About the book
Author: Kate Hill
Genre: Historical Romance
Mercy Brown's life changes when she accepts a position as companion to
the disabled sister of wealthy shipyard owner Jonah Barnes. She is instantly
attracted to the rugged former sea captain, even if his brusque manner offends
her. Mercy soon finds herself entangled in the quirky family's secrets.
From the first, Mercy is troubled by prowlers, disturbances from the
attic, and unearthly howls on the property. After meeting several unusual
household members, including a groundskeeper who works by night and the
mischievous Maxwell Barnes, Mercy realizes she should flee while she can.
Pages from Mercy's first novel go missing and Jonah's domineering
personality causes tension in the house. Only Mercy's fondness for her young
companion, Faith Barnes, as well as her fascination with Jonah prevent her from
leaving, but will her desire for him endanger her life?
Author Bio
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Book Excerpt
A particularly loud
clap of thunder sent Mercy jumping to her feet. She quickly put her book away
and left the room, hoping to find Michaels or Augusta still awake. Maybe she
could talk to them until the storm passed.
The empty hallways
seemed eerier than usual. When she reached the parlor, she heard something even
more frightening than thunder--a long howl that mingled with the wind. Perhaps
it was the wind...
Another clap of
thunder was followed by a crash from upstairs.
Goodness, lightning
might have struck the house.
She hurried to the
foot of the stairs and called, "Michaels? Augusta? Mr. Barnes?"
No reply.
Her stomach tight and
her heart pounding, she ascended. The storm was directly overhead now. Wind
beat against the house and roared through the trees.
Recalling how it felt
to be lost outside, she hoped Max and Faith weren't caught in the storm.
Reaching the top of
the stairs, she glanced around. Lightning flashed through the tall, rectangular
windows, illuminating the hallway.
She walked toward the
dark, windowless corridor leading to the attic.
"Mr.
Barnes?" she called again.
She glanced over her
shoulder, back toward the stairs. When she turned around, she cried out,
startled to find herself facing Jonah who now stood outside the attic door,
holding a lamp.
"Miss Brown, what
are you doing up here?" he demanded, wearing his usual scowl.
"I heard noise
from up here. A crash. I thought perhaps lightning had struck the house and
someone might be hurt." She couldn't keep the tremors from her voice.
"I'm also worried about your siblings. You don't suppose they're caught in
the storm?"
Jonah's brow furrowed
and he stepped closer to her. He held up the lamp and studied her face.
"I'm sure they're
fine," he said in a gentler tone. "Max is quite capable and I doubt
they'd venture out until after this passes. Are you all
right, Miss Brown?"
"Yes. Fine."
Another clap of
thunder made her jump.
"You don't look
fine," he said. "Are you afraid of the storm?"
She chuckled
nervously. "Silly isn't it? A grown person afraid of a thunderstorm."
"Why don't we
wait it out in the library?"
"There's no need
for you to keep me company."
"Keeping you
company is far more pleasant than the paperwork I've been looking over."
He offered her his arm in a gallant gesture that took her aback. She rested her
hand on it lightly. Goodness, she shouldn't enjoy how solid and warm he felt,
yet she was unable to ignore it. His arms were rock hard from years at sea and
working in the shipyard.
On their way
downstairs, she asked, "What were you doing in the attic? I thought I
heard howling up there a short time ago and then a crash."
"The wind, I'm
sure. No doubt the crash you heard was Michaels. He tripped over an old trunk.
He's up there now, making repairs on a window that was blown open by the storm.
He's also trying to get rid of more unwanted guests of the flying rodent
variety, so I remind you to stay away from the attic."
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