Amazon Sunset
Victorian Romantic Adventure / Suspense
By: Marie Higgins
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Amazon Sunset
Copyright © 2014 by Marie Higgins
Cover Design by Sheri McGathy
Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
For more information about author: http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com
Contact Marie – [email protected]
Other stories from Marie Higgins
“Love Lost in Time” – Victorian Time-Travel / Suspense - http://amzn.com/B00F9F7QKI
“Waiting for You” – Paranormal / Time-travel Romance - http://amzn.com/B00EQQMACU
“Becoming a Lady” – Regency Romance - http://amzn.com/B00BPJAGMC
“Dreaming of You” – Romantic Comedy - http://amzn.com/B00A6G5JO0
“In the Arms of Danger” – Romantic Suspense - http://amzn.com/B0087V3R0Y
“Crazy For You” – Romantic Comedy - http://amzn.com/B00AZRMPOW
“The Spanish Outlaw” – American Historical Romance – http://amzn.com/B00B40YQYG
Christian Historical Series
“A Walk In Heaven” – (book 1) - http://amzn.com/B0067F68FS
“Touching Heaven” – (book 2) - http://amzn.com/B009DRV0MS
“Reach For Heaven” (book 3) - http://amzn.com/B00H5WJV3I
Regency Romance Series
“The Sweetest Kiss” – (book 1) - http://amzn.com/B0066HBZBE
“The Sweetest Touch” – (book 2) - http://amzn.com/B007QH286Y
“The Sweetest Love” – (book 3) - http://amzn.com/B00DSADZEC
“The Sweetest Secret” – (not out yet)
Victorian Romance Series
“Love Me Always” – (book 1) - http://amzn.com/B007ZJC2DC
“Charmed By Knight” – (book 2) - http://amzn.com/B007ZV5Y7Q
“True Love’s Deception” – (book 3) - http://amzn.com/B0082R8OEW
“Belong To Me” – (book 4) - http://amzn.com/B0084VC37A
“Love Comes Blindly” – (book 5) - http://amzn.com/B0086K791O
Colonial Romance Series
“Take My Heart” – (book 1) - http://amzn.com/B005OU7VFS
“Falling in Love Again” – (book 2) - http://amzn.com/B005YF5PBA
“Wonderland by Night” – (book 3) - http://amzn.com/B00B9670IE
Dedication
I want to dedicate this book to those wonderful friends / writers who helped me edit this story—my Regency Romance Critiquers, Sarah Baker, my Wattpad friends, and especially my friend who has always stuck by my side to make sure I have a good story. Thanks Melissa!
I also want to praise the Internet. If not for technology, I wouldn’t have been able to research the plot for this story within a few hours. I have learned so much, too.
Katrina Landon’s life is about to change. The wealthy father she has never known wants to meet her, but she has to travel from the slums of Boston through the Amazon rainforest to his plantation. As if that’s not bad enough, her guide is the handsome, self-assured, too confident for his own good, Mr. Knightly, who immediately stirs her temper.
Felix Knightly isn’t looking forward to escorting a spoiled rich girl through the jungle no matter how much her father pays. Yet when he meets her, he finds Katrina’s distracting innocence and charming demeanor unsettling. She makes it nearly impossible to concentrate on his job—a problem he’s never had around women. He’d rather fight off the fire ants, howler monkeys, and crocodiles than risk losing his heart to her, since he’s never met an honest wealthy woman.
As they delve deeper into the shadows of the rainforest, they discover they weren’t just wrong about each other, they were wrong about the dangers of the jungle. Someone wants them dead and they have to find out who and why before it’s too late.
Macapá, Brazil 1890
Chapter One
Brazil was just a polite word replacement for welcome to Hades.
Miss Katrina Landon grumbled under her breath for the umpteenth time as she pulled at the stiff material of her collar on her fancy new dress. Uncomfortable with the smoldering heat in this country, she waved a fan toward her face. Why women were required to wear this many layers of clothes in a place that was so blasted hot, she didn’t know. In the two days she’d been here, she’d seen other women wearing lighter weight clothes, so why couldn’t she? After all, she was used to wearing dresses worn thin from age.
“Oh, here is the building, dear.” Her mother, Mrs. Lucy Landon, patted Katrina’s arm. “This is where your father’s solicitor is located. Is this not exciting?”
Katrina rolled her eyes at her mother’s jovial attitude. Apparently, the heat didn’t damper her cheerfulness. Then again, it wasn’t every day they were placed on a ship sailing to Brazil and given money to buy new gowns. This was the first—and the last—time this would ever happen to two women who had worked in a tavern most of their lives.
“Let’s hope the attorney is here,” Katrina groused. “I’ve already had enough of this country. I want to return home to Boston.”
“In due time, dear.” Her mother’s shoulders straightened. “We are very close to getting the money your father owes us, so we must continue.” She stopped and turned to her daughter. “And I want you to be on your best behavior.”
“Really, Mother? What other behavior do I exhibit?” she asked sarcastically.
Her mother huffed and folded her arms. “I’ll have none of that—and neither will your father or his solicitor. I can only imagine what your father has told this man about us. In light of that, I want us to present ourselves as well-bred ladies.”
Katrina snorted. “You have got to be kidding.”
Her mother scowled. “Katrina, you know I am quite serious. I have raised you with manners, and I have shown you how to look and act like a lady—even if our circumstances did not allow for us to show it very often. However, we are here now, and we will act like wealthy women. Is that understood?”
“Indubitably,” Katrina replied, trying her hardest not to sound cynical this time. “I suppose my performing skills are well refined since I’ve been acting most of my life.” Straightening her back, she lifted her chin. “Shall we proceed inside now, Mother?”
Her mother grinned and patted Katrina’s cheek. “That’s a good girl.”
Katrina followed her mother inside the stuffy building. Several chairs and desks were in the main hall, but nobody occupied the area. The nearest office door was closed. From inside came the deep voices of arguing men.
“Apparently, Mr. Jamison is with another client,” her mother stated while walking to a chair and sitting. She cleared her throat a few times before a fit of coughs shook her chest. She reached into the sleeve at her wrist and pulled out a handkerchief to cover her mouth.
Katrina frowned. Her mother’s ailment had been going on for too long now and becoming worse by the day. She needed a doctor soon. Hopefully, Katrina would get the money promised as stated in her father’s letter that had arrived two months ago. Then they’d be able to pay for medicine.
She remembered that day so well. The tavern had been slow, which meant she and her mother hadn’t earned a lot. Mother had stepped in
to the kitchen for a moment when a delivery boy brought in a letter addressed to Miss Katrina Landon. Curious to see who would be sending her correspondence, she quickly opened the paper and read…and then about fell to the floor in shock. The very man who had abandoned them even before Katrina was born wanted her to come to Macapá, Brazil. He was sending funds for some new dresses and for traveling expenses. The letter stated he wanted to give Katrina some money and meet with her before he died.
Katrina had thought it was a hoax and nearly threw the letter in the fire, but something in the back of her head told her to keep the missive. Not even a week later, a solicitor arrived at their doorstep, explaining he was taking her shopping. It was a dream come true. Still, Katrina was leery of it all. Why would the old man want to give her anything now when he never acknowledged her as his daughter before?
A bead of sweat ran down her neck, and she poked her fingers in the collar of her dress once more to try and stop the infuriating itch in her bodice. The blasted humidity was making her clothes so bothersome.
Across the hall inside the solicitor’s office, the voices of the men lifted again—one, louder than the other. Obviously, someone wasn’t very pleased. She glanced at her mother who was also staring at the closed door. Lucy looked at Katrina and shrugged.
“If that man doesn’t hurry,” Katrina stated, “I’ll be melted into a puddle by the time he’s ready to meet with us.”
“As will I, dear.”
From her lips to God’s ears… Within moments, the door opened and a man stormed out. As soon as he saw Katrina and her mother, he came to a sudden stop. Probably in his early thirties, the man’s black bushy eyebrows arched. As he ran his gaze over Katrina, his upper lip curled in distaste. Huffing, he clamped his hat on his head, and quickly left.
“I wonder what got his knickers in a twist?”
“Katrina dear,” her mother snapped, “watch your language.”
She threw her mother a confused stare. “What are you talking about? I was watching my language.”
From the office door, a man cleared his throat. Katrina whipped her attention to the rotund older man with gray hair. She quickly stood as did her mother.
“Good day. You must be Mrs. Landon and Miss Katrina Landon?”
His smile looked forced, and his opinion of them was obvious from his judgmental stare as it skimmed over Katrina and her mother. His tailored clothes and haughty demeanor confirmed his wealthy upbringing. His degrading higher-than-thou attitude greatly offended her. Being raised in the slums of Boston, she was used to this treatment, but for some reason this man made her feel lower than usual.
The foul names Katrina wanted to call him hung on the tip of her tongue, and she tried desperately not to say them—even to the point of clamping her teeth on her tongue. Apparently, this man knew about their dire situation and what type of women they were—thanks to Henry Landon’s neglect.
“Indeed we are.” Lucy stepped forward first, trying her best to look like a proper, educated and sophisticated woman.
“Mrs. Landon,” he nodded, “I am Mr. Jamison. Would you please come in to my office so we can discuss Mr. Landon’s wishes?”
Katrina didn’t like the sound of that. His wishes? Did nobody care about her wishes, which right now were to find the nearest body of water, strip off her clothes, and jump into it for a cool down.
I must act like a lady… Starting her performance, she stood tall, inhaled a deep breath, and gave him her best smile.
As soon as they walked inside his office, he closed the door behind them. “Please have a seat.” After Katrina and her mother sat, the man waddled around his wooden desk and sat in his large chair. He looked directly at Katrina. “I’m sure you’re wondering why you are here.”
“Indeed, I am. It’s not every day I’m asked to travel to a different country just to see what my father,” she bit out the words, knowing that man had no right to the title, “wants of me and my mother.”
Mr. Jamison removed a letter from an envelope. There were many pages to it. “Miss Landon, your father is getting his affairs in order and has written a will. He would like to meet you before he dies.”
“Oh, really?” Her lady-like tone failed her, because the words that shot out were caustic. “Why does he suddenly want to meet me after twenty years? Perhaps he thinks he won’t make it into heaven if he doesn’t make amends for his sins?”
“Katrina!” Lucy gasped. “That tone of voice is not acceptable.”
Katrina wanted to roll her eyes again, but refrained…this time, anyway. “Mr. Jamison, please skip all the formalities and come right to the point. It’s too blasted hot in this place to sit and listen to nonsense.”
Lucy growled softly and bumped her elbow against Katrina’s. Another warning, obviously. Once again, she ignored it and waited for the solicitor to get on with it.
“Fine, then.” He gave her a curt nod. “It comes down to this. In order to obtain the funds your father wishes to give you in addition to your inheritance, he wants you to travel to the Amazon jungles to his rubber tree plantation and meet him.”
Shock washed over her. She’d heard the man loud and clear, but her mind took a little longer to absorb the full impact of what he had said. Katrina stared at him as he drummed his fingers on the polished oak desk.
Confusing thoughts swam in her head. If not for her mother sitting next to her to give her comfort, Katrina’s mind would be in ashes. A small breeze floated through the open window, but it wasn’t enough to cool her disposition. The disturbing news from Mr. Jamison only served to grate on her already fried nerves.
She kept her shoulders rigid and chin raised as she replied to the solicitor. “Mr. Jamison it’s hard for me to grasp the concept of having a father, let alone, one who cares.” Wounded emotions mixed with anger surged through her as a glimpse of her past flashed through her mind. “Up until I received his letter, I wasn’t aware my father was even alive.”
Irritation over everything that had happened lately brought her to her feet, and indecision about her new status as a would-be heiress mystified her. “All of this has happened so fast and I don’t understand any of it.” She wrung her hands against her middle. “One day I’m serving ale in a low-life pub, and then suddenly, the man who took his lusts out on my mother twenty years ago is sending me money to dress myself like a lady—and expecting me to travel to places I’ve never heard of just so he can settle his conscience regarding his mistakes?”
Lucy grasped Katrina’s hand. Anger kindled in her mother’s gaze as her lips pulled tight. “Katrina, we don’t need to talk about our past in front of a complete stranger. Besides, your father and I did marry.”
Katrina shook her head and scoffed, not believing her mother actually defended the man. “He treated you like a strumpet, leaving you before I was born to move on to a wealthier woman.”
“Katrina, please, no more of this.” Tears glistened in her mother’s eyes. Within seconds, a fit of coughs erupted from her, as they always did when she became upset. She pressed a white handkerchief to her mouth and took in deep breaths until the coughs subsided. “I’m certain Mr. Jamison doesn’t want to hear about our pathetic past. The fact of the matter is you are still entitled to your father’s money.”
“Mother, that man—who has the audacity to call himself my father—has never acknowledged our presence, so why does he want me to trek into the Amazon? And why is he giving me money for fancy gowns?” She tugged at the high neck collar of her new dress again. The skin irritation was increasing by the second because of the material rubbing against her sweaty neck.
“My dear Katrina, you’re a lady now.” Her mother sat a little taller as if proud of what Katrina had accomplished.
Katrina couldn’t stop the shout of laughter blasting from her throat. “I’ve suddenly become a lady just because I’m entitled to an inheritance from my wealthy father?”
“Well,” Lucy replied with a softer voice, “perhaps your father is finally
making amends for neglecting his only daughter all of these years.”
Katrina folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Oh, please, Mother. Don’t get all sentimental on the old man now. We both know why he’s doing this. He’s afraid Hell will be hotter than the place where he’s been living all these years.”
Mr. Jamison cleared his throat. “I’m sorry your life has been so miserable, Miss Landon, but the sizeable amount your father intends to leave once he dies will keep you in luxury for the rest of your life. All he wants to do now is give you a small portion of that.”
“Mr. Jamison,” her mother said sweetly and leaned slightly forward toward the desk. She laid her hand on it. “Exactly how ill is Henry?”
“He is practically on his deathbed.”
“So he could be dead by the time my daughter arrives?”
“Yes, Mrs. Landon.” He nodded. “That is possible.”
“Please, call me Lucy.”
Katrina studied her mother as she fluttered her eyelashes at the man. Dear heavens, Mother! Why, at a time like this, would her mother flirt? Then again, Katrina was used to the way her mother always flirted. It was in her nature to be so open—and somewhat bold—with men.
“That is just terrible,” her mother said softly.
“Indeed it is, Lucy.” Mr. Jamison reached across the table and patted her hand.
Katrina sighed heavily and shook her head. Apparently, even as sick as her mother had been lately, she still had that certain charm men appreciated. Of course her mother still was a very attractive woman.
Sinking back in the chair, Katrina blew out a frustrated breath of air between her lips. She needed to focus on the matter at hand. Should she go after the money?
Having money was something she had never experienced, and just thinking about it excited her. Her mother coughed again, the sound rattling her chest deeper this time. Money would certainly enable them to pay for a doctor. Perhaps this trek was Katrina’s answer to her mother’s health issues. In order to obtain the money for treatment, Katrina must meet her father.
Marie Higgins Page 1