Sally Britton's Blog, page 6

Cover Reveal for Engaging Sir Isaac

As always, tremendous thanks for this GORGEOUS cover has to go to my designer, Shaela Kay at Blue Water Books. I cannot recommend Shaela highly enough. She's wonderful at listening to her authors to design covers that not only fit a budget, but they look absolutely STUNNING. I love this cover and I cannot wait to share the story that goes with it. 

Would you like to read more about this Sweet Regency Romance?  She swore she would win the baronet’s heart in order to break it, never dreaming she would lose her own in the process.

Millicent Wedgwood will never obtain her rightful place in Society, which means she will never have an advantageous reputation, marriage, or fortune. All because Millie's sister eloped years before. But there is a chance to rise above that disgrace if Millie will take part in a dare. If she can win the baronet who insulted Lady Olivia, and then shatter his heart, she will earn back her position in Society with Lady Olivia’s sponsorship.

Sir Isaac Fox returned from war with one less arm and a weight upon his soul. Where once he easily charmed Society, he now prefers to remain quietly alone at home. With a failing estate to manage, Isaac is determined to be more responsible and less foolhardy, which leaves no time for romance. Certainly no time for the infuriatingly enchanting Miss Wedgwood.
​
When Millie realizes her game has put her own heart in jeopardy, she risks losing everything she has so desperately sought to replace in her life. And though Isaac refuses Millie's advances, he cannot deny her charm. But falling for Miss Wedgwood would mean reentering society and losing the peace he has found since the war. Can they find a way to heal their hearts together? Or will Millie's deception ruin them both?


This book has teased at my imagination for almost a year and I'm FINALLY writing it. That's right. It's not even written yet. You have a gorgeous cover, a synopsis, and that's it. 

I'll keep you updated on how the writing is going. If you want to make sure you don't miss a thing, subscribe to my newsletter for weekly updates, or follow me on BookBub to get news for pre-orders and release dates. 

One thing you can certainly do right now is pre-order your copy of the book today! Pre-Order Your Copy Today Affiliate Links Used

Texting During the Regency, Pt. 3

What if the characters from His Bluestocking Bride had been able to text each other during the events of their story? Collin's Phone, a conversation between Marcus and his friend. Ellen's Phone. A Conversation between Ellen and (C) Cousin Marianne. Collin's Phone. A conversation between Collin and his wife, Marianne, proving they're scheming.... Ellen's Phone. A conversation between Ellen and Marcus. It doesn't look like Marcus is against the idea of his friend's matchmaking... His Bluestocking Bride is Available on Amazon.com as an eBook, Paperback, and Audiobook.
Also enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.
Get Your Copy Today Affiliate Link

Soundtrack: Discovering Grace

I listen to all sorts of music when I first start writing a book. I try to build a playlist before I even begin, thinking of the sort of story I want to tell. I add and delete songs as I go, depending on scenes and how the characters transform in a story. By the time I'm finished writing, I've usually whittled down the playlist to just a few songs that I've come to associate very strongly with the characters. 

Discovering Grace was an interesting story to write. I understand Grace on such a deep level. She's quiet, but that doesn't mean she isn't strong. She is the true definition of meek: having power, yet using it with wisdom and gentleness. Jacob, her love interest, is strong in his own way. He's committed his life to becoming a vicar, to being kind and understanding, but when he's put to the test he doesn't react the way he thought he would. Their relationship is so interesting, from friends to something more. I hope you enjoy the music the way I did. Here it is:
Discovering Grace: A Playlist
(Listen Along on Spotify)
Time of Our Lives, Tyrone Wells:
Traditionally a graduation song, it really suited the moment at the beginning of the novel when Grace and Hope, her sister, say goodbye to one another. It's about relationships changing, cherished memories, and it's bitter-sweet. 

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head, B.J. Thomas:
This is Grace AND Jacob at different moments in the novel. Nothing is going the way either of them want it to go, but they just keep pushing through and trying to be positive! 

Never Say Never, The Fray: 
This is Jacob's song. I think he is really confused as to how he feels about Hope and Grace. He likes the idea of Hope. She's bright, like a firework, but she's not what he needs. Not who he really loves. So this is the song in his heart for the woman he loves, even though he doesn't know it yet. 

The Aviators, Helen Jane Long:
Instrumental only. But I loved listening to this when I was writing about Grace's feelings, her longing to be seen for who she is and loved for it. It's a quiet song, almost tentative at first, but then there is a lift and it grows stronger and faster, more confident. If my book were a movie, I would want this playing in the background as Grace takes control of her fate. 

And Then There Was You, Norah Jones: 
The surprise of Love. More from Jacob's perspective than Grace's. 

I Got You, Jack Johnson:
Jacob thinks he understands what's going on. He's happy to help Grace. To grow closer to her. He's evaluating his place as a future vicar, thinking of what Grace's friendship means to him, and feeling like his world is a good place, even if the unexpected happens. 

Brighter Than Sunshine, Aqualung: 
Again, this is very Jacob. "Tied up" in his memories and taken by surprise when he FINALLY realizes he's in love with Grace. The moment dawns bright, likely in that scene in the woods. He "never saw it happening" and didn't think he "could take the hurt again" of loving an Everly lady. This is his elation, just before another crash...

Give Me One Reason, Jason Reeves: 
Everything comes crashing down. Jacob loves Grace. Until he uncovers more about her that makes him ache. Another lie. Another falsehood. He's so conflicted. But you know, it's Grace, too. "I don't need you to be me, I'll be just fine being free." She loves him so much, but if he can't try to understand her, if he can't accept what she's done and why, then she will have to do without him. Do they stay, or leave?

Fight Song, by Rachel Platten:
Grace's song when she keeps her chin up and does what she must to ensure her happiness. She's not going to apologize for who she is anymore. 

I Believe in You, Michael Buble:
Jacob comes back, apologizes, and tells Grace how wonderful she is, and how he's failed her, and then their relationship finally starts to take off!

True Colors, Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake:
A perfect duet for my lovely couple who fought through so much. 

Love Me Tender, Brandon Mills:
Instrumental. This one is part of the final credits, rolling at the end of their story, giving you the reassurance that they're going to love each other for a long time. Forever, in fact. A tender, long-abiding love. 

Want to listen to the playlist? Check it out on Spotify! Make Sure You Get Your Copy! 
Available as Paperback, eBook, and in the Kindle Unlimited Program. Buy Discovering Grace Now

My Favorite Things About The Echo Dot

Look, It's Going to Annoy Me."Who wants that in their house?" I asked, scoffing at the very idea of a smart device that would listen to everything I said, frustrate me when it misunderstood, and make itself a nuisance. 

My husband didn't hear me, apparently, because he bought not ONE Echo Dot for Christmas, but FOUR. One for the kitchen, one for my office, one for the boys and one for the girls. 

Here we are, nine months later, and I absolutely LOVE my devices. Let me tell you all the awesome things we do with this thing. 

The FIRST thing we used our Dots for was totally because of our kids. You see, they LOVE audiobooks and listen to them all the time. Sometimes they color and listen, or clean their rooms and listen, but mostly they listen just before going to bed. We started doing audiobooks seriously three years ago when my younger children couldn't be satisfied with my voice reading to them for twenty minutes a day. 

So we had an Audible membership (WORTH IT if you have children or enjoy listening to things while you go about your day) and my kids usually listened on a Kindle turned up as loud as possible. With the Echo Dot, they could say, "Alexa, open the audiobook The Blue Fairy. " Or maybe "Alexa, play my Matilda book ." And on the books came, right where they had left off. And guess what? We could set TIMERS. "Alexa, stop playing the book after twenty minutes." Wha--?! This meant I didn't have to sneak into their rooms after they'd fallen asleep, fish a Kindle from wherever it was hiding, and turn it off to save the battery. Amazing.I Mean. It Can't Be That Great.I tried to put off using it myself. I really did. I might be a Millenial, but that doesn't mean I have to embrace each and every new technology at once. But I had been listening to Amazon Prime Music for a while, through my computer and an app on my phone. It was helping me write, I found, to attach music to chapters and characters. 

So one day, I said, "Alexa, open my playlist for Christian and Rebecca."

And my playlist HAPPENED. Still. Not all that awesome. I made the playlist myself. So then I said, "Alexa, play music I might like." And wow, did she! Then as I enjoyed a song, I'd interrupt. "Alexa, what's the name of this song? Alexa, add it to my playlist. Alexa, play more songs by this artist." 

We love our Prime Music membership. (We're always listening to it in the house, car, exercising, working, etc.) The speaker on the Echo Dot is incredible. We can turn up the music and dance, turn it down really low to avoid bothering people in the next room and STILL get great sound quality, AND I can even plug in my headphones at my desk when I'm really trying to work in the dead of night. 

Let's not forget the homework help and educational aspect of this nifty device. We can check math problems (after doing the work ourselves) and ask interesting questions such as "who was the twenty-third president?" and "can cats see in the dark?" My kids also play a lot of the trivia and choose-your-own-adventure games. Then we went all in and got "smart" light bulbs. It's a husband thing, in our house. Now he can just tell a device to turn off the lights rather than get out of bed once he's all cozy. So. Yup. I'm a Believer. Our Echo Dots are absolutely integrated into our lives. I add stuff to a shopping list, set reminders, alarms for cooking and children things (time-out, reading, video games, etc), and not a day goes by that I don't ask my Echo to do something for me. I love it. If you've been reluctant to give it a try, please do. We're an Amazon device family. So far, no regrets!
[image error] Get Your Dot Today!Did You Know You Can Get Sally's Books on Audible?
Then Use Your Echo Dot to Listen to Them! Sally Britton's Newest Audiobook:
Rescuing Lord Inglewood

​Available Now on Audible!

Texting During the Regency, Pt. 2

What if the characters from The Gentleman Physician could've texted each other? What might Julia and Nathaniel have tapped into their devices? Julia and Nathaniel. Nathaniel and Timothy Julia and Nathaniel. [image error] The Gentleman Physician is available on Amazon.com.

eBook
Audiobook
Paperback

Six Favorite 2019 Kissing Books

Authors read, too! And we read a lot. Well. I do. And I read a LOT of "kissing books." What's a kissing book, you ask? It's a book in which two people fall in love, and eventually they lock lips! 
​(Click on the covers to go to the Amazon Kindle *page!)

Here are the SIX Kissing Books I've enjoyed the most (so far) this year! [image error] A Proper Scandal
by Esther Hatch

Grace has to marry if she wants to save herself from unwanted advances. All she needs is to trick the right man to take her to the altar.

This book made me want to do a better job writing my kissing scenes. Apart from being a simply delightful read (I literally laughed out loud several times due to the heroine's quick wit), I enjoyed Esther's storytelling ability. You really feel for her heroine's plight - but it's NOT your typical "marry, or else" plot. If I could only suggest one romance this year, it would be this one. Emma the Matchmaker
by Rachel John

She knows a match when she sees one, but she's clueless about her own heart.

I adored this modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. It's a really difficult story to tell in a way that has you loving Emma rather than wringing your hands at her inept handling of the people around her. This is a beautiful love story and the chemistry between Emma and the Knightley character is so perfect that I just kept yelling at the book, "KISS ALREADY!"  [image error] [image error] Healing Hearts
by Sarah M. Eden

A Mail-Order Bride mix-up brings a nurse to Savage Wells, and the doctor's heart will never be the same. 

I was fortunate enough to WIN a review copy of this book by my FAVORITE author. I devoured this book in a single day, neglecting all other duties. I love a good mail-order bride story, especially when everything goes wrong. In this one, Miriam thinks she's coming to fill the position of nurse, not the position of wife! Gideon is pretty shocked when the woman he hoped to marry runs out on him - but it's not the first time this has happened. At least she agrees to take the nursing position he offers. But why does he get the feeling she's hiding something? 
Spinster and Spice
by Rebecca Connolly

Soft-spoken, and eager to please, Izzy is still a spinster. Izzy also has a secret that only one person knows, and that one person may hold the key to its success. 
​
If you love Regency romance, you should be reading Rebecca Connolly. That's all there is to it. She's a master of the genre, a wizard of witty banter, and absolutely someone who inspired me to go into writing in the genre myself. 

​Plus, she writes REALLY great kissing scenes. 


[image error] [image error] Miss Adeline's Match
by Joanna Barker

Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady’s companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when it comes to love, she might be her own worst enemy.

I was privileged to be one of Joanna's critique partners while she wrote this book. It's absolutely masterful, the way she illustrates Adeline's character. You can see all the mistakes the heroine makes, and I certainly connected to her desperation to preserve herself and her family, even at the expense of her friend and the man she's come to love. And yes. There's a kiss. ;-) Beneath an Italian Sky
by Stacy Henrie

A love match turns into a lonely marriage. Will Clare and Emmett reconcile their differences before it's too late? 

I loved this story. It's the second in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. I actually listened to the audiobook, completely enthralled with Clare and Emmett. The story is set in Italy, during and after a terrible earthquake. Through strength of character, and this married couple must help others survive, and possibly rekindle their love. I'm not usually a fan of the "we're already married and have been for a long time" romances, but this one was SO good, and the thing keeping this couple apart was believable and poignant. I enjoyed every minute of this book - but the kisses, of course, most of all!
[image error]So there you have it! My favorite kissing books for the FIRST HALF of 2019. I'll let you know what else I find in December. ;-) What are your favorite kissing books? Leave me a comment if you have any reading suggestions! I'm especially looking for books written in 2019!

*Affiliate links used in post. 

Video: Rescuing Lord Inglewood

Originally a live Facebook chat, a discussion as well as Q&A about Rescuing Lord Inglewood. 

Texting During the Regency, Pt. 1

What if the characters in my book, The Social Tutor, could've sent text messages to each other? :-)  From Thomas to Christine... From Christine to Thomas.The Social Tutor is available on Amazon.com.

Read More About The Social Tutor Here

Sally's Sweet Summer Reading Program - 2019

I love reading. And when I was a kid, I loved Summer Reading Programs at my library. I participated in SO MANY. Some required you fill out titles, some just required a certain number of books, some encouraged submitting book reports. They were all fun and I DID THEM ALL. I'm taking my kids to the library this weekend to enroll in ours. 

But WHY should kids have all the fun? We're going to do a summer reading program. Here's how it works - and you can start TODAY. You don't have to wait until Saturday (Just 1st).

1. Read a great book - any genre, any author, ANY book
2. Write a review - anywhere. Amazon, GoodReads, your blog, Bookbub, Twitter
3. Copy the link to the review
4. GO TO THIS LINK and fill out the information, including pasting a link to your review. :-) 

That's it! Each time you leave a review, you increase your chances of winning. At the end of summer, I'm going to put ALL the entries into a random-name picker and there will be PRIZES. BOOKMARK THE FORM for easy access. I'll have a link up on my Facebook page, Facebook Sweet Romance Group, and on my Website. 

Grand Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card & Your Choice of Sally's Books

1st Prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card & Signed Copy of "Check Me Out," a library romance by Becca Wilhite 

2nd Prize: $5 Amazon Gift Card & Your Choice of Sally's ebooks 

3rd Prize: $5 Amazon Gift Card

Sneak Peek: A Ruined Reputation

From Chapter Six: The Brook, The Log, The Consequences Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash Spoiler Alert! This excerpt is from Chapter Six of Rescuing Lord Inglewood. No one had ever turned their back on him, nor stormed away from him in such a manner. Silas had been Earl of Inglewood since his eleventh year of life. People respected his title, then they learned to respect him. Yet rather than take offense, Silas’s first instinct was to follow Esther and repair whatever damage he had done. 

Which seemed backward. He had been attempting to repair damage to her person in the first place. Apparently, Esther did not see his actions that way, and misattributed the reasons for them. 

He followed her, at a little distance, looking back the way they had come to be sure their departure from the path hadn’t been noticed. He could see others here and there, of course, but no one seemed to be paying particular attention to him. If they returned to the main body of picnickers before long, no one would think a thing of it. 

She stopped, thankfully, at the edge of the brook. The old log they’d used to cross the water as children was still there, covered in moss. He approached slowly, attempting not to startle her. 
“Go away, Silas,” she said, the words trembly and tinted with annoyance. 

As a friend to her brother, he could not simply leave her to cry on her own. As her escort, it was his duty to see her safely returned to the company. Silas came around the log, standing a pace in front of her. 

“Silas, is it? I thought you had forgotten my Christian name.” It might have been cheeky to speak in such a manner, but the situation called for some humor. Of course, it had been some years since Silas had teased her. Yet attempting it in the moment felt oddly natural. 

She lifted her face, glaring at him from red-rimmed eyes. “When you are behaving like a peer, I will address you as one. At the moment, you are my brother’s quarrelsome friend.” She sniffled and then wrinkled her nose. “I have forgotten my reticule in the cart.”

“Oh?” Silas did not see what that had to do with anything, but when she sniffled again it alerted him to the true problem. “Oh. Of course. Allow me.” He withdrew a clean handkerchief from an inside coat pocket, handing it to her with a bow. She took the cloth and dabbed at her eyes and nose. “There now,” he said, unable to resist. “You see, I am helpful. Not quarrelsome.”

She clenched the handkerchief in both hands, as if she would strangle him with the cloth. He took a small step back. What had he done to earn such ire?

She turned her head toward the water, presenting him with her rather elegant profile. Her maturity surprised him, and her beauty had taken him aback when he saw her last. She hadn’t even been at her best, after she sustained that head injury on his behalf. But now, recovered and energetic, with her cheeks pink and her posture setting off her figure quite well, he found her completely enchanting. 

“Esther?” he said, taking her use of his Christian name as permission to use hers. “What have I done to offend you?” He put as much gentleness in his words as possible, coaxing her to soften. 

“You have only done what everyone always does to me,” she said, her words more resigned than forceful. He supposed that was a step in the right direction. “You have decided what is best, removed my troublesome person from one place to another, and treated me as though I have no opinion of my own. I am quite used to it, you know. People treat children and baggage as I have been treated.”

It sounded dramatic, but also rather sad. Was that truly how Esther saw herself? Looking back on his actions, he supposed he could understand. To an extent. Women were meant to be protected by the men in their lives. He had acted decisively, in order to defend her. But he had not taken the time to speak to her directly, to help her understand his plan was for her own good. 

“I think you misunderstand,” he said, putting his arms behind his back and standing at his full height. “I do apologize for that. I hoped your stepbrother and his wife would explain the matter to you.”

She raised her eyes to his, one corner of her mouth rising with obvious skepticism. Good. He needed her full attention. 

“After you saved me,” he began with confidence, “tongues began to wag, in both our social circles. Though none doubted your heroism who saw it, those not present had a different opinion of what occurred. I will not hurt your sensibilities by explaining—”

“My name is in a book at White’s, with yours, and people are talking about how I laid atop you, in broad daylight, on the street. Yes, Silas. I know.” She rose to her feet, clenching the handkerchief in one hand while the other pointed at his chest accusingly. “What I do not understand is why you became the person to decide my fate. Why did you banish me from London and my stepbrother’s family? Who, exactly, put you in charge of my well-being?” She tapped his chest with her finger on the last word. 

Silas stared down at her, his mouth hanging open until he realized it and snapped it shut. “It is my duty as a friend—”

“If it had not been Isaac’s little sister who saved you,” she said, eyes aflame, “you would not have gone to all this trouble.” She threw up her hands and walked to the brook’s edge. “Thank you, very much, for proving once more that I have little of my own merit and must borrow others’ to be of any value.”

What the deuce could she mean? Politics were easier to understand than this woman was, and that thought disturbed him. While not exactly on the hunt for a wife, Silas thought he mostly understood the gentler sex’s motives. At least when it came to him. Like Miss Keyes, preying upon him for a title and wealth. Of course, he had never had a woman openly angry with him. And for something she ought to be thanking him for. 

“Miss Fox—”

She laughed, without much humor. “Are we to be formal again? That must mean you have a lecture for me.”

He snapped his mouth shut. He had been preparing a lecture on the subject of gratitude. Given her current state, it would do little good. How could a woman so lovely be so vexing? What had worked to get her out of such moods in their childhood? 

Nothing that would be appropriate now. 

They stood in silence, the only sound that of the water tumbling along on its course toward the sea. Several small tributaries in the area made their ways to the beaches, spilling into the greater body of water. Silas stared at the clear stream and took in a deep, calming breath. That at least was pleasant, as the air here smelled strongly of apple blossoms. 

Apples. The picnic. Had they been gone too long? 

“Miss Fox, whatever indignation you feel, however you think you have been slighted, I do not think this is a topic for us to discuss today.” She snorted, practically interrupting him. “We need to return to the rest of the party.”

“Why?” she asked, turning to face him. “For more playacting? To pretend to be the oldest of indifferent acquaintances?” 

He opened his mouth, prepared to coax her into returning. Why was she being so difficult?

Esther surprised him, going back to the log and stepping atop it. “I realize you are trying to control an undesirable situation,” she said, stepping lightly across the mossy log. “It is possible your reputation may suffer, being linked to a nobody such as myself. But then again.” She tossed his handkerchief over her shoulder. “Perhaps this is fortunate. Because I will be forgotten soon, whether or not my reputation is ruined, and then you may go back to your business.”

“Miss Fox,” he said, taking a step nearer her. “Esther. Come down from there.”

“Why?” she asked, turning to face him, her half-boots pulling some of the moss on their heels. “Did you know Isaac never let me cross this log? He always made me turn back. He said I was too little, and I would fall.” She turned back to her task, crossing over the water. As it was spring, and rainy, the water was at least three feet deep. It wasn’t dangerous, but it would be terribly inconvenient if she slipped. 

“Your boots are not made for that, Esther,” he warned, coming closer. She stood at the halfway point, her arms spread wide for balance. “And if you fall—”

He did not get to finish the sentence, because at that moment she let out a yelp, her boot slid down the side of the mossy trunk, and she flipped into the water, completely submerging. 

Silas didn’t waste breath on a curse, though he thought plenty, as he rushed to the water to assist her. Esther popped up again almost instantly, spluttering, and trying to push her wet hair from her face. 

“It is c-c-cold,” she whimpered, hurrying forward, sloshing water about as she scurried over the rocks. She slipped once, falling to her knees. Silas came several steps into the water, reaching for her forearms. He pulled her upward and guided her out of the water, his gloves and the sleeves of his coat immediately soaked from touching her. 

Everything she wore was soaked through. Her bonnet, the shawl dripping from around her shoulders, and her gown. 

He swiftly averted his stare, looking anywhere but at Esther while he took off his coat. 

“I am a fool,” she said as he settled the mostly dry coat upon her. “Oh, Silas, what have I done?”

“Ruined us both, I think,” he said, unable to keep the somber tone from his voice. The truth weighed heavily on him. Their options were now severely limited. They had been gone from the main party for a long time, without chaperones or anyone to see what they were doing. If they returned, her in his coat and her clothing soaked through, there would be questions. If he took her back to the house in her current state, when the story spread, she would be ruined, and he marked a cad. If she returned on her own, and he back to the party, the suspicious and gossip-hungry members of the neighborhood would slander them both.

No matter what they did, Esther would bear the brunt of the condemnation. 

She shivered and pulled his coat tighter about herself. He stood in his shirtsleeves, trying to puzzle the matter out. There was nothing for it. 

“We cannot let you catch cold,” he said. “We need to get back to the meadow. A cart can take you home.” He held his arm out to her and she took it, though her gloves were wet and her fingers barely peeked out of his sleeves. 

She said nothing, merely bowed her pretty head and trudged along beside him. The fire in her had been doused, and their hopes for living down the rumors were gone. Oh, his ability to walk away from the whole situation remained. She spoke truly when she said he might continue on as before, and his part in her ruination might be forgotten. His political enemies would bring it up from time to time, but the rest of the world would forget his involvement in her scandal. 

But Esther Fox would not live it down. Her stepbrother would likely cast her off for a time, to protect his family’s reputation. Esther had nowhere to go. Isaac was still away, and a mere baronet could not cover the perceived flaws of his sister. Not the way Silas could.

There was only one thing to do, and Silas wondered if he was prepared to do it. Esther’s manner toward him minutes before, hostile and angry, gave him pause. Though she hadn’t always been like this. When she had saved him, less than ten days previous, she had been warm and kind. In her childhood, she had been quick to laugh and always eager to please. 

They were halfway through the orchard when he came to his decision. Silas looked down at the woman on his arm, noting she had turned pale and her lips white. Yet despite the sodden hair hanging around her face, and the sad weight in her expression, she was quite beautiful. 

A man could do much worse. And they were friends, of a sort. Isaac would likely approve of the match once he learned of it. 

They emerged from the shade of the apple orchard and stepped into the sunlight of the meadow. People turned their way, there were shouts of surprise, gasps of horror. Silas maintained a stoic expression, acting as though escorting a woman wearing a dripping gown happened every day. 

Mrs. Everly and one of her daughters rushed forward, clucking and fussing, asking what had happened. 

“Miss Fox fell into the brook,” he said, voice raised enough that all who wished would hear. “She must go home at once, and the apothecary should be sent for. I cannot have my betrothed falling ill.” With those simple words he sealed their fate. 

He heard Esther’s sharp intake of breath, felt her arm tighten around his, before she was swept away by women, taken to a cart. Silas followed.

Esther’s eyes met his when he put his hands on her waist to help her into the dog cart, and in their deep brown depths he saw more emotions than he could name. But the most obvious, the one that smote his heart, was despair. 

His hands left her waist slowly, he almost spoke to her, but the cart jerked and started on its way. One of the Everly girls had climbed up beside Esther, giving her some company at least. Someone put the reins of his horse into his hands. He mounted almost mechanically, then looked down at last into the faces turned up in his direction. Mr. and Mrs. Everly appeared concerned. Their remaining daughter somewhat curious. But beyond them, he saw worry, surprise, and envy in the eyes of his neighbors. 
​
Not one of them would guess correctly at his feelings on the matter. Of that he could be certain. He tipped his hat to them, then nudged his horse’s ribs to follow after the cart. The fine spring day had dissolved into something of a mess. But at least he acted with honor.
Order Your Copy Rescuing Lord Inglewood is available on Amazon.com and is the first book in the Inglewood romance series.