You have caused much destruction, Charles, and I fear that there are other acts of which I am unaware. In truth, they plague my sleep as I worry that, at any moment, our children will fall victim to unknown atrocities you have committed. However, I remain steadfast in my belief that my love for my children, and now my grandchildren, will erase the damage you have caused.
You sought to destroy Rachel for your own lustful means. Yet, in the end, she was victorious. Her child, your daughter, is beautiful and strong, and like many others in her position, she has dismissed you as a footnote in history. The truth is, you have no one to blame but yourself that you hold such insignificance. I tend to agree with her, and again, you alone are culpable.
Returning the quill, she stood and walked over to the window. Large snowflakes fell from the sky, bits of cotton wool fluttering to the already white-covered ground.
With a sigh, Eleanor made her way out of the office and down the hallway. As she neared the foyer, she nearly jumped out of her slippers when a loud wrap came to the door.
Who would be calling at this hour? she thought as she gathered her wrap around her. Calls this late were never good news.
A figure stood huddled in a dark tattered overcoat filled with holes and covered with snow. With a scarf wrapped around the person’s head, Eleanor could not make out who it was, or if the person was male or female.
“Yes?” Eleanor asked. “May I help you?” She looked past the figure and peered out into the night. No horse or carriage sat in the drive. “Who are you?”
The figure raised its head. “Aunt Eleanor?” she whispered.
Eleanor gasped upon seeing the face she had seen only once—at her childhood home of Parker Estate. “Amelia?” she asked her sister’s daughter. The girl had to be nearly eighteen now. “What are you doing here?”
“Mother sent me with a warning,” she said, her teeth chattering as she handed Eleanor a letter. “There is trouble coming. Great Trouble.
Author's Note
I hope you have enjoyed the Secrets of Scarlett Hall thus far, beginning with Isabel’s Story in Whispers of Light, followed by that of Hannah, Echoes of the Heart. Then we learn more about Juliet in Voices of Shadows and Annabel in Silent Dreams. A new character, Miss Rose Skylark is introduced in Songs of Yesterday.
More secrets are revealed in the next installment of the Secrets of Scarlett Hall Series, the story of Amelia Parker, daughter of Eleanor’s sister, who we met briefly in Silent Dreams.
And don’t forget the prelude, A Lady’s Promise, which is Eleanor’s story. You can download it for free from my website: www.jennifermonroeromance.com
Jennifer Monroe writes Regency romances with heart! Stories of second chances with dashing dukes and ladies in distress, each turn of the page promises an adventure in love. Not sure where to start? Download her free ebook, A Lady’s Promise, from her website and have it delivered to your inbox today!
http://www.jennifermonroeromance.com/freebookhistorical/
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Songs of Yesterday Page 24