Say hello to another fabulous, entertaining short story anthology from the Naughty Literati, an anthology group I've belonged to for several years. We're very proud of our books,and hope you enjoy this one.
This autumn, we welcome Guest Authors Ever Coming and L.J. Garland, who have contributed wonderful stories.
Here's what my
story is about:
The Cowboy, His
Countess, and Her Companion
(England
And here's a
snippet from Chapter One--the setting is Almack's, of course :)
Leonore Wingate
turned to her bosom-bow, Amelia Haddon, bending slightly so the smaller woman
could hear over the music and chatter. “Can you see that chap? He’s new.”
Amelia blinked.
“Really?”
“Yes, and he’s
coming toward us.”
Leonore grinned.
“What shall we tell this one?” They had been inventing stories to explain
their unusual closeness since they'd met at boarding school. Their most
innocuous story was that she was Amelia’s hired companion, which was fairly
close to the truth. They enjoyed telling others that they were engaged in the
study of Sapphic poetry; in the main, their peers had no idea to what they were
referring.
Amelia eyed the
stranger. “Intuition tells me that this one might not be easily fobbed off. You
do remember that Madame Esperanza told me that my intuitive powers are usually
great.”
Leonore withheld a
sarcastic retort, but rolled her eyes.
Amelia continued,
“Perhaps we should encourage his suit.”
Shocked, Leonore
lost her breath and therefore her voice for several seconds. Then she managed
to say, “But—but—”
“You have not yet
heard my news.”
“That letter you
received from your father?”
“Yes. He threatens
to cut me off should I fail to marry before my next birthday.”
“But you can’t
marry! You can’t!” Heads turned at the vehemence of her tone, and she lowered
her voice. “Why?”
“Of course I do not
wish to marry, but what else can we do?”
Leonore pressed her
lips together. “I’ll not leave you.”
Amelia touched
Leonore’s hand briefly, so quickly that she was sure no one else saw. “Of
course not.
We shall maintain
the fiction that you are my paid companion.”
“But what about at
night? You can’t, Amelia! It would kill you!
Amelia drew a
determined breath. “We all must do what we must. And I will have to bear his
attentions, at least some nights.”
“You’ll lie quietly
and think of crown and country? Ha! I’ll not allow it!”
“We don’t have a
choice. I shall have to bear his attentions, at least on some nights. Many men
keep mistresses for such...activities.”
Leonore paused,
thinking. “Hm. You are right. Without your funds, we are left with only my tiny
portion.” Her birth was impeccable but her fortune small, her parents having
inconveniently wasted the Wingate estate before dying in a carriage accident.
“Good evening,
ladies.” The stranger sketched a clumsy bow.
Leonore raised her
brows as Amelia raised her fan. The stranger was so untutored in the social
graces that he did not realize that he ought not address ladies to whom he had
not yet been introduced. But...
“Your accent is not
English,” Leonore said.
“No, I’m from Texas
“In America
“Yeah. From the
good ol’ U.S. of A.”
Leonore winced at
his speech. He seemed like a nice fellow, but...
Amelia said, “And
what brings you to our shores?”
“I’ve inherited an
estate that is in poor shape, and I’m here to claim it and find a wife to help
me get it to where it should be,” the man explained in a rush.
Given the accent,
Leonore understood perhaps half of what he said. She exchanged glances with
Amelia, then said, “Umm, with all respect, sir, we have yet to be properly
introduced.”
“Oh, sorry, miss.
I’m Nate Fortune.”
“Of the Darlingside
Fortunes?” Amelia asked, closing her fan.
If Leonore raised
her brows more, she was certain they’d disappear into her hairline. She
controlled herself. “You must be the new Earl Darlingside.”
“Yeah. And you?”
She and Amelia
again exchanged glances. Despite the social solecism, Amelia responded. “I’m
Amelia Haddon, and this is my...companion, Leonore Wingate.” She hooked her arm
through Leonore’s elbow.
He eyed their
linked arms and raised his brows. “Your...companion?”
“Yes,” Leonore said
with emphasis. “We are quite inseparable.”
Now the
stranger—Darlingside?—raised his brows. “That’s good.”
Leonore stared at
him.
“Well, it would be
very hard to choose between you. You are both such lovely ladies.”
“Flatterer,” Amelia
said flirtatiously. She rapped his knuckles with her fan.
“Ow!” Darlingside
made a show of rubbing his hand, as though he’d actually been hurt.
Amelia giggled
while Leonore smiled.
He smiled back. “So
the only question is, which one of you will I marry?”
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