The Curse of Winford Manor
by Loc Glin
Genre: Mainstream Romance
Heat Rating: SENSUAL
Word Count: 44,821
Categories: Historical Paranormal Romance (MF), Time Travel, HEA
BLURB: Leslie Braddock feels responsible for her husband’s death. She is having trouble reentering the dating scene. Leslie travels back in time where she meets Sir James.
Sir James Winford is a three-time widower. He believes he is cursed and is certain death to any woman he loves. He has vowed never to love again.
Emily, the ghost of Sir James's first wife has unfinished business, and still lingers at Winford Manor. She wants to see her husband happy, and she wants to bring her murderer to justice.
Rose has loved Sir James since childhood. She must live with the unspeakable things she has done trying to make James see her as more than a child. She believes she is close to achieving that goal when Leslie shows up.
Leslie and Sir James share the experience of losing a loved one. Will Leslie be the woman to break the curse? Or will she be just another victim.
TEASER / EXCERPT:James took her
hand in his. “The pleasure is all mine,” he said as he raised her hand to his
lips and lightly kissed the back of it.
A kiss on the
back of the hand, she thought. Kudos to him, he just earned her attention. She
returned her hand to the warmth of the blanket. “I’m lucky you came along,” she
said. She suppressed a shiver.
“Yes, quite. I’m
very late tonight. I had a lot to finish up in town today. I will be home for
two weeks. I didn’t want any loose ends while I’m away from the office. If not
for that, I would have been home much earlier.”
“Where is home?”
“Winford Manor.”
“Of course, James
Winford,” she managed to get out just before the carriage went over a bump that
had her clinging to the seat for support and catching her breath. “Geez,” she
complained softly.
“There, do you
see the lights?” Sir James raised his hand and pointed into the fog.
She did and she
didn’t. The fog seemed to be glowing up ahead. But it didn’t look like lights
to her. “Sort of,” she answered. She kept a death grip on the side of the
carriage, bracing herself for another jarring jolt.
“We’ll be there
soon,” he said and flicked the reins. “Get up now.”
The horses didn’t
increase their speed. That was okay with her. The road was bumpy and the seat
was hard.
The carriage came
to a halt in front of the manor. The stableboy ran out to lead the horses away.
“Good evening, Sir James,” he said. He stood there holding the halter of the
horse nearest to him, struggling to catch his breath after the run he’d just made.
“Good evening,
Bobby,” Sir James replied. “Take good care of them. They had a hard time of it
tonight,” Sir James said as he got out of the rig. He went to the boy and
ruffled his hair.
“Yes, sir.” The
boy looked up at Sir James. His face was smudged.
“And then get
some hot chocolate from Cook for yourself.” He squeezed the boy’s shoulder.
“Yes, sir,” Bobby
replied smiling. He put his cap on his head. He waited patiently for the
carriage to be empty.
“Let me help you
down.” Sir James offered her his hand. He looked at Leslie’s feet. “Strange
shoes,” he thought out loud. “Pants?” He cleared his throat to cover his shock.
“Odd, but not unheard of,” he added in a mumble.
Leslie stepped
out of the carriage and Bobby led it away. She and Sir James moved toward the
manor.
The butler opened
the door. “Good evening,” he said.
“Barkley, please
tell Cook we have company, and I should like some tea. Is my mother about?”
“Yes, sir, Lady
Margaret is in the parlor.”
“Good, bring the
tea there, and some brandy,” he said as he took off his top coat and hat. He
handed them to the butler.
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