Gently reared Martin finds himself adrift without means when his uncle goes bankrupt with gambling debts. He seeks a livelihood as tutor to the young children of an earl on a remote Welsh estate. Arriving on a dark and stormy night that sets the tone for his whole adventure, he falls into intrigue, mystery, and powerful new loves -- for the three traumatized children and their enigmatic guardian.<br><br>Dylan has been called back from service in South Africa when his elder brother supposedly finds his wife with another man, kills the pair and then himself. He’ll now have to assume most duties of the earldom, raise his nephew to majority and care for three orphaned children. Desperate for help, he hires a young man sight unseen to become their tutor while he works to uncover the facts of the scandalous tragedy that tore apart his family. Both matters reveal surprising results.

Dark and Stormy

“Hello, Mr. Man. Em says you are to be our schoolmaster. She says we must obey and not ever think of defying you. Is that right?”


Martin had to smile at her earnest question. Despite the fact she did not seem half as bashful as the other two, he squatted to get closer to her level. “Not untrue, Lady Charlotte, although perhaps not the whole truth either. Yes, I will be teaching and guiding you, yet I trust I’m not such a dragon as to demand instant and total obedience.”


She giggled. “Oh good! You do not look like a dragon at all.”


Martin stood and addressed the other two. “How old are all of you?”


“I-I-I am e-eleven,” Emmaline said. “D-d-donovan is nine and Ch-charlotte is five.”


“Have you had tutors before or other schooling?”


Chapter 4