A Lady’s Sinful Journey (Preview)

Chapter One

Aaron Masters had felt a surge of excitement while touring the grounds of Hardon with Thomas. The stories had all rang true; Hardon was a breathtaking place. The buildings were giant, the girls were pretty, and the air held that perfect balance of warmth to chill. He felt as though he had found his new home away from home, and Aaron was going to make the most of it. The idea behind it all was that driving a rich man’s carriage would allow him to see the world and experience an adventure like no other. So far, Aaron’s journey had been going according to plan.

“We can look at the horses all day,” Thomas began. “But there is only so much that these beasts do. I find them rather boring after five minutes. They are quite astonishing upon first glance, though, I must admit.”

Thomas, a friend of a friend, looked as though he wanted to get away from the horse stables, and that sparked an urge within Aaron to make sure that he had still been there for the same job. “I agree, as different as these animals are from us, I must ask, you are still looking for a carriage driver, correct?”

The question had appeared to remind Thomas. “Right, yes, forgive me. My mind has been taken by other things as of late, yes. We are in need of a carriage driver. So, I guess you should get yourself familiar with the horses here. I am told some of them have quite the personality.”

Aaron could tell that Thomas had added the last part to make things more interesting. Something about the job had begun to not appeal to Aaron as much. He had begun to wonder whether or not the job of driving a horse carriage for a wealthy family would turn up the adventures that he was seeking.

The whole idea had come about when he realized two things: one of his only skills in life had been working with horses, and that to see the world, he would need to venture out of his own town. Leaving his family had been the hardest part, but he had told them in a year’s time, if things did not work out in his favour, he would return home and take on more practical work. That notion alone gave him more ambition to succeed.

Then came the idea of driving a horse carriage. Horse carriages were often only utilized in abundance for shipping and the wealthy. Shipping would only get him so far. But driving a carriage for the wealthy meant seeing other towns and getting paid to do so. And what laid ahead for him in those towns is what excited him.

Aaron knew from an early age that he did not want to live a life of routine and normalcy. A predictable day was a day that Aaron desired to avoid at all costs. With that mindset came opposition. His family had advised him to take on more stable work like carpentry, stone laying, or something that was always needed and guaranteed an income. Growing up, that had been his grandest fear—falling into stability and not seeing the world. And so, Aaron suggested a compromise. He would try his lifestyle for a time, and if it were to fail, he would heed the advice of the people closest to him and take on work that promised a future.

Listening to Thomas, Aaron was unsure whether or not becoming a horse carriage driver was the job he wanted or the type of job his family wanted for him.

“And they need to get fed just a little bit more often because of how much energy they will be expending,” Thomas went on.

“Who exactly would I be driving around if you don’t mind me asking. Frederick,” that was the friend who introduced Aaron to the idea of the job and Thomas, “informed me that uh, the family is somewhat wealthy.”

Thomas laughed, and Aaron was glad that he did not find his question to be too forward. “That is an honest question. You would be controlling these horses for the Earl. Now…,” Thomas continued to explain the job in more detail. Still, the stubbornness in Aaron had told him that he already knew everything there was to know about tending to the horses. After all, he had spent a good portion of his life working with them elsewhere.

As Thomas went on, Aaron looked around in subtle ways. He was fascinated by the town. Unlike where he was from, everyone appeared busy. But they did not appear busy in the way that they resented their work. They all took pride in what they did.

The salesman who had been selling fresh fruit in a stand not too far away had worn a smile each and every time he yelled out to promote his business.

“Fresh fruit! Fresh fruit!” The man would yell every now and then. The longest he went without saying it was when a customer stopped to check out his inventory.

Aaron felt envious. He knew that man could take his stand anywhere he wanted. He could sell his fruit in Ireland, England, Scotland, wherever, and have customers aplenty. Because everyone needed fruit. And he smiled the entire time. That was a man who did not work a day in his life. That was what Aaron wanted for himself.

Aaron gave a glance to Thomas, who did not smile when he spoke. He was just there to fill a job. And the fact that he was pretty much already training him led Aaron to believe that there wasn’t much of a challenge to the job, nor was the job hard to get. And that did not sit well with him. Sure, he was taking it to see the world and save for his own adventures, but was taking a job that anyone could get really what he wanted to do? The doubts in his mind continued to creep in further.

Just then, a man dressed as though he had just come from the Hardon House came walking up to Thomas. The man’s coat held giant buttons down the front. His pants had perfect creases on the sides of the legs. He had a receding hairline, and that seemed to oddly match his thinning beard. Was he middle-aged, or was he elderly? Aaron simply could not tell. But he could tell that he and Thomas knew each other. From the way Thomas seemed to change in demeanour and become a tad more submissive in his optimism, the man might have been royalty.

“My Lord,” Thomas said to the man, confirming Aaron’s suspicions. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Well, I was going to instruct someone to inform you that we are getting in new horses sometime soon. I remember you had told me that the older ones are nearing retirement. Instead of waiting for the day and being short-handed, I took it upon myself to get a head start. Perhaps you can look around for a suitable home for the older steeds to now live out the remainder of their lives.”

“Indeed, my Lord, that is wonderful news.” Thomas then wore the face of remembrance that washed over him before. Looking at Aaron, he could only assume that whatever he was about to say to the man, it must have been about him. “By the way, this here is the potential new driver of your carriage. I have been told that he is tremendous with horses.”

The man who Aaron figured must have been the Earl did not pay any mind to Aaron, giving him only a one-second glance. “That is rather good to hear as I have missed my trips to the fruit stand. Good day to you, Thomas. Expect the new horses within in the coming days.”

The Earl of Hardon took his leave after that and left Aaron with more questions than ambition. It was all too obvious that the Earl had meant the very fruit stand that was only a short walk away. And that offended Aaron to no end. “That was the Earl that I would be driving around, I presume?” He wasn’t sure why he asked when he knew the answer.

“Yes, he’s a swell man to be around. His stories are quite intriguing. Although most of us aren’t sure if they are all true, they are still entertaining. And what is life without a little bit of entertainment.”

“Right, um, but did he say that he takes his carriage over to the fruit stand…the one that is actually quite close to us?”

“Ah yes, the Earl has a rather bad back that doesn’t allow him to walk long distances. Well, I guess he could; he just chooses not to. Most would say that he is a homebody for sure.”

Homebody. The word scared Aaron and further instilled in him a doubt that maybe the job wasn’t for him. When he envisioned working for a wealthy family, he imagined one that travelled a lot. One that left their home to not leave a single stone unturned in the world. The word homebody was one that would have been the opposite way to describe Aaron, and he did not want to work with someone who shared different values than he did. He wanted to be the man selling fruit, not the carpenter working for another man.

“I see. Do you mind if I just head over to that fruit stand myself? I have actually not eaten today and just want to make sure I am alert for everything you are telling me about the job.”

“Of course, go right ahead. I will be by the horses when you return.”

Aaron walked away, putting the air back into his lungs. He was unsure of what he was going to do. He had come a long way to speak about the job, and going back home seemed like a worse option.

But taking the job felt more like a trap at that point. He could see the rest of his life play out before him if he said yes. He would start out driving the carriage, doing the same thing day in and day out for a man who most likely would not give a damn about him. After a decade of doing that, he may marry someone he would just settle with out of loneliness. Maybe they would have a few kids, and he would struggle to put food on their table. Eventually, he would become head of the stables but feel as though he did not live up to his full potential. All the adventures and travelling he wanted to do would be non-existent because he would be tied to driving the carriage every day. The whole notion of that life terrified him.

“What would you like? I have apples, pears, bananas, and they’re all fresh.” The fruit salesman asked him. The walk from the stable to the stand had been far quicker than he thought, which didn’t bode well for his future driving to and from the Hardon house.

“I will take an apple, thank you.”

Aaron watched the man go for the apple, wipe it off with water, use a rag to clean it, and then smile while handing it over to Aaron. He made cleaning an apple seem like some sort of melodic song.

After he paid him, he turned back around to ask the fruit salesman, “You seem like you enjoy what you do here. Do you have any regrets, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Regrets?” The man laughed. “I take it that you see this fruit stand and see some sort of boring, modest living—”

“No, no, actually quite the contrary. You seem rather free. I ask because I am at a crossroads on whether I should take a job or not. It is not what I see myself doing.”

“Then why do it? We all don’t know how long we are going to get to live. To answer your question, no, I do not have any regrets. I do not have a wife or have a family, but every day I am a man who chooses how he will live out the day. As much as I love serving those people in the Hardon house, I do not envy the stone walls that enslave them.”

Aaron nodded. “Have a great day.” And then he walked back to the stables. On the way back, Aaron had made up his mind. He would not take the job as the driver. He needed to find something that felt right to him, something that made the rest of his years in the world seem fruitful. And driving a carriage a few miles every day, was not it. He would go back home and figure out something new, a new plan that would deliver on his every dream.

Aaron reached Thomas while biting into his apple.

“You’re back great. Listen, I was thinking; you’re adept at working with horses, you know what you’re doing. I think that you can handle this job with ease. What do you say, do you want the job?”

Before Aaron could reject the offer, he spotted a stunning brunette girl who was plainly dressed, walking alongside another woman. She had been the most beautiful person that he had ever seen, so attractive that he could not look away. The way she carried herself, with her chin held high, she had either come from the Hardon house or was going back to it. Either way, Aaron felt the need to know her.

“That is great to hear. I will let the Earl know promptly.”

Aaron looked at Thomas and realized that he had taken the job while being distracted by the beautiful woman.  But that was okay, she gave him a reason to work there. In any case, it was too late to refuse.

“Glad to work here, Thomas, thank you. By the way, who is that girl over there?”

Chapter Two

The dirt sprinkled up beneath her feet, but somehow none of it got on her dress. Tap, tap, tap her feet went across the grass as Lady Matilda Bishop ran across the yard without a care. The wind bathed her hair, the sun hugged her skin. The day was as good as it could have gotten, and that was because Matilda made her own fun.

She laughed while keeping her breath steady. The two tasks were not easy to do while running at the speed that she had been running. What caused her to laugh was the chatter of the maids giving chase to Matilda. It was a game of cat and mouse, one which she enjoyed thoroughly.

Matilda had always done what was expected of her. She followed her duties and family expectations without any issue. And that was the thing most people enjoyed about her. She could be relied on. And because she abided in what was expected of her, most people were also comfortable around her as well. She did not mind much, having that reputation because when it came to the few times she had pulled a stunt, like running away from home, the repercussions were minimal. And on occasion, she needed to get away. She needed to make her own rules in order to feel as though the perfect Matilda was also her own person.

When the voices of the maids dulled and finally fizzled away completely, Matilda knew that she had gotten the slip on them. It was not the first time as it had become practice for her in a way. She knew what route to take and what objects to jump over in order to outrun them. Aside from rarely getting in trouble, she had also prided herself on being able to outsmart some of the maids in that way. She adored them and appreciated their hard work daily, but at times having maids could often be like having guards who share gossip. Not all, but most. It was much like the time she had first bled, and those in the castle knew before her own mother. That was when she learned that there are nice maids, there are maids who gossip, and there are both.

Matilda stopped running behind a tree and took a moment to catch her breath. When she could breathe normally once more, she sat beneath that tree and opened up a book. There was nothing like the open air, the grass beneath her, and a love story on the pages right below her nose. And the one she had been reading had hooked her immediately.

And that made her curious. Despite her reading books about love, Matilda often wondered why she had always been so enamoured by them. She had never experienced love or romance of any kind, but reading stories about it brought her no greater joy. From the ups and downs of the story to the way in which the man and woman always find true love in the end, the tales always excited her like she had never read them before. And she had read more than she could count.

Sometimes, pondering her enthusiasm towards love books made her think about her own future. Would she one day fill the shoes of the very love-struck heroines she would read about daily?

But she was not afforded the opportunity to think in that regard on that day because she was suddenly distracted by rustling not too far behind her. Someone had caught up to her, and that someone had been ultra-sneaky about it. Matilda had thought she lost all the chasing maids.

Matilda took a deep breath while closing her eyes. As she did so, she closed her book at the same time. She envisioned running away, so much so that she had mapped out a route in her mind. Sure, it was just a game; after all, running away made great fodder, but still, she would not lose at her own game that easily.

Her rear-end left the ground to burst into another sprint when a hand clamps down on her shoulder. The grip was tight and could only be that of someone bigger or older than she had been—adult anger was attached to the hand that held her for sure.

When Matilda turns around to see who it is, she realizes that it is Ann, her lady’s maid. It is to Matilda’s surprise to see that Ann is not as angry as her grip let on. Instead, there is a slight smirk rested beneath the woman’s nose.

Ann had always been one to understand Matilda better than most. The few annoyances or misunderstandings on Matilda’s behalf that would cause frustration within most, Ann always tended to know Matilda’s intent. Therefore, she judged her less. But that did not mean that she came without her own seriousness or critique.

“Running away on the day you are to meet Charles.” Ann started. “Why would I have expected you to do anything else? It is always an adventure when it comes to you.”

Matilda enjoyed that about Ann. Even when she had faced her scorn, there a heartfelt element to it somewhere deep down underneath it all. “I am becoming rather predictable, I must say. Perhaps I will never be like one of the characters in my book.”

Ann sent her eyes to the book in Matilda’s hands, and there was not a hint of amusement anywhere on her face. Her eyes then made a judgment on the dress that Matilda had been wearing. She knew that someone would have something to say about it the second that she had put it on in the morning.

“What did we speak about the other day about the dress you are wearing?” Ann asked.

Matilda fought with herself on answering. She hated being quizzed when she knew that it was a trick question into getting her to admit her own wrongdoings. But, respect was key, so she replied, “I am to not wear this dress because mother finds it too plain.”

And whose duty is it to make sure that your mother’s daughter abides by her wishes?”

“Yours.”

“That is correct. So that means that when your mother sees the dress again on her daughter, it is a reflection on my work ethic. But not only that, it’s a reflection on my listening skills and capability to follow commands. But you would know nothing about that now, would you?”

“Forgive me,” Matilda started in an effort to get Ann to understand her point of view but knew that it would most likely not happen given the red glow growing on Ann’s face. “But I don’t see the importance of what fabrics line my body. All the characters in my books never once fixate on what they are wearing. They focus on love, their story. Why can’t the real world be more like that?”

Ann rolled her eyes and then rummaged through the little bag that she had slung over her torso. “You answered your own question. The important word there is real.” Out came some ribbons in Ann’s hands. “You are in the real world. And what you wear is often just as important as the words that come out of your mouth.”

It was then that Ann tried to spruce up Matilda’s dress with the ribbon. As some short time passed, her hands moved faster, and her lips grew pursed. Matilda wanted to laugh somewhat at just how difficult it proved to be to make such a plain dress look fanciful.

Ann’s words had made sense to her, but she still enjoyed living under the hope that her stories did hold some truth in them. Hope was not something that Matilda took for granted. At times, hope seemed like the only thing that was guaranteed in life if, of course, you believed in it.

Matilda continued to watch Ann make the dress look more expensive than it was. There was so much focus in Ann’s eyes, so much honest intent. That was just the way Ann did things. Whatever she did, she always put all her effort into it. She cared about the most trivial of things, always claiming that it is the small things that make the big picture. So, even though Ann had just been a maid, Matilda looked up to her in the same way that she looked up to her mother and the characters in her books. She was a strong female, someone who knew the world in ways that Matilda had yet to discover. And because of that, she valued Ann’s opinion, even when it frustrated her to admit it.

“Ann, you always seem to know the answers to the most complicated questions. How is that?”

Ann’s face, after all the time since finding Matilda under the tree, finally softened. “I am glad that some of my wisdom does not fall from your ears like a leaf from a tree branch. But to answer your question, I would say that I don’t necessarily know all the answers, but I am willing to learn. When you are willing to learn, you can never be wrong.”

Matilda liked that notion because she enjoyed learning quite a lot. That was a hobby she could get behind. But her real question was about to make its presence known. “What do you think love is?”

Ann let out a little chuckle. “For someone who spent a good amount of energy running, you are full of questions today, aren’t you?”

“I am always willing to learn like you said.”

“I suppose that love is a mix of what it’s like to see a butterfly, an excitement that really does not compare to other things, and finally, an inescapable desire to be near that special someone. When all those aspects come together, you can place a safe bet that you may be in love.”

For Matilda, it was almost as if Ann had stolen the very feelings the characters in her books would feel. Which was ironic because Ann had separated them from the real world. It seemed as though love existed all the same in the real world.

“Enough with all this talk about love. I have a question for you now.” Ann said with a hint of pride. She had just finished fine-tuning the ribbons on Matilda’s dress. Ann always became so happy when she accomplished her little goals.

“Go ahead and ask. I am an open book!”

“As you see how difficult it is to make a plain dress nice, will you now start wearing fine dresses like this one in the future?”

Matilda lets out a laugh, it was bigger than she expected, and she thought that maybe it was due to the stress of the day. She had begun to feel somewhat fatigued. “I have grown rather accustomed to my collection of plain dresses because when I get into something like the grass, my mother does not get mad in seeing that my plain dress is filthy. But the few times that I wore the nice dresses and they got dirty, her disappointment had been a bit much for me. And perhaps disappointment is the wrong word. Anger would better suit her reaction.”

“I see,” Ann says. “We shall head back. You mustn’t be late for your meeting with Charles.”

Matilda nodded, clutching her book tightly in her hand.

***

Both of them met Charles by the small stream edging the property as he fished with his and Matilda’s father. Seeing everyone created a strange feeling inside of Matilda. As many times as she had seen them all together before, that time felt different. It felt as though she were walking into her future, a future she was unsure about but still carried a hope within.

“I shall leave you now.” Ann started. “Try not to get your dress too dirty.” She joked.

Before Ann walked off, Matilda grabbed her by the wrist. “What if there are no butterflies? Do you wait for them to arrive, or do you hope that they do instead?”

That softened face of Ann returned once more. “When was the last time you waited for a butterfly?” And then Ann took her leave.

Matilda contrives to sit a short distance away from the fathers to speak with Charles. They had been friends forever, so she never had to worry about the conversation being forced or weird. But given the thoughts that seemed to fill her mind unwarranted, it did feel unusual sitting next to him that day.

Matilda began to think to herself,

Comfort and ease must be a form of love. No one is antsy around a butterfly. Without being comfortable with someone, how could you possibly love them? And I am comfortable around Charles. We have known each other for so long. I never once feel out of sorts with myself when around him. So that must speak to something. 

But what Ann said, about the sparks, about needing to be around someone, I do not have that with Charles. I do not miss him. I do not long for his company. And I want to know what that is like. I want to feel what Ann was speaking about. I want to feel what the characters in my books feel. 

Matilda looked at Charles. She studied his face while he looked off in the distance. Those feelings were not there.

---

“A Lady’s Sinful Journey” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Miss Matilda Bishop, being the daughter of the Earl of Hardon, always dreamt about the life she never had. Ever since her childhood, she used to have her nose in a book, reading about the power of true love. Little did she know that her heart would soon flutter for the first time…When an attractive young man starts working as a carriage driver for the Earl, desire instantly sparks inside her. However, her stubborn mother has other plans for her, pushing her to secure a good marriage. Will Matilda accept a forced marriage with a man she does not love or will she find the courage to go after the flaming passion she truly dreams of?

Aaron Masters is a charming man who was deceived by the lies of a cruel woman that once loved. Even though the traumas of his past still haunt him, he decides to leave everything behind and take a job at the Hardon House. Life there turns out to be a world of freedom, until he is captivated by Mathilda, both physically and mentally. Despite trying to fight the undeniable attraction to a woman who was never meant for him, their sizzling connection is impossible to deny. Will Aaron finally surrender to her irresistible beauty or will he resist the temptation and stay focused at his new job?

Just when Aaron and Matilda accept that it is impossible to tame their growing feelings, Matilda is informed that a long-time childhood friend is about to propose to her. Trying to endure all the obstacles that emerge, the passionate couple will come closer than ever to each other. Will Aaron and Matilda get to live out their storybook life that they’ve always dreamed of, or will their lust vanish forever?

“A Lady’s Sinful Journey” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Get your copy from Amazon!