The Bride Ship

The Bride Ship
Deborah Hale

A ship full of women could only cause trouble!Of that Governor Sir Robert Kerr was certain, just by considering their chaperon! Though a widow, Mrs. Jocelyn Finch was young, vivacious and utterly determined to have her own way–especially with him!Challenging the governor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to a duel was obviously a poor way to introduce herself. But when Sir Robert accused Jocelyn and her charges of something, well, less ladylike than husband-hunting, what else could she do? Besides, someone had to show this straitlaced, yet gloriously compelling figure of a man that there was more to life than doing one's duty!

“Set sail with your cargo of strumpets for some other lonely colony, where that manner of vice is tolerated. You, and they, are not welcome in Nova Scotia!”

The dazed look fled Jocelyn Finch’s attractive features. An indignant glare took its place.

Unfortunately, it did nothing to detract from her beauty.

Sir Robert wished it had.

“How dare you?” Mrs. Finch wrenched the glove off her impossibly delicate fingers.

She surged up on the tips of her toes and struck him across the cheek with the glove. For such a small scrap of soft kid leather, it stung like the very devil.

“I demand satisfaction for that vile insult, sir!” she cried. “How dare you sully the reputation of me and my charges with your disgusting accusations?”

Then she struck him dumb by asking, “And, pray, when did the state of holy matrimony become a vice in Nova Scotia?”

Praise for bestselling author DEBORAH HALE’s latest books

Highland Rogue

“This is an updated classic with timeless

characters and well-developed humor.”

—Romantic Times BOOKclub

The Wizard’s Ward

“In her first crossover foray into fantasy,

romance writer Hale nicely blends the two

genres in an upbeat, feel-good story.”

—Publishers Weekly

Beauty and the Baron

“Deborah Hale delights with midnight ball, stargazing

and a wonderful cast of characters.”

—Romantic Times BOOKclub

Border Bride

“Excellent characterization and a nicely detailed

Welsh setting give this medieval an intriguing

flavor readers will find hard to resist.”

—Booklist

Whitefeather’s Woman

“This book is yet another success for Deborah Hale.

It aims for the heart and doesn’t miss.”

—The Old Book Barn Gazette

The Bride Ship

Deborah Hale

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

This book is dedicated with love and admiration

to two special young men, Brendan and Jamie Hale,

who make the duties of motherhood a true pleasure.

You are my heroes!

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine