The Portrait by Hazel Statham Blog Tour for Dilly Dally PR

About the book:

England 1812 Severely injured at the battle of Salamanca, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, returns home to his beloved Fly Hall. Determined not to present his prospective bride with the wreck he believes himself to have become, he decides to end his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer, for vastly differing reasons, has reached the selfsame decision. Throughout the campaigns, Edward was often seen relying greatly on a miniature he carried, and it is to this token he clings upon his return. Will he eventually find happiness with the girl in the portrait, or will he remain firm in his resolve not to wed? Reason dictates one course, his heart another.

Book Excerpt:

Wilmot smiled. “Your wounds are healing well enough, Edward, and although it will take some while, I do believe you will return to full strength.”

Sinclair’s voice dropped, “And what of the night terrors, will they cease?”

“Almost certainly. They are the result of the amputation and the trauma to your body, but with time they will diminish.”

“Time I don't have,” the earl replied shortly, his gaze becoming distracted and his hand moving restlessly on the blue brocade quilt that Wilmot had placed back over him at the end of his examination. “Ironic, is it not? To the outside world ’twould appear that I have time aplenty, but you see, I have not. I am to be married, John. Or, more rightly, I was to have been married. Yet how can I expect a wife to commit herself to the wreck I have become?”

“You are no wreck,” the medic assured. “It will take more than the loss of your arm to bring you low. Your strength will assuredly return.”

Sinclair grimaced ruefully. “Ah, but my strength will not return my arm to me or make my form more pleasing to Lady Jennifer, my betrothed. I'll carry these scars with me through life.”

Wilmot saw the earl’s agitation. “Your scars were gained honorably, Edward, and when you feel more yourself, you'll become reconciled to them.”

Sinclair shook his head impatiently.

“Tell that to a new bride. She will soon tire of such a husband. She will be repulsed by me, and who should blame her? Certainly not I.”

“Women are such unpredictable creatures, it is oft noted that they can become devoted to the most unlikely of spouses and if she loves you…”

“There you have the truth of it; I don't believe that she does. The betrothal was hastened because, like every other young buck of my generation, despite my father’s protestations that his heir should lay himself open to such dangers, I was eager to hasten to the war. Lady Jennifer and I knew each other for such a short time, with little opportunity to be private. In short, I must admit to it being a contrived marriage, a mariage de convenance brought about by our respective sires. I took my commission and hastened to Spain, as eager as any Englishman to face Old Boney. I have been too long away; we will be but strangers.”

“Was there no communication between you?”

“We wrote very little and I felt no desire to impart the horrors of war. I would shield her from such abominations. I preferred to keep my own counsel and instead encouraged her to tell me of the season's gaieties and divert my thoughts.”

Wilmot appeared incredulous.

“You made no effort to engage her affections?”

“How could I from such a distance.”

“I would not have though that to pose a problem to you, Edward. I always thought you a man of considerable address.”

“If that be the case, how then am I to present her with who I’ve become? She’s not even aware of the extent of my injuries and I would wish to be the man she thought me when we became betrothed.”

Wilmot raised his brows in disbelief.

“You’ve not informed her of the nature of your wounds?”

“I felt not the need to distress her with the details.”

The medic shook his head.

“You take this desire to shield her too far, Edward. Surely it would have been wiser to have prepared her for your homecoming…?”

Purchase a copy of the novel at the following links below:



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About the author:

Hazel Statham lives in England and has been writing on and off since she was fifteen. Initially she was influenced by Austen, the Brontes, and Sabatini but when Hazel turned seventeen, Georgette Heyer opened up the romance and elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She immediately knew she had found her eras and wanted nothing more than to re-create them in her work. Hazel lives with her husband, Terry, and a beautiful Labrador named Mollie.

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Giveaway:

To be in with a chance of winning a H/B copy of Consequence or a small item of jewellery. (e.g. pearl earrings) please leave a comment below with your email addie ANY comment you make during the tour on ANY post counts as an entry into the giveaway! The giveaway ends 30 June and a random commenter will be picked, emailed and announced on the Dilly Dally PR site. GOOD-LUCK!