Captain's
Mercy
by
Kate Hill
Historical
Romance
ISBN:
978-1-68295-133-0 Purchase Link:
http://www.bookstrand.com/book/captains-mercy
Blurb:
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?
Excerpt
from Captain's Mercy
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."
Again
she jumped at the thunder and lightning.
"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."
"Why
do you suppose the pests keep coming back?"
"I'm
not sure. My expertise is the sea. Ask me about whales and sharks and I could
probably answer. Bats are another story."
"Do
you still go to sea?" she asked, eager to keep her mind off the storm.
"Not
as much as I used to."
"Do
you miss it?"
"At
times. I miss the straightforwardness of being at sea. The simplicity. Aboard
ship, a man is valued more for what he knows than for his bloodlines."
"You
don't have much use for polite society, do you?"
"As
long as rich men keep buying my ships, I like it well enough."
"Is
that why you partnered with Max?"
"Partly.
Max is intelligent and good at business. He knows how to mingle with those
kinds of people and put them at ease so they'll make the best deal."
"I
see. The business world is all about using people."
"Precisely."
"It
sounds very cutthroat and lonely to me."
"Maybe,
but playing the game is better than being poor, isn't it? I know. I've been on
that side of it too. Faith and Max don't remember like I do. They were young
when we could barely make ends meet."
They
had reached the library and he gestured for her to sit on the couch. He joined
her, but kept a respectable distance.
"So
you went to sea to take care of them. Do you ever regret it?"
"Not
for an instant. There's nothing I wouldn't do for them. My only regret is what
happened to Robert." Pain glistened in his dark eyes, taking her aback. He
always seemed so strong, even cold at times. He rarely displayed any
vulnerability.
Strangely,
she wished to comfort him.
"I'm
sure what happened to him was quite beyond your control."
"That's
not the only thing, it seems." He stared deeply into her eyes and edged
closer--so near that they almost touched.
"Mr.
Barnes, please." She had intended the words to sound like a warning.
Instead they came out like a plea.
At
the next clap of thunder, she instinctively jumped and flung her arms around
him. He held her snugly and while she knew she should pull away, she didn't
want to. She felt safe and secure in his embrace, but it was more than that.
The feel of his body, his heart beating against her cheek and his divinely
masculine scent aroused her in a way she couldn't deny.
"Mercy,"
he murmured. When he covered her mouth in a possessive kiss, she didn't even
try to stop him, but surrendered, just like Macie to Captain Bristle.
About
Kate
Always
a fan of romance and the paranormal, Kate Hill started writing over twenty
years ago for pleasure. Her first story, an erotic vampire tale, was accepted
for publication in 1996. Since then she has sold over one hundred short stories,
novellas and novels. When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading,
working out and watching horror movies.http://www.kate-hill.com/compellingbeastsblog
http://www.twitter.com/katehillromance
http://www.twitter.com/compbeastsblog
http://www.facebook.com/katehillsaloniquinby
Thank you for having me as a guest, Beverley!
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