Lilith adored walking about the city, rubbing elbows with its
inhabitants. The rush of the metropolis exhilarated her. She delighted in
mounting the top of the omnibus and gazing up at the buildings as the cumbersome
vehicle lumbered through the streets. However, George wheeled about London in a
lonely bubble of glass and luxury. Being inside it made her feel even sadder, as
if she had been plucked from her colorful life and put in a sealed, hermetic
bottle.
As she gazed out the window, her eyes burning and head aching from lack of
sleep, her thoughts tangled up. Her own life fused with Colette’s.
The sultan, having finally captured Colette, bound her with silken sashes. She
was his slave to do with as he pleased.
“You shall eat proper meals,” he growled in menacing tones. His brows drew down
in a hawkish manner. “You’ll receive plenty of sleep each night and do
calisthenics each morning.”
A shiver ran down Colette’s back at his unsavory demands. He may be the master
of her body now, but her spirit would soar free from its bodily cage.
“Are you even paying attention?” the sultan demanded. Colette answered in a
broken whisper, “Ahhbuhh,” and bowed her head.
“What? You’re not making sense,” the sultan spat. “This illustrates my point.
You’ve beaten your wings to exhaustion because you’ve had no proper guidance.
Well, that has changed.”
He seized her elbow as the carriage rolled to a stop. She tried to protest his
brutal treatment, but his retinue descended upon her, ripping her from the
carriage. His enormous tent was ablaze with torches.
“Show her to the parlor.” His powerful voice thundered in her ears.
Colette was taken inside the tent, ordered to wait upon plush cushions for her
master’s cruel bidding, and asked if she required “a spot of tea or a
biscuit.”
She tried to speak but her lips wouldn’t move. Her eyelids were closing fast.
The sultan must have poisoned her. She fought to remain conscious.
She heard a female voice behind the tent door. “Lilith is staying with us! No,
no. What will Mother say?”
Ah, yes, Lady Marylewick, that beautiful, perfect valide sultan—queen of the
harem.
“Hush, my dear Penelope, she will hear you,” the sultan barked.
Penelope, Lady Fenmore? Why was the sultan’s sister with him and not with
the harem of her husband? Those were Colette’s last thoughts before being
carried away in the swift, black undertow of sleep.
* * *
George entered the parlor to inform Lilith of her waiting bedchamber. He found
her collapsed on a sofa, sound asleep. Her hat had toppled from her head,
freeing her auburn hair. Her lashes cast shadows on her face. A beautiful
sleeping tigress. He knelt beside her and studied the lines and planes of her
face. Her symmetry.
She hummed and shifted onto her side.
“Miss Dahlgren,” he whispered. He rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
“Lilith.”
She clasped his hand, slid it under her cheek and cuddled around his arm. Warmth
flowed from her body into his.
The clock on the mantel chimed five. Parliament had begun. Outside, the long
shadows of the afternoon were beacons of the coming gloaming. After Parliament,
he had several balls to attend. Today’s adventure had set him behind in his
estate work. He had a multitude of reasons to hurry on, but he couldn’t stop
gazing at the picture she made and enjoying the tingle of his skin where it
touched hers. “What am I going to do with you?”
She drew up her legs and snuggled even closer. “So tired,” she mumbled and
rubbed her cheek against his arm, as if settling into a pillow.
He knew it was improper and unwise, but he wanted to feel more of her. He
brushed a stray lock, the color of brandy and firelight, from her face. How
could he make her mind as delicate as her nose, her manners as pleasing as her
lips, and her ways as soft as her silky hair? If only he could find a way to
temper her wild, disorderly nature and keep her as gentle as this moment.
He lingered five minutes longer, savoring the soothing rhythm of her breath on
his face, until he couldn’t put off his responsibilities any longer.
“Come.” He tenderly gathered her up. “Let’s tuck you in bed.”
Susanna Ives started writing when she left her job as a multimedia training
developer to stay home with her family. Now she keeps busy driving her children
to various classes, writing books, and maintaining websites. She often follows
her husband on business trips around Europe and blogs about the misadventures of
touring with children. She lives in Atlanta.
This sounds different but quite fun! (Janie McGaugh 3:13pm November 9, 2016)
Thank you for the chance to win. (Valerie Miller 3:16pm November 9, 2016)
Thanks for sharing... enjoyed the snippet! (Colleen Conklin 8:12pm November 9, 2016)
This sounds very intriguing, thanks! (Mary McCoy 1:18am November 10, 2016)
I do enjoy feisty, independent heroines.
Intrigued by this excerpt, very unique! (Laurie Gommermann 5:36am November 10, 2016)
Delightful and special. (Sharon Berger 10:50am November 10, 2016)
Something tells me that some of the action is imagined, like: "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." That would make for an interesting premise for a historical romance. (Cecilia Rodriguez 11:58am November 10, 2016)
Sounds to me like she has a vivid imagine in her dream world. What a story line. I don't believe I have come across anything like it before. I need to follow up on this one. And Susanna I envy how you get to travel thru Europe with your husband. I miss it. (S W 6:44pm November 10, 2016)
I can't wait to read this book!!! I added it to my TBR list! Thanks for the great giveaway!! (Bonnie Capuano 10:05am November 11, 2016)
I was a tad confused due to the fusion between the book- heroine and the main heroine. I get that the heroine felt an association with the book-heroine. But given that this is an excerpt, I rather read the whole story. (Ela Raymundo 9:08pm November 12, 2016)
Interesting excerpt. Thanks for this opportunity. (Nancy Luebke 3:56pm November 13, 2016)
Can't wait to read this book as I have enjoyed all your other books. (Doris Losey 4:21pm November 13, 2016)
Love the Victorian era! Sounds like a great read. (Nancy Marcho 4:26pm November 13, 2016)
From her vivid dreams, she is an unconventional lady. Can't wait to read the book. (Linda Harrison 9:25pm November 13, 2016)
A dream within a dream... (Linda Knowles 10:05pm November 13, 2016)
Love the dreams. They sound sort of like mine. (Irene Menge 2:55am November 14, 2016)
this is certainly an unusual way to tell the story (Diane Sallans 7:33pm November 14, 2016)
Wonderful review thank you Penney (Penney Wilfort 11:57am November 15, 2016)
Love the excerpt. Would love to read this book to see what happens next. (Tanja Dancy 5:33pm November 15, 2016)
What a wonderful glimpse! Yes, this is great bait. Now I have to know if there is more to come about the "sultan." (Cynthia Netherton 5:50pm November 15, 2016)
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