Title: Isabella’s
Heart
Author: Diane Merrill Wigginton
Series: Jeweled Dagger Series (Book 2) (The Benjamin Franklin Award Winning Series)
Genre: Historical Romance/Suspense
Publisher: Jeweled Dagger Publishing
Release Date: April 4 2017
Edition/Format: 2nd Edition/Formats ~ eBook &
Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
In this follow-up, to Wigginton’s (Angelina’s Secret), the focus is on
Isabella Deveraux, the daughter of Lady Angelina Marguerite Amelia Deveraux,
the heroine of the first book.
As the story begins, Isabella experiences a disturbing dream
about her twin brother, Charlie, on the eve of her 19th birthday. We quickly
learn that Isabella has a sixth sense, just like her mother’s, and when she
dreams about Charlie’s abduction in London, it’s more than a simple nightmare.
She sets off immediately to London, setting into motion events that require her
to reunite with her grandparents and eventually her parents, from whom she has
been estranged from for years. Complicating matters further, Isabella’s
grandfather hires an Irish mercenary to help her locate and rescue her brother
and his two school mates. Forced to prove her worth to the mercenary Captain,
she is placed in a compromising position and in doing so must open herself up
to other emotions that she is not be yet ready for. The Captain is a handsome
but brooding man, with a brutish disposition, who is willing to save the lives
of three privileged young men, for the right price. Aiden Townsend decides that
the best way to avoid suspicion as they travel the Irish country side in search
of the abducted men is to pretend to be lovers. Despite Isabella’s grave
concern for her reputation, she grudgingly gives her consent to the arrangement
and romantic chaos ensues. The romantic tension between Isabella and Aiden
intensifies as the search for Charlie also ramps up. During this fast-paced,
action-packed tale, readers are treated to many rich historical details about
political unrest in Ireland, lending credence to the story’s setting. It is a
fun, action packed read with just the right amount of sexual tension to keep
even the most seasoned romance reader engaged.
I removed my coat as well and wiped my forehead with the
sleeve, before depositing the coat on a pile of ropes. Noticing that the rowdy
crowd of men had suddenly gone silent, I looked up to see what had caused it.
That’s when I came face to face with the unsmiling, yet ever handsome, brooding
Captain Townsend.
“How about we engage in a real dual, my dear?” the captain
challenged, his voice seductively deceiving as he broke the tension between us
by giving me a half smile. His blue eyes seemed to spark like the sky during a
thunderstorm, causing my breath to catch.
Dumbfounded for a moment, as my mind scurried to assimilate
and assess the situation, I asked for the only thing that came to mind, “May I
please have a drink of water first?” I queried, locking eyes with him.
“Since you asked so nicely,” Captain Townsend said, with a
sardonic smile. “Rogers, fetch Lady Isabella some water,” he bellowed in my
face while maintaining direct eye contact.
Mr. Rogers ran to do the captain’s bidding, bringing me a
ladle full of fresh water. He handed it to me, and I gratefully sipped it
slowly trying to buy time.
Realizing what his friend had in mind, Caleb stepped
forward. “Aiden, I must protest. What you are proposing is wrong,” he said
sternly, as the casual exhibition turned serious and the crew of rugged
mercenaries looked on in disbelief.
“Anyone can have a leisurely game of back and forth
exchanges for fun or even show, but your enemy is not going to follow the
rules, nor will they give you a chance to catch your breath between bouts,” the
captain said, putting his hand up to stem the flow of any further protests from
Caleb.
Turning his back on Caleb so he could focus his full
attention back to me, Townsend continued to speak, but this time he was playing
to the crowd, who had gathered for the show. “Although you and my first mate
here seem to know your way around a rapier, we are going in with swords, Lady
Isabella. Of course, if you would prefer not to continue because you are too
tired. . .” Townsend began, leaving the question open ended as he gave me a
patronizing smile.
Then turning his back to me, Townsend faced his crowd, as
they began to jeer and yell loudly. Paralyzed by indecision, and the dangerous
glint I witnessed in Townsend’s eyes, I chewed on my bottom lip, still trying
to think clearly.
Turning about in a circle, while shrugging his shoulders,
the captain truly was a showman, as he expertly worked the crowd of men up into
a frenzy. As if to say the show was over, the captain looked at me and smirked,
then shrugged his shoulders as he turned his back to me again.
“Well, lads, I do not think the lady is truly up to the
challenge. I would suggest you all return to work.”
Some light laughter erupted as the men slapped the captain
and first mate on the shoulder and turned to resume their duties. I picked up
the two sabers and weighed them both in my hands, then choosing the one in my
left hand, I threw the other at the captain’s feet. The blade landed with a
loud clank and skidded to a halt against his shiny leather boots.
Turning around, Captain Townsend’s jovial smile quickly
faded as he noticed the sword in my hand. Then slowly looking down, he scoffed,
and bent down to retrieve the sword at his feet.
“It seems I was wrong, lads,” Townsend announced loudly
between clenched teeth. “It would seem the Lady has a backbone after all.”
The thought flashed through my mind that these blades had
very sharp edges and were void of guarded tips for safety purposes. I quickly
pushed the thought from my mind and remembered that I truly had a reason for
being here — my brother — and I would never turn tail and run from anyone,
especially someone as smug and self-righteous as Captain Aiden Townsend.
We walked in a circle like two wild beasts at the ready,
each taking the measure of the other. The tension was thick as everyone on deck
fell silent again. Caleb again tried to protest, but Captain Townsend gave him
a look that silenced him at once.
I felt like I vibrated with the silent tension that existed
on deck as I prepared my strategy. I made the first move while Townsend still
looked at Caleb. Thrusting my sword, I caught the captain off guard by cutting
the button from his woolen coat.
Lifting his eyebrows in a manner that could have suggested
either a question or a challenge, Townsend licked his lips and gave me a smile.
It was not a pleasant smile, in fact it wasn’t a smile at all, but a grimace
meant to warn me of the impending danger ahead.
The crew suddenly went crazy. They shouted and jeered again
as I heard money called out and odds exchanged. The captain lunged forward, and
I deflected the attack with my sword, easily stepping to the side and swinging.
We exchanged thrusts and parried back and forth, moving around in our tight
little circle for several minutes. I refused to back down or give an inch as he
pressed his advantage of height and strength, pushing me back against the
masthead.
I sidestepped him as he swung his sword, and then pulled up
short at the same time as I ducked. I figured it was his way of giving me a
warning. But I didn’t need a warning because I was playing for all the marbles
in my brother Charlie’s bag.
Knocking Townsend in the stomach with the hilt of my sword,
I stepped to his right and repositioned myself to the ready. The sardonic smirk
was back as he lunged at me, taking several heavy swings with his sword, and
nearly knocking me over.
We locked swords, and he came in close, growling under his
breath. “Do you concede?” he asked, holding tightly to my free hand, keeping me
momentarily still.
“No!” I said, as that one word dripped with derision from my
lips.
Not giving him a chance to reset, I pushed off from him and
swung hard, forcing him back. The surprise I saw in his eyes was gratifying, if
only for a split second, before regaining his composure and retaliating in
kind. He forced me back as he went on the attack, and I caused several crew
members to scramble for safety, as I beat a hasty retreat.
A low animalistic growl escaped my lips as I attacked in
frustration. My muscles were beginning to burn in my right arm, and I let my
guard down for just a second. That was all it took. The captain’s sword
inflicted a nasty gash on my left arm, several inches below the shoulder. A
small cry escaped my mouth. Captain Townsend froze in mid swing, and then
lowered his weapon. The smugness instantly drained from his face, replaced with
concern.
Maria made her way to the deck, drawn by all the commotion
and noise. I heard her gasp and I looked at her for a split second, but I
didn’t really see her. My mind was already going through the evasive moves I
had been taught.
Maria closed her eyes and began to pray, as the entire crew
on deck fell silent. Then I remembered the reason I was there, on that deck, in
the first place. Looking down at my arm, I could see the cut was deep and the
blood had begun to flow from the gash. This was no time to wallow in my pain.
Moving my arm to make sure it was still of use to me, I blocked out the pain,
and concentrated instead on the moves I intended to make.
I turned my full attention back to the captain and gave him
a murderous stare. I felt something snap inside of me. Like the floodgates
being opened, all I could see was Townsend. Everything and everyone else faded
away. The captain wore the strangest look on his face as I raised my sword
above my head and set myself to the ready. Narrowing my eyes at Townsend, I
prepared myself to fight, as if it were a matter of life or death. I was
fighting for my brother’s life!
“I think it is time for you to concede,” Captain Townsend
stammered as he lowered his guard. “Look, your arm is hurt and —” the captain
said, pointing at my arm with his free hand.
Cutting him off, I lunged at him, and he deflected my blade,
but stumbled backward several steps, while still attempting to reason with me.
I refused to hear him out. I was now focused on the task at hand.
“I thought you said you knew how to fight,” I taunted,
causing the crew to go crazy again. “Or perhaps you would like to concede?” I
jeered.
Aiden lunged and half-heartedly swung his sword, which I
easily blocked. Lunging back in turn, I managed to put the captain on the
defensive.
Seeing a moment of hesitation from him, I delivered a kick
to his lower left leg, throwing him off balance. He grunted and fell to the
deck onto one knee.
I circled around behind him as my breath seemed to come in
harsh, angry gasps. Giving an extra push with my booted foot in the middle of
his back, I managed to knock him down on all fours.
The captain snorted in frustration and pounded a fist into
the deck in a show of anger of his own. Then slowly rising to his feet, he
looked over his shoulder at me, and I saw something in his eyes besides
surprise at my underhanded tactics, it was determination.
Growling somewhere deep in his throat, Captain Aiden
Townsend looked like an angry bull preparing to charge. Turning towards me he
lunged, slashing with his sword, a move I had anticipated and easily
sidestepped, deflecting his emotionally fueled advances.
This caused another loud outburst of laughter from the crew.
We circled each other again, both of us taut and on edge as we lunged at one
another, simultaneously locking blades. Aiden’s left arm snaked out and grabbed
a hold of my waist. Pinning me tightly against his larger frame, our swords
rested between us.
“You need to concede, and I will allow you to save face,”
Townsend said between clenched teeth. His rage was clearly manifested by his
ragged breathing as he leaned in even closer to my face, to emphasize his
displeasure.
“Your hubris is astounding, sir, or is it that you are
worried that you might be bested by a woman!” I sweetly asked, just before
stomping on the instep of his foot with the heel of my boot.
“Ouch!” he yelled. “Why you little —” he began to say,
before letting out another growl of displeasure.
I pushed off from him when he was momentarily surprised by
my move, and my blade caught the back of his hand, when we came out of the
clench. Looking down, he couldn’t believe what he saw. The back of his right
hand was bleeding from a two inch gash.
