Family Secrets (Davenport Manor Book 1)

by Melissa Zaroski

  Davenport Manor

  Family Secrets

  Book 1

  Melissa Zaroski

  Copyright © 2013 Melissa Zaroski

  Cover illustration by Amanda Busi

  Photograph of Harlaxton Manor licensed through Dreamstime.com

  Photographer Artur Bogacki

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author/publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

  DEDICATION

  For my Mom and Dad,

  who always encouraged me to write.

  For my husband, who always supports my crazy endeavors.

  For my children, who are my world and my reason to live.

  For my best friends, Miklyn and Holly, who have encouraged me all along.

  Prologue

  Our property is historic; it is known worldwide for its grandeur. Outsiders long to see what lies beyond the iron gates that surround our home and wish to see further than the little road that leads into a forest. They want to go inside and experience the life they think we lead. They know who we are; people think that they know us. They imagine we live this grand and perfect life regardless of the tragedy that happened to us six years ago. Everyone knows about that day. It was splashed all over every news channel and celebrity magazine. If you missed it, then you must have been living under a rock.

  However, the image that people envision of us couldn’t be more wrong. Some may be fascinated, but most would be frightened if they knew the truth of what lies beyond these iron gates.

  Once in a while, people are granted permission to cross through the gates for whatever the given reason. This time, it is because of the movie being filmed here. Of all the people that have come onto my side of the gates over the last several years, he is the first man that has caused me to nearly abandon all that I believe in. There is something about him that makes me long to be who I once was. Ultimately, he deserves better than me. He doesn’t seem to think so, but I ought to know better than he does. We have discovered things about each other that we cannot forget; not because we want to, but because it would be dangerous for both of us if we went our separate ways.

  He was one of the many that imagined the perfect lives that were being lived down that little road that leads into the forest. My father had the gates erected when the house was built. One would think it was for the safety of those living inside of them, but they don’t realize it was for the safety of those on the outside. Because no one knows what lies beyond the gates…

  Chapter 1

  As Todd was packing his suitcase in his London flat, he imagined what life at the famous Davenport Manor in the U.S. would be like for the next three months. He had finally landed the role of his dreams in the fifth installment of the movie franchise, Ticking Through Time. After years of supporting roles and paying his Hollywood dues, his determination had paid finally off. Standing at 6’3” with dark hair and blue eyes, he didn’t have classic Hollywood looks, but he was indeed handsome. He had a small fan base who took notice of his English charm, but he wasn’t a household name yet. He hoped that this role was finally going to change that.

  He was newly single for the first time in five years and was still nursing his broken heart. He had lived with his girlfriend, Shannon for three years until the day he had come home from a weekend visit with his parents to find that she was packing her things. She explained that she had a hard time with him being away on movie shoots and wanted to be with someone with a stable career. She had met someone else that she had been seeing on the side and had decided to move in with her best friend to have the “roommate” experience. She still cared for Todd, but was no longer in love with him. His heart was crushed.

  Davenport Manor, the setting for a few period movies that have needed an air of elegance and mystery. Part Gothic, part Baroque, the grand and historic property was heavily guarded. The only glimpse the outside world would get is from the films that took place there or aerial shots from helicopters. Todd looked over the agreement that he had to sign in order to even pass through the iron gates of the Manor. It stated that he would not disclose anything he saw or heard while on the property, pictures were allowed to be taken, but never put on the internet or sold. The consequences included a lawsuit of course, but it had such a threatening undertone, he had the impression his life would be in danger if he ever leaked information about the property. He had cautiously signed the agreement, but was afraid of what might happen if he had an innocent slip-up.

  One of the primary residents of Davenport Manor was no secret at all. Daniel Davenport, an instant child star when he landed the lead role of Paul Butler in the Ticking Through Time films. He came from the prominent Davenport family consisting of his parents and older sister. However, his tale is tragic–Todd remembered it being splattered across every news channel and gossip magazine six years ago. Daniel’s parents were killed in a freak car accident when a large, old tree fell and slammed into their car as they drove down their private road on the property. At the time of their deaths, Daniel was merely 15 years old and his only remaining family member, Emma, was awarded custody of him. She also inherited the property and the wealth, as she was the next of kin and the eldest child of the Davenports.

  Todd checked the clock on the wall; he had two and a half hours until his flight departed to Chicago. He decided that it was always better to be early and there was no sense in lingering around when he was ready to go. He gathered his suitcases, his folder of important papers, and looked around his flat to make sure he didn’t forget anything.

  As he went down the front steps of his flat, the crisp October air and smell of a light mist was a welcome feeling. It felt instantly refreshing to be out and away from the tension and heartbreak that had plagued him here. He raised his arm to hail a cab to London’s Heathrow Airport, where a plane awaited to take him away from all the stresses in his life, if only temporarily. He hoped this was a new beginning and the start of something big. He felt a sense of adventure to be able to live at such a historical place in the world and even if this role didn’t put him on the Hollywood map, he would have a great memory of living there.

  As the plane descended, Todd looked out the window and saw the beautiful Chicago skyline beneath him. He had researched the things he wanted to do while in Chicago on his days off from filming; The Ledge at the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, an architectural tour on the lake, and do some shopping along Michigan Avenue. Davenport Manor was a little over an hour north of the city, so he hoped he could find transportation to get downtown on his off day. After a ten hour flight, Todd finally arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. He picked up his luggage from baggage claim and saw a driver holding a sign with his name on it.

  “Hello, I’m Todd Foster. Are you taking me to Davenport Manor?” he asked.

  The driver, obviously employed by the property and not an outside company, asked for his identification and took his luggage to the awaiting car. It was a midnight black Cadillac Escalade with completely tinted windows that welcomed him with a sense of luxury, something he wasn’t familiar with.

  During the hour drive north out of the city, houses and buildings became few and far between until they reached a small, quaint town with a
population of just over 1,000—the town of Davenport.

  Todd leaned forward and asked, “Excuse me, I noticed the name of the town is Davenport as well, is it named after Davenport Manor?”

  “I guess you could say that,” the driver replied while looking at him in the rearview mirror. “The Davenports settled in this area in the early 1800’s. William Davenport had made his riches in shipping and trades in Boston when he decided to move his family west. He built Davenport Manor, which has grown in size over the last two centuries, and built the original town as well. As more settlers came here, their town was simply known as Davenport. His son, Christopher invested in the railroads, which brought more wealth to the family and more business for the community. To this day, the Davenports own the town. They’re good people, each generation of them.”

  As they approached their destination, all Todd could see were dense trees and he knew that the Manor had to be lurking behind them somewhere. He anxiously kept his eyes out the window ahead of them like a child going to an amusement park for the first time. The road ahead ended at high iron gates and a guard shack.

  “The Davenports are very friendly people; everyone in town knows them and often speaks with them while out and about. But, they are also extremely private people, always have been for as long as I have been around. I’m sure before that, too,” the driver explained as they pulled up to the guard shack.

  The guard, stern and ominous, requested Todd’s photo ID and the signed agreement before allowing him to enter the gates. But, once they did, the narrow road winded a bit through some woods and up over a small hill. Once over the hill, Todd gazed in amazement of what was lying before him. Pictures didn’t do this place justice. The road before them was still about a straight mile before they reached the front door. The grandeur could be seen from this distance—the Manor itself was sprawling and there were acres of grass surrounding it. Todd already envisioned himself getting lost on purpose inside the house. Toward the entrance, there were stone walls on either side of the road with statues of roaring lions standing guard. They pulled up into the circle drive and stopped in front of the exceptionally large front door.

  They gathered Todd’s belongings and made their way inside where Daniel Davenport was waiting.

  “Welcome Todd! It’s great to finally meet you! We’ve been excited about your arrival especially since my sister is quite a fan of yours!” Daniel exclaimed while they shook hands.

  Daniel looked like he did in his films, just more relaxed in jeans and a t-shirt. It’s always the same when you’re meeting a celebrity you’ve come to know on the big screen; it’s surreal and so normal at the same time.

  “It’s great to meet you, too Daniel. I can’t believe I’m actually here!” Todd said with a smile as he looked around the grand foyer. “Your sister actually knows who I am? That’s a first!” He couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of someone so prominent in high society knowing that he actually existed.

  “Oh yeah, Emma has been following your career for a few years now. You have her to thank, she was the one who suggested you get the role in the film. She told the execs you have talent, they listened, and here you are.” Daniel replied matter-of-factly.

  Daniel Davenport was 5’9”, had short brown hair and crystal blue eyes. He had just celebrated his 21st birthday and had a genuine quality about him. He was truly a friendly person, just like the driver had described the family. It was easy to see beyond the familiar, celebrity face and just see a kid who was dealt a tricky hand in life. Born into more wealth than one could imagine only to have most of his family taken from him during the peak of his career as a teen. But, his smile was still true and bright.

  “Emma will be back in a while, she had to take a drive into Barrington, about 20 minutes from here. But, Zachariah is here, you can meet him. Hey ZACH!” Daniel shouted so loud it bounced off the cathedral-high walls.

  Gracefully bounding down the grand staircase was Zachariah Dancy, another Hollywood fixture. He was better looking in person than he was on the big screen—neatly-cut, golden-brown hair and hazel eyes. His 6’1” stature almost matched Todd’s, but his face and body were flawless. Not in a “pretty boy” kind of way, but instead perfectly sculpted. He had several films under his belt in just a few short years. He was the added to the Ticking Through Time flicks in the third installment, which made him an overnight success. He was known in the tabloids to be best friends with Daniel as well. He had boyish good looks combined with an adult handsomeness that appealed to girls and women of all ages.

  He kept his hands in his jean pockets and gave a quick nod to Todd, “Good to meet you.” His smile wasn’t as big and welcoming as Daniel’s was, rather it was shy and perhaps guarded.

  Zachariah helped pick up Todd’s luggage and they followed Daniel up the grand staircase, which went up the center and then split to the left and right. They climbed up the left side and walked down what seemed to be a never-ending corridor. Todd recognized the interior as it had been used in a ghostly horror film about ten years back. The walls were adorned with paintings and photos, mostly of people who he assumed were Davenport ancestors. Passing door after door down the grand hallway, Todd noticed that each one had a cast member’s picture hanging next to them.

  “You’ll see that we hung a cast member’s picture next to each of the doors,” Daniel pointed out. “This hallway can get pretty confusing when you’re trying to find someone, so this makes it a bit easier.”

  “What about those that have the giant portraits above them?” Todd asked, noticing there were a few scattered about with beautifully painted portraits.

  “Oh, there are four of those. Those are the bedrooms of the original Davenports, the ones who built the house. We are nothing, if not traditional here. We were always taught to honor and respect our ancestors before us.”

  Daniel would occasionally point out who was staying in particular rooms. They stopped in front of a door that had Todd’s most recent headshot hanging next to it. Todd noticed that it had one of the Davenport portraits hanging above it.

  “Welcome!” Daniel boasted with a smile as he opened the door with grandeur. “Emma wanted to make sure you got one of the best rooms. Big bed, nice furnishings, not too haunted…”

  Todd gave him a sideways look.

  “Just kidding,” he said with a sly wink. “Actually, this one once belonged to Elizabeth Davenport, one of the daughters of William, the founder. That’s her portrait hanging above the door.”

  “This is amazing,” Todd said with awe in his voice as he set down his bags. He walked around the room, checking out all the furnishings and décor. Upon the wall was a painting of a girl that looked to be a young teenager. She was mounted on an elegantly decorated white horse.

  “That’s Elizabeth,” Daniel said as he came to stand next to Todd. “She’s my sixth-great aunt. Her brother, Christopher, was my sixth-great grandfather.”

  The bedroom had a four-post bed, dressers, a bureau, antique furniture, and structural embellishments. A chaise lounge was near the over-sized window that overlooked a small field that led to the forest. He saw a pathway leading in that lead out the back to another field.

  “Growing up in this house had to be awesome, a kid could get lost in here!”

  Daniel laughed, “It was great. My sister and I used to play hide-and-seek and it would be the longest game ever; so many places to hide! We used to rollerblade down the hallways and our parents would get so mad!”

  Todd gave him a sly grin, “So, do you still rollerblade through the halls?”

  Zachariah heartily laughed, “When don’t we rollerblade through the halls?” Todd jumped, Zachariah had swooped in to the room so quietly with his baggage, he didn’t even know he was there.

  Daniel added, “We tend to race when we have nothing better to do. So, if you don’t have blades we could always go into town and pick up some.”

  “Hello!?” A woman’s voice echoed from downstairs. “Dan, Zach, are you guys he
re?”

  “That’s Emma,” Daniel told Todd. “Come on, she’s dying to meet you!”

  Zachariah swiftly led the way out of the bedroom and back downstairs to where Emma waited. Todd took one look at her and felt his stomach go into a flip flop. She was stunning by every definition of the word. She had raven hair down to her waist, emerald green eyes, and curvy in all the right places. She was wearing a fitted, purple cashmere sweater and tight jeans that were tucked into her knee-high boots. Her porcelain skin was contrasted by blood red lips and a million-watt smile. Emma Davenport took Todd’s breath away the moment he saw her. He could easily forget about his heartbreak back home while living under the same roof as this beauty.

  “Hey there! I’m so glad to meet you Todd, I’m such a huge fan of yours!” she said with a grin and reached up to him for a hug. “I have to say I’m a bit star-struck right now!”

  The electricity he felt with such immediate close contact sent a surge of tingling straight into his pants. He hugged her back tightly and lightly rubbed her back, savoring the touch of her. She smelled of Burberry perfume and he inhaled it as discreetly as he could.

  During their introductions and small talk, Todd noticed that the glare he was receiving from Zachariah was less-than-friendly. It wasn’t entirely hostile, but almost as if he was sending out a warning. Perhaps he was just as smitten with Emma and was jealous that she was a fan? Todd couldn’t be sure of what Zachariah’s problem was. He wasn’t big on confrontations, so he decided to just ignore the negative vibes rolling off of him and still try to be cordial. He didn’t want tension since they were going to be living and working in such close proximity for the next three months.