Hart's Desire (Pirates & Petticoats Book 1) by Chloe Flowers Page A

clicked. When her heartbeat slowed to a more normal pace, she peeked down the hall. Seeing it vacant, she crept to her chamber.
    Keelan flopped down on the bed. The sound of her father’s feeble, saddened voice tugged at her heart. The past twelve months had been terrible. Her mother’s death was so sudden, then Papa’s health seemed to fail without warning as well. Someone had gone to great lengths to snuff out members of her father’s kin. Only Uncle Jared’s family had remained whole. So far.  
    She rolled to her side and curled up. Tears seeped onto her pillow. For so many years, she had prayed for her father to come home and stay, making more of his time available to her. Now that he was finally near, it seemed cruel that his tenure was to be so short. Father's death would leave her truly alone.  
    Keelan clenched her jaw and angrily swiped the tears from her cheeks. She would not let Uncle Jared destroy her life by demanding she wed a man she didn’t love. She wanted the opportunity to take care of herself and pick her own husband, should she care to marry. She had no desire to create a household mirroring the one in which she grew up. Her resolve locked, she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.  
    She would take the time to study the plantation ledgers first thing tomorrow morning. A willowy idea began to take root in the fertile loam of her mind. As she continued to think, a plan began to sprout and blossom. What if she could use Dr. Garrison’s interests to her advantage?

    “Yes…if my father approves… I will marry you, Dr. Garrison.” Keelan fought to keep her voice bright. This plan seemed less crazy and frightening when she was going over it in her bed last night.  
    Keelan was betting if she agreed to marry Garrison, her father and Uncle Jared would need an alternative plan to finance the plantation. After reviewing the ledgers, she felt confident she could devise a business proposition that all would find agreeable.  
    She and Dr. Garrison were seated on the iron bench in Aunt Sarah’s garden, near the arbor draped in pale, lavender wisteria blossoms. Hidden from the house by a large magnolia tree, the bench would have been the perfect place for a tryst, or a marriage proposal from the man of her dreams.
    “Please, Keelan, darling, call me Everett.” He reached for her hand. The vision of a chicken’s foot crept into her mind as his cold fingers grasped her own. He tugged her closer. “Your father and uncle can make the announcement at the ball two days hence. I should like to marry as soon as possible.”  
    Keelan fought the panic surging in her chest. Too soon! I have to delay!  
    What could she do to prevent his push for an immediate wedding? Fake sickness? Require a special gown be made? That would only buy her a few weeks. She needed more time. “But what about your family? Surely you’ll want time to—”
    Garrison interrupted. “Not an issue. I don’t have a family to accommodate.” The frigid flat tone of his voice made Keelan pause. “Not anymore,” he added.
    Poor man. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She waited for him to elaborate, but he kept strangely silent. Perhaps the topic was too unpleasant for him to openly discuss.  
    “I can see no reason to delay our wedding.” Everett smiled. “Can you?”
    Clutching her throat in horror, she choked, “I fear people will talk if we rush into a marriage. They will think I have been compromised.” She pressed her palms dramatically to her cheeks, hoping her ruse fooled him. “I couldn’t bear the humiliation.”
    His eyes widened. “Good Lord! That never occurred to me! I would never want to mar my reputation as an honorable gentleman.” He reached for her hand and added, “And of course, I would never want to put you through any such embarrassment either, my dear.”
    “Let’s marry on Christmas Day.” That might give her enough time.
    Everett smiled. “Perfect! Plenty of time to spread the