Here’s an excerpt:
Calcutta, November 1810
Julian Ritchie entered the ballroom with his usual self–confident swagger. This night was going to be different, he told himself.
He didn’t know what it was that made him think so. Indeed, he had entered many a ballroom before thinking the very same thing, only to be severely disappointed.
But tonight there was something in the air—something magical. It was going to be a good night.
He stopped for a moment just inside the door and took in the ballroom. The brilliant colors of the ladies’ dresses and the officers’ uniforms warred with the vibrant colors of the flowers which were everywhere overflowing from sconces on the walls and in vases on every surface. The smell filled the room. It made for a very nice change from the street smell of spices and animals that always seemed to hang in the air.
And then there were the people themselves. All of Calcutta’s English society was here. Everyone who was anyone had been invited to Miss Renwick’s coming–out ball. He could even see a few prominent, wealthy Indian gentlemen present.
Julian had been a little surprised that he had been invited, but then, everyone in his office had been on the list of invitees. It would have been too obvious a cut if he alone had been left out.
Besides, he believed his employer, Sir Lionel Renwick, rather liked him, despite the fact that his wife loathed the sight of him. He suspected Sir Lionel had insisted on Julian receiving an invitation. Lady Renwick certainly would not have issued one otherwise.
Julian took a deep breath and headed for the first group of people who were standing and chatting nearest the door.
“How do you do, Mrs. Hurst, Miss Hurst,” Julian said, bowing to the two ladies.
Adelaide Hurst turned around, gave an imperious sniff and then turned her back on him once again. Her daughter, Anne, did little better, managing a small nod in his direction before turning back to her conversation.
Julian did not let their reactions bother him. He moved on, slowly strolling about the room and nodding to people who deigned to notice his existence.
He stopped outside a few different groups of people whom he knew, but they always closed their ranks against him just as he approached.
He found Sir Lionel in conversation with the Governor–General, Lord Minto.
“Good evening, sirs,” Julian said, bowing to them.
“Ah, Ritchie,” Sir Lionel said, nodding to him, “I am happy to see you could make it.”
“Good evening, Ritchie.” Lord Minto gave him a very brief smile and then turned back to his conversation with Sir Lionel.
Well, it was the warmest welcome he had received all evening, Julian reasoned.
He turned toward the dance floor. The dancers hopped and skipped about as they executed the complicated steps of an English country dance.
But his gaze was held captive by the young woman at the head of the line. She was dressed in white and staring directly at him.
Julian couldn’t help himself. He stared right back.
She was beautiful.
There was an odd sensation in his stomach. As if a fire had been lit somewhere inside of him. Heat began to rush through him as he watched her.
She was like a porcelain doll. Her creamy complexion set off by just a little flush of color on her cheeks from the exertion of the dance. Her eyes were the color of the sky and her hair the color of the sun.
If her mouth was a little too wide, or her nose a little too small, he could not say. To him, she was perfect.
But why was she looking at him, of all people?
And don’t miss Meredith’s Paranormal Regency Romance
Magic In The Storm
Morgan is trapped and powerless.
The seventh child of the seventh child has always been a girl. Until Morgan Vallentyn was born. Because he’s male he can’t access the magical powers that should have been his. In order to attain his destiny, he first has to escape his home and find the source of his power — in the most unexpected of places.
Adriana would give up everything for her freedom.
Born to paint the natural world with unprecedented passion and vision, Adriana Hayden is bound by the laws of Regency society to her scheming guardian. But after meeting the handsome and mysterious Morgan, her world begins to open to enchanted possibilities she never could have imagined.
The only way to fulfill their destinies is for each to unlock the powers of the other — through the magic in the storm.
Here’s an excerpt:
May, 1815
Adriana Hayden didn’t even have to turn around. The quiet click of the door closing and the sigh of the sofa were all that she needed to hear to know that her dearest friend and companion, Henrietta, had come into the room.
She finished dabbing the black paint onto her canvas before stepping back and deciding that she had probably put too much. Well, she didn’t care. It was perfect and it reflected her mood so precisely Adriana imagined she wouldn’t even need to say a word to Henrietta.
She would paint the whole thing black if it wouldn’t ruin what was turning out to be a rather nice depiction of a stormy sea. The water thundered, crashing with violence onto the rocks at the base of a sheer cliff. Menacing clouds hung overhead within moments of letting loose a torrent of rain.
“Oh dear,” her companion said quietly, over the roar of the sea in Adriana’s mind.
Adriana closed her eyes for a moment to stop them from stinging and then swallowed down the anger that had risen to the top of her throat again. “They wouldn’t even let me see him,” she said, without preamble.
“Who wouldn’t?” Henrietta asked.
Adriana turned around into the quiet of the room. Henrietta was sitting, as always, with her back perfectly straight and her legs crossed at the ankle and tucked ever so slightly under the worn, comfortable sofa. Her brown hair was pulled up so tightly Adriana wondered that it didn’t hurt, but her hazel eyes spoke volumes of sympathy, for which Adriana was grateful. Adriana resisted the urge to run up to her dear friend and throw her arms around her.
Instead, she lifted her chin and replied, “The clerk at Sir William’s establishment.”
“So you didn’t even get to see Sir William? You didn’t show him your work?”
Adriana shook her head and turned back to her painting. Carelessly, she dabbed more black paint on where it wasn’t needed, darkening the sky even further.
“But that’s not right!” Henrietta said, full of indignation for Adriana. “What reason did he give?”
Adriana couldn’t even bear to turn around to face Henrietta again; the hurt was still too painful. She bit her lip to keep herself from either screaming in rage or crying like a thwarted child. She swallowed hard, again. “The clerk told me that he was certain that my watercolors were very pretty, but Sir William Agnew did not deal in a young lady’s dabbling. He only sold the work of true artists.” She paused at Henrietta’s gasp, but then continued. “He suggested that I give my work to some handsome young gentleman in the hope that he will marry me.”
“No, he didn’t!”
“Oh, yes.”
“Why, the nerve! The gall! The temerity of such... such...”
“A man,” Adriana finished for her.
“An imbecile is what I was going to say.”
“Perhaps they are one and the same,” Adriana said, allowing her mouth to quirk up in a little smile.
Henrietta just harrumphed.
Adriana turned around and attempted to put a real smile onto her face. How was it that Henrietta always made her feel better? No matter what had upset her, Henrietta always slipped herself right up under Adriana’s hurt and pried it away.
“It’s all right, Henrietta. I’ll just try someone else. I don’t have to sell my paintings through Sir William. I’m certain there are plenty of other art dealers who will take a look at my work.”
“But Sir William is the best,” her friend argued.
“Oh, Adriana, it’s such a shame to have to sell your beautiful work...”
“But necessary. Absolutely necessary,” she said with all of the conviction and certainty she felt, and that was substantial.
“You wouldn’t have to sell so many or worry so much about price if you just left me...”
“I will not! How could you even suggest that I leave you here to deal with Lord Devaux yourself?” She took the few steps that separated them and knelt down on the floor at Henrietta’s feet. “We will wait until I have enough money for both of us to survive. I will never leave you.”
Henrietta squeezed Adriana’s shoulder gratefully. “But...”
There was a knock at the door. Before Adriana could respond, Lord Devaux himself walked into the room.
About the Author
Meredith Bond is an award-winning author of a series of traditionally published Regency romances and indie-published paranormal romances. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith’s heart belongs to her husband and two children. Meredith’s second favorite pastime is teaching others to write. If you want a taste of her class in book form, Chapter One is available at your favorite e-retailer.
A review of this book would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Books By Meredith Bond
The Merry Men Quartet: The stories of four friends which just had to be told (These books, originally published by Zebra Books, can be read in any order you choose, they are stand alone novels with recurring characters.)
An Exotic Heir (originally published as Love of My Life)
A Merry Marquis (originally published as Miss Seton’s Sonata. Look for it in 2014)
A Rake’s Reward (originally published as Wooing Miss Whatley. Look for it in 2014)
A Dandy in Disguise (originally published as Dame Fortune)
The Storm Series:
Storm on the Horizon, a historical paranormal novella
Magic in the Storm, a Regency-set paranormal romance
The Children of Avalon Trilogy
Air: Merlin’s Chalice
Water: The Return of Excalibur
Fire: Nimuë’s Destiny
“In A Beginning”, a short story featuring Lilith
Chapter One: A Fast, Fun Way to Write Fiction
“Under the Mango Tree”, a short story in the upcoming anthology Love Least Expected, coming February, 2015
The Merry Marquis Page 20