Title: A Lord’s Affliction
Author: Angelina Jameson
Genre: Regency historical romance
Book Blurb:
A lonely, injured viscount, hiding from the world with the aid of laudanum. A young woman reeling from the knowledge that the life she has been living is a lie. Two damaged souls find friendship together and perhaps something more.
Excerpt:
September 1817, Kent, England
Cameron exited Wiltham Hall without headgear to find the day dazzlingly bright, although the warmth of the sun on his face did not relieve the darkness that resided inside him.
He couldn’t remember a time his calf didn’t hurt like the very devil. Although the tinctures of laudanum didn’t ease all of the pain, the medicine often helped him sleep through some of it.
Cameron urged Triton to a canter across the west lawn and through the tall wet grass of the adjoining deer park. A hedgerow appeared before him along the main track to the nearby village of Willstone.
The months since the accident had passed in a haze of fever, agony, and fear. His heart pounded in his chest. Despair exploded inside of him as if he’d thrown a dry branch into a pile of embers.
He used his heels to urge his mount over the wide Yew hedge. “Take the jump!”
Triton shied at the obstacle as he always did. This time the gelding was gentle with his refusal, mayhap he sensed his master was injured. The horse came to a halt. Cameron was not thrown from his horse as he wished, but merely jarred loose from his seat to fall ignominiously to the ground in a miserable heap.
As his clothes became damp from the wet earth beneath him, he groaned in frustration. “I can’t even kill myself properly.”
* * * * *
Seated in the bed of a lumbering wagon, Emma glimpsed a horse and rider race by in the adjacent pasture. Although the man coaxed his mount to go over a hedge, the jet-black horse came to a standstill rather than jump. The animal stood unmoving as the rider slid from its back and slumped onto the soggy ground below.
The wagon stopped and a loud feminine cry from the seat of the vehicle reminded Emma of her wagon mates. Mrs. Blackwell had evidently also seen the rider fall.
“That looks to be mad Lord Cameron; I imagine someone will be along eventually to fetch him.” The driver of the wagon, Mr. Blackwell, flicked the leads. The horses moved forward. “We have to be getting along to Willstone. I’ve left the shop closed for far too long as it is.”
Emma was the daughter of an apothecary and accustomed to assisting those in need. She must think quickly, or the shopkeeper who’d been kind enough to give her a ride in his wagon would indeed leave the injured man.
“Mr. Blackwell, you can’t truly be thinking of allowing a peer to lie in the mud? I imagine his family would be most appreciative of anyone who assisted him. Perhaps they might even pay a reward for his safe return home.”
The wagon again came to a halt, and Emma leapt from her perch in the back of the vehicle to hurry toward the fallen rider. She could hear the couple behind her arguing. Mrs. Blackwell had eagerly accepted a few coins from Emma for transport from Aynsley to Willstone. She counted on the woman being interested in the possibility of monetary compensation from Lord Cameron’s family.
When the black horse saw her approaching through the grass, it turned and trotted back the way it had come.
Emma stumbled over something on the ground.
“Get off of me!”
She looked down to see the man Mr. Blackwell had identified as Lord Cameron. Emma cautiously took two steps backward. “My lord, are you all right?”
“No, I’m bloody not all right. You just stepped on me.”
Emma looked away from the sizeable amount of skin the gentleman displayed due to his lack of cravat. The single button of his linen shirt was undone, and although only a modest triangle of flesh was visible, she felt her cheeks heat all the same. She returned her gaze to the man and concentrated on his bloodshot eyes and unshaven chin.
Despite Emma not residing in the county for over ten years, his face was familiar. In addition to his disheveled appearance, Lord Cameron looked to have fallen into a puddle of mud.
The man’s eyes wandered over her pale gray traveling dress. His blank expression gave her the impression he didn’t really see her as he shook his head and blinked at her.
With a grimace, Lord Cameron pulled himself to a seated position. “Help me up, for heaven’s sake.”
Emma reached a gloved hand toward the man and found it clasped in an iron grip.
Her last thought before she stepped closer, attempted to pull him up, and fell over, was not only did the gentleman not have on a neckcloth or coat, but he also wore no gloves.
Her knee came to rest on one of his shins. When a blood-curdling scream followed her tumble, she realized she must have landed on an injured limb.
“Remove yourself from my person,” Lord Cameron whispered raggedly before he fell backward, his eyes now closed.
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What’s your favorite activity to shake off the winter doldrums?
Playing with my grandson. He is almost 2 years old and full of energy. No doldrums when he is visiting.
Why is your featured book a cure for the winter blues?
There is a little bit of mystery and a lot of romance in the book to carry you away to the beautiful English countryside.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs March 1 – 31, 2023.
Drawing will be held on April 3, 2023.
Author Biography:
Angelina Jameson is a multi-published author of historical Regency romance. Growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, Angelina joined the US Air Force to see the world. Dreams of visiting the United Kingdom were fulfilled when she was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the beautiful countryside of Suffolk, England. Five years later she returned to the states having acquired a love of not only all things British but also Regency and historical romance.
With the help of Romance Writers of America, the hobby of writing developed into a dream of sharing her stories with others. Angelina currently lives in the great state of Alaska with her supportive husband and two teenage sons. She loves to write with a steady supply of coffee nearby and one of three cats on her lap.
For news of upcoming releases and a deleted scene from The Marquess's Christmas Lily visit her author website at http://www.angelinajameson.com
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