Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ CASTAWAY HEARTS~ #excerpt He forgot how a woman deep in love looked...

Twice orphaned, Catherine Barrett arrives in Virginia a stranger to her closest kin and secretly engaged to the one man her family would disapprove of—her seafaring grandfather’s apprentice. Add to her troubles, the rich and intriguing older brother of her secret betrothed, Dawson Randolph, a plantation owner who is as heartless as he is handsome. Heartbroken when her intended sets sail for his maiden voyage, Catherine finds it difficult to adjust to her new life, hoping to befriend the one man who is, undoubtedly, the match her grandparents wish for her. Dawson’s distaste for her secret engagement to his brother makes it clear he has no designs for marriage to anyone. Especially her.

Ten years since the tragic loss of his young wife and infant son, Dawson Randolph is convinced love and marriage is a fool’s game and resents being pardon to his brother’s hidden engagement. Damned by his instant attraction and his own growing desire, Dawson vows to befriend her against his better judgment. Determined to bring her happiness in a time of fear and uncertainty, Dawson puts aside his animosity to become her confidant, only to realize Catherine holds the key to his heart. When tragedy strikes at sea, Catherine’s guilt pushes Dawson to the fringes of her life as madness consumes her.

Can his love save her before she drowns in her own grief? Or is he doomed to love her from a distance, always in the shadow of her love for his dead brother?

****

Dawson couldn’t sleep. Silence hung thick over the large plantation, but a storm raged within him.

He hadn’t meant to snap at Catherine or even tell her what he thought of marriage at all.

In her eyes, he saw the earnest plea when she asked about Nathaniel, so open and raw with emotion and need. It made him flinch. He forgot how a woman deep in love looked, how innocent and hopeful and desperate.

He would explain his actions to Captain Barrett upon their next encounter, for he had no excuse for his behavior. To run off without thanks for the fine dinner and company had been bad form on his part.

Dawson’s life had been solitary for so long, though he hated to admit it. Empty most the time, the plantation haunted him with its excruciating stillness, other than the few servants who tended to the upkeep of the house, the laundry and his meals.

Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ Fire & Ice in her eyes #Snippits #excerpts CASTAWAY HEARTS

Twice orphaned, Catherine Barrett arrives in Virginia a stranger to her closest kin and secretly engaged to the one man her family would disapprove of—her seafaring grandfather’s apprentice. Add to her troubles, the rich and intriguing older brother of her secret betrothed, Dawson Randolph, a plantation owner who is as heartless as he is handsome. Heartbroken when her intended sets sail for his maiden voyage, Catherine finds it difficult to adjust to her new life, hoping to befriend the one man who is, undoubtedly, the match her grandparents wish for her. Dawson’s distaste for her secret engagement to his brother makes it clear he has no designs for marriage to anyone. Especially her.

Ten years since the tragic loss of his young wife and infant son, Dawson Randolph is convinced love and marriage is a fool’s game and resents being pardon to his brother’s hidden engagement. Damned by his instant attraction and his own growing desire, Dawson vows to befriend her against his better judgment. Determined to bring her happiness in a time of fear and uncertainty, Dawson puts aside his animosity to become her confidant, only to realize Catherine holds the key to his heart. When tragedy strikes at sea, Catherine’s guilt pushes Dawson to the fringes of her life as madness consumes her.

Can his love save her before she drowns in her own grief? Or is he doomed to love her from a distance, always in the shadow of her love for his dead brother?

         “Mr. Randolph?” Catherine’s soft tones tinkled in his ears. “Have you talked to Nathaniel?”
       Their walk took them near the edge of the cliff.
      “Oh, yes. I saw him earlier today.” Dawson drew on his pipe and turned his gaze toward the sea. He kept his attention on a gull soaring on the air current high above the ocean.
     “Did he say anything to you—of importance?”
      Dawson turned to face her once more and saw the pleading in her eyes. Irritation filled his gut and fire burned his insides. She hungered for any word of his brother, any crumb of information he might have in his regard. Gall bit at his throat when he spoke.
    “Yes, he mentioned your plans. He confided his intentions, though I can’t say I agree.” Dawson paused, well aware that his next words would sound bitter and opinionated. “I know Nathaniel well. He’s not mature enough, even at his age, to know what marriage entails, and I don’t know you well enough to make that kind of judgment, but I rather doubt you do either.”
      Fire and ice flickered in her eyes, scorching him in the sunset glow as her face twisted, her eyebrows furrowed in anger so cold it gave him a chill.

Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ Breathtaking... CASTAWAY HEARTS #excerpt #historical #romance

Twice orphaned, Catherine Barrett arrives in Virginia a stranger to her closest kin and secretly engaged to the one man her family would disapprove of—her seafaring grandfather’s apprentice. Add to her troubles, the rich and intriguing older brother of her secret betrothed, Dawson Randolph, a plantation owner who is as heartless as he is handsome. Heartbroken when her intended sets sail for his maiden voyage, Catherine finds it difficult to adjust to her new life, hoping to befriend the one man who is, undoubtedly, the match her grandparents wish for her. Dawson’s distaste for her secret engagement to his brother makes it clear he has no designs for marriage to anyone. Especially her.

Ten years since the tragic loss of his young wife and infant son, Dawson Randolph is convinced love and marriage is a fool’s game and resents being pardon to his brother’s hidden engagement. Damned by his instant attraction and his own growing desire, Dawson vows to befriend her against his better judgment. Determined to bring her happiness in a time of fear and uncertainty, Dawson puts aside his animosity to become her confidant, only to realize Catherine holds the key to his heart. When tragedy strikes at sea, Catherine’s guilt pushes Dawson to the fringes of her life as madness consumes her.

Can his love save her before she drowns in her own grief? Or is he doomed to love her from a distance, always in the shadow of her love for his dead brother?

    As they walked along, Dawson caught the aroma of roses on the wind, though none blossomed in the yard yet. He concluded Catherine’s hair smelled of roses as he inhaled the heady floral scent. The dusky twilight made her skin glow and softened her features with a pink radiance.

     It became obvious then why Nathaniel thought himself so in love with Catherine and why he wanted her all to himself for a lifetime. Her beauty even stole Dawson’s breath away. He could see how months in her company might leave his brother determined to stake his claim on her, but he had no doubt it was a desire driven by physical needs rather than having anything to do with the heart.

     “I understand you and my brother grew very close aboard the Lady Hannah.” He lowered his voice and offered this comment to start the conversation once they were no longer within earshot of her grandparents.

     “You’ve talked to Nathaniel?” Catherine pinned him with her wide hopeful sapphire eyes full of excitement, her eyebrows jumped in anticipation. Dawson paused at the giddiness in her tone. It seemed almost innocent of the manipulation he felt sure she was capable of.

Taryn's Snippit Sundays~ She was a beauty all right. CASTAWAY HEARTS #historical #excerpt

Twice orphaned, Catherine Barrett arrives in Virginia a stranger to her closest kin and secretly engaged to the one man her family would disapprove of—her seafaring grandfather’s apprentice. Add to her troubles, the rich and intriguing older brother of her secret betrothed, Dawson Randolph, a plantation owner who is as heartless as he is handsome. Heartbroken when her intended sets sail for his maiden voyage, Catherine finds it difficult to adjust to her new life, hoping to befriend the one man who is, undoubtedly, the match her grandparents wish for her. Dawson’s distaste for her secret engagement to his brother makes it clear he has no designs for marriage to anyone. Especially her.

Ten years since the tragic loss of his young wife and infant son, Dawson Randolph is convinced love and marriage is a fool’s game and resents being pardon to his brother’s hidden engagement. Damned by his instant attraction and his own growing desire, Dawson vows to befriend her against his better judgment. Determined to bring her happiness in a time of fear and uncertainty, Dawson puts aside his animosity to become her confidant, only to realize Catherine holds the key to his heart. When tragedy strikes at sea, Catherine’s guilt pushes Dawson to the fringes of her life as madness consumes her.

Can his love save her before she drowns in her own grief? Or is he doomed to love her from a distance, always in the shadow of her love for his dead brother?

Picking up where we left off last Sunday-

     At eighteen, she was a beauty all right, just as Nathaniel said. Young and filled with the glow of purity, she could easily break a heart without knowing she had done so.

      Catherine’s soft auburn hair, though done in pinned up ringlets, had obvious length and he wondered how far it fell when let loose from its restraints. Her eyes were pristine blue, the color of jewels, and her days on the ship for those few months gave her a brilliant glow.

      Yes, Catherine Barrett was something else, but his brother would be better off to forget this one. She carried herself with propriety, much as her grandmother did, and he could not fathom what his brother found intriguing about her. She was stiff and prim and seemed snobbish. What had drawn Nathaniel to her to begin with?

      Without a doubt, Mrs. Barrett would never stand for her granddaughter to marry a lowly ship captain, though she herself married one. In his opinion, the older woman held herself higher than her station in life for as long as he knew the couple. If Catherine was as proper as her grandmother was, he could neither fathom what had drawn her to his brother, unless she believed he would make a wealthy living as a sea captain. Perhaps Miss Barrett was wiser of the world than he suspected. Perhaps she hoped to align herself with a man who could provide her with the lifestyle to which she seemed accustomed.

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