Title The Prince’s Lady: A Lady’s Pirate Companion Story
Author C.K. Mackenzie
Genre Regency Romance
Book Blurb
In the midst of war, two lost souls find a love worth fighting for.
Karlotta Dos Santos, abandoned by her husband and fleeing war-torn Portugal, seeks solace in a new country with her family. Determined to make the best of her new life, love is the last thing on her mind—until she meets Captain Percy Romanowski.
Once a Prince of Poland, Percy now thrives on running supplies across northern Europe, evading French ships with ease. When tasked with bringing a Portuguese lady back to her homeland, he views it as just another mission. But Karlotta's strength and beauty captivate him, making the mission personal.
As they embark on a dangerous reconnaissance to track the French Navy along the southern Portuguese coast, their bond deepens. Amidst the chaos of war, love blossoms. When the mission turns deadly, Percy risks everything to protect Karlotta, discovering that sometimes, love doesn't give you a choice—it demands to be fought for.
Excerpt
Karlotta had climbed onto the deck, looking ridiculously adorable in her many layers. Her dark hair still lay in that tightly coiled braid at the base of her neck, and she’d pulled his stocking cap low over her ears. The fine wool cloak she wore looked warm enough, but she held it tight against her with hands covered by heavy-looking gloves.
He thought her the most beautiful thing in the world.
Fool that he was. Rolling his eyes at himself, Percy took the steps two at a time and stood before her with a wide grin. “Dama. It’s safer for you below deck,” he said in a far more serious tone than he’d taken with Antoni. “There’s a storm approaching.”
She held his gaze a moment before looking upward. “This will sound daft,” she admitted, looking only a little sheepish. Her nose wrinkled just the slightest, and damn it if Percy didn’t find it utterly adorable as well. “Is the ocean as beautiful during a storm as it looks from land?”
He stilled. Percy had traveled with many people, he’d sailed the Lublin for decades, but no one had ever asked him that. Bigos shifted on his shoulder, and he took her down, cradling her in one arm. His gaze hadn’t left Karlotta’s. With his other hand, he took her arm and led her along the poop deck, urging her down the stairs.
“Come toward the bow of the ship,” he said, just loud enough she could hear him over the constant howling of the wind. Percy moved her to his left, so he could block what he could of the wind.
“What are we looking at?” she asked, watching him with those dark, vigilant eyes. He thought he could lose himself in her gaze.
Annoyed with his thoughts, Percy gestured around the expanse of ocean. “You’re the first person who’s ever wanted to stay above deck during a storm,” he admitted, grinning widely.
This was his element—the wind, the threatening rain, the absolutely gorgeous day around them. Even with the storm bearing down on them like a vengeful lover, full of spit and vigor, he loved this weather. This freedom, here on his ship, with nothing surrounding them.
“The first person mad enough, you mean.” But her lips curled into that small smile, the one that tempted him to tease more from her.
“Perhaps,” Percy granted. “Most passengers don’t understand.”
Head tilted, gaze steady on his, she huddled deeper into her cloak and held her scarf so it no longer covered her nose and mouth. “What don’t they understand?” she asked, almost too quiet for him to hear.
“The beauty of this.”
Her gaze drifted from his, watching the horizon with no other ship in sight. Though Percy knew his men would call out at the first sighting of a sail, he, too, watched the horizon. No Lefevre. Nothing as far as the eye could see.
He waited for the rage that normally gripped it by the throat but could only watch Karlotta.
“I find it freeing,” Karlotta admitted. “Even with this outrageous cold, it’s beautiful here.” Her small smile warmed him from the inside out, eclipsing even the fire that burned through him, the one that kept him moving no matter the price. “There’s a liberty in being here, the wind whipping around you, nothing but the ocean for miles.” She sighed and again covered her face with the scarf. Pity. Percy quite enjoyed her small smiles and the pink tip of her nose.
“Yes,” he agreed, turning fully to face her and hopefully block some of the never-ending wind. Percy shook his head, then threw it back and laughed. “Karlotta, you continue to surprise me.”
“Because I’m the only one mad enough to stand on deck in a storm?”
“Yes.” He slipped Bigos into the pocket of his greatcoat, where she’d be warmer. Drier, at least, once the storm broke. “You understand,” he added, offering his arm as Arpa battled against the waves and fought to keep them on track. “It’s different out here. Wild, untamed.”
“I think we spend too much time trying to tame things, Percy,” she said, leaning into his body. Whether that was so he could hear her or because the wind pushed them together, he couldn’t tell. He also didn’t care, and he drew her closer. Desire burned through him, tempting him to throw all caution to the howling winds and kiss her right there. “Things that aren’t meant to be tamed.”
“The ocean lets us know her displeasure,” he agreed, leading her back to the stairs that led belowdecks. As much as he wanted to kiss her, he wouldn’t give into that desire. She was his guest; the passenger he’d promised Grayson he’d treat with the upmost respect. Kissing her in full view of the entire ship was not the respect he needed to show her. No matter how he wanted to taste her lips. “It’s up to us to listen.”
In the hallway that led to her cabin, Percy tugged down Karlotta’s scarf. A bold move, yes, but he liked watching her. That slight wrinkling of her nose intrigued him, and he wondered how many times he could make her look at him like that. Dropping his hand before he gave in and caressed her soft cheek with his work-roughened fingers, Percy stepped back.
“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable in the galley?” he offered quietly. “I’m sure Mr. Gawron won’t mind.”
“I tried. It’s much warmer there, but I’ve little to occupy my time.” She sighed, looking vexed. “When I proposed this voyage, I didn’t think much beyond the end result—delivering the food and medicines. It’s a very long trip between here and there.”
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Author Biography
Hello! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m a Regency Romance author, dog lover, French fry connoisseur, and explorer of new and interesting teas. I recently lost my beloved corgi after almost 14 years together and am now exploring becoming a foster dog mom.
But let’s talk books!
I’m a Regency Romance author with a taste for a hint of intrigue and mystery. I have several series planned and can’t wait to share them with you! As happens with most things in my life, once I start a story the secondary characters demanded attention. So in addition to the main Legacy stories (4 families, 4-5 siblings each) I also have shorter stories of those side characters.
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