The Captain's Courtship. Regina Scott
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A turbulent reunion
The dashing Captain Richard Everard has faced untold dangers at sea. Steering his young cousin through a London season, however, is a truly formidable prospect. The girl needs a sponsor, like lovely widow Lady Claire Winthrop—the woman who coldly jilted Richard years ago.
Claire believed herself sensible in marrying a well-to-do viscount rather than a penniless second son. How deeply she regretted it! Now their fortunes are reversed, and Richard’s plan will help settle her debts and secure his inheritance. Yet it may yield something even more precious: a chance to be courted by the captain once more.
“What an untidy household you keep, sir, that everyone disappears on you.”
“You can see why I need you.”
Richard needed her? Oh, how Claire wanted to be truly needed, a helpmate instead of an ornament to be trotted out to impress but forgotten otherwise. Yet, would it be any different with him? Wasn’t she, even now, just a means to an end for him?
“So you think it’s safe here?” she asked.
“No harm will come to Samantha,” Richard said softly. “Or you. I promise.”
Richard was standing so close, Claire found herself longing to lean against him, let his arms come around her, sheltering her. Instead, she took a step back.
“I shall hold you to that promise, Captain Everard. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should check on your cousin before retiring.”
Claire turned for the stairs.
“Good night, Claire,” he called. “Pleasant dreams.”
Dreams? Once he’d embodied her dreams of the future. Now she didn’t know what to think. For, no matter his promise, she was very much afraid she was in danger at Dallsten Manor—in danger of losing her heart.
REGINA SCOTT
started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she had learned a bit more about writing. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.
She and her husband of more than twenty years reside in southeast Washington State. Regina Scott is a decent fencer, owns a historical costume collection that takes up over a third of her large closet and she is an active member of the Church of the Nazarene. Her friends and church family know that if you want something organized, you call Regina. You can find her online, blogging at www.nineteenteen.blogspot.com. Learn more about her at www.reginascott.com.
The Captain’s Courtship
Regina Scott
Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
—Luke 37–38
To all the captains I know:
Scott Doyle, captain of the Cape; Larry,
captain of my heart; and the Lord, captain of my life
Contents
Chapter One
London, England, Spring 1805
A man was standing in her mirror. Lady Claire Winthrop didn’t turn to see if he was real. He couldn’t be real. Even with that neat auburn beard and mustache, the face of her dreams was unmistakable. Richard Everard had sailed out of her life ten years ago. He wasn’t likely to return now, just because she’d never needed him more.
She regarded the massive gilt-framed mirror hanging on the wall of the sitting room in the town house that would be hers for a few days more. The reflection gave back a picture of the perfect society widow—every honey-colored curl sleeked back into a bun behind her head, face suitably wane and pale against the black of her silk gown. Nothing about her appearance had changed since the day her husband had died nearly a year ago. All the changes were inside of her.
She