BOOK DESCRIPTION
An ancient secret hidden within a mother’s song ...
When young widow, Marie-Ange Norton is invited to Beauregard in France by the mysterious Monsieur Malleval to collect an inheritance, she has no choice but to accept.
But when she embarks on the voyage with her fiery-tempered travelling companion Capitaine Hugo Saintclair, little does she know what waits for her across the sea in turbulent nineteenth-century France on the eve of Napoleon’s return from exile. When she arrives, she is taken aback by Malleval’s fascination with her family – seemingly inspired by his belief they are connected to a sacred relic he’s read about in coded manuscripts by the Knights Templar.
As it becomes clear that Malleval’s obsession has driven him to madness, Marie-Ange is horrified to realise she is more the man’s prisoner than his guest. Not only that, but Hugo is the only person who might be able to help her, and he could represent a different kind of danger ...
This was previously published as Angel Heart by Accent Press in 2015. This is a revised, edited and updated version. Published February 2021 by Choc Lit.
I am delighted to be on the blog today to feature an excerpt from my historical romance ANGEL OF THE LOST TREASURE, which was published by Choc Lit UK in February.
The scene below takes place in the chateau of Beauregard in the Beaujolais region of France. The chateau used to belong to Marie-Ange’s mother and her family until the French Revolution when it fell into the hands of cruel and scheming Malleval. After a long journey with her companion, cuirassier Hugo Saintclair, Marie-Ange now realises that she was lured to Beauregard by Malleval under the pretence of receiving an inheritance. During the course of their first evening in the French chateau, Malleval discloses the real purpose of her visit there.
***
‘Take a look at this.’ Malleval gestured for Marie-Ange to join him in front of a painting, the portrait of a man.
‘Count Saint-Germain,’ he announced. ‘The mysterious, legendary, elusive, Count Saint-Germain.’
‘My mother’s godfather?’ She stepped closer to the painting, curious.
The painting depicted a man of average height wearing a plain dark grey suit. He had intelligent brown eyes and a kind smile, and held a roll of parchment and a gold cross encrusted with precious gems which seemed clipped onto some kind of glass phial. Marie-Ange stepped closer and repressed a cry of surprise. Saint-Germain wore a golden locket that looked identical to one of her mother’s – the only piece of jewellery she had inherited from her. ‘I can’t read the date,’ she remarked, pointing to the bottom of the painting.
‘This was painted in 1783,’ Malleval replied. ‘One year later Saint-Germain supposedly died at the court of the Grand Duke of Holstein in Denmark.’
She turned to him. ‘Supposedly?’
He fixed his intense brown eyes on her. ‘Saint-Germain did not die.’
‘Come on, Malleval!’ Saintclair interrupted. ‘You cannot believe the tales about the man being immortal! I always thought it was a shame that legends surrounding Saint-Germain overshadowed his achievements as a statesman and diplomat, not to mention a painter and musician. All people ever remember are these silly stories about him being a Rosicrucian, an alchemist able to turn copper coins into gold, melt small diamonds to produce larger ones and, of course, being immortal.’
Marie-Ange gazed at the portrait again. Her father had never mentioned alchemy, let alone immortality.
‘Saint-Germain was – and still is – a mystery,’ Malleval carried on. ‘He held everyone under his spell. King Louis XV was so taken by him he sent him on missions all over Europe. He valued his advice on all matters, especially occult sciences. Even a hardened sceptic like Voltaire famously said of him, and I quote, “Count Saint-German is a man who was never born, who will never die, and who knows everything.”’
Saintclair burst out laughing. ‘Well, if you believe that, you’ll believe anything. The man had great talents – I grant you that – especially for pulling the wool over people’s eyes when it suited him.’
‘What is he holding?’ Marie-Ange pointed to the cross.
‘It is called La Croix de Vie,’ Malleval answered slowly. ‘Like the Crux Vaticana which holds pieces of the True Cross, it contains a relic. A most wonderful relic.’
AUTHOR BIO
Originally from Lyon in France, Marie now lives in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire. She writes both contemporary and historical romance. Her novels include best selling contemporary romantic suspense novels LITTLE PINK TAXI and ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU, which was shortlisted for the 2021 RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Awards, as well as A PARIS FAIRY TALE and BLUEBELL'S CHRISTMAS MAGIC. Her historical novel, ANGEL OF THE LOST TREASURE, was published in February 2021, and HAPPY DREAMS AT MERMAID COVE is her latest contemporary romance. Marie also contributes to the best selling Miss Moonshine’s Emporium anthologies together with eight author friends from Authors on the Edge
Love the excerpt, Marie, and thank you for sharing, Nicki. xx
ReplyDelete