The Book
Darke London
by Coleen Kwan
Series: Uncanny Chronicles, Book 1
Expected Publication: September 10th 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Book Description
The only way to save her life is to resurrect the dead...
Julian Darke was only a newborn when he was abandoned on the doorstep of a gentleman doctor. Though raised with love, he is driven to discover his true origins.
Convinced Sir Thaddeus Ormond knows something, Julian shadows him one night and is shocked to see a young woman thrown from Ormond s carriage and accosted by a thug. Julian manages to save her life, but not her face and hands from horrific injuries.
Nellie Barchester doesn t recognize the scarred, disfigured stranger in the mirror. Though the gifted doctor and engineer has done his best to repair the damage, scars ravage her body, and chill her soul with the realization that her own husband may have plotted her death.
Julian s tenderness is a balm to her soul, and Nellie is drawn to the edge of passion by a man not repelled by her deformities. But as their pursuit of the truth draws them into London s underbelly, they cross the path of a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to fulfill his schemes.
Warning: Can a brilliant but troubled doctor find happiness with a woman scarred both inside and out? A hint of the supernatural plus a night of passion spice up this Uncanny Chronicle.
Gripping her upper arms, he pulled her closer. “Nellie, why won’t you tell me everything you know about Sir Thaddeus? Why the devil are you still protecting him after everything you’ve suffered? Why?”
Instead of crumpling into tears, as he’d half-feared, she braced herself against his hold, her eyes flashing with green fire. “Protecting him! I’m doing nothing of the sort. I loathe and despise Sir Thaddeus. I curse him with every last breath in my body.” The ragged hoarseness of her voice left him in no doubt of her feelings.
“Ah, so you admit to knowing him, at least.”
“Yes, all right. I do know him, though I wish to God I’d never laid eyes on him.” She paused, her throat working as she swallowed convulsively. “He is a bully, a thug, a monster. He will stop at nothing to get his way.”
Julian felt her tremble in his arms, saw tears spring to her eyes. She’d been such a pillar of fortitude, but here she was on the brink of breaking down. A delayed reaction, he thought. Nothing to be concerned about. But the physician in him could not control his other, less noble urges. He slid his arms around her and held her in a loose embrace.
“He wanted you dead, Nellie,” he murmured. “Why was that? What did you do that drove him to such lengths?”
Gulping, she shook her head, emotion robbing her of speech. In an effort to comfort her, he found himself rubbing her back in slow circular motions, and the feel of her body through the soft fabric of her dress sent a tingling warmth shooting through him.
“I’m sorry for distressing you,” he said. “I thought you might be ready to talk, but I see—”
“No, you’re not distressing me.” His nostrils filled with her scent—almond oil and citrus and femininity. She sniffed and dashed the heel of her hand against her damp eyes. “It’s just…I go to pieces whenever I think of what that brute did to me, and—and I’m reminded every time I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror…” Her fingers scraped over the track marks on her cheeks. “I’m a freak, an abomination—”
“Don’t say such things. Do you hear me? I won’t have you debasing yourself like that.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Would you rather I’d left you to die out there? Would you?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps it would have been better.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that.”
“But look at me. I’m a creature of the shadows. People shy away from me at the first glimpse of my face.”
“Do I shy away from you?” He held her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. “Well, Nellie, do I?”
She chewed on her lower lip, frowning. “No, but…but you’re a doctor. You’re used to seeing deformities.”
He sighed, his attention caught by the generous swell of her lip beneath her white teeth. The tingling warmth spread through his entire body, coalescing in his loins. “I am a doctor, yes, but I am also a man, and when I look at you I see a strong, vibrant young woman who has much to live for.”
Nellie gave a dry laugh. “Thank you, Doctor. I know you’re only trying to lift my spirits, but thank you anyway.”
“You think I’m dissembling?” Impatience and desire stirred his blood. How could she be so blind? Before he knew what he was doing, he slid his hands up and cupped her face. Her lips parted in surprise. Emotion overpowering self-denial, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. He’d intended to give her just a friendly buss, but the soft generosity of her mouth ambushed him. Heat flared through him.
Trailing his lips over her cheeks, he dropped kisses over her cicatrix, eager to memorize every bump and dip, but she instantly jerked her head away.
“Don’t, I beg of you. Please, stop.”
Julian Darke was only a newborn when he was abandoned on the doorstep of a gentleman doctor. Though raised with love, he is driven to discover his true origins.
Convinced Sir Thaddeus Ormond knows something, Julian shadows him one night and is shocked to see a young woman thrown from Ormond s carriage and accosted by a thug. Julian manages to save her life, but not her face and hands from horrific injuries.
Nellie Barchester doesn t recognize the scarred, disfigured stranger in the mirror. Though the gifted doctor and engineer has done his best to repair the damage, scars ravage her body, and chill her soul with the realization that her own husband may have plotted her death.
Julian s tenderness is a balm to her soul, and Nellie is drawn to the edge of passion by a man not repelled by her deformities. But as their pursuit of the truth draws them into London s underbelly, they cross the path of a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to fulfill his schemes.
Warning: Can a brilliant but troubled doctor find happiness with a woman scarred both inside and out? A hint of the supernatural plus a night of passion spice up this Uncanny Chronicle.
Excerpt
Gripping her upper arms, he pulled her closer. “Nellie, why won’t you tell me everything you know about Sir Thaddeus? Why the devil are you still protecting him after everything you’ve suffered? Why?”
Instead of crumpling into tears, as he’d half-feared, she braced herself against his hold, her eyes flashing with green fire. “Protecting him! I’m doing nothing of the sort. I loathe and despise Sir Thaddeus. I curse him with every last breath in my body.” The ragged hoarseness of her voice left him in no doubt of her feelings.
“Ah, so you admit to knowing him, at least.”
“Yes, all right. I do know him, though I wish to God I’d never laid eyes on him.” She paused, her throat working as she swallowed convulsively. “He is a bully, a thug, a monster. He will stop at nothing to get his way.”
Julian felt her tremble in his arms, saw tears spring to her eyes. She’d been such a pillar of fortitude, but here she was on the brink of breaking down. A delayed reaction, he thought. Nothing to be concerned about. But the physician in him could not control his other, less noble urges. He slid his arms around her and held her in a loose embrace.
“He wanted you dead, Nellie,” he murmured. “Why was that? What did you do that drove him to such lengths?”
Gulping, she shook her head, emotion robbing her of speech. In an effort to comfort her, he found himself rubbing her back in slow circular motions, and the feel of her body through the soft fabric of her dress sent a tingling warmth shooting through him.
“I’m sorry for distressing you,” he said. “I thought you might be ready to talk, but I see—”
“No, you’re not distressing me.” His nostrils filled with her scent—almond oil and citrus and femininity. She sniffed and dashed the heel of her hand against her damp eyes. “It’s just…I go to pieces whenever I think of what that brute did to me, and—and I’m reminded every time I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror…” Her fingers scraped over the track marks on her cheeks. “I’m a freak, an abomination—”
“Don’t say such things. Do you hear me? I won’t have you debasing yourself like that.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Would you rather I’d left you to die out there? Would you?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps it would have been better.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that.”
“But look at me. I’m a creature of the shadows. People shy away from me at the first glimpse of my face.”
“Do I shy away from you?” He held her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. “Well, Nellie, do I?”
She chewed on her lower lip, frowning. “No, but…but you’re a doctor. You’re used to seeing deformities.”
He sighed, his attention caught by the generous swell of her lip beneath her white teeth. The tingling warmth spread through his entire body, coalescing in his loins. “I am a doctor, yes, but I am also a man, and when I look at you I see a strong, vibrant young woman who has much to live for.”
Nellie gave a dry laugh. “Thank you, Doctor. I know you’re only trying to lift my spirits, but thank you anyway.”
“You think I’m dissembling?” Impatience and desire stirred his blood. How could she be so blind? Before he knew what he was doing, he slid his hands up and cupped her face. Her lips parted in surprise. Emotion overpowering self-denial, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. He’d intended to give her just a friendly buss, but the soft generosity of her mouth ambushed him. Heat flared through him.
Trailing his lips over her cheeks, he dropped kisses over her cicatrix, eager to memorize every bump and dip, but she instantly jerked her head away.
“Don’t, I beg of you. Please, stop.”
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About the Author
Coleen Kwan
Coleen Kwan
Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn't writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office.
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