Victorian Scoundrel

Victorian Scoundrel                

by Stephanie Burkhart

 

 

BLURB:

 

It’s 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over from the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Edmund of Wales, back to 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain’s Great Exhibition.

 

Alice soon finds herself over her head in trouble. Edmund is determined to help Prince Albert build a dirigible and the prime minister appears intent in preventing her from stopping Edmund. Alice knows it’s too early for the massive flying machine to take to the air. Complicating matters is the passionate Grayson Kentfield, Earl of Swinton. Alice can’t stop her pulse from pounding when she’s near him.

 

Can Alice give her heart to a man from the past while working to stop Edmund from changing history?

 

 

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EXCERPTS 

 

Excerpt One:

 

Tired and thirsty, she finally made it to the courtyard. Edmund was nowhere to be found. She should have expected it, really. No doubt he was in the palace filling their great-grandfather’s head with forward-thinking ideas. She crossed her arms, staring at the steps. Several carriages waited nearby. No one in their right mind would let her into the palace looking like she did — like she had just stepped out of the gutter.

 

“Excuse me, who are you?”

 

Alice spun around to find herself face-to-face with two gentlemen who stood near one of the waiting carriages. One gentleman was older, Alice guessed in his fifties, one younger. The older gentleman stared at her like she truly was a guttersnipe, but the younger one — he was tall, with chiseled cheeks and sensitive hazel eyes. His broad chest filled his suit well and he measured her with a cool, appraising look that hinted at… appreciation. An uncomfortable feeling washed over her. Never had a man’s stare made her feel so… warm.

 

“Well?” asked the older gentleman.

 

Alice straightened her posture with her usual royal dignity and took off her glasses as she always did when she introduced herself. “I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice of York.”

 

The men looked at each other, at her, then back at themselves. She wasn’t sure if they were befuddled, confused, or wanted to laugh. Finally, the older gentleman spoke. “Princess Alice is seven years old.”

 

Alice bit the inside of her lip, realizing she had totally forgotten where she was due to the younger gentleman’s attention. She slid her glasses back on. “Simply call me Alice — Alice Windsor.”

 

“And you may call me Prime Minister.”

 

 

Excerpt Two:

 

She nibbled on her lower lip, a curious habit she had. When she was indecisive, perhaps? Then she drew the necklace over her head, giving it to him. He placed the coin flat in the palm of his hand, and let the chain dangle through his fingers. It was bronze or brass, with a strange sequence of numbers and letters. He furrowed his brow. Alice bent over and used her finger to push her glasses firmly back onto the bridge of her nose.

 

“It’s some type of alpha-numeric code,” Grayson mused out loud.

 

Alice looked on, a murky expression on her face. “Perhaps.”

 

Grayson looked up. “I’ve seen a similar code on the datamancers they introduced in Parliament.”

 

“What’s a datamancer?” she asked.

 

He tried not to get lost in those soulful cerulean eyes of hers. “You don’t know what a datamancer is?”

 

“No.”

 

“It thinks for itself–”

 

“Grayson, what’s in your hand?”

 

Grayson and Alice turned in the direction of the door. Sir John briskly walked toward them escorted by a soldier and another gentleman Grayson recognized as the prince’s secretary.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt Three:

 

Grayson nodded his head and smiled at Keira as Alice trailed after her cousin. She caught up to Edmund, and placed her hand on his elbow to catch his attention. She leaned close, keeping her voice low.

 

“I have news.”

 

“Oh?” He plucked a glass of wine off the tray and handed it to her. She held up two fingers, meaning she wanted wine for her and Grayson. He gave her another glass.

 

“I have my necklace back, Ed.”

 

He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Really?”

 

Alice glanced at her purse. “It’s in there.”

 

He frowned. “Well, I guess we can go home now.” “What’s the frown for?” she asked.

 

“It just so happens I’m enjoying Keira’s company.”

 

Alice bunched her lips, agreeing with his sentiment. “And I’m enjoying Grayson’s.”

 

Edmund grabbed two glasses for himself and they wandered back to their dates. “The right thing to do is go home, Cousin,” said Edmund.

 

“Well, yes, but…”

 

“But, what?”

 

“Grayson invited us to his estate in Sandhurst next weekend — Keira as well.”

 

“Naughty, naughty, Cousin.”

 

 

Excerpt Four:

 

Grayson escorted her to a door on the right, threw it open, and put his hand on her waist, guiding her inside. A gas lamp burned on a nearby table, throwing stark, deep shadows into the room.

 

Her determined man shut the door and pinned her against it. He plucked her glasses from her face and threw them onto the table with the gas lamp. Then he pinned her against the door, placing his hands on the door next to her arms. His breathing was erratic. The light from the lamp cast dark shadows over his chiseled features.

 

“Gray–”

 

He stepped closer and lowered his hands, placing one on her waist. Heat spiked within her and settled low in her abdomen. His hazel eyes burned with desire. He drew in a deep breath and raised his forefinger, tracing her lips. Alice closed her eyes, but only briefly, savoring the gentle touch of his finger.

 

“You do wild things to my heart, sweet Alice,” he finally whispered. His finger traced her cheeks, then her jaw.

 

She grew hot, yearning for more. Her senses spun from his sensual touch. She could hardly breathe. “Me?”

 

“Yes, you.”

 

“What do I do to your heart?”

 

“You make it beat hard — fast.” He ran his finger down the side of her neck and traced the ‘v’ in her throat.

 

Alice met the raging inferno in his eyes and nipped at her lower lip with her teeth. “Is that all I do?”

 

He issued a low, deep groan from his throat and leaned forward.

 

 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks.  She’s also an assistant den leader for her son’s Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children’s books published with 4RV Publishing.

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

 

 

Stephanie will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour,

 

 

 

 

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