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About The Count’s Castaway by Aubrey Wynne
Title: The Count’s Castaway
Author: Aubrey Wynne
Genre: Historical Romance
Narrow escapes seem to be Count Alexandre Lecroix’s lot in life. Fleeing France as a boy during the Reign of Terror, he’s a man with no country and soon takes to the sea in search of his destiny. The Napoleonic Wars have filled his pockets and his zeal for excitement, but his heart remains hollow. When he discovers a feisty stowaway on board, he resists the squall of emotion she stirs within him.
Two lonely souls find passion in the turbulent waters of the Atlantic, each a fugitive of their past. As land draws near, Zander is torn between his desire for a woman and his hunger for the sea.
Can love survive once the ship has anchored, or will their newfound happiness founder?
Excerpt from The Count’s Castaway
© 2020
Aubrey Wynne
Alexandre noticed the boy sidle into the room from the corner of his peripheral vision. He gave him a side glance as he spoke to Patch.
“I don’t recognize him.”
“Ah, the latest lubber the quartermaster took pity on. Orphan, it seems, and a young one. Came in earlier with another new hire. Funny thing, Captain, I thought the older one, Rorick, was the new ship’s boy, but he said it was this one.” Patch nodded toward the figure swabbing the deck. “Looks like the young-un needs to grow into his clothes.”
They both turned to study the boy who thrust the mop into the bucket. His shirt had been tucked in but still hung loose around his hips. While his height indicated a lad, something about his small hands piqued Alexandre’s curiosity. The skin was calloused, proving a past of physical labor, but the fingers were slender and the wrist small, almost delicate. There was a grace to his movements that reminded him of a… Sacre Dieu!
The youth had bent over to push the mop, and Zander saw the outline of a rounded bottom not even the loose trousers could hide. He mumbled a stronger curse under his breath. Finishing the conversation with Patch, he crossed the room and asked the boy his name.
“K.T.”
He stared at the bent head for a moment. Katie. Clever to come up with a moniker that she would always recognize. And how had she managed to hide away, then insinuate herself among his crew? Again, a clever lass. When their eyes met, her blue orbs darkened.
She knows she’s discovered, he thought.
Well, he’d allow her a slight reprieve until he had the particulars of her deceit. He finished their conversation and strolled from the room, a model of unconcern. Inside, he was seething, until the memory of their initial meeting teased his senses.
Her soft body fitted against his, that full lower lip trembling from his kiss, the taste of spiced citrus. Alexandre took a deep breath. He’d find out her story, then discipline whoever had helped her on board. He ran a tight ship. There was no way she’d made it on by herself.
Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule, and barn cats. Obsessions include wine, history, travel, trail riding, and all things Christmas. Her Chicago Christmas series has received the Golden Quill, Aspen Gold, Heart of Excellence, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and twice nominated as a Rone finalist by InD’tale Magazine.
Aubrey’s first love is medieval romance but after dipping her toe in the Regency period in 2018 with the Wicked Earls’ Club, she was smitten. This inspired her spin-off series Once Upon a Widow. In 2020, she launched the Scottish Regency series A MacNaughton Castle Romance with Dragonblade Novels.
Connect with Aubrey Wynne online:
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