A Breath of Scandal: The Reckless Brides (43 page)

“Everyone, look who’s here,” James called out to the rest of the party. “The prodigal returns,” he joked. “Our Thomas has finally come home.”

Faces turned in surprise—or perhaps shock—and voices raised in greeting, some familiar, some not. There was his father, an older, grayer version of the man who had sent Thomas off to seek his fortune with the East India Company, striding towards him, as others rose from chairs, astonishment written across their faces. His mother, with her hand pressed against her mouth, looking older than he would have thought, and his sister, impossibly grown up.

But when Thomas tried to step forward, he staggered.

As if he had not yet had time to become accustomed to solid ground beneath his feet. As if he had debarked from the ship hours instead of days ago. His family would think him ill with some sort of jungle fever.

“Steady on, old man,” James murmured at his side.

Perhaps, after all those healthy years traversing the
Hindu Kush
, he
had
finally contracted a fever, if not in Calcutta or on the ship, then in Glasgow or Liverpool.

Because he could have sworn the young woman he saw at the far edge of the sweeping lawn was Catriona Rowan.

Here, in Hampshire, at his older brother’s estate, when he had looked everywhere else in the world. In every village from Saharanpur to Dehli. And farther south to Agra, and a thousand villages along the Jumma and Ganges Rivers to Calcutta. Then Glasgow and Liverpool and another hundred villages and towns in between.

Perhaps she was a fever dream. Perhaps his weary mind was playing tricks on him now that he had finally resigned himself to the fruitlessness of his obsession. Now that he had grudgingly accepted his failure to find her. Now that he had at last given up.

Thomas narrowed his eyes against the sharp northern sun, raised his hand to block the light glaring off the ornamental fountain and looked again, determined to rid his brain of this useless, tormenting vision: the long, lithe body clad in gray, the pale, freckled skin, the sweep of fine, dark ginger hair escaping the confines of restrictive pins and bonnet to fly away in the sun-lit breeze.

But his heart and mind slammed against each other, like storm waves crashing, until the roar of her name in his head was deafening. Catriona. Catriona. Catriona.

My God. Either he had finally gone mad, or it was she.

How fitting. How bloody ironic. He had searched the world over, when all he had needed to do was to come home. To a place he had never been before.

He told himself to move—to go to her, to haul her into his arms, to make sure she was not a hallucination, to touch her and hold on to her in reality, the way James was holding on to him now. But his body would not obey his mind. He was paralyzed.

No. He was
staggered
.

Right there on the lush, green lawn of his brother’s exquisitely manicured estate, in the middle of a bloody summer garden party—so improbably, quintessentially English—cool, green and orderly, all graciousness and peaceful ease. Nothing like the seemingly barren, dangerous mountain passes north of the Punjab. Nothing like the crowded, intrigue-riddled
bazaars
of Lahore. There should be nothing in these surroundings to make him feel such a disorderly, contradictory rush of pain and numbness—to make him feel as though he were crawling out of his own grave.

“Thomas? I say, old man, are you all right?” James was looking at him with concern.

He was not all right. He felt as if a horse had kicked him hard in the chest, knocking the breath from him, and paralyzing his lungs.

His Cat. Alive and here, all along.

Impossible.

A
LSO BY

E
LIZABETH
E
SSEX

Almost a Scandal

PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH ESSEX

and her magnificent historical romances …

Almost a Scandal

“Elizabeth Essex will dazzle you with her sophisticated blend of vivid historical detail, exquisite characterization, and delicious sexual tension.
Almost a Scandal
is a breathtaking tale of rapturous romance and awe-inspiring adventure!”

—
USA Today
bestselling author Julianne MacLean

“The perfect blend of fast-paced adventure and deliciously sexy romance. I couldn’t put this book down!
Almost a Scandal
gets a place on my keeper shelf—I will read anything Elizabeth Essex writes!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Celeste Bradley

“Essex sweeps readers away with this high-seas, high-stakes romance featuring a daring heroine and a hero to die for. Brimming with explosive danger and smoldering passion,
Almost a Scandal
is a romance to treasure.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Tessa Dare

“Essex will have readers longing to set sail alongside her daring heroine and dashing hero. This wild ride of a high-seas adventure/desire-in-disguise romance has it all: nonstop action, witty repartee and deft plotting. From the bow to the mast, from battles to ballrooms, Essex delivers another reckless bride and another read to remember.”

—
Romantic Times
on
Almost a Scandal

“The first book in the Reckless Brides Trilogy is a seafarer’s delight. Col and Sally’s high-stakes adventure is fast-paced and fraught with peril. Well-timed humor punctuates the action and the use of frigate-speak adds authenticity to the shipboard dialogue. The love story teases the reader at first, as Col and Sally struggle to conceal their attraction on board the
Audacious
. Then things turn desperate when the circumstances of war seem intent on driving them apart. A smartly written, emotional tempest.”

—Reader to Reader Reviews

“Ms. Essex delivers romance at its finest; adventure-packed, passion-filled, and totally satisfying. Teeming with adventure, passion, sexual tension, secrets, scandal, witty banter, romance, and love, this story is a delight and a definite keeper.”

—Romance Junkies

“Page-turning and engrossing, I didn’t want
Almost a Scandal
to end.”

—Romance Reviews

About the Author

When not rereading Jane Austen, mucking about in her garden, and simply messing about with boats, Elizabeth Essex can always be found with her laptop, making up stories about heroes and heroines who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn’t always so. Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classics, and then earned her MA in Nautical Archaeology from Texas A&M University. While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing lush, lyrical historical romance full of passion, daring, and adventure.

Elizabeth lives in Texas with her husband, the indispensable Mr. Essex, and her active and exuberant family.

Visit
www.elizabethessex.com

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

A BREATH OF SCANDAL

Copyright © 2013 by Elizabeth Essex.

Excerpt from
Scandal in the Night
copyright © 2013 by Elizabeth Essex.

All rights reserved.

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

www.stmartins.com

eISBN: 9781466813175

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / January 2013

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.