Bemused, Jon looked at his mother. "I assure you, Mother, it is no joke. It was done by Mrs. Dewig-Gertz."
"I don't understand," Esther said, her eyes narrowed in thought. "Why is Sarah in pieces like that?"
"Sugar lump," Admiral Windemere said to his intended, "I don't believe Mrs. Dewig-Gertz meant Sarah to be in pieces. She's all there, but in a rather different order. Could you tell us more about it, Jon?" he asked graciously.
"Yes, for heaven's sake, please do," Esther said.
Jon eyed Esther with restrained forbearance. "Mrs. Dewig-Gertz calls the technique totalism. But it was really my idea," he said proudly. "I wanted her to capture as many facets of Sarah's personality as she could, which she did."
Nibbling absently at her bottom lip, her hands laced behind her back, Sarah silently studied the painting. It was certainly different from anything she'd ever seen. She saw her own profile—somewhat stiff and immobile, but Mrs. Dewig-Gertz had traced the edge of her nose and chin with a kind of sunlight coming from behind. And the wind was blowing wisps of bright orange hair across her cheek. Every single strand seemed to be there. And those two huge eyes superimposed on the profile and staring out were really quite... green. But she also saw her face straight on, smaller than the profile, yet rather cleverly worked in so it seemed to be a part of it. Mrs. Dewig-Gertz had also included bloomers and detached hands and feet and—heat rushed up her face—toes. Ten tiny toes. Looking at Jon, she realized he was watching her. From the amused look on his face, she knew he'd caught the focus of her attention.
While the others gathered around the painting, pointing and chattering, she said covertly to Jon, "You have some explaining to do."
Jon chucked her under the chin. "Yes, I thought you'd bring that to my attention."
Sarah pursed her lips. "Just how did Mrs. Dewig-Gertz know about the toes? Certainly you didn't tell her about us... what you do." She blushed deeply.
Jon patted her hand. "Relax, my love. I mentioned in passing that you enjoyed immersing your toes in the spring. She took it from there. She's a very innovative artist. But enough about Mrs. Dewig-Gertz." He slid his arm around her waist. "Mother's latest peccadillo. I'm to mollycoddle you and wait on you hand and foot and tend to your every need. She claims I've been remiss in my husbandly duties during this delicate time in your life."
"Well, you needn't fuss so. I'm quite fit," Sarah said. "As for your husbandly duties--" she grinned wickedly while contemplating making love with Jon in the middle of the day "--my toes, and other more delicate areas are tingling quite markedly right now, and I fear they need immediate attention."
Jon gave her a discreet pat on the fanny. "Wanton little chit."
"My thoughts exactly." Lacing her fingers in his, Sarah led him out of the library, down the hallway and up the stairs, leaving his family to ponder the various and enigmatic aspects of Sarah Ashley Cromwell.
###
AUTHOR'S NOTE
While this is a work of fiction, many of the townsfolk in the story are actual figures from history, including Amor De Cosmos, editor of Victoria's newspaper, the British Colonist. In addition, an incident in history occurred that is worth noting. On September 17, 1863, it was reported in the British Colonist that David Babington Ring refused to pay his business license fee as a barrister on the grounds that in the wording of the Incorporation Act, the city of Victoria had no legal authority to impose such a tax. The case was brought before Chief Justice Cameron, who, in December 1863, decided in favor of Ring, holding that the city had no legal right to levy any general taxes at all. Subsequently, the city council, having collected over $12,000 by means of a wrongful tax, faced the prospect of having to meet demands for refunds. Perhaps David Babington Ring's lawsuit could have been inspired by a certain radical young woman whose innovative garments may have changed the course of fashion in Victoria, and whose chaotic and untimely presence in the colony may ultimately have led to the unification of Vancouver Island with British Columbia in July 1867. And perhaps this industrious young woman, with the help of her husband's elder daughter, who continued to be a strong voice for women, may even have influenced Her Majesty Queen Victoria's decision in May 1868 to declare the seat of the government of the combined colonies to be Victoria. Who's to say?
ALSO BY PATRICIA WATTERS
DANCING MOON RANCH SERIES
LIVING WITH LIES Trilogy
RIGHTEOUS LIES
Book 1: Dancing Moon Ranch Series; Living With Lies Trilogy
Grace Templeton thought the child she'd been carrying for seven months was the child of her dead husband, and Jack Hansen thought the sperm he'd donated had gone to the wife of his sterile twin... Until they learn that two vials of sperm at the fertility clinic were accidentally switched. The shock sends Grace into early labor, and the only place she can have complete bed rest is at the Dancing Moon Ranch owned by Jack and his twin, Sam. But soon, Grace finds herself falling in love with a hard-edged cowboy who appears to want to control every aspect of her life, now that she's carrying his son. But Jack has his reasons. He also has no intention of marrying, and Grace is determined to
PANDORA'S BOX
Book 2: Dancing Moon Ranch Series; Living With Lies Trilogy
Justine Page used her beauty and her body to make her way up the corporate ladder. But when a relationship with a CEO goes sour, and she finds herself without a job or a place to live, she goes to the Dancing Moon Ranch to stay with her sister, Grace, and reassess her life. Brad Meecham, a war correspondent and best-selling author with post traumatic stress, has taken a cabin on the ranch to try and deal with mind demons. But he's also intrigued by Justine, who's determined to put her checkered past behind. And Justine finds herself in love for the first time in her life. About the time they think they could make a life together, a daughter Brad never knew existed is delivered to him when her mother dies, and suddenly, Brad finds himself with a child who wants nothing to do with anyone but Justine, and Brad knows without question that a woman who slept her way to the top will never be a candidate for step-mother. But then, Brad fails to factor in the power of love to bring together a flawed woman and a troubled child, and his need to have them both in his life.
FALSE PRETENSES
Book 3: Dancing Moon Ranch Series; Living With Lies Trilogy
Jayne Hamilton has a dark secret she's carefully guarded and which she hopes will stay hidden until she lands the job at Dancing Moon Ranch. But as Sam Hansen interviews her, he’s uneasy. Things don't add up. Still, he hires her without running a background check because his mother wants to retire from the guest ranch end of the operation, and neither Sam nor his twin, Jack, want to take over that job. A guest ranch manager would free them of that burden. But soon, Sam finds himself blindly attracted to Jayne, even though he knows she's hiding something... something that has to do with a child. But Sam also senses that there's much more. 77,527
LIVING WITH LIES TRILOGY
DANCING MOON RANCH SERIES
3 Books Under One Cover
BOOK 1: RIGHTEOUS LIES
BOOK 2: PANDORA'S BOX
BOOK 3: FALSE PRETENSES
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES
JUSTIFIED DECEPTION
Ruth Crawford's on a quest to find and reclaim her daughter, who was kidnapped four years before. Ruth's private investigator is all but certain that ranch owner, Matt Kincaid's, adopted daughter Annie is Ruth's own little Beth. But Matt's the maverick in a powerful family of lawyers and politicians, so even though she manages to land the job as nanny to Matt's willful, six-year-old daughter, Ruth must tread carefully. She can't predict what Matt or his family might do if the adoption is challenged. However, Ruth's carefully laid plans go awry when she finds herself falling in love with the man who might have stolen her child. 60,950 words.
ADVERSARIES AND LOVERS
When Kate O’Connor learns that Ben Stassen's new corporate office will replace a block of charming old buildings that include the Corner Cafe, where Grandma and he
r friends have been lunching for half a century, she vows to stop it, taking her case directly to the man. But that's not the way Ben Stassen sees it. He built Stassen Sports from the ground up and he refuses to let a woman on a mission stand in his way. But, Kate has advertising skills he can use, so ignoring her crusade, he invites her to submit ideas for his ad campaign. And Kate accepts—a strategic move to use against the man. But working with Ben stirs feelings Kate hadn't anticipated, and when she at last finds the chink in Ben's armor, the key to stopping his business venture, she also finds a troubled man who refuses to be touched by love, and she’s determined to know why. 57,800 words
BROKEN PROMISES
Tess O'Reilly can't forget the words engraved inside the ring Zak de Neuville gave her when he promised to love her forever, then disappeared from her life without a word. Eskauldun fededun--the Basque is faithful. More appropriately, the Basque is faithless! And now Zak's back in Baker's Creek. He's also the father of a boy who had to have been conceived shortly after he left. Tess too has returned to Baker's Creek to help her ailing father. After a lengthy estrangement from him because of Zak, she's come home to rebuild the relationship they once had, before it's too late, and she has no intention of getting involved with Zak again. The problem is, time has done nothing to temper the white-hot flame that's once again building. 60,540 words.
IN HOT PURSUIT
Inheriting her uncle's yacht and living on it is just what Nellie Reid needs to get out of the financial abyss she's in and put the lives of herself and her ten-year-old son back on track. But what she initially thinks is a dream come true, quickly becomes a nightmare. Not only is the owner of the boathouse threatening foreclosure for back rent, he claims he had an agreement with Nellie's uncle for use of the boat for his whale study. But if Will Edenshaw cruises off on her yacht, Nellie will have him arrested for grand theft! And Will hasn't the heart to foreclose on a homeless, jobless widow. But once at sea, life aboard the Isadora becomes perilous. Will's in hot pursuit, and there's no place Nellie can run and hide from her heart. But there are also others in pursuit—a grizzled old sea dog and a bald-headed man with a gun—and Nellie and Will don't know why. But as they venture into rough waters, it's evident that whoever's in pursuit is dead set on seeing Nellie... dead.
THE LOVE BOAT CONSPIRACY
When three meddling daughters decide it won't be quits for their once happily married parents, they inadvertently set into motion a dangerous chain of events that neither Andrea nor Jerry Porter could ever have imagined when they set out on a luxury cruise neither wanted. But before long, they find themselves drawn into a drug-smuggling scheme by the smooth-talking Italian who singled Andrea out for flattery, their first day aboard. That's also when Andrea and Jerry begin to see each other in a whole different light, one that ignites a flame that had long since died. Until then, unspoken words and distant memories hovered between them like ghosts from the past. But it's three letters from their daughters that ultimately force them to face the real reason behind their crumbling marriage.
HISTORICAL ROMANCES
COLBY'S CHILD
He's a man with a dark past, a quick hand on the draw, and a soft spot for her child. She's a widow who needs protection. A marriage of convenience is the means of keeping her safe in a town populated by gold miners, dance hall girls, and scurrilous men, until her gold mine is producing and she can return east. But soon after Jenny MacDonald marries Jason Colby, she finds herself falling in love with a man whose dark past is quickly catching up with him, the very man who might have killed her husband.
HER MASTER'S TOUCH
She's the mystery debutante of the season, who arrived on the London scene as if from out of nowhere. But Lord Damon Ravencroft knows her dark secret. Two years before, when she was roaming with Gypsies and living by her wits in India, he hired her as a housemaid, and she stole from him a rare and valuable opal once belonging to the Empress Josephine. Damon intends to be compensated for its loss, which set him back years in his quest to prove his innocence in a crime he's accused of committing. The sizable dowry that comes with Lady Elizabeth Sheffield's hand in marriage is a start. It's also his price to keep her secret from all of London. But there's more to the marriage of convenience that Damon proposes than Elizabeth anticipated, but by the time she learns what it is, she's trapped into a marriage to a man who both stirs her passions and fuels her resentment for the man she was forced to wed.
WICKED TEMPTATIONS
Priscilla Phipps will not be deterred from her goal, even if it means facing up to the powerful Wyoming Stock Grower's Association and cattle barons like Adam Whittington, who want the homesteaders--the very people who are supporting the newspaper Priscilla is trying to establish--driven out of Wyoming. But Adam has his own means of handling the troublesome spinster who's alienating every cattleman in the area, raising havoc with his libido, and putting a damper on his run for mayor of Cheyenne. And Priscilla, a maiden lady who's never been touched by a man, suddenly finds herself lusting after forbidden desires.
COME BE MY LOVE
When Sarah Ashley arrives in Victoria, British Columbia to open a mercantile for the manufacture and sale of bloomer costumes, she turns Governor Jonathan Cromwell's colony upside down. But while her enterprise is diving the town and disrupting every facet of Jon's life, he can't decide whether to seduce the stunning suffragette into sweet submission, set more obstacles in her path, or send her away to preserve his colony. But Sarah didn't liquidate her entire savings and sail all the way from San Francisco to Victoria just to have her dreams dashed by Vancouver Island's arrogant young governor. Come hell or high water, she will establish her business despite Jon's unfairly imposed obstacles... and a longing heart that tempts her to surrender her principles for one night of passion with the insufferably handsome rogue.
PERILOUS PLEASURES
Loving a man who faces death every day of his life can be wearing, Joanna Livingston learns, soon after Stefan Janacek joins the show with his big cat act. Lions on their own are formidable. The fact that someone wants Stefan dead, and is harassing his cats to get them to turn on him, leads to serious ramifications that make Joanna question if she can live with that fear. Before Porter Brother's took Stefan on, Joanna was star of a major circus with her flying trapeze act. Then a man with the charm of a British lord and the body of a gladiator joined the show and stole the limelight, along with Joanna's heart. But working with big cats is all Stefan knows, which means being under contract with a major show, so when Joanna suspects she's pregnant, the decision she's ultimately forced to make is one she'd never considered before falling in love with a lion tamer. 72,650 words
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Patricia Watters gave up the glamour and pageantry of the city, and now writes novels from a hand-built log house nestled in the evergreen forests of Oregon. An author with Harlequin and Avon-Harper Collins in the past, Patricia specializes in romance, and she invites you to visit her website and drop her a line. She tries to respond to all notes, but please allow a couple of weeks for her to do so:
www.patriciawattersromances.com
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