I’d like to welcome you back from the holiday break to Sweet Saturday Samples. A great deal has happened since we last met, one of which is I finished Maid To Be Baroness which is now at my beta-reader so forgive any mistakes. This is a fun scene from that book.
If you read my bestselling book, A Christmas Surprise, then you know Lady Aleece and Debbi attended a house party. One of the events was a fishing contest which I wrote about but from Lady Aleece’s point of view. Here we see Debbi not only showing Lord Gerrard her talents as a fisherwoman but…No. You’ll have to read on to find out.
“I’m not so sure about that. If I’m not mistaken this monster will weigh in at close to five pounds. If that’s the case them we have to make sure he lives and give him to the earl. A fish this big would make a wonderful breeder to enhance his stocking pond,” Debbi said as she fought to land the titan.
Not satisfied with her position on the stream bank Debbi stepped forward, right into the water.
“Ah, that’s better,” she called out to her partner. “Now all I have to do is land him,” she called out, not aware he’d moved to where he could grasp her if something untoward happened.
Several minutes later, feet numb from the cool water, Debbi dipped her net into the water and brought her catch out into the waiting hands of Lord Gerrard.
“Now, how do we keep him alive until it’s time to return to the manor?” Lord Gerrard said as Debbi tried not to giggle as he held the wiggling fish.
“Ah, watch this,” she replied reaching into a pocket of her dress and withdrawing a thick string. “Hold him while I thread this through his mouth and out his gill. We’ll then return him to the stream where he’ll live until we can present him to the earl’s game master.
In seconds Debbi had the trout back in the stream, tied to a branch overhanging the rushing water.
As she turned back to thank Lord Gerrard for his help she found herself engulfed in his strong arms. One of the places she’d dreamed about the night before.
“Just a congratulatory hug,” he softly said.
“Well, I think this would be more appropriate, don’t you.” Debbi didn’t give him a chance to answer as she cupped his nape, drawing his mouth to hers.
As lips touched lips she got a feeling that even those scandalous romance novels she read never mentioned. A warming in her lower self which drove her to want more of him.
“And who said they’d behave.” The words shattering the moment which immediately separated Debbi from Lord Gerrard.
Not stepping away from him Debbi looked right and saw Aleece, not to mention Mr. Thomas glaring at them.
“It was only a thank you for helping me snare the winning trout, that’s all,” Debbi stumbled out.
“Gerrard,” Mr. Thomas started, “am I going to have to call you out?”
“Sir, if you are to call anyone out it should be me, for I was the one who kissed Lord Gerrard first. All he did was behave like a gentleman and responded,” Debbi announced to her accusers as she stepped in front of Lord Gerrard for his protection.
“Miss Overstreet, as much as I appreciate your wanting to protect me I feel that I’m capable of doing that myself,” Lord Gerrard whispered in her ear.
Incensed at not wanting her to defend him Debbi spun about on her heel and captured his gaze with one that was of anger mixed with fire.
“Just because I’m of low birth and Lady Aleece’s lady’s maid doesn’t mean that I can’t defend someone I have developed feels for even if, granted we just met.”
Blurb and buy links for- A Christmas Surprise
If I hear one more debutante declare that they will never marry unless it is for love, well. I shall break my quill! And we all know what happens when I break my quill. Things become very upsetting and it isn’t long before I— Well, that is quite another story. Let this author, this matriarch, this paragon of society guide you with her infinite wisdom. It is apparent that many of you have gotten this silly notion of love in your head, most likely from American influence, and please do not get me started on those savages. The point, young dears, is that love, is silly. Take for example Lady Aleece, poor young dear never stood a chance! Can you imagine being mauled in public? By a commoner no less? Although, rumors have been running rampant that this very delicious commoner is in fact the Marquess of Somerset, I have my doubts. For one thing, a Marquess should be more unfortunate looking which is clearly not the case with Somerset. Let this be a lesson dear readers. If you marry for love, there is a very big chance that you will end up with your heart broken, or in that wretched commoners case—kidnapped (though many believe he should have been killed for even breathing the same air as our fair lady). Dear readers, have I taught you nothing this holiday season?—Mrs. Peabody’s Society Papers.
Astraea Press- http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=16090202
B&N-
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-christmas-surprise-lindsay-downs/1113764953?ean=2940015942637
Amazon-
Murders and Mysteries 
Reblogged this on A Jessica Sales Novel.
Reblogged this on A Jessica Sales Novel.
I love this spunky character and the way you’ve shown her personality. This is the first historical romance I’ve ever heard of where a woman waded into a stream to catch a fish. I love that!
I love Debbi’s character! She’s definitely a unique heroine, with her talent for fishing.
Debbi is no shy miss, that’s for sure. I hadn’t heard of a woman wading into the water after a fish in the Regency either. But there’s always a first time! Great character.
There’s going to be firewords with this little lady, that’s for sure.