As Luck Would Have It (Providence #1)
Alissa Johnson
“A seductive debut filled with rapier-sharp repartee, passion and espionage.”
—RITA Award–winning author Sophia Nash
Prologue
1796
In the years to come, it would be said that the Duke of Rockeforte had died well. Very well indeed.
At the moment, however, His Grace was far less concerned with the manner of his death than with the notion that he was, as yet, still dying—as opposed to being fully dead—which indicated he might have the time for a few final words. And because his dear friend, the sole witness to his untimely demise, looked so damnably glum, one last spot of fun as well.
“A good run we had, old man, a good run.”
A warm hand covered his own. “Save your strength, Rockeforte.”
“I have been, and for this very bit.”
“Which bit?”
“The bit where the dying man wrings…tremendously inconvenient promises from…whomever happens to be nearest.”
His friend smiled at that. “Tell me what to do.”
“My children…look after them.” He paused and gave a weak laugh. “The look on your face, old man…. Don’t worry, I know I have but one son…. Not hearing harps yet.”
“Alexander.”
Rockeforte’s face twisted with a pain that had nothing to do with his wounds. “Yes, Alex…. He’ll be alone now…. He’s already…too serious by half…. See he takes the time to enjoy life, to be happy.”
“It’s done.”
“The others…” He coughed and wiped away a bubble of blood. “Not children of my flesh and blood…but of my heart.”
“The Coles, you mean, and Miss Browning?”
Rockeforte gave a small nod. “Whit must look after his family…. He’ll never forgive himself if he…ends up like his father. And little Kate…needs to follow her gift…for music.”
“I’ll see to it.”
“Their cousin Evie…life will not be easy for her.”
“I will do my best to smooth her path.”
“That little imp Mirabelle…sharp tongue, but…”
“I know. I’ll watch out for all of them.”
“I know you will…. Thank you…. No men left in the family…. Whit’s father…doesn’t count.”
A stream of blood trickled from Rockeforte’s nose. His breathing became more erratic, his voice softer.
“Rest now,” his friend urged.
“One last thing…. Promise me…”
“Promise you what?”
“Promise me…”
“You’ve only to ask, my friend. I give you my word, I will see it done.”
“Promise me…”
His friend leaned down to catch the whispered words.
Then straightened so fast his head spun. “You want me to what?”
Rockeforte smiled weakly and winked. “Too late…you promised, old man.”
One
1811, off the coast of England
It was the general opinion of those who had the pleasure of her acquaintance for more than a fortnight that Miss Sophie Everton had the most extraordinary luck of any human being in living memory.
It was also agreed to be a shame, really, that said luck did not limit itself to being of the beneficial variety, but was remarkable instead by its consistency and balance.
Sophie’s experiences with providence ranged from the mundane to the miraculous to the catastrophic. But without fail every windfall was paid for with disaster, and every misfortune was tempered with a boon.
By four-and-twenty, Sophie had nearly become someone’s seventh wife, been lost in a South American jungle, and been shot straight through the arm with an arrow launched by a drunken hunter.
In return, she had been saved from unwilling participation in matrimony by the unexpected death of the presiding wise man (her betrothed could not help thinking this was something of a bad omen and gave her half a dozen healthy goats just to go away), had inadvertently stumbled across a previously unknown—and fortuitously friendly—tribe in the jungle, and had inherited a rather lovely town house in a fashionable London neighborhood—deeded to her upon death by the childless and remorseful archer.
Such an existence would likely reduce most young women to a state of perpetual hysteria. Being of sound mind, reasonable intelligence, and, oh very well, slightly reckless nature, Sophie considered it a wondrous, if occasionally messy, life of adventure. It was also, she was wont to point out, wholly unavoidable. As such, she found it advantageous to keep a smile on her face and a wary eye on the world.
Much as she was now smiling warily at the gentleman sitting next to her on the deck of The Sailing Diamond. Easily in his late sixties, with endearing gray eyes and a mass of white hair tied at the nape of his neck in a style two decades out of fashion, the man reminded Sophie of her father.