Castaway Dreams — Darlene Marshall

After a lifetime in the Royal Navy, surgeon Alexander Murray knows one cannot exist without a brain, yet Daphne Farnham may be the exception. Her head contains nothing but rainbows, shoes, bonnets, pink frills and butterflies. Even her fluffy dog is useless. But the war with Napoleon is finally over and Alexander is sure he can put up with the cloth-headed Miss Farnham only for a couple of months until they reach England.

Did that naval officer have his sense of humor surgically removed? It is bad enough Alexander has no fashion sensibilities, never smiles at Daphne like other men do and doesn't adore her darling pup Pompom. He had the gall to proclaim her 'useless' when everyone knows it's Daphne who's the best at picking out just the right ensemble for any social occasion. Fortunately, she has to put up with the sour Scotsman only for a couple of months until they reach England.

But when their ship goes down, the dour doctor (after a fashion), the dizzy damsel (more or less) and the darling (and potentially delicious) doggy are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime as unlikely companions, castaway on a desert island. One of them may have fleas, but it's the two humans who will find themselves wanting to scratch a certain itch.

Hero: Alexander Murray
Heroine: Daphne Farnham