Trapped & Liberated
Page 9
Although Violet could not imagine why her mother urged her out of bed in the middle of the night, she nodded and quickly did as she was bid. After all, Violet’s little heart felt nothing but unconditional love and trust toward her mother. Always had she wiped away her daughter’s tears. Always had she comforted her on stormy nights. Always had she whispered words of love and promise in her ear.
No, there was not a single doubt in Violet’s head as she pulled the cloak tightly around her small shoulders and then followed her mother out into the corridor.
Still, her heart beat loudly and the fingers of her right hand curled almost painfully into the woollen cloak while the other rested safely in her mother’s.
Like shadows, they rushed down the dark corridor, past closed doors and then down one of the servants’ staircases in the back of Silcox Manor. Everything looked different at night, with the sun locked away tightly, and nothing but the silvery light of the moon touching the world. There were no sounds of rushing footsteps–none but their own–nor any voices whispering nearby. Only the wind howled around the house as it blew in from the sea and swept over the cliffs to the east of her father’s country estate.
All her life, Violet had lived here, in a house full of servants with her mother by her side. Her father only occasionally visited them and insisted that his wife accompany him to London for a few weeks each year during the season. These weeks were the most awful of Violet’s life.
Away from her mother.
Alone and unwanted.
Despite her young age, Violet knew very well that her birth had been a disappointment to her father as was the fact that no further child had been born these past six years. Her father wished for nothing more than a son.
An heir.
He had no use for a daughter, and he did not try to hide his resentment.
Early on, Violet had learnt that her father was not one to turn to with the joys and sorrows of life. Instead, her little heart had turned to the woman who never failed to look at her with love and devotion shining in her blue eyes.
Alexandra Winters, Viscountess Silcox, was her daughter’s whole world…and Violet would have followed her into hell if she had asked.
Unlocking the heavy door, her mother looked down at Violet, a slight smile playing on her lips, and squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Are you ready?”
Violet nodded. “Where are we going?”
“On a ship.”
“A ship?” Violet’s little heart skipped a beat. “You mean, like Gulliver’s Travels?”
Her mother sighed, momentarily leaning against the door. Then her dark blue eyes turned to her daughter. “I do not know what awaits us, my sweet child, but I am certain that we will find happiness out there that is denied us in here.” Then she drew in a deep breath, pushed open the heavy door with a slight grunt and pulled her daughter out into the night toward a new life.
Before they had even taken more than two steps, the wind rushed toward them, brushing over their cheeks and stealing under their hoods, pulling strands of their golden hair loose. Her mother’s hand tightened on Violet’s as she leaned into the wind and headed down the small path leading down toward the cliffs and the beach below.
Violet could hear the howling of a nearing storm, and even in the dark she could make out heavy clouds drifting in from the sea. Beside them, Silcox Manor loomed like a giant in the night, and Violet could not help but feel relieved with each step they took toward their adventure and away from the prison that had been their home.
With her mother’s hand wrapped tightly around her own, Violet followed her down the small path snaking toward the beach, her little feet stumbling over rocks here and there. Still, her mother’s grasp never wavered, catching her when need be.
Heading down the slope toward the beach, Violet glanced apprehensively at the tall boulders that seemed to have risen out of the earth and cast dark shadows even in the dim light of the silvery moon overhead. Her heart thudded wildly, and she did her best to remind herself that they were not monsters come to devour her, but merely tricks her mind played on her in the dark.
Still, when her eyes caught movement among the shadows and then something jumped into their path, a terrified shriek tore from Violet’s lips.
Fortunately, it was drowned out by the howling of the wind.
Clinging to her mother, Violet stared at the shadow as it moved closer and then stepped into the light of the moon. Only then did her heart slow down as she saw that the monster was not a monster after all, but a man.
A man dressed almost completely in black were it not for the white shirt peeking out from under his vest and tailcoat. His dark hair was half-hidden under a sea captain’s hat, and his eyes shone steel grey in the light of the moon. A sword dangled from his hip, and he moved with cat-like stealth. Everything about this man seemed dangerous, threatening.
Everything but his eyes.
For they looked at Violet’s mother with such longing and devotion that the little girl soon forgot to be afraid. Instead, curiosity filled her as she observed the way he took her mother’s hand, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles as his gaze held hers. “Are you all right, ma chérie?” he asked, a strange lilt to his voice. “Did anyone see you?”
“I do not believe so,” her mother replied, a soft smile on her face as she looked at him…and for a long moment, neither one of them said a word, the world around them all but forgotten.
Squeezing her mother’s hand, Violet looked up at them, surprised by the glow that had come to her mother’s face. “Mummy?”
Her mother swallowed, then blinked as though waking from a dream. “This is my daughter,” she said, looking down at Violet and pulling her closer into her arms. “Violet.”
The man nodded, and his eyes drifted down to her. “Bon soir, Violette,” he addressed her, a gentle smile coming to his lips as he knelt down in front of her. “Have you ever been on a ship?”
Violet shook her head. “Are you a pirate?” she asked, surprising even herself by asking that question.
The man laughed. “Not quite, ma petite. My name is Antoine Duret, and I am a privateer, sailing under a French flag.” He glanced up at her mother, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. Then his eyes returned to Violet, and once more, she could see the depth of his emotions plainly on his face. “I’ve come to steal your mother away.” Again, he smiled as though his heart’s desire had just been fulfilled. “Your mother and you.” Then he held out his hand to her. “Will you come with me?”
Glancing up at her mother, Violet could see that her eyes were glistening with tears. Still, her face held neither fear nor sorrow, but hope and trust instead. And in that moment, Violet knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that her mother had found someone to love.
Someone who loved her just the same.
And despite being only six years of age, Violet knew how precious that was.
After all, didn’t her mother always say that love was the one thing not even the rich could buy?
Taking a deep breath, Violet slipped her hand into Antoine’s and his fingers closed around hers warmly, the same way her other hand rested in her mother’s. Perhaps this man who had come for them in the dark of night could not only love her mother, but Violet as well.
As Antoine guided them down toward the beach, Violet wondered if she would ever know the love of a father, if she would ever know what it felt like to be looked upon with pride.
Violet could only hope so.
Let the adventure begin.
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Overview
Love’s Second Chance Series
#1 Forgotten & Remembered
GRAHAM ASTOR, Duke of Kensington, is done with love, and ROSABEL LANDER never believed in it. But when Graham needs help raising his daughter and Rosabel cannot burden her family any longer, can they find a new, happy life together?
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#2 Cursed & Cherished
ED
MOND DUNSWORTH, Duke of Cromwell, is bankrupt and therefore he marries ANNA HANDFORD for her sizable dowry. Anna is determined to hate him. Can Edmond change her mind with his oh so charming self or will there never be a happily ever after?
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#3 Despised & Desired
War hero FREDERICK LANCASTER never intended to become the Marquess of Elmridge. When his mother picks spinster ELLIE MUNFORD as his bride, he doesn’t expect romance — but together they might find love and healing in each other’s arms.
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#4 Abandoned & Protected
When HENRIETTA is married off to CONNOR BRUNWOOD, Marquis of Rodridge, she’s determined to hate the Scotsman. Can she learn to look past her prejudices and find love?
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#5 Ruined & Redeemed
When Lady CHARLOTTE’s life is ruined, she buries her past and reinvents herself as Lotte, a lady’s companion. SEBASTIAN, the future Earl of Weston, thinks marrying unsuitable Lotte is just the thing to aggravate his father — only to later learn who his bride really is…
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#6 Betrayed & Blessed
TRISTAN TURNER, Viscount Elton, is haunted by his past and tries every day ineffectively to live up to his family’s expectations. When he meets ELIZABETH „BETH“ WALKER he thinks his dreams of finding unconditional love have finally come true. But Beth has a secret which threatens to tear them apart. Can Tristan and Beth find love after all?
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#7 Deceived & Honoured
LADY MADELEINE, daughter to the Earl of Carlton, has vowed not to marry below the rank of an earl. But her plans go horribly wrong when she is compromised by the wrong man. A man named DEREK MCKNIGHT, a farmer’s son who was given a run-down barony for his service to the crown. Will Madeline ever be able to see past his title?
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#8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed (Bonus Novella)
MEAGAN DUNNING thought she'd lost her husband EDWARD to the war. Until he−presumed dead for over two years−shows up on her doorstep unexpectedly. However, although he returns from the war after all, the battle for his soul is only just beginning.
Will Meagan be able to reclaim his heart? Or has Edward given up hope long ago?
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#9 Condemned & Admired
VIOLET WINTERS, a French privateer’s daughter who fled England with her mother when she was a little girl, takes the chance to return to her home country unrecognised when fate delivers an English lord into her hands. OLIVER CORNELL, EARL OF CULLINGWOOD, fascinated by the adventurous gleam in her eyes, does not hesitate to offer his assistance…and pose as her husband.
Can a privateer’s daughter and a marquess’s son ever have a happily-ever-after?
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#10 Trapped & Liberated (Bonus Novella)
Trapped in an arranged marriage, ALEXANDRA WINTERS, LADY SILCOX, has abandoned every hope of true love. Her only happiness comes from her six year old daughter. Until one night when destiny leads Alexandra down to the beach below Silcox Manor and into the arms of the French privateer, ANTOINE DURET.
Can there be a happily-ever-after for an English lady and a French privateer?
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