title: A Contemptible Affection: A Regency Novella
author:  Ranee S. Clark 
description: I've been writing since I was old enough to grasp a crayon--my grandma even has an early copy of a "book" I made her. I have a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Wyoming and will (hopefully) soon be starting a graduate program in English. When I'm not breaking up impromptu UFC fights in the living room or losing miserably to my seven-year-old at Uno, I'm ... well, writing or editing, of course! I'm married to my best friend, and we have two rambunctious but simply amazing little boys.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Handfasted
  
  (To Love a Governess Regency Novella)
  
  By
  
  Jane Charles
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The characters, places and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any
  similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not
  intended by the author.
  
  Handfasted
  
  Copyright © 2011 by Jane Charles
  
  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any
  electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied
  in critical articles or reviews—withoritten permission.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 1
  
  > Blackrig, Scotland
  
  “Please, you must take me with you.” Katrina Clark ran after Lord Timothy
  Strotham.
  
  He stopped in the middle of the street and spun on his heel to look at her.
  His green eyes grew hard behind the wire rimmed specticals and his jaw
  clenched before he spoke. “It is highly improper. Your reputation would be
  ruined and, I have no wish to begin in a new town with the residents
  questioning my morality.” He pivoted and marched acr