The Bride Ship. Deborah Hale

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      “Set sail with your cargo of strumpets for some other lonely colony, where that manner of vice is tolerated. You, and they, are not welcome in Nova Scotia!”

      The dazed look fled Jocelyn Finch’s attractive features. An indignant glare took its place.

      Unfortunately, it did nothing to detract from her beauty.

      Sir Robert wished it had.

      “How dare you?” Mrs. Finch wrenched the glove off her impossibly delicate fingers.

      She surged up on the tips of her toes and struck him across the cheek with the glove. For such a small scrap of soft kid leather, it stung like the very devil.

      “I demand satisfaction for that vile insult, sir!” she cried. “How dare you sully the reputation of me and my charges with your disgusting accusations?”

      Then she struck him dumb by asking, “And, pray, when did the state of holy matrimony become a vice in Nova Scotia?”

      Praise for bestselling author DEBORAH HALE’s latest books

      Highland Rogue

      “This is an updated classic with timeless

       characters and well-developed humor.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKclub

      The Wizard’s Ward

      “In her first crossover foray into fantasy,

       romance writer Hale nicely blends the two

       genres in an upbeat, feel-good story.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      Beauty and the Baron

      “Deborah Hale delights with midnight ball, stargazing

       and a wonderful cast of characters.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKclub

      Border Bride

      “Excellent characterization and a nicely detailed

       Welsh setting give this medieval an intriguing

       flavor readers will find hard to resist.”

      —Booklist

      Whitefeather’s Woman

      “This book is yet another success for Deborah Hale.

       It aims for the heart and doesn’t miss.”

      —The Old Book Barn Gazette

      The Bride Ship

      Deborah Hale

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      This book is dedicated with love and admiration

       to two special young men, Brendan and Jamie Hale,

       who make the duties of motherhood a true pleasure.

       You are my heroes!

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Epilogue

      Author Note

       Chapter One

      Halifax, Nova Scotia

       May 1818

       A n urgent knock on the door of his study distracted Sir Robert Kerr in the midst of drafting his quarterly report to the Colonial Office.

      “Come in, Duckworth.” The governor’s pensive squint furrowed into a scowl at the sight of his aide. “Did I not leave instructions…?”

      “That you were not to be disturbed, Your Excellency?” Young Duckworth finished Sir Robert’s sentence, as he had a rather annoying habit of doing in moments of crisis.

      But this was an ordinary day, of no dire import. At least none of which the governor was aware. Yet his secretary’s boyish face looked flushed and his voice sounded breathless. “So you did, sir, excepting in case of general calamity.”

      One corner of the governor’s lips arched in a wry smile as he laid down his pen. His reference to “general calamity” had been meant in jest—something he had never been very good at conveying.

      When he rose from his chair, Sir Robert’s neck gave a twinge. He reached back to knead the tense muscles. How many hours had he been hunched over his desk composing that blasted report? Perhaps it would do him good to get up and move about.

      “Tell me, what general calamity has beset our fair colony today?” He strode out to the entry hall on the heels of his aide. “Is the brewery on fire? Are we being invaded by some foreign fleet? Has the bishop fallen into the harbor?”

      “None of those, Your Excellency.” Once again, Duckworth missed the governor’s attempt at levity. He shoved Sir Robert’s hat into his hands. “I think you had better come and see for yourself, sir.”

      With that suggestion, Duckworth turned and fled out the front door of Government House, leaving Sir Robert with little choice but to follow if he wished to appease his curiosity. Grumbling under his breath, the governor jammed on his old-fashioned tricorne. What had put Duckworth in such a stew? And why was he being so confounded mysterious about it?

      The pair of sentries who stood guard over the front entrance of Government House were talking together in hushed, urgent tones when he stepped outside. The instant they spotted him marching down the steps, both soldiers snapped to attention.

      “One of you stay here. The other come with me.” Sir Robert beckoned the larger of the two men. “I may have need of you.”

      “Aye, sir!” the sentries replied in chorus, jumping to obey his orders.

      Sir Robert discerned a flicker of eagerness on the face of his escort, and a shadow of disappointment on that of the man ordered to stay behind. In either of their places, his reaction would have been quite the opposite. His former career in the army had taught him to