Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today’s guest is my dear friend and fellow Bluestocking Belle Caroline Warfield who has an excerpt from her story, Charred Hope. This novella is in the Bluestocking Belles’ upcoming release Love’s Perilous Road: A Bluestocking Belles Collection with Friends! It releases on October 31st and you can preorder it now. We hope you enjoy this excerpt. Take it away, Caroline!
Major Titus Brannock has come to the Somerville ball ready to begin his courtship of Tessa Fleming in earnest. When she disappears from the ballroom he arrives to find her being accosted by a man who had been importuning her for some time. Luckily, he is on time.
Excerpt:
When Titus turned back, Tessa melted into his arms and clung like a limpet, while sobs wracked her. He lifted her gently and carried her to a nearby sofa, cradling her in his lap while she wept against his shoulder. “Shh,” he whispered. “You’re safe. I’m here. I will always protect you.” Always. He knew the truth of that to the depth of his very soul.
***
Tessa sighed against Titus’s shoulder, breathing in the scent of sandalwood. She had rested in his arms for several moments—or perhaps an hour. She couldn’t bring herself to move as she knew she should. Their position was entirely improper. Still, she couldn’t move. She felt safe. Protected. Cared for, as she had never been. Had she really heard him say “always?”
When he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, she couldn’t stop herself. She tilted her head back and sought his mouth, saying with her kiss the things she had no words for. He accepted the tender kiss, pulled back a few inches, and searched her face. If he sought permission, he had it.
His kiss matched hers with gentleness at first, but when she responded, he deepened it, pouring out his passion, filling her with need, and leaving her breathless.
“Shocking. As I told you!”
Tessa jerked upright and gasped at the sight of Oswald Neale at the door. Titus held her firmly in his arms when she would have leapt up. “Easy,” he whispered, rising without hurry, helping up, and holding her arm on his.
Sir Peter and Lady Somerville stood at the door way, Neale a step inside the room. As she rose Tessa, saw Prudence and Abigail Danvers, avid gossips, come up behind the pair, peering over shoulders into the room. Tessa felt sick.
ABOUT THE STORY
Major Titus Brannock believes the charred painting that fell into his hands must be valuable to its owner. When he finds her, he finds a true treasure. Tessa Fleming’s first instinct was to burn the miniature her late husband scorned, but the admiration she sees in Titus’s eyes gives her different ideas. Perhaps the little gem will give them both a pearl beyond price.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Travellers, a house party, smugglers, spies–and a mysterious highwayman. Who is the infamous Captain Moonlight? And how many lives will he change–for good or for ill?
Preorder now! https://books2read.com/u/mqx0W6
Learn more about the boxset on the Bluestocking Belles website at https://bluestockingbelles.net/belles-joint-projects/loves-perilous-road/