#zoawrites

The Courtship of Rachel Palpatine - A Regency Tale

After a long sojourn away, Ben Organa-Solo returns to the ton of Chandrila to accept his inheritance as the new Duke of Naberrie. Pressured by his new position and his mother to marry, in a fit of rebellion Ben concocts a scheme and makes a wager with his best friend:

Court and marry the granddaughter of his family’s arch-nemesis.

Chapter 7: A Game of Cricket

A society cricket match causes frustration to rise between Duke Solo and Miss Palpatine.

-

Sneak Peek

Rey watched Ben Solo stride out of the tent with the other players, stripped out of his coat like the other gentlemen, but sans cravat. His dark waistcoat was also unbuttoned, which annoyed Rey because his appearance edged on scandalous combined with the way his shirt fell open just enough to reveal a hint of his pale chest. 

Did she spot a spattering of moles?

Heat suffused her cheeks and chest and a sudden need for air came over her. Rey opened her periwinkle blue lace fan and gently waved it in front of her face. 

“Are you alright, Rey? Your cheeks are red.” Finn was clearly concerned but Rey was mortified. 

“Of course!” She grimaced at the defensive squeak in her voice. “Of course,” she repeated more stably. “It is only the heat.”

“The heat?” Rose asked, in far too innocent a tone for her eyes were on a certain tall, dark-haired gentleman. She glanced at Rey with a smirk. “Are you certain?”

“It’s hot, Rose,” Rey snapped, flapping her fan faster as if to emphasize her point. “Surely you’ve noticed.”

Ghosts - a Rely Halloween Tale

“SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.”

“Wow. I guess I didn’t need my eardrums.”

“Oh, gosh, sorry. But what do you expect when you tell a girl she’s the long lost granddaughter of a duke from some obscure European country and she’s inherited his mountain castle?”

“And fifty billion dollars.”

The Courtship of Rachel Palpatine - A Regency Tale

After a long sojourn away, Ben Organa-Solo returns to the ton of Chandrila to accept his inheritance as the new Duke of Naberrie. Pressured by his new position and his mother to marry, in a fit of rebellion Ben concocts a scheme and makes a wager with his best friend:

Court and marry the granddaughter of his family’s arch-nemesis.

Chapter 6: A Suitor's Visit

Rey receives a surprising visitor to Exegol House.

-

Sneak Peek

The fervor of his response startled her. Duke Solo sounded…angry. Indeed, there was now a defined scowl upon his face; a dangerous one, in fact, and it caused Rey to retreat slightly. He must have noticed, for an emotionless mask replaced the scowl and he gave a shallow bow. 

“Forgive me, Miss Palpatine. I forget myself.” 

“There’s no need,” she murmured, willing to forgive him because he seemed sincere. “I must thank you for understanding. Not many understand me.”

The Courtship of Rachel Palpatine - A Regency Tale

After a long sojourn away, Ben Organa-Solo returns to the ton of Chandrila to accept his inheritance as the new Duke of Naberrie. Pressured by his new position and his mother to marry, in a fit of rebellion Ben concocts a scheme and makes a wager with his best friend:

Court and marry the granddaughter of his family’s arch-nemesis.

Chapter 5: The Promenade

Whilst Ben and Rey promenade they play an illuminating game.

-

Sneak peek

“Then take this opportunity to learn,” he said with a lopsided smile. “Let’s play a game. We may ask each other three questions and we must answer honestly, no matter what it is.” 

Miss Palpatine looked dubious. “Any question?”

Ben met her eyes. “Any question. Would you like to go first?”

“Yes.” She looked away and for a few moments they strolled in silence. Ben assumed she was creating her list, just as he was. “All right.”

The Courtship of Rachel Palpatine - A Regency Tale

After a long sojourn away, Ben Organa-Solo returns to the ton of Chandrila to accept his inheritance as the new Duke of Naberrie. Pressured by his new position and his mother to marry, in a fit of rebellion Ben concocts a scheme and makes a wager with his best friend:

Court and marry the granddaughter of his family’s arch-nemesis.

-

Chapter 9: An Engagement

The Christmas Mishap

Ben Solo is out to buy a special edition book for his mother. Unfortunately, there are only so many left. Even more unfortunately, he's got competition.

Pride, Prejudice, and Progeny

At sixteen, Rey Johnson ends up pregnant by her seventeen year old boyfriend, Ben Solo. But the two are torn apart before Rey can tell Ben about her pregnancy. Fourteen years later, Rey and Ben’s child is on the hunt for their dad. They find him - a junior partner in a big time law firm and running for senator - and run away to meet him on the other side of the country.The former sweethearts are drawn together again, connected by the child Rey kept secret. Old feelings resurface, but as Rey and Ben grow closer, his ambition, her distrust, and outside influences may be burdens too heavy for the new family to bear.

Rated M

Chapter 16: Epilogue

Pride, Prejudice, and Progeny

At sixteen, Rey Johnson ends up pregnant by her seventeen year old boyfriend, Ben Solo. But the two are torn apart before Rey can tell Ben about her pregnancy. Fourteen years later, Rey and Ben’s child is on the hunt for their dad. They find him - a junior partner in a big time law firm and running for senator - and run away to meet him on the other side of the country.The former sweethearts are drawn together again, connected by the child Rey kept secret. Old feelings resurface, but as Rey and Ben grow closer, his ambition, her distrust, and outside influences may be burdens too heavy for the new family to bear.

Rated M

Chapter 15: Answers, resolution, and a happy ending.

-

Sneak peek

Rey’s finger hovered over Ben’s image in her phone. Anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, fear that he wouldn’t pick up or if he did they would get into another fight and the situation would worsen. 

With a deep breath she pushed those fears aside and got within a millimeter of pushing the button when a taxi pulled up to the house. Distracted, Rey lowered her phone. The taxi door opened and the last person she ever expected to see hopped out.