Join the virtual blog tour of A CAPTAIN FOR CAROLINE GRAY (Proper Romance Regency), Julie Wright’s highly acclaimed historical romance novel March 1 – 28, 2021. Over forty popular blogs specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will join in the celebration of its release with excerpts, spotlights, and reviews of this new Regency-era novel set aboard an English ship bound for India.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Regency London
Caroline Gray's third season in London society ends as badly as her first two—no marriage proposal, no suitor, not even a glimmer of an interested prospect. She suspects it's because she is far too quick to speak her mind to men who are put off by her forthright opinions, her eager intellect backed by a formal education, and her unconventional ideas about the future. She is far more daring than demure to suit the taste of her class. Besides, Caroline thinks there will always be next season to find a husband.
However, her family's dwindling income
leaves Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: a one-way ticket to
sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend waits.
If the match doesn't work, Caroline cannot return home.
Captain Thomas Scott loves the thrill of the
open sea, and as commander of one of the ships of the Fishing Fleet, he ferries
scores of young English girls to the shores of India to find husbands. The
voyages pay well, but he struggles to understand why families would allow young
women to be matched with total strangers so far away.
The trips have always been routine and
uneventful—until this trip's first night's dinner with one Miss Caroline Gray.
She engages in a lively political conversation, presenting opposing viewpoints
to the conventionally opinionated gentlemen at her table. Captain Scott is
secretly amused and delighted at her boldness, not to mention quite drawn to
her beauty.
The rest of the passengers are shocked by
her behavior and Caroline finds herself an outcast, suffering harsh judgments
from the other passengers. However, she finds an unlikely ally in Captain Scott
which quickly draws them closer.
Both know an arranged marriage awaits
Caroline at the end of their voyage, yet the attraction between them is
undeniable. Caroline will have to decide if she will honor her mother's wishes
and marry a man in India whom she has never met, thus securing a future for her
and her mother, or be brave enough to throw convention to the wind and commit
to love a sea captain. He may be enchanted by her bold and unconventional ways,
but will his love and admiration last?
“Thank you for seeing me to the docks, Mr. Moore.” She
gave a quick curtsy in the hopes that he would leave, but he stayed, making her
cheeks flush hot with the knowledge that she could not do this odious,
mercenary task in private.
“Miss Gray!” Mrs. Barritt raised a gloved hand in
greeting. Caroline smiled and prayed there was warmth in the gesture since she
felt no warmth in her veins. She curtsied again.
“Mrs. Barritt. Mr. Barritt. May I introduce my cousin, Mr.
Moore?”
Formalities observed, they turned back to Caroline. “We
wanted to give you this.” Mrs. Barritt nudged Mr. Barritt, who was startled
into remembering the package in his hands. He moved to hand it to her, thought
better of handing such a bulk to a lady, and mumbled something about making
certain the package was placed in her cabin by one of the crewmen. Caroline
looked at the bundle, remembering her mother’s words asking her if she wanted
to be nothing more than a spinster passed between family members like an
unwanted parcel.
“I’m sorry?” she said, realizing she’d missed part of the
conversation.
“We felt so silly for forgetting to send this with you
when you last saw us in London. We immediately struck out after you in hopes of
catching you in time. Please tell our dear Nicholas how much we love him, how
we think of him every day and pray for his safekeeping.” Mrs. Barritt looked
like she might cry.
Mr. Barritt looked at the ship and the bustle on the docks
as if he had no part to play in the conversation. Caroline felt better knowing
she wasn’t the only one who had wandered off mentally.
“Nicholas Barritt?” Mr. Moore asked.
“Yes.” Mrs. Barritt looked delighted to have someone say
her son’s name. “Do you know him, sir?”
“Only a little, ma’am.”
“He’s been gone to India these last two years. We’ve
missed him a great deal. But how delighted we are to send a little present from
home.”
Mr. Moore looked at the package in Mr. Barritt’s hand, but
Caroline’s cheeks burned, knowing that she was the “little present”
meant by Mrs. Barritt. She had the peace of knowing
that Mr. Moore misunderstood the situation for all of one
moment before Mrs. Barritt spoke again.
“When I saw Miss Gray dancing at the Prescotts’ ball, I
thought how sad it was that my Nicholas was not there to see her, not there to
meet her. I knew at once that I must allow him that honor. And here we all
are!”
Caroline was incapable of stopping Mrs. Barritt’s
words—not without being rude. That she had to smile at having a woman who was
virtually a stranger pay for Caroline’s passage to India so that her son might
have a shot of gaining an English bride made Caroline sick.
She knew all about seasickness but now wondered if perhaps
it wasn’t the voyage that made people ill. Perhaps illness stemmed from the
reasons that necessitated the voyage.
Mr. Moore’s face registered surprise. He’d not known his
cousin had agreed to such terms. He’d only known that she’d decided to travel
and find her own way in life. But now he knew the truth of it.
Caroline felt the heat of shame rise to the tips of her
ears as his gaze fell on her and refused to leave.
Mrs. Barritt reached out and hugged Caroline hard. “Make
sure you tell our Nicholas how beloved he is for us. I’m sure the two of you
will get on quite well. His prospects are full and rich.”
Unlike mine, Caroline thought as she offered a thin smile to Mr. and Mrs.
Barritt, who departed to find someone who could see their package safely
delivered to Caroline’s cabin.
She did not dare look at Mr. Moore’s face.
“I am sorry, cousin,” he said again, only this time the
soft pity in his voice made Caroline’s eyes sting with tears. There would be
gossip enough in the ton now that she knew Mrs. Barritt had no intention
of keeping silent on the agreement.
“It’s an adventure I’m glad to take. Please do not make
yourself uneasy over the matter.”
He stepped closer to her and whispered, “But you haven’t
agreed to marry Nicholas Barritt, have you? No arrangement has actually been
made, has it?”
She finally met his eye. “No. Of course not. I would never
agree to marry a man I’ve never met.”
He looked relieved. “Good. Miss Gray, it isn’t too late to
change your mind. I would be happy to pay for whatever the Barritts have
invested in your passage. I’m sure I could introduce you to—”
“Please do not worry for me. I’ve made my choice.” Would
her pride allow her to be a charity case for her cousin? Even if her pride
could withstand such mortification, Mr. Moore’s friends knew her already—or at
least they knew of her reputation as a know-all.
He didn’t look convinced, but also seemed uncertain how to
handle the situation. “If you’re sure. But . . .”
“What is it?” she asked when he hesitated.
“It is probably nothing. Just be careful with him. I heard
something once, and . . . well, be careful.”
“Thank you for the warning. I will, indeed, be quite
careful. Thank you. Truly. But I should be boarding. Goodbye, Mr. Moore.” She
bobbed a quick curtsy and turned so he would not see the tears on her lashes.
The ton might be able to gossip over her desperate circumstances, but no
one would be able to say she had shed tears over it.
Just like the name of the ship, she would persist.
(Chapter 2 Page 16-19)
ADVANCE PRAISE
·
"A charming historical romance in which smarts and sass are
vindicated."— Foreword Reviews
·
"…a delightful, not exactly traditional Regency romance. Teen
readers will enjoy this adventurous journey with its proactive heroine and
exotic settings."— Booklist, starred review
·
"An unconventional woman finds herself at home at sea in this
stirring Regency from Julie Wright…This adventure is sure to entice fans of
historical romance."— Publishers Weekly
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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