I hope you are enjoying the pre-Christmas days and having some fun!

Today I have the opening paragraphs from Rescue by Ruin, a Victorian steampunk story, for you. Click here for the rest of the amazing writers participating in the Weekend Writing Warriors.

“Miss Beatrice Viola Trevan tugged on her coat to ensure it covered her scandalous clothes. Glad her shimmering golden evening gloves hid her sweaty palms she tweaked the somewhat uncomfortable red and gold mask hiding the upper half of her face. She exhaled and walked toward one of the many gangplanks leading up to the Venia, the airship tethered in Hyde Park.

The airship was one of the new SkyCat models, meaning two pontoons ran the length of the passenger floor, making the airship appear like a resting cat from the front or the back.

Beatrice walked onto the gangplank, but then stopped at the edge, letting the traffic flow past her. The wooden plank vibrated under the other guests’ steps, their laughter and echo of their voices filled the air around her. The coaches stopping behind her to release more guests hissed and rumbled, their steam engines panting.

Beatrice’s heart pounded, her throat was dry.”

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and fabulous next week!

Forced to marry a violent man, Beatrice knows only one way out—ruin her reputation. She climbs aboard the Venia, a dirigible of ill repute, for a masquerade. Bea does not expect to run into Vaughn Kemple, the third Duke of Missenden, who eight months ago left her without an explanation. Feeling secure behind her mask, she decides Vaughn will be the one to ruin her. She may not get to spend forever with this man she still loves, but at least she can have one night of pleasure.

But a mask is not enough to hide her identity. Vaughn recognizes Bea, shocked to find her aboard an airship where sexual freedom isn’t just a thought, it’s celebrated. But her actions are far from innocent. Captivated, he’s determined to make her his.

The heat between them flares, but Vaughn is torn between desire and honor. Bea is afraid to risk her heart on a man she can’t trust. And when her future husband arrives on the scene, it’s more than their hearts in danger.

Buy it from Ellora’s Cave, Amazon or Kobo (BOOKRIOT50 gives you 50% off select titles on kobobooks).