Another engaging historical romance by Rosetta Duke
Phillip’s Ward
Love; hate; madness and the desperate desire to find that perfect
state of being.
Lorna Coreen was found by Phillip Huntington in the streets of New York in the year of 1880, she was fourteen years old at the time and had fled earlier from a Convent where she had been placed for safety’s sake a few years before.
Join Lorna, Phillip’s “ward”, as she becomes a woman and learns of the joys and pain of being in love, yet not being able to follow her heart. Will Lorna ever have a real home? Will she be able to keep her secrets from Phillip and everyone to protect her true love?
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Excerpt:
New York State 1880
“I don’t have to stay in this house another minute longer if I don’t want to!” Lorna yelled, her brown eyes flashing fire, her hands on her hips as she confronted her foster father.
“Oh, yes you do young lady! You just act as if you’re going to walk out of this house and I will lock you up so fast it will make your head spin!” Phillip said harshly, his brows knitted in a frown, his lips a tight line across his face. He reached and grabbed Lorna’s wrist in a powerful grip and she gritted her teeth as pain shot up her arm. She tried to jerk away, but he was too strong and she could not free herself. “You will stay in this house and do exactly as you are told!” he said slowly, between his teeth. Suddenly the fight went out of Lorna and she sagged and hung her head, gazing meekly at the floor.
“I’m sorry Uncle Phillip. I don’t know what came over me, I suppose I’m just tired.” she stammered and would not look at him. He relaxed his hold and with his other hand tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him. She fought to control her emotions and her anger as she looked into his eyes. Phillip saw the clear unwavering stare and it made him nervous, but he would not let her see how much she had upset him. His heart ached for this person who had changed from a thin ragged girl to this beautiful, full- bodied woman, changed from a pitiful orphan roaming the streets, eating from garbage cans and sleeping in alleyways. She had bumped into him eleven years ago and he grabbed at her shirt in anger, jerking her around to face him. He had been staggered by the doe-eyes that looked up at him in fear, then changed to the eyes of a tigress as she jerked away. He had grabbed her again and held tightly.
“Here girl! What’s your name? Where are your parents?” he asked, holding to her clothing.
“None of your damn business!” she screamed at him, then kicked at his shins and fought to free herself from his grasp.
“Hold on girl! I’m not going to hurt you, I’m not!” She looked up into his eyes and he saw her fear vanish.
“What do you want with me? I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
“When was the last time you ate young lady?” he asked and he saw her eyes light up.
“Come, we shall go to my home and have a hot meal would you like that?” he asked. And she nodded her head “yes” and that was how she came into his home. And now she stood here defying him, desperate to be out of his life and he could not understand why.
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Historical Romance Books Categories
> historical mystery romance
> historical romance fiction
> historical inspirational romance
> historical American romance
