Ann walked up the stairs to a labyrinth of hallways, she visited this part of the house frequently, and was familiar with the location of the library.
She pushed the door open to reveal the large Arnold library, it boasted many tall and huge shelves of book arranged in rows. She had been requested by lady Arnold to bring any book she could find on embroidery. Lady Arnold had been very concerned when she saw the
flower Miss Anna had tangled on her material.
Miss Anna was mostly interested at things that most girls her age will not be interested in. She could ride stallions and climb trees, she was the first person Ann had met when she came into employ, and she had met her slouching through knee deep mud, searching for something Ann could not remember. She Was very flustered when Anna had made her promise not to tell.
So Ann was not a least bit surprised when she saw the embroidery, instead she offered her a thimble as her finger had gone blue from
Ann stared at him unable to move, the pain in her leg was beginning to feel faint. She could hardly feel, see or hear anything other than the loud thumping of her heart. She just held her chest willing it to stop the noise. Time stopped and it felt like only her and Lord Richard were the only living beings still moving.She swallowed whenever she saw the look in his eyes, and her breath cut when he leaned closer. All she could do was wait, a part of her actually wanted to pull him close and just when she was sure she would make the most insane decision in her life, he got up."How do you feel?" He asked clearing his throat as he held her ankle."I'm fi...ow!...what are you doing?" She shrieked when he put pressure on the leg."Sorry, I am checking for fractures" he said loosening his grip."Um" was her reply, she felt like an idiot for asking such an obvious question. Once again she had sat waiting for him to do as he wished with her. A wave of embarras
“ I am that Mary wanderer of the night” that did not sound right, there was no one called Mary in the Midsummer night's dream, Richard thought. He had left his spectacles in his study, and was finding it hard to concentrate the word on the book. He had started reading immediately Ann had handed him the book a week ago, and he found the book quite enchanting.“May I see the book please?” Lady Watsby asked, collecting the book from Richard.“ I am that merry wanderer of the night” she corrected.“ I forgot my spectacles again, my apologies for the discomfort” Richard explained.“ I believe there is no cause for apologies” she replied waving him off.“ But if you insist, I would prefer some more of these delicious biscuits, to prove your sincerity” She added grinning.“ As expected, you are making good use of your opportunity” Richard laughed. He stood up to rin
Richard watched her scurry off, he thought about pursuing her, but he was not sure if she desired space. He had glanced at her a while ago, as she talked to Miss Elsa, and she did not look very fine. “ I think you should check on her, I have an important necessity to heed, and I can attend myself to the entrance ” “ Miss Elsa, I'm ce
The carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance of the castle owned by the earl of Hartfield. It was a vast structure with huge walls and eloquent heirlooms and Ann assumed it was as old as the title.Lord and Lady Mayfair stood outside along with their children and some other servant, waiting to greet their family.Ann had sat in the last carriage along with two very loud, babbling, and somewhat annoying maids. They had been assigned to chaperone
As Ann ambled through the dark foyer, her eyes beginning to adapt to the darkness, she could now see that it was quite unnaturally isolated and shewondered where the hall would lead to. Ann considered going back to the gathering but recalled that Mr. James may be asking after her at the party.She saw a figure striding towards her, and she chose to ask for directions from the stranger.She noticed the person walking directly towards her and realized she might have reached into a trap. She spun to walk away but he held her on the shoulder, as cold shivers rush down her spine. She immediately recognized his touch.“ Hello Ann, did you miss me?” He asked.“ What do you want?” Ann swallowed, fighting hard to hide her fear.“ What a way to greet you fiance” he drawled.“my apologies Mr. Kliner, but I have been too busy to recognize your existence” Ann replied, pushing
They walked down the hall until they entered a room which leads to the kitchen and soon enough, they got to a well lite hall with many doors opposite each other and Richard opened the door to one which she suspected was a study.He locked the door once he got inside and went straight to pour himself a glass of whisky, he drank it in one big gulp and poured another.“ Will you like a drink?” He offered.“ No, thank you” she answered.They sat in silence for a while before Ann decided to break the silence.“ You seemed very familiar with Mr. James,” she said.“ Yes, we met a few hours ago for some business, but I consider him an idiot” Richard shrugged.“ I suppose I could agree with you on that ” Ann replied.“ I suppose you should,” Richard said.They sat in silence again, as he sipped his wine, he watched Ann rubble with her fingers, th
Warning ⚠️ : some mature content present.He made her shiver. He made her melt. He made her want to give herself to him, something she'd sworn she would never do outside marriage.She felt his hand on the button of her dress, could feel the fabric loosening as each slipped through its buttonhole, this was everything she'd sworn she would never do, and yet when her bodice tumbled to her waist, leaving her shamelessly exposed, she gasped his name and arched her back, offering herself to him like some sort of forbidden fruit.Richard stopped breathing when he saw her in the dim light. He'd pictured this moment in his mind so many times. Every night as he lay in bed, and every dream when he slept.But this... This reality was far sweeter than a dream and far more erotic.His hand, which had been stroking the warm skin on her back slowly slid over her rib cage.&ld
Ann lay down in his warm arms, marveling at how a feeling like that could exist. She felt very sleepy as she battled with her eyelids against sleep. She knew once she awakens, it would all be gone like one perfect dream, except that Ann knew it was not.Richard was the best thing that has happened to her in a while, and although she oftentimes denied the fact, Ann had long acknowledged that she loved him, and most importantly, she also knew she could not have him.Since these past few years, Ann had been very uncertain about virtually all her decisions. She was uncertain about her family, he,r past, and her future, she was uncertain about the man resting beside her, and now Ann was uncertain about how she would live the rest of her life with just this one perfect memory. Regardless there was one thing Ann was certain about and that was her uncertainty.“ I love you” she heard him whisper and she panicked. He could not l
“ Richard!...” Ann called out, peeking in her husband's study, he looked as handsome as ever even when working, Ann thought with a smile. They had moved to Westonhigh after their wedding. Lady Arnold had argued that she needed fresh air from the countryside, and so convinced them to stay in London, while she and the twins moved to one of their family's homes in Yorkshire. She often visited London, but sh
To: Mr Liverbert January 1833Dearest Anthony,I'm writing this letter in hopes that it gets to you at the battlefield safely.I have missed your company greatly, and I imagine you are as handsome as ever on the field too.I suppose you may be wondering how I am be doing, and I assure you I'm quite fine, and I also recently found out that I'm with child.I discover been with child is such a remarkable and exciting feeling, and although I often have morning sickness, I see it as a relic that I have our child growing in me.my family got to know of my predicament a few days ago, and since then they have had this insane belief that I must marry your brother before y
Chapter 22 The Arnold carriage rode to a stop in the front of Liverbert home, the rain was pouring heavily and lady Arnold was briskly protesting about the fact that Richard had blatantly denied her a stop at the inn even though it was raining heavily outside. "Wait for me here," Richard said to his mother. "Where are you going in the rain?" she queried. "you should allow the footman to do his Job" she added holding him back. " There's little time to consider that to consider that Mother," Richard said before unlocking the door and barreling right into the terrace of the house. The door swung opened even before he knocked but he didn't find anyone there. "Hello Sir" he heard from below. He looks down to see a red-haired boy of about 9 years watching him with keen eyes. " I... I presume this is the home of the Ba
Chapter 20Ann rose from her bed dimly reminiscing her room.She had gotten home safely two days ago and she had been warmly welcomed by everyone, surprisingly including her aunty.Her uncle had asked after her health.Her room had been prepared shortly and as usual, she shared a room with Prudence. Ann somehow felt like the prodigal son, but in a good way.She was starting to think that her leaving home was somewhat a good idea.She no longer felt worried about her unmarried status, although little had changed in her marital status since she left.Her aunty had given birth to another set of twins a boy and girl during her absence and they were as wonderful as the rest of their siblings.Ann was relishing the life of a likely spinster.“ Maryann, wake up... wake up...” Ann heard the ti
“ Where to? If I may ask&
Richard opened his fourth bottle of imported whisky and poured a generous portion in his cup, he gobbled it down ignoring the burning sensation lingering in his throat.He was feeling as bleak as he did every other day since the past week. He walked around his friends' study glancing through some books before slumping on a sofa. He instantly recognised the chair, he had taken Ann there almost a fortnight ago, and he surged quickly inspecting for any sign of blood. There was a tard bit, although it was almost invisible on the black chair, he pour in some of his drink and began brushing it off with the tail of his coat. He felt so crude for not been able to give her the decency of losing her innocence in his own home. Richard had retreated to his accommodation that night and had at once immersed himself with his work, he had spent the week giving attention to all his business ledgers that he had left hanging whilst his frequent stay at home. H
It has been a week since the incident and Ann felt no better.The taught that she had been the one who instigated the whole situation did not help matters. she had not seen Richard for quite a while, and she was not sureif she ought to be pleased with him.Lady Arnold and the twins appear to sense her feelings, and Ann noticed that they were walking on an eggshell around her.She felt dreadful for making her employers grope that way, she felt like she was taking advantage of their tolerance even when they did not know why she was acting that way, but Ann could wager that they presumed it had to do with Richard not stopping by for some time.Ann sat in bed eyeing herself in the mirror. She looked pale from her continuous crying. Ann was doubtful of why she was always crying, the tears just came and she found it arduous to control it
Ann lay down in his warm arms, marveling at how a feeling like that could exist. She felt very sleepy as she battled with her eyelids against sleep. She knew once she awakens, it would all be gone like one perfect dream, except that Ann knew it was not.Richard was the best thing that has happened to her in a while, and although she oftentimes denied the fact, Ann had long acknowledged that she loved him, and most importantly, she also knew she could not have him.Since these past few years, Ann had been very uncertain about virtually all her decisions. She was uncertain about her family, he,r past, and her future, she was uncertain about the man resting beside her, and now Ann was uncertain about how she would live the rest of her life with just this one perfect memory. Regardless there was one thing Ann was certain about and that was her uncertainty.“ I love you” she heard him whisper and she panicked. He could not l
Warning ⚠️ : some mature content present.He made her shiver. He made her melt. He made her want to give herself to him, something she'd sworn she would never do outside marriage.She felt his hand on the button of her dress, could feel the fabric loosening as each slipped through its buttonhole, this was everything she'd sworn she would never do, and yet when her bodice tumbled to her waist, leaving her shamelessly exposed, she gasped his name and arched her back, offering herself to him like some sort of forbidden fruit.Richard stopped breathing when he saw her in the dim light. He'd pictured this moment in his mind so many times. Every night as he lay in bed, and every dream when he slept.But this... This reality was far sweeter than a dream and far more erotic.His hand, which had been stroking the warm skin on her back slowly slid over her rib cage.&ld