Gabriel's Bride
Chapter OneCharleston, South Carolina
1815
A torrential summer rain poured from the sky, drenching to the skin those dauntless souls who ventured outside, and turning the already rutted, stinking streets into a sea of mud. But inside the taproom of Black Jack's Inn, the air fairly seethed with the pulse of life and raucous, masculine laughter.
Although it was only a few blocks from the Waterfront, Black Jack's was one of the better establishments of the city. It boasted excellent food, clean sheets, and respectable service, all at a fair price.
On this particular wet, dreary night, the table in the far comer was occupied by two well-dressed men, one with hair as dark as the midnight hour, the other slender and chestnut-haired. After weeks at sea, they'd decided to forego the ship's cramped quarters for the pleasures of a warm, comfortable mattress.
"To a safe trip back to England-and to the earl of Wakefield and his future bride!"
The laughter-filled voice belonged to one Sir Christopher Marley. Lord Gabriel Sinclair, however, was not so eager to join the toast. And little wonder, for his impe ... read full excerpt from: Gabriel's Bride ebook
