Jewel Adams - Romance with a Touch of Spice

It’s me, long time no hear, and I do apologize for that, hopefully things will change in that area.
I currently am working with a new publisher for my novels and they should all be available in March. You can still find all my marvelous Spellfire stories at Midnight Showcase.com
Also, I have a brand new Time Travel coming out…That’s right, my SCARLET RAVEN
Oh I can’t wait for you all to read this one. I have been working/researching this one for about eight years, long before
Pirates of the Carribean came out. What an adventure you are in for with Corin and Rogan!

SCARLET RAVEN by Jewel Adams
Corin McCloud stows away on a refurbished schooner—the Raven. The journey barely begins when a violent storm rolls over the schooner, throw-ing her world upside down and lands her in Charlotte Amalie, 1725.
Rogan Drake spent the last two years building his reputation as the infamous pirate—Dragon, in order to revenge his brother’s murder. He forgoes following the pirate Billings, to keep an eye on a girl that just entered the city. She certainly wasn’t from here, not dressed so…openly. “Brave little woman, but hardly wise.” The exotic shape of her eyes reminded him of a wild cat. Add in the sensual blend of amber and chocolate, and a man could drown in their depth. “Are you untamed my little stranger?”
Can Rogan give up his quest to revenge his brother’s death in order to keep Corin safe? Will she accept her new life as his wife? Can they both survive the anger of Black Diamond, the most notorious pi-rate in the Caribbean?
SCARLET RAVEN is an adventure in Time that will fill your heart with love and your soul with life that once roamed the open seas!

You won’t want to miss this extraordinary Romance (Sensual) Time Travel.

I’m going to post an excerpt here, Chapters 1 and 2, let me know what you think.

SCARLET RAVEN
By
Jewel Adams
© 2008

Chapter One
Heart’s Desire

Corin smothered a groan as she stretched out her cramped legs. The easy movement of the Raven through the water soon became the only comfort she found on the third morning in her hiding place.
She raised her arms up touching the bow’s hull above her head. Smiling, she let her hand run down the smooth thick wood that held back the ocean’s strength. All the diagrams she poured over came into use. Her hiding spot was the only place on the schooner no one would likely come.
Patting it, “You’re stronger aren’t you Raven?”
She’d started talking affectionately to the ship that first long day. Stowing away isn’t how she planned to be on board, but it worked. They would be passing the keys today. Once Captain Max sailed beyond them Corin would make her presence known, he wasn’t the type to turn back, no matter how furious he might become. “You, my dear Captain, can get my fare from Mr. Worth and good luck to you.”
Though her decision happened instantaneously, she thought it over for the last two days. If the captain did dump her at the first port, she’d either fly on to France or stay a while and work in one of the resorts. Regardless, she was on her way and refused to let the ill beginning dampen her outlook on the adventure ahead, even as her thought went back to that morning. “Male chauvinist, how dare he refuse to take me on as one of his crew!”
Streaks of rose and amber brushed the horizon as Corin pulled her duffle pack from the trunk of the cab. People were already beginning to stir around the docks, but Corin only looked for one ship.
The dark teak of the Raven’s hull left a shimmer-ing reflection in the waters slapping at her side. Corin tipped her head back to follow the large mast as it rose up to kiss the pale dawn. Closing her eyes she felt a wave of excitement pass over her. She needed to get a hold of her emotions. She took a deep breath, control once again seeped through her delicate frame.
Corin lifted the bag of her possessions over her shoulder and took the first step up the gang-way to board the Raven. The slick deck felt firm and inde-structible beneath her deck shoes. The full ankle pants and long sleeve T-shirt were good choice for the first morning. The air felt chilly, on the open water the wind would demand her jacket.
Corin stood there letting it sink in a moment that she actually stood on the deck, before seeking out the captain.
“Hey you, what are you doing on my ship?”
Corin’s smile wouldn’t be banished by the man’s bark. She held out her hand to the approaching man. “I’m Corin McCloud. You must be Captain Max?”
When he didn’t accept her greeting she nervously pulled her hand behind her back, feeling a chill nip at her excitement.
“Yeah, I’m the captain. Who are you?”
She told him her name once again. The man’s brute attitude stiffened her back. “Mr. Worth…”
“Stop right there… McCloud, right?”
Corin gave him a cautious nod.
“Look, I told that bastard it was up to him to take care of the problem.”
She felt her stomach rollover in warning. The way his gaze raked over her, she knew he considered her a problem.
“Didn’t he gets a hold of you?”
“No.” Corin hated the admission and the suspi-cion unraveling between them.
“Well, you go see him.”
When he would have reached to take hold of her shoulder and push her back toward the gain-way, she avoided his touch.
“Captain, maybe you should explain, here and now, what’s going on?”
“Are you dense?”
The sharp glare she threw him stopped anymore insults. But it didn’t prevent his next words.
“There is no cruise. It’s been called off. All your money will be refunded. If you’ve got a problem it’s with, Worth. Not me.”
She didn’t realize her head shook against his words. Finally, she found her voice, “then you not taking the Raven to France?”
“Oh, I’m taking her all right. I finally got my price for this relic, some rich fanatic wants her for his collection. Look, I’m sorry, but Worth knew about this some time ago, you’d best see him.”
“No!” She fought back the pain in her chest, Co-rin realized she needed to be rational. “Listen, I paid my way and signed on as part of the crew.”
“Yeah, I remember your name now, but if I’d know you were a woman…”
“I don’t think that is relevant. My passage to France is what matters, I see no reason why I can’t still go. I intend to work.”
“One good reason is that I don’t need you. I’ve got my hands. Sorry, but like I said, it’s off.”
Before she could stop him he picked up her bag and heaved it onto the dock.
“You’re next miss. I’ve run out of patience.”
It only took one step towards her to convince Corin to walk off the schooner under her own two feet. Every cuss word she’d ever said or thought filled her mind and was directed at his retreating back.
All the fight left her, sending her to sink down on top of her bag. Corin dropped her gaze from the Raven. Her dreams and hopes were tied to being on that ship. Even if Worth refunded her money she’d never find another ship, she already knew there weren’t any.
Corin pushed the ugly memory away and opened one of her three remaining candy bars that Janice begged her to bring. Corin ate it with guilty relish. Her friend would understand once they met up in France. She settled back into her cubby and fell into more pleasing thoughts about the coming weeks. An-ything to keep her mind off the soon to be raging man up on deck, “At least walking the plank is out-lawed…” She refused to think any further on how he might react to her presence.
The gentle rocking of the ship soon lulled her to sleep.
* * * *
The sudden connection of her head against the hull made Corin rise. A second painful hit reminded her of the cramped position she still sat in. Rubbing her sore scalp, the violent downward thrust of the bow sent her hands out, groping for something to hold onto.
Catching her breath Corin realized the Raven must have sailed into the throes of a violent storm. Another rocking sway brought her out the shock.
“He’ll need my help.” On all fours Corin left the confines of the bow. It took all her strength to make it to the companion way and ladder. After several at-tempts she finally managed to open the hatch, releas-ing a wall of frigid water over the top of her. Sucking in her breath she struggled on deck and using all her weight against the wind’s force she managed to close the hatch.
Holding on to it, she finally got her bearings and located the captain at the helm. Corin made a lunge for the rope rail, her hands locked on to it just as the Raven took a heart stopping drop. The wall of water sucked and pulled at her. Corin struggled not to be taken over with the receding water. Shaken, but knowing she must help, Corin moved hand over hand to reach the captain. His violent curse cut through the howling wind, telling her he saw her progress.
“Damn fool. Get below and crawl back into whatever hole you came out of!”
Undaunted by his anger she yelled out. “I want to help!”
“Help? Prayers will help, I’ve already lost two men! Get the picture little lady!” His hands ran franti-cally over the wheel, turning it to correct the lean that the full sails were causing.
“The main sail is still up!” Corin’s voice held the fear she felt.
“The storm came out of nowhere!” The broken fact didn’t change the danger.
Before she realized what she was doing she started making her way to the mast where the last crew member frantically worked. Corin shouted across the wind. “What can I do?”
His shock at seeing her vanished over the fear she also witnessed in his eyes. “Take the crank and help me bring her down.”
They worked in a silent frenzy to secure the sail. Once down Corin tied down the wild, flapping sail. The wind grew stronger, tearing at Corin as she fought to maintain her hold.
A shattering sound filled the air above the howl-ing gusts. Turning, she saw one of the riggings rip loose, but before she could move, a more frightening force gravitated her to the spot.
Lightening blue, the unnatural glow swept over the entire ship casting it in an eerie blue light. Corin heard a scream not knowing if it came from her or someone else. Entranced by the shimmering, living light, she never saw the object that hit her head, leav-ing only a swirling madness in its wake.

Chapter 2
The Raven

The nightmare struck out again, drawing a frigh-tened whimper from the limp form on the sun drenched deck. Corin tried to roll away and escape the light, but it stayed with her. Beneath her palm the warmth from the deck penetrated her flesh chasing away the strange nothingness filled with frightening unwanted images.
Only the thick black lashes moved and opened enough to chance facing where she might be. The glare of the wood planks spread out before her. A thin line of crystal blue water pulsed where the deck ended.
“The Raven.” Corin’s breathless relief eased the tight hold in her chest. Very cautiously she eased her-self up into a sitting position. The pains started with the movement. Her hands couldn’t stop the roar in her head.
After several seconds it began to ease and she took a tentative look around the schooner. The storm’s ravaging force left its mark over the open deck. Corin forced her feet to move, she looked up and over each mast, breathing a little easier when she failed to find any major damage.
“Captain Mac?”
Wrapping her arms around her waist she moved around the deck unable to shake the feeling she wouldn’t find anyone aboard. She sat out on the cat walk for a long time before coming to terms with what happened, while the Raven drifted in the calm waters. The bright sun and blue seas made it hard to believe the fury she lived through last night.
Brushing away her silent tears, she said another prayer for the men out there, hoping they survived.
Corin took a deep breath and pushed her panic down, “Sitting out here won’t help anyone.”
She forced the terrible thoughts away that they were beyond help as she made her way to the cap-tain’s cabin. As she hoped, she found a ship to shore radio. The Raven didn’t have too much modern equipment, as a relic in the original state as a 19th Century Schooner. Thankfully the captain didn’t fo-rego the radio. After half an hour she failed to hail static let alone a voice. Everything seemed to be working, she couldn’t understand what could be wrong. Even if the storm blew them off course there’d be a ship or something within range.
Corin finally gave up and went back on deck. Seeing nothing with the binoculars she found in the cabin, she kicked off her shoes and began the climb up the main mast. From the crow’s nest Corin made a complete scan of the horizon. She came nearly full circle before seeing the intrusion into the blue water. “Land ho!”
She took a bearing then shimmied down the mast feeling better than she had since coming to on deck. Using the hand crank, Corin raised the forestall sail. Hurrying to the wheel she swung it about to catch the wind. The sail quickly filled to capacity. Corin could only manage the one sail alone. At a slow, but safer pace, the Raven moved easily through the smooth wa-ter.
Lacking a real bearing to determine her course, she hoped the approaching shallows weren’t reef bound.
Corin didn’t see any sign of a port or buildings as she ran parallel with the coast line of what she felt was a large island. She passed up the first cove not liking the brighter shades of blue waters indicating shallows. The Raven had a shallow draft, but distance in water could be deceiving. She did find an open cove free of any tell tale white caps over reefs, but decided to go on a little further.
Checking out the lowering sun she needed to make a decision and soon.
As she came around a point, another larger, open coastline greeted her. Sweeping out wide Corin raced across the deck and lowered the sail to half mast. She ran back to turn the wheel and hold her breath that the deep midnight blue water held no hidden dangers.
In as far as she dare to go, Corin released the anchor. Securing the sail she finally relaxed at the easy rocking of the Raven. “I did it!”
Her victory was a lonely one, but just as thrilling.
Corin paced the deck under the sparkling blanket of stars. The full moon made the white sandy beach glow in silvery enchantment. Tomorrow morning she would go ashore and see if anyone lived on the island. It appeared too large not to have a town of some kind. She’d seen mountains up the coast line. It reminded her of St. Thomas, making her wonder how long she’d been unconscious. She knew of no other island with this terrain.
Where ever she landed, Corin decided to be cau-tious in her approach. The radio still remained silent, even her small portable wasn’t picking up anything. The captain’s might have been damaged by the storm, but hers remained safely stowed in the bow. She would find no answers until tomorrow.
* * * *
Corin rose before dawn to be ready at first light for her swim to the beach. She regretted not being able to wear her jeans to fight off the thick vegetation, the skirt and blouse she choose were light and would dry fast over her bikini.
She wrapped her sneakers and blouse inside the skirt tied around her waist. “Don’t go anywhere Ra-ven, I’ll be back.”
Standing on the rail her sleek dive cut through the crystal blue water. The water felt cool not cold and she quickly adjusted. With strong artful strokes soon brought her to the sandy bottom. Corin stood and walked into the beach, ringing out the water from her thick, waist length hair. She squeezed as much water from her braid as she could before putting on the soaked clothes. The white blouse stuck against her skin making the bright flowers of her bikini show the full rounded curves of her breast. Pulling on the flo-wered skirt she gave up trying to unstick it from her skin and slipped the sneakers on in the water, hoping to avoid the sand.
The beach looked beautiful, everything she al-ways wanted to find. It felt as if no one ever stepped foot on it before today. Corin laughed at the foolish thought and started down the coastline. Every so of-ten she would take a large piece of broken conch shell and mark an X on a palm tree, hoping the fresh scar-ing would be noticeable under the moonlight.
Corin also kept track of the time since leaving the beach. It was nearly nine when she finished a rather treacherous climb over a high cliff face. Collapsing on the thick grass at the top, she’d been walking for three hours and needed a rest.
From her perch, the cove below became visible, the sight was breathtaking. Below her cliff sat a deep inlet that cut into the trees between the cliff and the land. She absently made a mental note that the Raven could easily clear the inlet and be hidden if necessary. From her vantage point she could see the reef in front of the cove’s only entrance. It ran close against the land side and would be a dangerous sail, but it could be done.
She swam the inlet to reach the cliff, but from here Corin could see an easier passage around the cliff base. She tried to avoid the jungle growth fearing she might get lost, but at night it would be a better route.
Rest time went too fast and upon rising she found an easier slope going down. Looking further she almost shouted out. “I knew it!”
The small cluster of white buildings was the town she came to find. It was set back against the rise of escalating hills. Before it the massive harbor was filled with large ships. “Another hour and I’m home free.”
All the while she fought her way through the trees and undergrowth Corin kept asking herself why she hadn’t gotten anything on the radio.
Hot and tired she broke out of the jungle and onto a crushed shell road. Pushing back the damp bangs she started following it. “On the way back I’ll stick to the beaches.” She thought it would be shorter to leave the shoreline, she wouldn’t make that mistake again.
It was nearly eleven before she started to hear the activity of the town she approached. Corin pulled the blouse knot beneath her breast tighter, letting the shirt tails hang lazily down below her exposed midriff.
A woman carrying a lace parasol on the arm of a white suited man passed her. Corin smiled at them, the man politely touched his panama hat until the lady jabbed him in the ribs.
Corin giggled wickedly, pitying the man for the tirade he undoubtedly would get once they were out of the public eye. She reminded herself never to be the jealous type.
As she made her way down the street, winding its way into the town, things began pricking at her mind. Odd, minor things like the style of the clothes on the men and women alike, the lack of cars. Her head still turned when a donkey drawn cart passed by her.
But they were insignificant in light of the very bold curiosity coming from the men she passed. They themselves earned her own guarded glances. Gawd, they looked positively barbaric. Most of them carried swords or large knives and pistols brandished from their thick belts. Many wore high leather boots with wide cuffs at the knees. The pants were tight of a light fabric and large blousy shirts.
Corin nearly turned full circle at the man now passing her. She bit her lip to keep the laughter from bubbling up and over because of his large dark hat with an elaborate feather coming down the side. “Gawd, it’s red besides!”
She became enthralled by the people and didn’t notice the fact that she walked into the middle of town. She came to an immediate halt when she caught a glance of the harbor and nearly collapsed over the sight.
Large mast ships of all sizes and shapes dotted the water. At the docks stood what couldn’t be mista-ken for anything but a “Spanish Galleon…”
“She’s beautiful, I’ll give you that.”
Not looking at the voice that cut through her as-tonishment, Corin suddenly grew very nervous and moved off the walk to avoid the man.
Rogan had been following her for some time. The beauty caught nearly every man’s eye since she entered the town. His heated gaze fell to the natural swing of her fully curved and enticingly small hips. Raising his gaze to the satin flatness of her bronzed waist, Rogan felt his loins tighten with an alarming velocity.
The exotic caress of that thick roped hair held the color of polished teak and his fingers itched to feel the softness fall through his fingers.
Where ever she appeared from he knew she cer-tainly wasn’t from here, not dressed so…openly. He would give her credit, she was braver than most the women he knew, but hardly wise. Looking closer, Rogan watched the way her eyes took in the docked ships, floating from one to the next, all the while their deep rich brown grew larger. No, he was wrong, her eyes weren’t just brown, but amber and chocolate all mixed into a sensual blend a man could drown in. Their shape intrigued him, almost wild like a cat. “Are you untamed my little stranger?”
Keeping his distance, Rogan ignored Big Dan’s wave to go, Billings could wait, Rogan suddenly found a more interesting priority.
Corin nervously ran her fingers through the fea-thered bangs that hid her eyes from his. He still fol-lowed her. She pretended to stop and look over a fri-gate showing an odd but decidingly British flag. Her gaze seemed unable to get their fill of the man.
Man, oh yes he was more of a man than she’d ever seen. Broad, powerful shoulder, she needed to breathe hard over the temptation they inspired. For a second she let herself daydream over how it would feel to be held by such strength. She could envision her fingertips tracing the bold line of rigid muscles. They would travel down across the large wall of cop-per skinned chest, sprinkled with bronze hair. Hea-vens, he looked like Hercules, only better with that wild blonde mane of silky waves.
Corin swallowed hard, she didn’t dare look beyond the deep open vee that exposed the corded expanse of his trim waist. She forced her eyes away from the bulging thighs and, other more potent evi-dence of his masculinity and looked directly into those relaxed blue eyes.
Sucking in her breath their crystal depths trapped her own. He definitely witnessed her brazen scrutiny and silently told her he liked what saw when he took the liberty to see of her as well.
A firing blush crept up her graceful throat, in-flaming her high cheeks, deepening the rich hue of her smooth complexion. Unable to end what she started, her eyes fell upon the parted lips smiling confidently at her from that fierce square jaw. Instead of being insulted, Corin felt an unfamiliar heat strike hard and fast in the most womanly part of her body.
What the hell was wrong with her? Corin never reacted to any man like this, never wanted to, but she seemed incapable of breaking the spell that wove be-tween them.
The sudden ringing of a loud bell made her jump. Having broken his invisible hold over her, she moved with the crowd, hoping to lose the man and the un-wanted power he could wield over her.
“Hear Ye all, citizens and visitors of the gracious Governor of Charlotte Amalie . ‘Tis a warrant for the arrest of the pirate called Dragon.”
Someone in the crowd called out. “How much is the bounty man?”
“Thirty gold pieces my friend, if you’re brave enough to bring him in alive. Twenty if he’s dead.”
A man in back of her laughed out. “Taint’ worth me life! That one’s no ordinary pirate.”
Corin didn’t know what to make of all this. Their jest didn’t camouflage the serious intensions. Her own humor deserted her.
She rubbed her bare arms when the man began to hammer the notice on the board. She didn’t like any of the feelings taking hold of her since seeing the har-bor and what it held. Whispering to herself, “Char-lotte Amalie? But how?”
The crowd began to break up. She walked on un-steady feet, drawn to the notice, yet afraid of what she might find. The elaborate hand writing flowed over the crisp parchment. Her eyes raced over the words until they found what they searched for. With shaking fingers she traced the date as if confirming its existence.
“June 18th, 1725…”
“It should be at least 100 gold pieces.”
Jumping back, Corin’s frighten voice spoke out, “What?”
“The reward, ‘tis not enough.”
Confused by her own thoughts, having Hercules standing in front of her made Corin sway.
When his hand captured her wrist she tried to break free from the burning in his touch.
“Dear lady, I fear you are overcome by Charlotte Amalie’s noon sun.”
“Yes, I guess. Please let go of me.”
His release came slow as if he regretted obliging her request.
“Thank you.”
Something close to anger flared inside him over the fear stealing the beauty’s vibrancy. “Does the talk of pirates frighten you?”
“What? Oh no, I guess not, I’ve never known any.” Her words sounded as ridiculous to her ears as to the soft laughter they earned from the man. His nearness must be confusing her, Corin couldn’t stop feeling that she’d missed something important. She needed to think and started to walk away, but he fell in step with her.
“I hope you don’t have the call to see any, my la-dy.”
“Why would I?”
Rogan’s brows drew close over her lack of knowledge. The fear he glimpsed wasn’t because of the notice. Neither did he think it was his presence. He quickly lost any argument he should not care what her problems were, he couldn’t make himself leave her side. Rogan didn’t have to look around to know of the hungry eyes following her.
“The waters are full of them.”
Corin heard about the thieves on the open seas. How unsuspecting ships stumbled onto drug drops and were killed for their mistake. But why didn’t she think he meant that. Why?
“Then I will be careful.”
“Are you sailing soon?”
“I…no, maybe.” Corin’s thoughts became occu-pied by the coach coming down the street, causing her to stop and stare as it passed.
“That’s a coach.” She could have kicked herself for not keeping her thought to herself.
His blue eyes were following her intent interest in the common vehicle passing them. “Where are you from?”
“New Orleans.”
Rogan hid his surprise.
“Well, originally Bridgetown, Massachusetts.”
He started to ask her what part of New Orleans but she abruptly stopped, he almost overran her.
Her ashen pallor made Rogan fear that she’d swoon. “What is it? Answer me!”
Her arm came up and pointed, he could see her lips were shaking too much to speak. The girl’s en-larged eyes never left the unfortunate soul the gover-nor hung that morning. Rogan detested the practice of leaving such a sight up as a warning to others not to thieve.
Taking hold of her shoulders he turned her about and away from the ugly scene. Rogan brought his arm about her waist and gently drew her against him. An unfair advantage, due to her shocked senses, but he wasn’t beyond taking it as he led her away. His palms were alive against the gentle woman in their hold. Slim, she felt like satin and she moved sensually be-neath his hold. The slight flare of her lovely hips brushed against his thigh, creating a fierce response in his tightening groin. Pure strength and willpower kept him from embarrassing them both by displaying what he wanted from the lady. Rogan didn’t remember ex-periencing such a strong and instant attraction for any woman, it felt unsettling yet extremely stimulating.
But for all her bold attire or lack of it, he didn’t believe the lady would willing submit to the roughish thoughts taking hold of him at the moment.
“Why did they do such a thing?”
Caught off guard, “What?”
“Hang that poor man and then leave him there. Why it’s barbaric and sick!”
“ ‘Tis the way and not uncommon, why even in New Orleans they still practice hanging.”
His statement made her steps falter.
Corin wanted to run, be sick and cleanse away the fear taking root. It couldn’t be possible. Pushing the thoughts away she tried to concentrate on why she came here.
“I must find the police.”
“Po…lice?”
“Law, someone in authority.”
“There is the Governor…”
“I guess he’ll do. Where is he?”
He fought with answering, “it is that way.” No, he couldn’t tell her how inappropriate her attire might be. Rogan searched the crowd looking for Big Dan and Terry, waving them back to follow.
Corin didn’t understand why he stayed with her. The eerie feelings inside her only grew more pro-nounced as they walked through the strange streets. The looks she received made her grateful for the large man’s presence. More than once she caught the le-cherous way men’s eyes followed her. But the disgust she glimpsed and felt from the women made her be-gin to shake. It didn’t take a fool to realize she wasn’t up to their standards. The only group she came close to fitting into made her own sensibilities revolt.
He felt every response, no matter how slight from the woman at his side. That she didn’t refused his hold stopped surprising him, he almost wondered if she realized he remained. No, the lady’s attention be-came captured by what she saw around her and she’d taken the insults given to her entreating smiles very hard. Instinctively, Rogan realized this woman wasn’t what she appeared to be. Women that gave their trea-sures freely weren’t affected by what the others thought. She suffered the reaction of an lady unaccustomed to the ways of the streets.
And yet he couldn’t place her with the women proper or society dames.
When they entered the cool interior of the place he brought her to, Corin took a moment to adjust to the opulent surroundings.
The nervous way she tucked her hair in back and tried to straighten her slight blouse tore at Rogan’s senses.
When the uniformed man looked curiously up from his papers Corin couldn’t put it off any longer. She turned to her escort. “Thank you for bringing me, I hope it wasn’t out of your way.”
“You can be sure it wasn’t, my lady.”
The formality he used made Corin straighten. Calling on her pride she didn’t want to show him any-thing that would demean herself in his eyes. She didn’t care why she felt so strongly, she just wanted the respect he held her in to stay in those beautiful blue eyes.
“I better go.” Turning away from him she forced herself to walk determinedly to the desk.
“I need to see the Governor, please.”
The man’s eyes were shameful the way they went over her. The half smile he gave her infuriated Corin beyond all the others.
“He’s busy.”
“Really, and if I screamed at the top of my lungs, would he still be busy?”
His eyes grew large over her threat. Corin took a deep breath to insure he believed her. She’d done the same thing once in grade school and both times it worked beautifully.
“Come this way please.”
He opened the double doors and she followed. A portly man was seated behind a ridiculously large desk. The brocade waistcoat and vest he wore over the lace ascot shirt nearly became her undoing. All she could think is that the man must be dying in all those garments and in this heat. Taking a peak beneath the table, she almost spoke out her thoughts over the lace stockings and garters that he wore.
“Whom shall I say is requesting an audience?”
“Miss Corin Elizabeth Ann McCloud.” She wished she possessed ten more names to throw in just so the pompous ass would have to repeat them. The whole procedure sounded comical, the man being no more than ten feet in front of them.
All he got for his effort was a rude ‘humph’.
Turning back to her, he asked. “And what is the nature of your audience?”
Having had more than she could tolerate, Corin walked past the red faced man and came to stand di-rectly in front of the desk. She waited patiently for the man’s spectacled eyes to come up and look at her.
“Good day Governor.”
She put him in an uncomfortable position and en-joyed his dilemma.
“Good day to you, Miss McCloud.”
“I have some very tragic information to tell you, sir. If it is alright I would prefer to tell you face to face.”
The man leaned back in his chair and seemed to contemplate her rather rushed outburst before waving the man throwing daggers at her away.
Corin couldn’t help but turn and watch him be dismissed. It was then she realized her escort never left at all, but stood only a foot or so behind her. Flus-tered, she didn’t dare look him and maintain her com-posure, but before she turned back to the Governor, her self appointed guardian winked at her.
“Well young woman, what is the tragedy?”
She came here to tell them, but suddenly it seemed so pointless. “I, there was a fierce storm at sea.”
“How long ago?”
“I’m not sure exactly, I must have been uncons-cious for some time.”
“What port did you sail from?”
“Port? It would be New Orleans.”
“When did you leave?”
“Saturday morning…”
“That’s only five days ago. Rogan, isn’t it too far to be that much off course?”
Corin tried not to show her agitation over the man bringing him into their conversation. Rogan? Such an unusual name, but it did fit him.
“Miss?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I asked what happened?”
“The storm, it was awful, there was this frighten-ing blue light…When I came around there was no one left.”
“You mean the whole crew washed over?”
“Yes sir. Can you take out a search party?”
“And where might we start? You hail from New Orleans and in five days you are in Charlotte Amalie . I’m sorry, but you were unconscious for some time I’m afraid. When did you wash up?”
“Wash up?” His words and the meaning seemed to move through her at an incredible speed, like the blue light. Closing her eyes at the memory. “I…the date…on the notice…”
“Rogan! For God’s sake catch her!”
John didn’t need to yell, Rogan sensed her weak-ness even before her knees gave out, lifting her up in his arms.
“John, I’ll take care of the lady, she obviously has no relatives about.”
“I think it would be wise, she must get some de-cent clothes Rogan. Though it is a treat…”
Rogan gave his friend a warning glance that ended an old man’s musing.
“If you don’t mind I’ll take our leave by the back entrance, she’s already created quite a stir in your city.”
“By all means.”
John held the door for the man. “Rogan we need to talk.”
“Tonight John, right now I’ve other more entic-ing duties to perform.”
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Watch for Scarlet Raven to be released in March 2008