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Chapter One
“Oh, please be careful with him,” Lady Lorelei Ashford pleaded. “Perhaps I should…” She danced back and forth on her feet, caught between rushing forward to help, and not wanting to get in the way.
“We are perfectly capable, my lady,” the footman assured her. “Lady Talbot was most insistent that we take great care.”
“Be careful! Be careful!” the cry of Lorelei’s parrot rang out. “You ugly buffoon!”
Lorelei grimaced. Then she watched nervously, expecting one of the two footmen to react to her parrot’s crudeness. Thankfully, they just laughed and shook their heads. More thankful still, they kept their attention on what they were doing.
“We’ll bring this one inside, My Lady,” the first footman said.
“Oh, are you certain?” Lorelei replied. “I understand if my aunt wishes for him to be kept outside.”
“Nonsense,” the footman assured her. “Lady Talbot was made aware of your cargo, and she is eager to see it for herself.”
Lorelei pursed her lips, understanding the words being spoken but having difficulty believing them. In her experience, most people would shun and judge her for that, rather than accepting it… even being eager to see it.
My mother did warn me that Aunt Theodora was a tad eccentric…
Lorelei had just assumed that her mother was exaggerating. Afterall, she would say the same about Lorelei. It seemed that she might need to reevaluate her initial worries about her ‘crazed’ aunt and what to expect.
Lorelei felt her mood brighten beyond where it had been all morning. Dark clouds had sat upon her shoulders, an incoming storm that she feared might drown her before the Season was done. However, those storm clouds parted and a warm sun spread across her face, piercing through to her soul allowing her first true smile to shine.
Lorelei turned and took a closer look at the townhouse standing before her. It was not as large as the manor that she had grown up on; its property was not a sprawling estate like she was used to. Three stories tall, built of white painted wood, large windows that gave the home plenty of sun, and what looked like a sizeable yard at the rear.
Mostly, she eyed the colorful garden that grew along the drive, she took note of the smiles on the footmen’s faces as they unpacked her carriage, and she looked to the sky, noticing how blue it was, not a cloud in sight…
Perhaps this won’t be so bad after all…
“What do you think, Biscuit?” Lorelei cradled a small kitten in her arms; it was ginger in color with white ears, and fur so soft that Lorelei could stroke it all day. “Should we give this a chance?”
Biscuit gave her no answer.
Rather, he purred and nuzzled further into her arms. If he could sense how stressed his owner had been all morning, or all week, he gave no indication. His world revolved around Lorelei and so long as she was by his side, he was happy. Such was the simplicity of animals; one of the reasons that Lorelei loved them so much.
“Be careful! Buffoon! Buffoon!”
Lorelei sighed and turned back just in time to see her parrot, Sir Reginald, being lifted from the back of the carriage. It sat perched in its cage, of course, and the footman who carried it was being extra careful. But that did not stop it from abusing him.
“Sir Reginald…” Lorelei hurried over. “Be nice.”
Lorelei had owned Sir Reginald for five years, which was just enough time for it to pick up all sorts of insults and nasty slurs that her father often shouted at their staff. For some reason, it seemed to prefer memorizing those words, rather than the nice things she that spoke to the parrot when they were alone.
“Nice? Nice!” it repeated in a mocking tone as if it loathed the idea. He sounds almost like my father…
“It’s no matter, My Lady,” the footman chuckled. “I’ve been called worse.”
Again, Lorelei was struck with the sense that this Season might not be nearly as bad as she had feared. When her mother and father had told her that they would spend it traveling, and that she was to live with her aunt until they returned, she had worried; but this was often the case for Lorelei.
Lorelei was ‘different,’ or so she was constantly being told. Quiet. Compassionate. The type who often kept to herself, and never risked standing out, she made an easy target for judgement. And that she was so obsessed with animals, treating them as friends rather than mere pets, added further credence to those cruel comments.
In her defense, animals did not judge her. They were not mean to her. All they required was love and affection, and they would give it back tenfold.
I wish I could have brought all my pets with me… but that might have been pushing the limits of Aunt Theodora’s hospitality.
In the end, Lorelei had settled on her kitten, her parrot, and her goat to bring this Season. That would have to be enough, hopefully to see her through and out the other side in one piece.
“My Lady…” From the front door, another footman approached her. “Lady Talbot has asked that you be brought to her.”
“Oh…” She looked back at the carriage, still being unloaded. “What about… my things?”
“They will be taken to your room and unpacked for you, My Lady,” the footman assured her with a friendly smile. “They are in safe hands.”
“Very well.” Lorelei’s chest tightened, nerves taking over. She held Biscuit closer, looking at the townhouse once more, and she breathed in deeply. “After you…”
It was just a minute later when Lorelei was led into her aunt’s parlor. It was a quaint room, nowhere near as rich in decor as one might expect. Natural light flooded the large window on the far wall. What Lorelei noticed first, however, was the smell.
Oh my… what is that?
It smelled like wet dog. And if Lorelei had questioned the smell, it was confirmed when she spied three large hounds curled on the floor as if they owned the place. Lorelei blinked in confusion when she saw them, for her mother and father would never allow such animals free reign of their home.
The oddities continued when she heard purring, quickly identified by two cats—one black, one white—stretched on the mantle above the fireplace. Sir Reginald was already in the room, still caged, but he squawked at another parrot that was allowed to fly freely throughout the room. And then there was her goat…
“There she is! My dear niece!”
Lorelei had been so taken by the sight of so many animals that she had missed her aunt seated on the settee by the large window, allowing the sun to shine over it fully.
Lorelei had met her aunt before, of course, but it had been several years since the last time, long enough that she had nearly forgotten just how lively her aunt was in both physicality and temperament. Even sitting down, her aunt appeared short in stature, but that did not take away from her exaggerated presence. It was one that Lorelei felt the moment she laid eyes on her. With her fiery red hair, her big green eyes, and a smile that was the type to split her face in two halves, she was impossible to look away from once noticed.
She looked just like Lorelei’s father; her red hair and square shoulders especially. It was a contrast to Lorelei, who had more of her mother in her. Lorelei was short also, but her figure was more petite than stocky. Her hair was a soft brown, her eyes were a greyish blue, and she was certainly not the type to draw attention in any room. Lorelei had always thought herself as far too plain for that.
Lorelei startled when she saw her aunt, and then she gawked when she took in what in any other circumstance would be a most bizarre addition to an already strange scene. Lorelei’s goat curled up on her aunt’s lap.
“Well, come in, come in,” her aunt beckoned from her seat. “No need to lurk in the doorway like a stranger!”
Lorelei blinked. “Aunt Theodora, I… I am so sorry for—”
“For what?” she cut Lorelei off. “Treating my home like a farm? Thinking you could bring any old beast you pleased into my humble abode….” She raised an eyebrow as if to chastise, only to break into a fit of laughter. “Nonsense, girl. As you can clearly see with your own two eyes, I am somewhat accustomed to such things. Why, I even encourage it,” she finished with a wink.
In her arms, Biscuit perked up, his eyes fixed on her aunt. Then, in a truly unheard-of action, the kitten leaped from Lorelei’s arms and started across the floor, right to where her aunt sat.
“Oh, look, he’s curious,” she crooned.
Lorelei gaped at what she saw. In her home, Biscuit was treated as an imposition—as were the rest of her pets—and the kitten seemed to know it, never daring to venture from Lorelei’s side. But somehow, it seemed to understand the new set of rules it was being afforded… and that her aunt was one worth trusting.
Well, if I had any doubts before, Biscuit has all but alleviated them.
With that realized, Lorelei relaxed completely. While she might not trust people, an animal’s instincts were never to be questioned. And if Biscuit accepted their new home, then so would she.
“I see Hopper has made himself comfortable.” Lorelei crossed the room to where her aunt sat.
“Hopper?” Her aunt frowned and then laughed. “Oh! Yes.” She stroked the goat lovingly, just as Biscuit leaped onto her lap and snuggled beside the goat. “What a clever name. I doubt he does much hopping, however.”
“He will,” Lorelei said as she sat down. “Once he grows.”
Hopper was unique among Lorelei’s pets, as he only had three legs. She had adopted him from the litter on the day he was born, as her father had threatened to kill him for meat. Of course, Lorelei would not hear of such things.
“Is that your mother…” her aunt chuckled as Hopper perked up, noticing Lorelei sitting across from him. Slowly, he pushed himself up, at which point her aunt scooped him into the air and handed him over.
Lorelei took Hopper and rested him on her lap.
“I am so glad you are here,” her aunt began once Hopper was settled. As she spoke, another footman appeared, bringing a pot of tea with him. He got about pouring them each a cup. “I worried you would be sent to stay with one of your brothers…” Aunt Theodora shook her head. “But I am sure you will find this a better option.”
“Oh, I hope so.”
“Do not hope, dear,” her aunt said. “Know it. Look around. See for yourself. Some might think this place a little strange, of that I have no doubt. But you and I…” She winked. “Here, we’re the normal ones.”
Lorelei did her best to not smile too broadly—she never was one to show too much emotion, as that often led to her being judged and made fun of. But in the face of all that was happening, and what her aunt was saying, she wondered if maybe for once she could do so. And freely.
It was strange to think that Lorelei was not closer with her aunt. At twenty-four years of age, they had only met a handful of times, and the last time was years ago. Considering their similar interests, Lorelei wondered why this was… perhaps my parents worried she would be a bad influence on me?
“It is too early to go into great detail on what we shall do this coming Season,” her aunt continued as she had a sip of tea. “A great many things, I promise. However, as I am sure you know and look forward to, tomorrow is Miss Cecily’s engagement party, yes?”
“That’s right,” Lorelei said excitedly. “Mother told you?”
“She did, as she made me promise that you would go.”
“Of course I will, she is my best friend.”
“I know it,” her aunt said. “I think your mother simply assumes that where socializing is involved, you would rather not.” She scoffed. “It will be a grand time, of that I have no doubt! Besides, I have heard that many of your friends will be there too.”
“Oh…” Lorelei focused on her tea, suddenly embarrassed. She did not have many friends… “Yes, perhaps.”
“Did you know that Lord Strathmore is best friends with the groom?” her aunt continued pleasantly. “I remember that the two of you were close growing up.”
Lorelei’s eyes widened and her body froze.
Lord Strathmore… friends? Oh no…
She said nothing as her conscience rebelled; that familiar feeling that demanded she retreat inside of herself as a means of protection. It was always that way, when faced with confrontation, and Lorelei had no way of stopping it.
So, she sat in silence, she forced a smile, and she did her best not to look as if her world was collapsing.
“Once we finish here, I shall give you a tour,” her aunt continued as she stroked Biscuit and drank her tea. “Oh yes, that will be fun. And after that…” She continued to speak, apparently rather enjoying the sound of her own voice.
All the while, Lorelei sat frozen. While she was glad to be there, and while she was certain the coming Season might be one of the better in memory, she also wondered if there was a way she could just skip the engagement party altogether.
Anything to avoid seeing Lord Strathmore again… anything.
***
Lorelei was six years old again. It was a sunny day, and she was with her father visiting Lord Strathmore’s estate. His son, Arthur, was a few years older than Lorelei and they were sent outside to play together. Lorelei carried a basket with her, one that she thought held cups and saucers that she often used to host imaginary tea parties. She must have put it down at one point, or looked away, because when she opened it to show Arthur, a green frog the size of her head leaped right out and attacked her!
“You should see your face!” Arthur had laughed and mocked her as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Oh, do not cry. I was only joking around!”
Lorelei had cried. She had run off and told her father what Arthur had done. And her father, never one for warmth, told her not to make a big deal out of what was clearly a joke.
When Lorelei was ten years old, still coming into herself, she spoke with a stutter when she was nervous or afraid. For this reason, she hardly spent time with anyone outside of her immediate family, but that changed when Lord Strathmore paid a visit. He brought his son, Arthur, with him, and the two were left alone.
“Wh-wh-why do you talk like that?” Arthur had mocked her.
“I-I-I…” She had been unable to spit the words out.
“T-T-Today would be nice,” he had cackled and shook his head. “Honestly, Lorelei, what is wrong with you? You’re a bit touched in the napper.”
Lorelei had run from the room in tears, and she had hidden in the back garden until Lord Strathmore and his son had left. When her father found out, he was furious, accusing her of rudeness and embarrassing him.
When Lorelei was fourteen, Arthur had convinced another boy who she had a crush on to lie about the feelings he had for Lorelei, only to mock her in front of everyone when she told him that she felt the same way about him too.
When Loreli was sixteen, on the night of her debut, Arthur had made all the boys their age promise not to dance with her. She’d spent the entire evening alone, distraught, wishing the ground would open and swallow her whole.
Lorelei shook her head.
That was then and this is now… perhaps he has changed… perhaps it will not be nearly so bad to see him after all this time,. And perhaps I will sprout wings and start to fly.
Lorelei was in her bedroom, lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling as Biscuit explored the room. She had spent the day and the evening with her aunt, a truly wonderful experience and further confirmation that this Season might be one that she would come to enjoy.
However, as the day wore on, it brought the next day closer . It was Cecily’s engagement party, and while she had been looking forward to it—as much as she could, considering her wariness of people—Lorelei wished to do anything but attend.
She wanted to believe that Arthur Harcourt, had changed.
She needed to put the past behind her and pray he had done the same.
She would have liked very much not to have been so obsessed with past grievances to give her a chance to move on.
Sadly, that was not the way the world worked, and it was certainly not the way that Lorelei operated. Arthur had hurt her more times than she could count; she hated him as much as she feared him, and she knew that nothing would ever change that.
Worse still, she doubted he had changed at all.
Biscuit crawled onto her belly, and she held him close for comfort. He purred and licked her, and it reminded her that there was joy to be found in the world, that there were those who did love her… even if they were animals.
“I am not that same little girl anymore, Biscuit. I have grown. I have changed. Tomorrow, I will prove it.” She looked at her cat for reassurance; it licked her hand, looked at her, and seemed to agree… or so she assumed.
Lorelei had always had a way with animals, but humans were another thing entirely. And while she liked to believe she had grown out of it, she sensed that her attendance at the engagement party would all but prove the opposite. Such was the way of Lorelei’s life; never easy, always challenging, and rarely that which afforded her a reason to smile.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Love and Yearning in the Ton ", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello there, my dear readers. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek! I will be waiting for your comments. Thank you! 🙂