to share a tidbit of our work in progress:
Teaser Tuesday: What are you working on? Give us a sample of your work in progress.
I’ve been editing a novel that I wrote a couple of years ago. Slowly but surely I’m making my way through it. Here is a little something…
May 1815 Middle of the Atlantic Ocean
Wisps of auburn hair clouded her vision as Rowan Hadley paced back and forth in the main cabin room aboard the Molly Ann. She shoved the locks away. Nothing good would come of this. How could her family have done this to her? Well, perhaps because her relatives thought her beneath them. She’d always been a thorn in their side ever since her parents died, but now they needed her.
Rowan stopped at the porthole. The brown, green ocean churned ferociously as it had for the entire journey. It stretched on for endless miles giving no comfort. Another wave smashed upon the boat’s hull. The Molly Ann rose, pitched and dropped yet again. It became tiresome for the third week in a row. At least she didn’t get seasick like her cousin.
Tumultuous thoughts swirled through her head as she resumed her pacing. Her family had betrayed her. Alanna, her high-bread cousin had been sent to marry a man in exchange for money and she was to go along as the lady’s maid. She loved her cousin, but as usual Alanna obeyed demurely and left London without qualms. Rowan wanted adventure in life but why leave bustling London to live on some small fisherman’s island? This Newfoundland.
The family was in debt, but there had to be another way. However, Alanna was the last unmarried one of her siblings. Rowan would never inherit the Lady title. As the much poorer cousin she didn’t get much, some spare clothes, a roof over her head and the task of attending to Alanna.
Rowan pinned her thick curls up into a knot at the back of her neck and pulled her yellow remedy box from under the bed. Alanna often complained of an aching head. Rowan had a knack for treating the ailment along with a few others.
Mixing the herbs together, she feared it was more than just headaches that plagued her cousin. She added a pinch of pennyroyal to take away the tension and a scoop of ginger, which helped calm the head. A compress would alleviate the ache. Rowan filled a pot with water and tossed in some peppermint leaves. She sighed a small breath of relief as the aroma of mint filled the small space.
After finding a clean cloth, she soaked it in the mix. The tea came to a steep and she poured some into a cup. Rowan put the items on a tray and walked to the adjoining door to Alanna’s room. She knocked on the salt crusted door, with no answer she paused, then pushed it open.
Alanna stared out of the ship’s porthole, her limp brown hair clinging to her shoulders. She turned as the door opened.
Her cousin didn’t look well. Her smooth natural complexion was ghost white and pinched, her body hunched. Dull blue eyes stared at Rowan. Burying her concern, Rowan stepped into the room.
“I’ve brought you something for your head.”
“Thank you, Ro. I don’t know why I’m plagued with so many headaches.”
The use of her childhood nickname startled her. The two of them had been as close as sisters and always relied on each other, Alanna being six years younger. They were inseparable until Alanna became a proper young lady, then their bond crumbled.
“I know you’ll be fine once we land and get off this old salty boat,” replied Rowan as she poured the tea.
The ship tilted to the side and she grasped onto the table to keep steady.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Alanna ran a shaky hand through her flat curls before taking a sip of tea. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
“I’ll put the cloth on your forehead when you’ve finished your tea.”
Alanna took another sip of tea and tried to smooth the wrinkles from her day dress. “I fear this salt air will run all my clothes.”
“You look beautiful as ever.”
“Don’t lie, it’s unbecoming of a lady. I’m ready for the compress now.” Alanna walked over to the bed and lay down.
Rowan had just wanted to make her cousin feel better. As she administered the peppermint cloth to Alanna’s forehead, she hummed a calming tune. A tap on her arm brought her out of her reverie. She stared into Alanna’s blue eyes, alarmed by the fear hidden in them.
“Is aught the matter, Alanna?”
“I’m…I’m afraid.”
“Of what?”
Alanna wrung her hands together. “I’m nervous about this man I’m supposed to marry. I don’t know anything about him. What if he doesn’t like me?”
“What man wouldn’t like you, dear cousin? You’ll be a wonderful wife. He will see how perfect you are and fall in love with you the moment he lays his eyes on you. I’ll be there every step of the way. Who knows, it’s possible this Newfoundland is the bright future for us.”
Rowan’s stomach twisted and she hid her disgust. Why would anyone marry someone they’d never met? The idea was appalling. She didn’t think she would ever marry. Yes, there were a few stolen kisses from the stable boy and the cook’s helper in London, but nothing about them excited her. Finding an adventure was a much better way to spend her time. The thought of freedom thrilled her. She would once and for all be away from the prying eyes of her aunt and the ton. Yet all the surrounded her was a metal cage closing in. Its cold fingers trapped her without the chance of escape.
“Perhaps you are right. I’m glad you’re here with me, Ro. I would be lost without you.”
“You needn’t worry, all will work itself out. This time the money will be kept out of Edgar’s hands.
Alanna clenched her fists together. “This is all my dratted brother’s fault. If he hadn’t gambled it all away, we wouldn’t be on this stinking boat.”
Rowan didn’t want to speak ill of Alanna’s brother. He was a wastrel of a man and if he found them, all would be lost. “I hope your family knows what they are doing.”
“We left England because of him, but I hope you’re right. I don’t want to think about him right now, let’s enjoy the rest of our journey.” Alanna pinched her cheeks to add some color.
As Rowan removed the compress, she bit her lip. Even though Alanna said all would be fine, an uneasy feeling sat in the pit of her stomach.
I hope you enjoyed that preview of Wrongfully Wed. Tell me in the comments what you thought!
If you missed what the amazing Caro Kinkead had to say just click and pop back, otherwise continue on to the incredible Clair Brett. That’s it for me, until next time!
Now Check out Clair Brett’s new book: Winn’s Fall: The Common Elements Romance Project
Lord, Winthrop (Winn) Burton will die on his own terms. A family curse says he will die by the time he turns thirty years old. He will not leave a young wife and a child behind like his father did to him.
When childhood friend Miss Zoe Chase returns to stay with his sister and find a husband, Winn’s plans are thrown into chaos. Not only is the once gangly, awkward girl he remembers, is now everything that tempts him, the accidents that once plagued his life are happening to her.
He must keep her safe, but how can he do that when ravaging her is all he can consider? Or perhaps the curse isn’t a curse after all.
Will Winn die, or will he fall?
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