Her Captive Cavalier

By Marina Oliver

Determined not to allow a band of roaming Cavaliers to enter her home, Caro threatens their leader with a pistol. When he ignores her challenge she shuts her eyes and fires.
Compelled to nurse him when her shot grazes his head, she gradually realises she must protect him from his enemies.
But that is not enough. His enemies become hers, and to escape them she has to trust herself to his protection.
Previously published under the pseudonym Livvy West, and based on "Honor and Passion" published under the pseudonym Vesta Hathaway.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marina Oliver
• Release date: Aug 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465965622

Marina Oliver

Most writers can't help themselves! It's a compulsion. Getting published, though, is something really special, and having been so fortunate myself I now try to help aspiring writers by handing on tips it took me years to work out. I've published over 60 titles, including four in the How To Books' Successful Writing Series, and Writing Historical Fiction for Studymates.I have judged short story competitions, been a final judge for the Harry Bowling Prize and was an adviser to the 3rd edition of Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers 1994. If you want to find out more about your favourite authors, consult this book. I once wrote an article on writing romantic fiction for the BBC's web page, for Valentine's day.I have given talks and workshops for the Arts Council and at most of the major Writing Conferences, and helped establish the Romantic Novelists' Association's annual conference. I was Chairman of the RNA 1991-3, ran their New Writers' Scheme and edited their newsletter. I am now a Vice-President.As well as writing I have edited books for Transita, featuring women 'of a certain age', and for Choc Lit where gorgeous heros are the norm.I was asked to write A Century of Achievement, a 290 page history of my old school, Queen Mary's High School, Walsall, and commissioned to write a book on Castles and Corvedale to accompany a new circular walk in the area.Most of my Regencies written under the pseudonym Sally James are now published in ebook format as well as many others of my out of print novels which my husband is putting into ebook format. Our daughter Debbie is helping with designing the covers. For details of all my books and my many pseudonyms see my website.

Book preview

HER CAPTIVE CAVALIER

BY

MARINA OLIVER

Determined not to allow a band of roaming Cavaliers to enter her home, Caro threatens their leader with a pistol. When he ignores her challenge she shuts her eyes and fires.

Compelled to nurse him when her shot grazes his head, she gradually realises she must protect him from his enemies.

But that is not enough. His enemies become hers, and to escape them she has to trust herself to his protection.

Her Captive Cavalier

By Marina Oliver

Copyright © 2016 Marina Oliver

Smashwords Edition

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Cover Design by Debbie Oliver

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Print editions published under the pseudonym Livvy West by My Weekly Story Collection and 2001 by Linford large print.

See details of other books by Marina Oliver at

www.marina-oliver.net

Author note

My favourite historical period has always been the middle of the seventeenth century, the civil war and restoration of Charles II. I was commissioned to write a very short novella for an American publisher, but unfortunately his business collapsed before he could sell any books, so I took the story and adapted it for a British publisher.

HER CAPTIVE CAVALIER

BY MARINA OLIVER

Chapter 1

Caro took a deep breath, leant against the door jamb in an effort to support her trembling legs, and steadied her arm with her left hand. She pointed the wheel-lock pistol they always kept prepared, and prayed her voice would not betray her.

'If you venture nearer, I will shoot!'

To her relief her voice was firm. There were no tell-tale quavers to be mistaken for fear. If she was breathless it was the result of her minutes of frenzied activity. She had raced from the kitchen to get the pair of pistols immediately Joan brought the news. She was taut with effort, but also with fury that their peace should be disturbed. It was not, she reassured herself firmly, with apprehension.

The tall dark man, his hand on the gate which gave entry to the privy garden in front of the long low house, looked up in astonishment. His eyes crinkled in delighted amusement.

'I come on a peaceful errand, Mistress,' he replied mildly. 'I do not make war on children.'

She bristled with renewed fury. She was no child, and he should be made to learn that.

'Which is no doubt why your men rode through the village with no care for people they might run down!' Caro retorted angrily. 'They are armed ruffians! You're no more than a troop of thieving vagabonds! We don't want you and your like in Winchworth. Be pleased to take them away.'

By now she felt able to move without support. She could even hold the pistol one-handed. She held it more firmly and took a step towards him, down onto the path outside the door. Jacob, with a muttered curse on all plundering soldiers, slipped out of the house to stand beside her, waving the other pistol which seemed, Caro thought fleetingly, to threaten them more than the stranger.

'Will you not listen to me first?' the visitor said calmly. 'You too might look a trifle bedraggled had you ridden through the night, with little time to rest or eat, and no shelter against the storm,' he added gently.

To her fury Caro found herself wavering. He sounded so reasonable. And it had been a fierce storm the previous night. They must be soaked. Then she thought of Peter and hardened her heart. They could let the sun, which was now high in the sky, dry out their miserable rags.

She forced herself to recall what they were, and why they had to move in secret. 'I would have no cause to ride in such a clandestine manner!' she snapped.

'Clandestine? You have just accused us of lack of care,' he said, amused.

His smile was undeniably attractive, slightly lopsided and revealing perfect white teeth. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. It merely aggravated Caro's fury. She reminded herself that she had seen very few men with which to compare him. They bred real men here in the west country, men who worked hard for a living, not smooth boys playing at soldiers.

'Now you mock me for an ill-chosen word! Soldiers, however they arrive, will find neither succour nor lodging here. We don't want you in Winchworth. Leave us in peace.'

Suddenly his amused tolerance faded. She was a beauty, with her big blue eyes, shapely form, and dark auburn hair that reminded him of beech leaves in winter. She was fiery and young, brave yet foolhardy, and in other circumstances he would have been tempted to dally, to try and turn that cool disdain into the fiery ardour her colouring promised. But his business would not wait. Much as he might have relished a few hours of dalliance, he had no time. He stepped forward.

'Stay there. Not a step closer or I shoot!' Caro said swiftly, and trusted that the slight tremor in her voice would be put down to anger rather than fear.

She was angry, it was fury which made her tremble slightly, not fear that he would call her bluff and force her to carry out her threat. Nor was it fear of the consequences if she did not succeed in preventing this invasion. She was only too painfully aware that two ancient pistols were a pitiful defence against a party of soldiers. Her only hope was that they would take her gesture seriously and look for a friendlier welcome elsewhere.

But he ignored her and strode deliberately up the long brick-paved path which bisected the garden. He seemed oblivious of the threatening pistols aimed at him by the girl and a bent old man who hovered behind her.

'Enough!' His voice was one used to command, and for a fleeting second Caro almost gave way. Then she thought of all they stood to lose, and gripped the pistol more tightly.

'Go away!' she repeated.

'I came peaceably to request aid for the King's men. And we pay for what we take, you have no fear of being cheated. I do not need your permission to quarter them in your barn