Hello and welcome to “At First Sight Saturday.” Today’s guest is author Alina K. Field who gives us a ‘first sight’ scene from her novella, The Comtesse of Midnight, one of the stories in Storm & Shelter A Bluestocking Belles with Friends Collection, available now for 99 cent pre-order. The Comtesse of Midnight introduces us to hero, Malcolm Comyn, Earl of Menteith, and heroine Marielle Plessiers, the Comtesse de Fontenay. Be sure to leave a comment to let Alina know what you think of her excerpt and characters.

Excerpt: In the midst of a full-throated April gale off the North Sea, Malcolm finds that the road leading to his next inn stop has completely collapsed.

“What now?” Malcolm asked aloud.

The horse looked back at him with a snort.

“I’m as miserable as ye are, fellow. Come. Let’s find the both of us shelter.”

Turning back south, he eyed the lighted windows of the lonely manor. Asking for shelter there was an option.

But a branch of the coastal road continued south, and he recalled that, at the intersection with Maresrow Road, a stone post had stood, leaning as if pushed by the sea winds. He hadn’t bothered to read the name carved upon it. He rode on, hoping to find a nearby village, preferably one with an inn. He would make one last foray for anonymous shelter before inquiring at the manor.

His mount stalled abruptly, ears flicking. A shout and an equine squeal carried on the wind, the animal’s cry mixing with the crashing of waves. This distance south of the cliffs, the road fronted a field that sloped gently to a rocky beach studded with boulders. A beached vessel rested there with figures circling around it, their shouts carrying his way.

He nudged the gelding off the road. The beast tediously picked his way through the gorse, and boulders, and rain-induced streams, whilst Malcolm prayed that the ground would hold.

Finally reaching the beach, he saw white cloth puddled around the broken mast of the small sloop. A train of laden donkeys stumbled off to the north, two men guiding their precarious steps, whilst another man remained behind. He disappeared under sailcloth and came out with a cask, depositing it on the rocky shore. The wind swirled and sent a wave that threatened to claim the cargo, and the man dove for it, scooting it higher on the beach.

These were free traders, and this was a foolish one to battle Neptune over a cask of spirits. The next wave could very well take him as well as the cargo.

“Halloo,” Malcolm called.

The man scrambled to his feet. Short and slight, his oilcloth coat tented over him. He was otherwise dripping wet, a knit cap clinging down to his eyebrows.

He dove under the sail again and came back with another cask.

Either he hadn’t heard or he was ignoring the greeting. “Do you need help?” he called.

The man spun around, a scowl on his young face, and shook his head.

Another wave swamped him, the sea tugging at his boots and legs. He fell back, unsteady and struggling against the pull of the wave, still clutching his cargo.

Malcolm dismounted, tossed the reins around a stout boulder, and waded into the surf. He reached a hand and pulled the delicate lad up, swept the cask out of his loosening grip, and fought his way back up the beach with the lad in tow.

Eyes flashed up at him. Gray, or green, or blue—the color was uncertain in this dim light, but the lashes framing them were long, the lips full, the face a smooth heart shape filled with annoyance.

Feminine annoyance.

He swept a gaze over the coats and trousers, confirming the curves below. Almost confirming.

And if confirmed, it would be the first bit of intrigue unrelated to his earldom that he’d had in months.

He whisked the smuggler up under his free arm, swallowing a chuckle, ignoring the unmistakably female howl of protest.

***

Merde. With fingers numb from fighting the storm, holding onto the casks was proving nigh impossible. And the man oughtn’t to be here.

The hand reaching out was large, the arm it was attached to a strong one, and the stranger was a full head taller. He wasn’t a revenue agent though, or not a known one. They’d all be snug in their beds in a storm like this, which is where the crew would be very soon. As soon as the men stowed the barrels and the landlord of the Queen’s Barque received this delivery.

The man was not with the government, yet his scrutiny was a close one.

“Nooo.” The scold came unbidden because he’d plucked a body tight up against him, juggling the cask in his other arm.

The devil he was, and too damned presumptuous. “Put me down. You oughtn’t to be here. Go see to your horse. The animal will have the reins free in moments.”

“Ungrateful brat.” Still cradling the cask, he slogged back to the horse, soothing the creature with a gentle touch that quite impressed. Except, that he still held the cask that wasn’t his.

“You. That’s mine.”

“Aye, and I’m carryin’ it for ye. Come.” He beckoned. “Get yourself out of the surf.”

That was probably wise. Whether the sloop would be there in the morning was anyone’s guess. A pity that. Nothing about this run had been easy.

About The Comtesse of Midnight: A Scottish Earl on a quest for the elusive Comtesse de Fontenay, rescues a French lady smuggler from the surf during a devastating storm and takes shelter with her. As the stormy night drags on, he suspects his companion knows the lady he’s seeking, the lady who holds the secret to his identity. When she admits she’s in fact the Comtesse Fontenay, just not the one he’s seeking, she dashes all his hopes—and promises him new ones.

About Storm & Shelter: When a storm blows off the North Sea and slams into the village of Fenwick on Sea, the villagers prepare for the inevitable: shipwreck, flood, land slips, and stranded travelers. The Queen’s Barque Inn quickly fills with the injured, the devious, and the lonely—lords, ladies, and simple folk; spies, pirates, and smugglers all trapped together. Intrigue crackles through the village, and passion lights up the hotel.

One storm, eight authors, eight heartwarming novellas.

Reserve your copy today for only 99 cents at https://books2read.com/u/b5k2pO. Release day is April 13, 2021.

About Alina: Award winning and USA Today bestselling author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but prefers the much happier world of romance fiction. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California, where she shares a midcentury home with her husband and a spunky, blond rescued terrier. She is the author of several Regency romances, including the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner, Rosalyn’s Ring. Though hard at work on her next series of romantic adventures, she loves to hear from readers!

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