“Trust me, it hasn’t gone without my notice. I will have to keep a diligent eye on the boys that come around here, and a loaded gun.”
“Yes, you will, for who better to know what they will be trying to do than you?”
“Five children? People will think I enjoy sexual congress with my wife.”
“I do not care what people think.”
“Since when?”
“Since I found out it is so much more fun to be scandalous than proper.”
“I love you, Circe Taggart.”
“I love you, my Wild Lord Taggart.”
* * *
6 1/2 months later…
Reese sat on the edge of the bed holding a squalling baby in his arms. He leaned down and brushed a kiss on the infant’s head.
“Are you certain you are not disappointed?”
“Bite your tongue, woman.”
“But—”
A knock at the door interrupted Circe.
“Yes?” he called out.
Ruth cracked the door and said, “The girls would like to see their mama and the baby.”
“Of course they would. Let them in.” He handed the baby to Circe and helped their daughters climb up on the bed, reminding them to be careful not to hurt their mama. Once they were all settled, he too climbed back on the bed next to Circe, doing some minor readjusting of bodies. The girls surrounded him and Circe, and he knew he wouldn’t have had his life turn out any other way. He looked at all of his children. Each one was unique in her own way from her temperament to the shade of her eyes, blues to grays to greens, but they were all a special combination of him and Circe, a wonderful mix of the best, and worst, of both of them. He turned to his beautiful wife and said, “How could a rake like me ever be so lucky as to have all this?”
“You won the right card game,” Circe said with a besotted grin and a happy twinkle in her tired eyes.
“That I did,” Reese agreed, kissing his wife with all the emotions he felt. When they broke apart, Circe rested her head on his shoulder, and he could see the tears of happiness in her eyes, for they were mirrored in his own. He cleared his throat, pulled back the baby’s blanket so the girls could see better, and said, “Girls, meet Rose, your new sister.”
* * *
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Notes
Dear Reader,
I meant to have this story out much sooner than now, but alas Reese was a stubborn man. Reese’s story was actually written twice. The first time, both he and I decided it was not fitting for a rake of his reputation, so we went back to the proverbial drawing board. There are several things I would like to address about this book. First of all, I did a lot of research as to shipboard weddings only to come up disappointed with my findings. Unfortunately, they were not seen as legal and only recently have become so if the ship’s captain is also a minister. That being said, I took creative license and had not just one shipboard wedding occur, but several, because if it is good enough for the U.S.S. Enterprise and The Love Boat, it is good enough for me.
I hope you all enjoyed disliking Dorothea. Believe it or not, she was based loosely on a woman named Annie Palmer who owned a plantation in Jamaica called Rose Hall after inheriting it from a deceased husband. Even Johnny Cash was fascinated with Annie Palmer, having sung a song about her. I also threw in just a hint of the Delphine LaLaurie from New Orleans fame. Interest in her has been rejuvenated thanks to the television show American Horror Story, and the fact that Nicholas Cage once owned the house. In all actuality, both of these women kept so much to themselves that a lot of what is known about them is pure speculation, but it is enough to spark the imagination.
When I started thinking about settings for Reese’s story, the Caribbean intrigued me. The more I researched, the more enthralled I became. Barbados is truly one of the oldest English Parliaments other than in England. What was even more intriguing was the amount of Irishmen scattered around the islands. As I continued to research, I found that Cromwell, did indeed send Irish rebels to Montserrat in hopes they would perish. Instead, they seemed to flourish. So much so that they became land owners, slaves, and everything in between. They did, also, begin to intermarry with the African slaves on the islands, which is why you hear many dark-skinned people with Irish accents. Other than Ireland, Montserrat has the largest Irish population (as of the 1970s). Unfortunately, Montserrat suffered from a volcanic eruption in 1995 causing a great part of the island to be uninhabitable. I also think it is important to note that there was, indeed, a failed slave revolt on Barbados in 1816.
The great storm that Circe and Reese lived through at the end of the book was actually a hurricane that passed through the Caribbean. It hit Barbados on July 22, 1813 killing 18 people. It continued on with its death and destruction hitting several more islands. For those that have lived through a hurricane, I probably did not give the storm its due, but I was much more concerned with giving Dorothea her comeuppance.
During the course of the book, I make reference to the Voodoo religion. This topic has always intrigued me, but it was during a trip to New Orleans that I was able to find out more about it and its origins. It was brought over from Africa and seems to have begun, in earnest, on the island of Haiti as a combination of African tribal religions and the religions encountered on the island itself. It then spread throughout the Caribbean and Southern Louisiana (and I imagine other Southern states that had plantations with African slaves). It was in New Orleans after going on a tour that I found out that Voodoo is good and not the evil you sometimes read about in books or see on television shows or watch in movies. It is not meant to be harmful or hurt people, but to help them; however, as in the book, there are people that twist good into bad to benefit themselves, much as Dorothea did. What Dorothea did was my own creation of what someone would do if they were indeed power hungry and felt they had found a way to control others. I have a healthy respect for Voodoo and it is not my intention to in any way offend those that actively participate in it. It is truly a fascinating culture.
Circe’s parents’ situation was extremely unique for that day and age. While much focus was given to her mother throughout the book, it seemed I overlooked how her father defied society to be with the woman he loved, regardless of the situation. I think that is one of the things that made Circe so unique, was that she craved those marital bonds her parents did not have, but even more she craved to be loved like her father loved her mother. I also like how she finally saw her father’s way of thinking.
Finally, if you did not notice, Circe is a voluptuous woman. In a time when it was more the fashion to be waif-like (sound familiar?), she defied the norm. I think one of my favorite parts of this book is when Reese is telling her why she is beautiful to him. In this author’s humble opinion, women need to hear that more often instead of Why can’t you be thinner? or If you would only lose a few more pounds. Yes, he had to tell her several times and in various ways, but what woman out there doesn’t want to hear how beautiful she is for the rest of her life from the man she loves? Relish who you are and what you are for we only live this life once.
I hope that you enjoyed Reese and Circe’s story. I know it was a long time coming, but I hope it was worth the wait.
Happy Reading!
Tammy Jo
Books by Tammy Jo Burns
The Reluctant Lords Trilogy:
A Traitorous Heart
A Thin Line
To Love and Protect
The Reluctant Lords Boxed Set
The Rogue Agents Trilogy:
Taming the Wicked Wulfe
Seducing the Ruthless Rogue
Enticing the Weary Warrior
Those Scandalous Taggarts:
The Beast of Yorkshire
Wild Lord Taggart - Out now!
All books can be read as stand-alones; however, you will see repeating characters throughout the two trilogies. To purchase these books, cl
ick on the titles or to read more about any of these titles, please click here.
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I grew up in the Panhandle of Texas, but have always been fascinated with the land of my forefathers – England, Scotland, and Ireland. I also classify myself as a true romantic, and find I frequently dream of greater than life heroes that leave me thinking – that is what love should be like. So, I work on creating love stories with strong women and stronger men, and let the battle of wills ensue. I am currently busy writing my fourth book in my little cottage in the woods of North Texas with my cat, Ajax, to keep me company.
I would love to hear from those who read my books. I can be contacted at: [email protected]
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I truly hope you enjoyed this book!
Warm wishes & happy reading,
Tammy Jo
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