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The Hummingbird Dagger

Page 29

by Cindy Anstey


  A bill abolishing the letters of marque was neither introduced nor defeated in 1833 in the British House of Commons. (But the possibility was excellent fodder for a fictional kidnapping.)

  Acknowledgments

  THE HUMMINGBIRD DAGGER is a favorite among my beta readers and as such, I faced a mutiny if I did not polish it and present it to Swoon Reads for publication. It was fortunate that my editor, Emily Settle, was equally enthused about the book. And so I wish to acknowledge and thank all those involved in this publication, beginning with the helping hands at Swoon Reads.

  Thank you, Emily, for your advice, patience, editing skills, and author management. You are amazing! Thank you, Jean Feiwel, for your leadership and guidance on this project, and Lauren Scobell, for championing the book and working toward a cohesive vision. Rich Deas, as always, the cover design is outstanding! It conveys the atmosphere and drama perfectly. I would also like to thank Mandy Veloso, my production editor, and the marketing team of Melissa Croce and Teresa Ferraiolo. As well, many thanks to my publicist, Kelsey Marrujo. I am privileged to have such an eager and talented team to direct me along the way.

  Thank you, fellow Swoon Reads authors; a better support group could not be found. And to my readers: Thank you for your encouraging Twitter and Facebook comments.

  To my family and friends: Thank you for seeing me through the turmoil. Mike: You are my rock—I’m almost speechless when I think of all that you do to keep us trucking. Christine: Here it is! The one you’ve been waiting for. The Hummingbird Dagger would not be in print were it not for your faith and willingness to reread the manuscript—over and over … and over. Deb: Thank you for your help catching the many inconsistencies and your advice along the way. Dan, Mom, Steve, Stew, Trudy, Dillan, Matthew, Sue, Paul, Ginny, and Mel: Thank you for your encouragement and enthusiasm.

  by Cindy Anstey

  LOVE, LIES AND SPIES

  DUELS & DECEPTION

  SUITORS AND SABOTAGE

  CAROLS AND CHAOS

  THE HUMMINGBIRD DAGGER

  About the Author

  Cindy Anstey spends her days painting with words, flowers, threads, and acrylics. After many years living as an expat in Singapore, Memphis, and Belgium, Cindy now resides with her husband and energetic chocolate Labrador, Chester, in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the author of Love, Lies and Spies; Duels & Deception; Suitors and Sabotage; Carols and Chaos; and The Hummingbird Dagger. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Before

  Chapter One: Disastrous Encounter

  Chapter Two: The Enigma Awakens

  Chapter Three: A Proclivity for Melodrama

  Chapter Four: Puppies and Impatience

  Chapter Five: Fellow Confederate

  Chapter Six: Introducing Miss Dobbins

  Chapter Seven: Conspicuously Absent

  Chapter Eight: Warning Signs

  Chapter Nine: Flights of Fancy

  Chapter Ten: The Post

  Chapter Eleven: The Familiar Stranger

  Chapter Twelve: Leave Taking

  Chapter Thirteen: Fluff and Feathers

  Chapter Fourteen: Walter’s Lament

  Chapter Fifteen: Change of Scenery

  Chapter Sixteen: Magnetic Forces

  Chapter Seventeen: Announcements

  Chapter Eighteen: Renewed Hope

  Chapter Nineteen: Much to Know

  Chapter Twenty: Kickin’ up a Lark

  Chapter Twenty-One: Nightmare Revelations

  Chapter Twenty-Two: Trapped

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Dungeons and Daggers

  Chapter Twenty-Four: The Aftermath

  After

  Historical Note: Separating Fact from Fiction

  Acknowledgments

  By Cindy Anstey

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2019 by Cynthia Ann Anstey

  A Swoon Reads Book

  An imprint of Feiwel and Friends and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC

  175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010

  swoonreads.com

  All rights reserved.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

  First hardcover edition 2019

  eBook edition April 2019

  eISBN 9781250174888

 

 

 


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