A Lady & Rake At Sea

By Heather Sunnydale

Miss Olivia Pearson would do anything to escape her current life, including it seems running away to take passage on a ship heading for America.
Then as if her circumstances are not dramatic enough she goes on to appeal to a wickedly handsome gentleman and rake by the name of Mr Christopher Garret.
A decision that will change the course of her life forever, with Olivia soon finding herself struggling to maintain her reputation as well as her heart!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Reed
• Release date: Jul 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370681471

Book preview

A Lady & Rake At Sea

By Heather Sunnydale

Published by LB Books at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 Heather Sunnydale

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’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

Chapter 1

‘Christopher, you have not been listening to a word that I have just said, have you?’

‘Sorry Simon...I find myself all of a sudden slightly distracted.’

‘I can see that,’ Simon spoke with bemusement as he followed his friend’s gaze to where a beautiful raven haired woman stood in the corner of the room fanning herself. He observed as the lady gave a quick glimpse back at Christopher beneath her long lashes before turning her head to look away a few seconds later.

‘Do you think it wise?’

‘Wise, what do you mean by that exactly?’ Christopher finally gave Simon his full attention as he replied back to him.

‘I mean do you think it is wise to be flirting with Miss Olivia Pearson?’

‘Oh Olivia is her name is it?’ Christopher spoke approvingly. ‘I would hardly call a mutual acknowledgement of each other’s presence from afar as we have just done a flirtation, not yet anyway. Now Simon make yourself useful would you and tell me what you know about her?’

‘Tell you all about her? I can see already see where this is going and I don’t like it one bit,’ Simon sighed as he noted the interested gleam in his friend’s eyes as Christopher started to look in the direction of Olivia Person all over again, like a hunter having spotted his prey.

‘Simon, don’t be such a spoil sport, after all, wasn’t it you who dragged me out to this party when I had no inclination whatsoever to be surrounded by a mob of people. I could have quite easily stayed back at yours and started to prepare for my impending journey. But now this party has suddenly become a little more exciting for me you wish to dampen my spirit.’

‘I don’t want to do any such thing, I am glad...or at least I was glad that you were having a better time of it, but I just wish that the source of your improved mood was not to do with Olivia Pearson, the only daughter of my good neighbours and best friend to my fiancée. What’s more, since you have asked I will tell you at least the only things you need to know about her.’ Simon paused after speaking sternly.

‘Which is...?’

‘That Miss Olivia Pearson is not for you, she is far from your usual type, and I would suggest that on this basis it is best you do not deviate from what you know.’

‘What exactly does that mean...that she is not my usual type...pray please inform me of what you take my type to be?’

‘Come on Christopher really? How many years have we been friends now, ever since we met at Oxford university? I have observed your movements including your interactions with the opposite sex. Your tastes lay mainly with beautiful bold, and sophisticated women of our society who shall we say to put it politely are somewhat experienced in the art of love and romance. Something that