The Master of the Dream World, the second book in The Dream World series, was released in June.

For Eldon and Victoria: Civil Twilight – Letters in the Sky

From Beth to David: Imogen Heap – Headlock

David’s song: Radiohead – Creep

Jamison’s song about Meave: Foo Fighters – I Should Have Known

Cassie’s song: Jem – Finally Woken

As soon as he entered the restaurant, her beauty hit him like a blow to his solar plexus.

She was breathtaking with her raven hair and eyes as green as emeralds!

Who could help but notice her?

Question was – why was she sitting at the table by herself?  Such an exquisite creature should have been surrounded by doting admirers.

But here she was.  Alone.  Inviting.  In need of being rescued from boredom.

What else could Jamison do but to come to her aid?

There were several empty tables in the restaurant, but none of them interested him as this particular table.

Never being the bashful sort, he boldly approached her and asked if the seat next to her was taken.  After all, she could have been waiting for some gentleman friend to join her.

She lazily looked him up and down with those sparkling green eyes, and then as if he met with her approval, she indicated the chair and motioned for him to sit.

As he did so, he suavely introduced himself as, “Jamison, Jamison Thincastle.”

She flashed him a brilliant smile that lit up her whole being and thrust a dainty hand forward saying, “My friends call me Meave.”

Jamison smiled warmly.  “Meave,” the name echoed deliciously off his tongue.

He hailed a waiter, ordered ale and inquired if the lady by his side had ordered her meal to which she informed him that she had.

Quickly, he ordered a thick steak, cooked rare.  After the waiter disappeared to the kitchen, he gave her a wink and said, “If they get it here before the hour, it will be a rare thing, indeed.”

Meave gave a tinkling laugh, her eyes sparkling once again.

There was something in those eyes…  A man could positively get lost in them.

“And what do you do, to make yourself so bold, Jamison,” she asked.

Jamison feigned shock then grinned rakishly, “Me? Why dear lady, I rescue damsels in distress.  You were in danger of being bored, so I came to your aid.”

Again she laughed.  “Matter of fact, I’ve been bored for ages.”

”What?  No mister…”

She shook her head to cut him off.  “I’ve been on my own for nigh on two years.”

“Criminal!”

“I’ve been doing some traveling and happened upon your quaint village.  Tell me, what do you people do for excitement around here?”

Before Jamison could answer, the waiter appeared with his frothy pint of ale. 

Taking it from him, Jamison lifted it in a salute to his host saying, “I’m sure if we put our heads together we can come up with something that might amuse you.”

Meave lifted her own glass in a toast.  “I’m sure you can, Jamison,” she replied knowingly.

Unlike Jamison’s dire prediction, their meal was served together.

Throughout the meal, their conversation was full of sexual innuendo, stirring Jamison’s blood all the more.

It also quickened her desire for him.

As soon as the meal was finished, Jamison took her to a quaint bed and breakfast that he knew too well.

It wasn’t breakfast that he was interested in.  Not yet.

It was morning before he finally fell asleep exhausted from the night’s excursion.

While he slept, Meave watched him.  His great chest heaved with his breathing.  She knew he would be experienced in lovemaking, and she thought that she must have surprised him that she had been able to give as good as she got.

She wasn’t tired.  Far from it.  She was exhilarated.  She had been seeking a new companion and for this handsome fellow to plop himself down beside her was a stroke of luck indeed.

Of course he would have to be turned, accept and join her in her lifestyle with the mystic arts. He would also have to give up all of his wicked ways for her alone.

That would be more to her liking.  In fact, she would demand it for him to be her new companion. 

     

I will mail a FREE copy of “Outcast of the Dream World” to the first person to respond to this post with the correct answers? Note: Contest begins Monday morning (7/25).

Here are the questions?

What is David?

What is Shannon?

What is Cassie?

What is Jamison?

What is Meave?

What is Eldon?

What is Victoria?

Hint: Read my prior blog posts for hints! Monday morning’s blog will help too. These are all characters from my book. Three of the answers are “Human.” One is not technically a witch but a “Human Cursed by a Witch.” The rest you must figure out on your own.

Only answers in the form as comments to this blog post will be considered. All of the answers must be correct.

Have fun, and let me know what you think of my other posts. What else do you want to know about the Dream World series?

She sat at her desk in her parlor trying to find a way to get through this holiday season.

 

Christmas was upon her and there was hardly a crumb in the house to eat.

 

The great potato famine was upon them, leaving her a greater number of orphans than usual.

 

Some of them were those whose parents had died, some whose kin had abandoned them in hopes of going to America seeking a new life and planning to send for the children when they were settled.

 

The whole country was in dire straits.

 

SHE was in dire Straits.

 

With only a mere pittance how was she going to provide for these children during this holiday season?

 

There was no money for fresh food. The flour for the bread was being carefully measured out. There were scant bits of shriveled vegetables to supply their meals.

 

The potatoes that would have been there mainstay were rotted and inedible.

 

The strain of brokering food to feed the children bit into the budget so that the clothes the children wore had been patched until they more resembled Joseph’s coat of many colors.

 

Even the blankets upon their beds were threadbare.

 

Indeed if there had been any money, food would have been their first concern, followed by clothing, then the other amenities needed.

 

The auburn haired woman dropped her head in her hands in despair. Tomorrow is Christmas.

 

Would that she could provide some small treat for the children but that was impossible.

 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

 

Ginny, the housekeeper and Marion’s right arm, answered the door and informed Marion that the authorities had brought in another waif for to her house.

 

But this girl was different. She was older than the others and seemed quite independent.

 

However, tonight she had no place to go and the Constable wanted to know if Marion could add one more to her folder for a day or two until more could be found out about her.

 

How could Marion refuse?

 

At least she could provide a roof over her head and a place to sleep. Thus she agreed to take the girl.

 

Marion led the way up the stairs to the third floor and attic room. However, on the second floor they paused by the room were a rattling cough sounded from the sickbed of a little girl who was about four-years-old. Between Marion and Ginny, they had been taking turns with the sick girl, but she had steadily gotten worse.

 

Her fever had raged until breaking, bathing the girl in sweat, subsiding only to return. The doctor had come and gone only to shake his head in despair. It was only a matter of time before the child would cast off her earthly bonds and join her dead parents.

 

For some reason, the sick child touched the newcomer; and she asked if she could look in on the babe.

 

More than once that evening she was caught up in the child’s room as if keeping her own vigil. Eventually the girl with her long brown hair had to be secured in her room lest she cause mischief.

 

Finally, that night the children were put to bed. Ginny knew that Marion was exhausted, and offered that she would stay with the sick child for that Christmas Eve.

 

The next morning, they found the child had gone to join her parents. Sometime during the night she has simply slipped away.

 

So quiet was her death the Ginny had dozed off and had not stirred.

 

But there was a great surprise that awaited them. On the child’s bed was a fresh woolen blanket.

 

In fact, Ginny had been covered with a knitted throw to keep her warm.

 

As Ginny went downstairs, the smell of Evergreen boughs that draped the banister rails mingled with scrumptious aromas that wafted throughout the first floor.

 

At the foot of the stairs stood Marion, a look of utter bewilderment upon her face. Together they went to the kitchen to find the Christmas dinner was well underway.

 

A goose was baking in the oven, and an assortment of fresh vegetables rested on the counters with four loaves of fresh baked bread and three fruit pies.

 

Where had all this come from? Who could have done such a thing?

 

The patter of little feet running down the stairs then into the parlor were followed by the shrill cries and giggles.

 

When Marion entered the room, she found that each child clutched at some toy that been left for every one of them. Two of the children were still clutching at new woolen blankets that somehow covered their beds during the night.

 

What had happened? Where had all these wonderful things come from? It was as if they had been visited by St. Nicholas himself!

 

Marion went into the desk to find a small leather pouch.

 

Glory be!

 

When she opened the pouch, several gold coins spilled out into her hand.

 

Under the pouch was a letter. It was instructions for Marion to take it to a man, a lawyer for the girl who had appeared to them the previous night.

 

The solicitor had been instructed to ensure that Marion would want for nothing, for better times ahead and until a time that she would be able to be self-sufficient.

 

Especially during the famine she was to be provided for. It was signed “Cassie“.

 

Could the girl be the bearer of this good fortune?

 

She was interrupted by Ginny informing her that the girl was gone.

 

Somehow Marion was not surprised. It seemed as though she the girl had left these things as parting gifts, perhaps payment for the single night’s repose.

 

For today she would be thankful and enjoy the day for the day’s sake.

 

However, in the coming days she would search to discover more about the black-clad girl with waist length brown hair.