The Curious Swan

by Kenzie Hart

  Table Of Contents

  Title Page

  Book Blurb

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  ABOUT THIS BOOK:

  There are moments when life gently taps you on the shoulder.

  You likely will turn your head, peering back to see what is seeking your attention.

  In Eddie’s case, it wasn’t a light tap on the shoulder.

  Actually, he was almost toppled over by the sheer force of what was trying to get his attention.

  More so, who was capturing his attention.

  And her name was Klara Kentwood.

  Copyright © 2019 by Kenzie Hart

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. This young adult romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with someone, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with, especially if you love swoon-worthy boys, strong heroines, and epic love stories.

  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy.

  Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com

  Cover Design, Seedlings Cover Design, www.seedlingsonline.com

  Eclipse Publishing, Inc.

  Madeira Beach, FL

  ISBN: 978-1-946793-78-2

  “Do you want an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?”

  —J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy

  PROLOGUE

  It was a simple moment at the beginning of summer. Klara was sprawled out on the couch, flipping through her favorite novel and wafting away her great-grandmother’s smoke when all of a sudden, she hastily closed the book and spoke. “Sometimes I think Father just doesn’t understand that I’m not a child anymore. But the truth is, I’m not. I’m growing into a woman, and a sophisticated one at that. And just because I love children’s literature and the worlds within my novels, doesn’t mean I’m detached from the real one,” she huffed.

  Cordelia had smiled to herself. Klara’s world was by no means small, but it was simple and had always been filled with characters from novels—epic romances spanning the seas, forests filled with honey bears, and skies with children who could fly. Their estate, and Klara’s mind, has always been filled with stories. In many ways, her life was as open as a partially-read book. Ready for the pages to be turned, in any direction and at any speed.

  And that was what Cordelia wished for in that moment. That the pages would start turning for Klara. That Klara would start living her own story.

  But that wish was made in naivety.

  It was made before Edward came into Klara’s life. Before Klara’s father returned to the estate. Before Klara’s mother’s death rose back into her memory. And before Cordelia herself found her great-granddaughter at her own birthday party, heaved over in a pile, broken. Broken by a boy. Broken by her father. And broken from within. It’s amazing how only a few short months can change everything for a young girl.

  Cordelia glanced back at Klara, the youthful and glowing girl, still untainted by life. By men. But we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves, so let’s return to the beginning. To where it all started.

  And that, was with Eddie.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Come on, boy. We’ve got to get a move on, or we’re going to be late!” Eddie's father shouts from outside.

  “Now, Eddie,” his mother scolds, “you should have gotten out of bed sooner, so you’d have had time for a decent breakfast.”

  Eddie sucks in a gulp of hot tea before pulling on his work boots.

  “Sit down and eat,” she says.

  "I wish I could, Mum,” Eddie replies, placing a kiss on her cheek, “but you heard Dad. Apparently, we’re in a hurry.”

  Eddie rolls his eyes causing his mother to laugh.

  “Well, at least take some biscuits,” she says, handing them to him.

  “It's about time,” his father yells from the window of his beat-up truck as Eddie heads out the door and rushes down the gravel drive.

  Although Eddie's father, Doyle Barnett, is somewhat annoyed, he feels a tinge of pride that today will be his son’s first day of helping to tend the grounds of the Kentwood Estate. Doyle started as a meager groundskeeper in his youth and eventually worked his way up to running his own landscaping business. He isn’t well off by any means, but it’s enough to put food on the table and keep his family warm during cold nights. When Eddie finally reaches the truck and hops into the passenger seat, he has a biscuit hanging out of his mouth, crumbs falling down onto his shirt.

  “Sorry, Dad. You know how Mum is. Always makes you finish your plate and drain your tea glass before leaving the table.” He grins, biting into the biscuit, obviously not too upset about being late.

  His father rolls his eyes. “You know your mother. She gets more joy feeding the two of us than from anything else.”

  Eddie nods his head in agreement. Everyone in the neighborhood knows when his mother, Rose, is baking one of her delicious pies. She opens the kitchen windows wide and hums to herself as she sifts flour and boils fruit. You can hear her sweet voice and the scent of cooking dough throughout their small town.

  “Today is an important day, son. It’s the first time you will be helping me and my other workers tend to the Kentwood Estate. They are our biggest client, so you need to be on your best behavior.”

  “I know, Dad. I’m actually curious to see the place. I’ve only ever seen it from outside the gates, and they have so much land, you can barely make out the house,” Eddie says, smiling as he wipes his mouth, clearing away the leftover biscuit crumbs.

  Mr. Barnett turns to examine his son. Edward—or Eddie, as everyone calls him—is a strong boy, reaching just over six foot, and has well-defined muscles from the landscaping work he does outside of school. Even though he’s starting to look like a man, his foolish grin and shaggy strawberry-blond hair reveal his youthful age of only seventeen years.

  “It’s a landscaper’s dream. And worst nightmare.” Eddie’s father laughs lightly, his eyes creasing at the edge.

  Eddie rolls down the window, looking out toward the shops and market as they barrel through town as quickly as one can in an old truck with a large trailer attached. People move slowly through the streets, stopping to greet one another. Children kick a ball down a cobblestone side road they pass. As he and his father approach the towering gates of the Kentwood c
ompound, Eddie’s excitement blossoms. He imagines what it would be like to live in such a grand place. His father has never aspired for anything so great. After all, you can only get so far in life working as his father does. He pushes the thought aside, deciding it’s pointless to ponder such thoughts, because this seems to be his birthright—a birthright that could never afford him an estate such a this, or the opulence that must go along with it.

  Klara Kentwood squints her eyes at the sun. She’s lying on her back in the meadow. It’s a warm summer day, and the light breeze is ruffling her white cotton dress. Her hair is splayed out around her, and she examines the clouds as she mindlessly runs her fingers across the grass. What a magical day. If only Grandmother enjoyed the sunshine as much as she did, they could lie out in the meadow together. But it’s during these times alone when she gets to relax in peace.

  With her tutoring done for the spring, she has the whole summer holiday to enjoy herself. She’s already planning on filling her days with tea parties, reading, and visits to the lake. And helping Grandmother work on her memoirs is a big project that will continue to take up a portion of each and every day.

  Klara smiles to herself, feeling completely content. She shifts her focus back to the clouds, noticing their ever-changing shapes. As soon as she places one and decides upon what that cloud reminds her of, it shifts into something else. It’s infuriating yet completely captivating. And the perfect activity for a day such as today.

  It’s at about this time that Eddie is walking through the meadow, taking in the landscaping design of the estate. It’s even larger than he imagined and includes gardens, meadows, open fields, and a portion of a forest. He studies the layout of the garden. A few of the trees’ placements are off, and he wonders why his father hasn’t fixed them. With a few adjustments and some pruning back of varying hedges, he feels he could bring this place to a new level of grandness—if such a thing were possible. He tilts his head back, taking in the warm sunshine on his face.

  “Hello there,” a soft voice says, startling him.

  Eddie brings his face down and is greeted by a girl staring up at him. For a moment, he remains startled because the girl is incredibly beautiful. Her sun-kissed hair hangs loosely over her shoulders and flows halfway down her back, her skin a soft cream color. She has a small button nose and rosy-pink lips. Her pale blue eyes are defined by thick, light lashes.

  She clears her throat, and a blush spreads across Eddie’s skin. He darts his eyes away from her, trying to gather his wandering thoughts. He must look like a fool, just standing here, staring at her, but it’s hard to focus on anything else.

  He composes himself, and a wide grin spreads across his face. “Hey there. I’m Eddie,” he says, extending his hand out to hers, but as he does so, he notices dirt on his palm and quickly pulls his hand back. He wipes it on the side of his pants, clearing away the leftover soil, which brings a small, concealed smile to Klara’s face.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Eddie. I’m Klara Kentwood.” She takes his hand in hers, giving it a proper shake. “Isn’t it just wonderful?” she asks as she inhales and smiles, tilting her face back up toward the sun. She feels curiosity bubbling within herself about the boy, but it’s at that moment when the wind whips up, sending a breeze filled with the scent of meadow flowers around her.

  Eddie looks at her strangely, not sure what to make of her. His brows furrow with his response, “What is?”

  “The flowers, of course. Can’t you smell them? Their scent is intoxicating.”

  For a brief moment, Eddie closes his eyes and inhales, taking in the scent of roses lingering in the air. He relaxes slightly as he opens his eyes back up. “The smell is quite nice,” he admits.

  Klara smiles and takes a moment to examine Eddie. He is a little lanky but will likely grow into his height soon enough. He looks to be the same age as her, though it’s always hard to tell with boys. But he has warm brown eyes she quite likes.

  She sits back down onto the grass, getting herself comfortable. “So, did you just happen upon my meadow?”

  “Your meadow?” is the only thing Eddie can come up with as a response to her question.

  “I am here every day. Well, almost every day. You see, sometimes, I can’t make it out because I have to help Grandmother around the house, or the animals want a little extra attention. But I’m here all the time, and I’ve never seen you here before.”

  “I suppose you haven’t. I’ve never been here before,” Eddie responds, sitting down next to her. “I’m a landscaper. Well, training to be one anyway. My father takes care of the estate grounds.”

  “Your father is Mr. Barnett! Oh, he’s such a lovely man. He drives a hard bargain when it comes time to pay—or so Grandmother says. But she likes that about him, though she wouldn’t dare admit it to anyone other than me. And he does such a wonderful job of tending to the gardens.”

  She smiles then lies back down, leaving Eddie feeling a little awkward, sitting up, looking at her. Klara is quite curious, to say the least. She lives within the grandest estate he’s ever seen. He imagined its residents to be posh and stuffy. What he didn’t expect was a girl lying out in the meadows. Especially one he’s never seen around town, even though she looks to be the same age as him.

  “I’m sure my father will be happy to hear that.” Eddie pauses, trying not to sound daft. “Do you go to school close by, or are you home for the holiday? I haven’t seen you around.” He can’t help himself but ask. He suddenly, and surprisingly, wants to know everything about this girl.

  “It’s quite odd we’ve never crossed paths. I’m in town often actually. I run down to get bread for the birds and bath salts for Grandmother almost every week. And, as far as my education, I have a tutor who comes to the house. I’ll be year thirteen after the summer holiday.”

  “Me, too,” Eddie replies. “Then, I’ll finally be done with school.”

  “Until university.” Klara giggles, thinking how the coursework never seems to end. But she doesn’t mind; she truly enjoys her studies.

  “Well, not the university part for me,” he comments back.

  Klara sits up and gives him a perplexed look. “Why won’t you be going to university?”

  “My father wants me to take over the landscaping company. I work as much as I can now with school, but once I’m done, he will train me full-time,” he says, feeling a little deflated. He already can see his future. Residing in a similar house as his parents. Having his father wanting to train him, yet never letting him take the reins or grow the business. There’s nothing wrong with his life, but Eddie can’t help but want something different. Something more, something for himself.

  And he can tell by her tone that Klara isn’t pleased with the idea of him not attending university. He doesn’t even know this girl and should hardly care for her opinion on it. But, truthfully, Eddie isn’t too pleased with it either. He doesn't know yet if he wants to attend university, but would at least like to have the option.

  “It’s wonderful you will get to work with your father so closely.” Klara sighs, feeling a tinge of jealousy.

  Eddie laughs lightly, surprised by her comment. Klara is still sitting up next to him, and he drops his eyes from hers down to her exposed neck and white cotton dress. Two thick straps come over her shoulders, and it’s a fairly concealing piece of clothing, leaving a lot to the imagination. But thinking about her rosy lips and doe eyes makes Eddie’s cheeks instantly flush.

  He clears his throat, hoping his mind will clear with it, and he has some success in regaining his bearings. “So, where is the rest of your family? You said your grandmother lives here.”

  “My father lives in London. He visits as much as he can but not as often as I’d like. Grandmother and I live here together, just the two of us. Then, there are the animals, of course.” Klara smiles at Eddie.

  Mr. Barnett arrives at the spot where he dropped Eddie off—the border between the public garden and meadow. He asked his son to insp
ect the land, making sure the two areas stayed distinctly separate. You can appreciate a flower-covered meadow, but it has no place in a well-kept garden, and stray weeds always have to be kept at bay. He scans the garden, not finding the boy. Mr. Barnett huffs with annoyance. If this is how seriously Eddie is going to take the increase in responsibility, he might as well not show up at all. He turns to face the field and finally spots him. He is sitting on the grass enveloped in flowers—and not alone. Mr. Barnett’s mouth moves into a straight, hard line, and when he finally opens it again, he yells out to Eddie.

  Eddie almost immediately shoots up off the ground. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to get back to work,” Eddie says, unable to add anything else.

  He wants to ask if he can see Klara again, but the words won’t come out of his mouth. As quickly as he stood up, she stands, too, brushing her hands on her sides, leaving a small grass stain on her otherwise untainted dress. A smile creeps across Eddie’s face as he turns to go meet his dad.

  “If you come back tomorrow, I’d like to introduce you to everyone,” Klara says unexpectedly, catching even herself off guard.

  Eddie turns back, confused, “Everyone?”

  “Well, yes. Grandmother. The animals. I’ve quite enjoyed talking with you. I think Grandmother would like you, too. Actually, I’m quite sure of it.”

  Eddie’s eyes go a little wide, and he has to consciously keep his mouth closed as it wants to gape open. This is the most unusual conversation he has ever had. And even more curious are the words that come out of his mouth next. “I’d like that.”

  “Good.” Klara smiles back, a small flush on her cheeks. She turns slightly, her eyes brightening with excitement. “Oh, wait! Don’t go. I spot one over there!”