Patrol Log: 1708302016
Release Blitz For Besotted, A Chaos Factor, Book 2
By Elle Clouse
Tamsyn's attraction to Slade is deep, but is love worth the price of dreams?
A trailblazer, Tamsyn Bradford graduated as Royal Academy's first female
alumni, with the fighting skills and cunning fitting a member of Her
Majesty's Secret Service. Selected to teach at an elite school for
female spies, Tamsyn attends a friend’s class party only to fall into
the lap of temptation that is Prince Slade Faust. Will a drunken night
of passion ruin her career forever? Before we can find out, an evil
scientist steps in and abducts Tamsyn, sending Slade and Tamsyn's group
of friends on a hunt to save her very life.
EXCERPT
Tamsyn paused a moment at the gate, looking
up at the brick mansion with trepidation. Five years since graduation
from the academy and the prince had arranged a reunion. She looked
forward to seeing old friends, but the struggle to graduate niggled the
back of her mind as if it were yesterday.
She sighed, brushed the imagined wrinkles from her taffeta gown and
pushed open the wrought iron gate. The windows leaked light, and the
music from the ballroom almost drowned out the horse drawn carriages
that traversed the streets behind her.
She was late.
“Miss Bradford, a pleasure to see you again.”
“Gilly!” Tamsyn had been so focused on the front door she didn’t see
the footman. “How have you been? Is Edgemont still treating you well?”
“Yes, Miss. Always. A fairer master I couldn’t find.” Gilly smiled,
his eyes lined with wrinkles. The old man had been employed at the
prince’s estate as long as she could remember, and he’d always been kind
to her.
“Good. Is the gang all here?” She was lingering. So much had changed
since they’d studied together, yet so much remained the same.
“Yes, and they are waiting for you.” Gilly pulled open the front door.
Incense and laughter wafted out, reminding her of their last soiree.
They’d all had such high hopes five years ago. Had any of them attained
their dreams? Did they still think she needed protecting?
Pushing her insecurities aside, she crossed the threshold into a realm
she rarely entered. Although permitted to attend the academy, Tamsyn
had never fit in amongst the sons of the titled wealthy. She hadn’t
been the only woman or the only commoner, but that never kept some from
reminding her of her low birth. An anonymous grant had paid for her
tuition, and she’d never looked back.
The foyer was empty save for another footmen standing ready to take her
wrap. She handed over the cashmere knit to bare her shoulders and
chest, a peacock green corset hugging her bosom and narrow waist. Her
sparrow brooch accenting her endowments. Her late mother would be proud
of her attempts to fit in among her peers. Although Tamsyn had never
cared what people thought of her, her mother knew the value of public
opinion.
Tamsyn tucked a wayward curl behind her ear and considered her path;
left, straight, or right. The most ruckus sounds rolled in from the
left, so she turned right into a parlor. Edgemont had redecorated since
she’d been there last. No longer beige and olive green, now crimson
and gold accented curtains dominated the windows. The furniture and
cushions bore some shade of red or gold, and couples sat or stood around
the room sipping champagne.
Eyes turned toward her, and she fought the swell of her throat. She was
a woman without an escort, how risqué. She lifted her nose and scanned
the room. No familiar faces. She strolled to the next adjacent room,
the stares of former classmates and their companions following. Did
they recognize her? Did the red hair hide her identity? She’d spent so
many years dulling the hue with teas and dyes that her true color
shocked some.
“Tamsyn!”
She jumped at the sound of her name. A familiar, lanky gentlemen pushed
past the billiards table. His pale blond hair was worn longer than she
remembered and pulled into a low ponytail. He wore a wrinkled shirt,
and his necktie hung around his neck. Before she could dodge him, he
snaked his arms around her and embraced her.
“Tamsyn, aren’t you a bit of jam!” He set her down and pulled a curl
taut then released it. It bounced back into place. “I thought for sure
you’d show in your military uniform.”
“Lir Coleman, that’s no way to greet a lady.” Tamsyn swatted at his hand when he tried to tug another curl.
“Ha, you may be an extraordinary woman, but you’re no lady.” He bumped
her with an elbow and laughed. “You and I both know you can best most
of these men with one arm behind your back.”
“Don’t say that too loudly, or I’ll have to prove it.” She laughed and
brushed her skirt. “And I’d prefer my uniform to this…finery.”
Lir smirked, his gaze sweeping from hem to curl. “You put every other
lady here to shame. You just need to stop fidgeting, or you’ll give
yourself away.” He grabbed her hand and led her forward, past the
classmates he, moments ago, shoved aside to greet her.
He pulled her into another room further back in the house, a private study with two more happy faces.
“You lot owe me a guinea. I told you she’d come.” Lir flourished his
hand toward her as if presenting a prized horse. “May I present Tamsyn
Bradford, Head Mistress of Her Majesty's School for Exceptional Ladies.”
Tamsyn blushed. “That hasn’t been announced, yet.”
The gentlemen before her clapped and smiled.
“No, but I have an inside source.” Lir waved over a taller man, his
hair golden blond and wild as the wind. She’d recognize the prince’s
swagger anywhere, in school uniform or wearing the latest fashion.
“Edgemont.” Tamsyn nodded. “Am I to believe you had a hand in getting me the position?”
“Lord, no, Tamsyn. I know better than to interfere. You earned it fair
and square.” He pressed a glass into her hand and raised his own. “To
Tiny Tamsyn who’s made it the farthest than any of us! Hip hip!”
“Hurray!” The three men all shouted in unison.
The second man, with dark slicked back hair and a patch of stubble on
his chin, stepped forward and clapped her on the back.
“Congratulations. If anyone can launch a battalion of lady fighters,
it’s you.”
“Thanks, Zeke.” She smiled up him. “It’s nice to see you all. You
must tell me what you’ve been up to since Lir already blabbed my
exciting news.”
“I’m working for my father, but that’s no surprise. He sent me to the
academy to aid in his research.” Zeke sipped his champagne. “It’s all
quite boring, I promise.”
“You can guess what His Highness here has been up to.” Lir drained his
glass and set it aside. “Nothing but tot-hunting when he’s not running
his mum’s errands.”
“What more is a prince to do?” Edge joked.
“Leave a mark on society, that’s what.”
They all turned toward the new voice, one Tamsyn had hoped to hear.
Tall and blond like Edge, this man was built like an ox and barely fit
into his suit. His eyes were a piercing blue like Edge’s but held
compassion.
“Ah, Tamsyn Bradford, let me introduce my twin brother Slademont Foust.”
Edge led her forward with a hand on the small of her back. Tamsyn had
met Slade once or twice before, in school, and she’d been smitten each
time.
Slademont met her gaze then bowed. She curtseyed, and heat rushed
through her as he took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.
His skin was coarse but warm, and he ran his thumb over her knuckles
before releasing her.
Tamsyn glanced at Edge and it seemed he hadn’t noticed their moment. He
hugged his brother around the shoulders, and side by side, Slade
dwarfed his brother. “He’s a machinist, don’t you know? Works on all
those giant engines that make trains and airships move.”
“That’s right.” He smiled at his brother, a dazzling sight that made
her heart skip a beat. “Keeping all those fancy designs, you create,
working for the normal folk.”
Edge laughed. “Rightly so. Designing them is more fun than building them. Too dirty.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a little hard work.” Tamsyn’s gaze kept
seeking Slade, and her heart thrilled when their eyes met. Never in all
her years had a man made her react that way. Time to change the
subject. “What about Axel, will he be joining us?”
Edge guffawed. “That old pirate had better things to do than visit his
prince. Something about a new opera? A soprano? I don’t care.”
She turned to Zeke. “How is your sister?”
“Good. She should be done with school soon, and I do believe my father
has a debut ball scheduled, already.” Zeke topped off all their glasses
with champagne before he sat down on a plush armchair. “Although, when
I told her what you’ve done, she said she wanted a transfer. I doubt
she could take a knock like you, Tiny.”
“Wait, this is Tiny Tamsyn?” Slade strode to her side. “The woman who
wrestled Edge to the ground first day of classes? I’d have paid
anything to see that fight.”
“I let her win.” Edge snickered and sat at his desk, glass in hand.
“He had that black eye for a month.” Slade picked up her hand and
inspected her knuckles. “I thought I was the only one able to wallop
him.”
“He brought it on himself, you know.” She smiled up at Slade. “He said no man could best him in a fight. And none did.”
Slade bellowed with laughter, throwing his head back. “He never
mentioned that!” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes as his
laughter subsided.
“Tamsyn was ours from that moment on,” Zeke said. “And we wouldn’t have
it any other way. Feared by every male student, revered by every lady.
Top of her class in every subject from history to telegnosis. I might
have failed arithmetic if it weren’t for her.”
“Just being a good friend.” Tamsyn smiled. She’d forgotten the late
night study sessions with Zeke. Toward the end of their final year, he
reviewed all his work with her.
Slade glanced at his brother. “Speaking of being a good friend, Edge.
You invited all these people to your house, and you’re hiding in your
study. You should get out and mingle.”
“Yes, we should all get out and go have some fun.” Edge jumped up from
his desk and pressed Slade and her together as he passed. “There is
plenty of champagne, and I shall call dinner. Then we can dance. Come
along.”
Slade offered her his arm. “If we play along for a bit, he’ll get distracted. Then we can be left to ourselves.”
Alone with Slade. If her heart rate was any indication, she was in
trouble. No one had ever piqued her interest like he did. It had been
easy to ignore when they’d both been busy with coursework and easier
still when they’d lived separate lives. But now that she had his
undivided attention, she was doomed.
Elle has been writing fantasy and science fiction romance for years and
an avid participant in the NaNoWriMo. Her first novel, Stealing the Wolf
Prince, is a 2016 RONE Award finalist.
Elle is happily married to a martial arts instructor. She’s also the
mother of two small boys and is constantly talking her husband out of
adopting a new pet. She knits and stamps in her spare time as well as
feeds a latte addiction.
http://elleclouse.com
