NaNo 10 | A Pearl Before Swine
A 2010 National Novel Writing Month contest winner
Regency Romance
England, 1813
Lord William Rochester is confident and independent. He wants for nothing: money, position, female affection. Life offers no challenges and no detriments to his comfort. In fact, life seems somewhat dull. Then his crew pull the near lifeless body of a beautiful woman from the chilled waters of the English Channel. As William seeks to discover her identity and the reason for her plight, he is struck to the core by their heady attraction. Though she refuses to confess her history prior to her rescue, he cannot bear to usher her from his life. They are wed and Lady Adrienne Rochester is accepted into his life by all who meet her, be they friend or family.
Upon the day of their one-year anniversary William discovers he is to be a father. Life could not be better. But the night of their anniversary party is marred by tragedy. Adrienne and his niece are stolen away, a ransom of 50,000 pounds demanded for their safe return. Will he find them before the deadline?
Excerpt:
“You do me credit, my lady, though I know you do not know my quite as well as you should to offer that.” He pressed his lips upon her forehead and then sat back, regarding her flushed beauty with a small smile. “Ah! I almost forgot.” He retrieved the Georgian brooch from his pocket and handed it forward. “Does this mean anything to you?”
Her extension of hand was slow, the flush bleeding from her cheeks to leave them ashen. Her fingers retracted from their touch of the brooch as if they burned with fire. “Where… where did you find that?”
“It was tangled in your hair. Why, my dear, what is amiss?”
“Please, my lord, hide it away again.” She turned her head out the window, her hand fisted and pressed against her chest. Her eyelids drifted closed. “Please,” she whispered.
William shoved the brooch back within his trouser pocket and shifted in his seat to sit beside her. Her entire body quivered. “Adrienne….”
“I shall be well in a moment.” She blindly reached beside her, taking up his hand in a tight grip. “You could not have known, and I do not blame you.”
“Known what, my dear? What is it about this brooch that has such an effect upon you?”
She shook her head, the action slight and her tremors worsening. “I cannot bear to think of it, my lord. Please do not ask me.”
William restrained a curse, his brows furrowed as his thumb caressed her hold. He would need to send Reggie a message of this reaction. Perhaps it would help him in his search for the Lady Adrienne’s mysterious past? There was no way to know, especially considering his dedication to keep himself in the dark regarding anything that was discovered.
“Adrienne… you know that I would never abandon you, no matter your history? I have consorted with worse, in all likelihood, and I rarely judged them—”
“I could not bear the confession,” she whispered. “It would be as if I once again opened the pages to that history to relive. It pains me enough to remember, though I wish I could dash those memories from my person.”
“Adrienne… why do you hamper my ability to help you by bearing such a burden alone?”
“This burden belongs to another, my lord. Adrienne has not these memories nor this past, and she is destined—I am destined for a brighter future.” Adrienne focused on him, her cheeks glistening with tears. “It is this future I cling to with every fiber of my being. There is nothing before that night you rescued me from my own dark dealings.”
He caressed the tears from cheeks and drew her close. “Adrienne….” Would that Reggie would choose this one time to break his promise of silence and confess all he discovers. But could he truly allow his friend such an action? The moment he determined that is what Reggie intended William knew he would be honor bound to silence him, or risk breaking his word to Adrienne.
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