Authoress (New Novel)- An Excerpt
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Authoress was written in bits and parts over the years and ultimately shelved, but the Muse has been coming back to it more and more quite recently.
Inspired by the novelist Anais Nin, who wrote her erotica for a dollar a page in the 1940s for a wealthy, private collector, the story is set in post-WWI London, where Helena Walker has recently penned an erotic bestseller anonymously. The only problem is, she has landed in a spot of trouble with her publisher and she needs help in saving her book. Enter Daniel Wharton, Esq, her brother's best friend, an extraordinarily capable, ruthless solicitor and, alas, her nemesis since girlhood. But a chance finding of her book under his pillow during a weekend stay meant Helena has finally met a fan of her work for the first time. Will she be able to entrust her secret to Daniel, and will he prove himself to be more than just her greatest fan?
Do let me know what you guys think! With any luck, we shall see some chapters posted at Patreon soon! ^_~
“So what do you think of it?” Helena crossed her arms over her chest and cocked him a look, one eyebrow raised in challenge.
Wharton gaped at her. “What do I think of what?”
She scoffed. “The book, of course.”
“I won’t dignify that query with an answer.”
She held her ground, indicating she was prepared to wait in his office for as long as needed for a reply. Blowing out a breath, he finally relented.
“Well, it’s…” he breathed out a laugh. “I can’t believe we’re talking about it, but very well. I think it’s quite remarkable. I must confess I’m enjoying it.”
“I know the author,” she said, and had the delicious satisfaction of seeing both his brows rise this time.
“Yes,” she said. “They’re a friend of mine.”
“Really?” he said softly, his gaze hardening almost imperceptibly. “Which friend? George Wren?”
“What? Georgie?” she retorted. “Of course not.”
“No,” he murmured, his disconcerting gaze remaining steadfast on her person. “Because whoever penned that book is surely a woman.”
