This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 6,141).

Kate is glad the Earl is back after his long travels to foreign lands to approve officially of her marriage to Tom, her fiancé.
Kate thought she had all her life mapped out but she had not expected her warden to be of such an amicable character with him insisting on their first meeting that she call him by his first name, Matthew. Neither had she expected to become so close to the Earl as time goes on and he willingly shares with her his life stories and work.
Even more annoyingly, Kate cannot help but notice how handsome he is with his distracting blue eyes. It is not long before she starts feeling a strong attraction and attachment to him, one she believes is shared by the Earl in return!
Kate will now find that falling for a man who has pledged his life and work to being an explorer comes with its own perils, one that only love may overcome!