by Abby Ayles
He breathed deeply. It had been a long day and he was beginning to feel it. Liam looked around the house and found a number of things that would make Elaine unhappy.
“Could you fix the pillows in the sitting room?” he asked Mrs. Teed. “And align those paintings on the wall?” he continued as one by one he listed the items which would cause his friend distress. She was very particular about the things around her and found disorder particularly abhorrent.
“Yes, Your Lordship,” the woman replied. “I will see to them right away.”
“Thank you. Her Ladyship does not like to see crooked paintings,” he informed.
“Yes, sir,” the housekeeper answered as he walked further into the house. Liam retreated to his room to rest until his friends returned home.
Liam lay across the bed and closed his eyes. He draped his arm over them as he forced himself to relax, as thoughts of Mr. Hollingsworth and his family plagued him. His mother cared so much for the people of the parish and he felt as if he had failed them.
He had lived his life living up to the expectations of two vastly different parents. His father was a man of business, whose prowess had made him a tidy fortune, one that his mother was happy to share with those who could not make such a sum in their lifetime. He did his best to be both of them, but eventually one gave way to the other.
He was thirty-three now and unmarried, with a new business about to get off the ground and the one he already had in operation. He had inherited the manufacturing company from his father and had made it quite prosperous in his time as its head.
However, his interest lay abroad, and that was the reason for the new direction he was taking in his life. It was a direction that brought into question all he had done in his life before.
He had no one. His parents were gone and he had no siblings, which might have explained his constant presence in the lives of Aaron and Elaine. He enjoyed their company immensely - they were the siblings he would have wished for if his parents had provided them. Still, there was something missing in all of their lives – a companion.
Elaine and Aaron had each other primarily, however that would change. Elaine already had a suitor and it would not be as long as Aaron thought before some lady snagged his attention and kept it. Then where would that leave him? Liam had no prospects, and he was not a man who amused himself by entertaining ladies with no intention of marrying. He lived a simple life.
Liam opened his eyes and looked up into the dark. He needed to make another change in his life. He needed to find someone to live it with. Who and what he was looking for, he had no concept of, but he was sure that once he opened himself to it the lady would appear. God had a way of showing up once the doors were open.
Do you want to find out how the story continues?
Click on the link below:
http://abbyayles.com/AmB021
Also by Abby Ayles
● The Lady, The Duke And The Gentleman
● A Broken Heart’s Redemption
● Falling for the Governess
● The Lady’s Gamble
● The Lady’s Patient
● Saving Lady Abigail
● Engaging Love
● Portrait of Love
● A Mysterious Governess for the Reluctant Earl
● Loving A Lady
● Redeeming Love for the Haunted Ladies
● The Secret to the Ladies’ Hearts
● Falling for the Hartfield Ladies
● Capturing the Viscount’s Heart
● The Odd Mystery of the Cursed Duke
● Secret Dreams of a Fearless Governess
● A Second Chance for the Tormented Lady
● The Lady in the Gilded Cage