The Shores of Spain
Read The Shores of Spain Online
Authors: J. Kathleen Cheney
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF J. KATHLEEN CHENEY
THE
SEAT
OF
MAGIC
“[A] killer sequel . . . intriguing and fun, the mystery unfolds like a socially conscious tour through a cabinet of curiosities.”
—
Kirkus Reviews
“[M]esmerizing.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Those who enjoy alternate history—Edwardian- or Victorian-era historical fiction with a touch of magic and mythology—will be delighted with this story.”
—
Booklist
“This second entry in the Golden City series is even better than its predecessor: Readers will be completely enthralled with the characters and the organic development of their relationship . . . a sheer delight.”
—
Romantic Times
THE
GOLDEN
CITY
“Cheney’s alternate Portugal, a society of delicate manners, gaslights, and under-the-sea artworks, provides a lush backdrop for an intricate mystery of murder, spies, selkies, and very dark magic. A most enjoyable debut.”
—Carol Berg, author of the Novels of the Collegia Magica
“[A] masterpiece of historical fantasy. . . . The fascinating mannerisms of the age and the extreme formality of two people growing fonder of each other add a charmingly fresh appeal that will cross over to romance fans as well as to period fantasy readers.”
—
Library Journal
“[P]ulls readers in right off the bat. . . . Oriana’s ‘extra’ abilities are thoroughly intriguing and readers will love the crackling banter and working relationship between Oriana and Duilio.”
—
Romantic Times
“An ambitious debut from Cheney: part fantasy, part romance, part police procedural, and part love letter to Lisbon in the early 1900s. . . . [The author] does a lovely job connecting magical, historical, and romantic elements.”
—
Kirkus Reviews
B
OOKS
BY
J. K
ATHLEEN
C
HENEY
The Golden City
The Seat of Magic
ROC
Published by the Penguin Group
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New York, New York 10014
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A Penguin Random House Company
First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Copyright © Jeannette Kathleen Cheney, 2015
Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Cheney, J. Kathleen.
The shores of Spain: a novel of the Golden city/J. Kathleen Cheney.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-698-18306-3
I. Title.
PS3603.H4574S56 2015
813´.6—dc23 2015003240
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Version_1
Contents
For my family, for all their
support.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, I’d like to thank Kat Sherbo, my acquiring editor, who believed in this series from the beginning. I’d also like to thank the other editors who’ve worked on this—Danielle Stockley and Jessica Wade—and all the copy editors who’ve worked so hard on these books. The art department has done an amazing job with my covers, including the photographer, Juliana Kolesova, the designer, Katie Anderson, and the model who came back for three covers in this series. I truly appreciate all the hours and heart you’ve all put into this.
Secondly, I’d like to thank everyone who’s read multiple versions of these books, especially my husband, Matt Cheney, my agent, Lucienne Diver, and the multiple members of Codex who went through parts of these three books, most notably Beth Cato. Thanks, all!
And a hat tip goes out to the superb staff of the Old School Bagel Café on Covell, my second office, where much of this series was written. Thanks for the friendly smiles, the coffee, and those tasty honey-oat bagels.
Finally, I’d like to thank all the book reviewers and bloggers who’ve supported my work with kind words and encouraged me as I made my way along this rocky road. It’s impossible to get by in this world without
friends.
CHAPTER 1
W
EDNESDAY
,
15
A
PRIL
1903
;
THE
G
OLDEN
C
ITY
M
arina Arenias curled up in one of the upholstered chairs in the front sitting room of the Ferreira home, the room in the house with the best light even now, past sunset. She had no idea how long it would be before Joaquim returned to escort her back to her flat on Virtudes Street. After dinner, he’d retreated with her father to the Ferreira library, where they would probably debate history and philosophy long into the night. She hoped he didn’t forget about her.
The letter she held came from her sister, Oriana, the new Portuguese ambassador to the Ilhas das Sereias
.
Oriana and her husband had been there for almost three months now, and Marina missed her sister sorely. She wished she could go to Oriana for advice at times . . . although she would probably just ignore whatever Oriana recommended.
Smiling ruefully at that thought, Marina popped open the wax seal and settled her rump more firmly in the comfortable chair.
Dearest Marina
, the letter began.
She imagined it in Oriana’s voice, which made her feel young and meek. Oriana had always been the bold one, always jumping to Marina’s defense. Marina had never had that sort of nerve.
Duilio and I will be leaving Quitos soon to visit Grandmother on Amado. I know you wish you could be here with us.
In some ways, Marina did wish she could be there. She’d spent her first twelve years in that house on the beach beyond the town of Porto Novo, and they’d been happy ones. Her mother, contrary to custom, had chosen to live with her mate’s family rather than the other way around. Her own family, the Paredes line, hadn’t approved of her choice of mate. Not only was Marina’s father educated, but he was also a practicing Christian, both qualities her mother’s traditional family deplored. It had been an unconventional relationship, yet her parents had seemed quite happy together.
Her mother died when Marina was eight, while away investigating something for the Ministry of Intelligence. The world had seemed bleak after that, but Marina had bounced back with the resilience of a child. She’d had her father and grandmother to console her, and Oriana looked out for her in their mother’s stead. Life went on. Marina hadn’t understood until years later what a toll the loss of their mother had taken on Oriana.