Halwyn Fitzpatrick thinks he's off the hook for attendance at the annual Cotillion Ball. He has no sister to shepherd down the grand staircase this year, and no real desire to go through the rituals of courtship and betrothal himself. Besides, he'll know the right girl when he sees her—especially now that he has new spectacles. But his mother has other plans for him. At twenty-seven years of age, her son is in dire need of a wife.
Grace Wagner needs a husband by July in order to inherit the trust her father has left for her. Her stepfather, though, has plans for the money that don't include Grace, and the last thing he wants is for her to find a husband before she turns twenty-one, thereby fulfilling the terms of the trust. She's been in love with Halwyn since she was thirteen, but he hasn't noticed her at any of the balls they've been at over the years.
With the aid of his new glasses, he spies Grace from across the room and they share a dance. Grace decides to present him with a business proposition that will satisfy them both. But can a clueless knight in shining armor and a desperate damsel in distress find a way to turn this marriage of convenience into something more?
EXCERPT
Grace rose from her seat and smoothed the skirt of her lilac gown. The
dress was several years old, but she was still fond of its tiered skirt with
bands of deep purple satin ribbon at the edge of each tier, and the beadwork of
the bodice. Her mother gave her a sidelong glance as she lazily fanned herself.
“And where do you think you’re going, dear? The waltz has already begun
and you have no partner. Sit back down before you cause a scene.”
This was the year, and Halwyn was her target. She would not sit quietly
on the sidelines any longer.
“No, Mother, I won’t sit. I’m tired of sitting. I want to dance. I
suggest you go find your husband and do the same.”
She took a deep breath, and began to walk toward Halwyn. It may be a
presumptuous act on her part, but she had no more time to waste. She wove her
way through the dancers and the onlookers, stopping to say hello when she
passed an acquaintance so it wouldn’t seem as though she was making a mad dash
in his direction. She’d just casually stroll around the room and run into him.
Her plan was in place.
When Grace finally made it to the side of the ballroom where Halwyn had
been, he was no longer there. She scanned the room quickly, to see where he had
gone. Now he was over on the side where she had just come from! Blast and damn!
Should she return to her lowly chair and to her mother, or wait where she was
in hopes he’d return? She chewed her lower lip and toyed with the pearls around
her neck as she pondered what move to make next. This was turning into a silly
parlor game of musical chairs.
At
that precise moment, they locked eyes across the room. She put the fingers of
one hand to her stomach to stop its sudden fluttering. His smile flew across
the room to her, evoking warmth and excitement in her at the same time. He gave
her a small wave and began to walk with purpose toward her.
Oh what fun this story looks to be. Congratulations, Becky. Doris
ReplyDeleteThanks, ladies. I had so much fun writing this one. Something about a hero with glasses...
DeleteBecky, how did you come up with the name of Halwyn? It's so unique. I confess, I think men who wear glasses are sexy. I like the story line and it will be interesting to see how these two manage to make that marriage real. I also liked how Grace took matters into her own hands--you see something you want, well dang, go out and get it.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best, Becky and wish you congratulations on your new release.
Hi Sarah. I read somewhere long ago, when I first started researching the names for my characters in this series that the meaning of the name Halwyn was "salt." Thus began the names of the siblings for herbs and spices. I had trouble finding another male-sounding name after Halwyn and Basil, but I was in an antique store that had an old pharmacy stand with little cubbyholes with the names of various spices and discovered the name Valerian. He's the star of Book 7, about the Pony Express.
ReplyDeleteBecky, better late than never. BOTH of my computers went on the fritz last week and I tried to comment on this with my phone several times but it never would allow it. :(((( Anyhow, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed Halwyn's story and I always love the way you make everything work out like it should!
ReplyDelete