EARLY ACCESS EXCLUSIVE: Spinster Sisterhood Part 1

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✅ Never Woo a Duke
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A made up mind is hard to make. Hard to find. And hard to break. But Lucinda Hale was just such a rare gem.

It had taken every ounce of willpower within her to make this decision and move her entire life away from the familiar, away from whatever version of safe she had resigned herself to, and plunge headfirst into the risk of following her heart.

“And this will be your room, Miss Lu–I mean, Lucy.” Mirabelle gave a barely imperceptible shake of her head at using such a casual address. It was not a judgmental shake, more of an I’m relieved to not stand on ceremony shake.

“This is lovely, thank you, Lady Mirabelle.”

“If I’m to call you Lucy, I must insist you call Mirabelle since I do hope you’ll be staying a while.” Lucy watched as Mirabelle twisted her hands together in an attempt to conserve something, almost like a secret.

“I never knew places like this existed,” Lucy pulled back the curtains to peek out the window, “and with such an incredible view.” The sea swelled before her, and she could see a trail leading down to a beach. Surely she’d spend much of her days down there until she figured out exactly how she was going to publish her book.

“You’re lucky to be the first one here to choose your room. As for other places like this, I do believe that Greene House is one of a kind. It is meant to be a haven for spinsters to do life together without the pressure of finding a husband. Too much of a woman’s life is spent readying her for a man. The other half is too often spent resenting him. For those of us who are comfortable living a single life, we need a place to be free to pursue that. A woman can have dreams beyond marriage, you know?”

“I couldn’t agree more. And I feel quite lucky to have found you. In more ways than one. You do know that Green house is yellow though, don’t you? I walked by it a couple of times before realizing it was the right house.”

“Yes,” she chuckled lightly. “Just one of the few projects I plan to take on in the next little while.”

“If I can help with that in any way, I will.”

“That’s so kind of you.”

“Well, I do believe we shall become great friends.” Lucy tucked her luggage into the corner of the room. “For now though, I’d like to take a walk by the sea.”

“Of course. Make yourself at home. I’ll see you at dinner, if you’d like to join me.”

The two left the room, and while one stayed in the parlor to read, Lucy took off at a near-jog down to the sea. She couldn’t get there fast enough. This was her new home. A new place away from all the inappropriate advances of young lords—and not so young lords—on her as the governess in their homes.

The grassy ground felt good beneath her feet. Strong. Resilient. Giving. It was like she could breathe again, being out here away from the London air. Upon drawing closer to the beach, she slipped off her shoes, feeling the grains of sand biting softly into her skin.

This really was the most magical place. How could she have known that the little rumor about Kisswick would turn out to be such an answer to pray—

Holy stars above.

Who was that dripping god-like man coming out of the ocean? Shirtless. Water sluicing down his face. His muscled torso. She had never counted so many abs. Hands stroked down his face and then ran back up through his hair. Dark hair. Like the night. He shook the water free. And that chiseled jaw. The only kind she liked. Not that she knew much about jaws. But if she had to pick a style? Yes. That one right in front of her that could cut rock? She’d take it.

Realizing suddenly that if she could see him, he could see her, she made a decision not to make that so.

To stay out of sight, Lucy crouched behind a nearby boulder while her heart pounded, commanding her to leave. But she wasn’t always—ahem, ever—good at following such dictates.

Besides, this man deserved to be admired, albeit privately. Her whole body grew warm as her eyes took him in. The place between her legs growing the hottest. And fast. She would fan herself if she could, but wouldn’t that be quite the sight of a woman fanning her nether regions. Right. That would not be happening whether she had a fan or not.

Watching him, reacting to him like this? This was why she wanted to write her lurid novel for women. This was why she needed to put quill to paper and give in to all her fantasies, though she knew not much. She needed a place to put all this pent up…whatever it was. It felt as though the world should know the thoughts of women, from the perspective of a woman. Women who were far too invisible. Invisible women with suppressed desires. She wanted to be free to explore that. And with her new home, she finally felt that freedom. There was no judgment. And that, in and of itself, was perfection.

There were moments in a woman’s life where choices were confirmed. Where everything felt right. Where all the torturous back and forth on a life-changing decision all made sense. Where her whole body screamed, yes, that’s it. This is where you should be. Seeing this man literally rise up out of the water was like a sign, a stamp of approval from the gods, to pursue her writing and explore desire.

The adonis moved toward her, each step banging her heart more loudly against her chest. And then, well, the worst possible thing happened, his full face came into view. That face.

And all hope, all confirmation, all resolve crashed like thunderous waves to the beach.

Ya. She knew that man. And no matter how god-like he was on the outside, he was the devil within. And she’d seen it all in a garden. How fitting.

She slumped against the rock.

So much for finding Heaven.