Mine, All Mine
The discovery of a friend in the most unusual place...
“Chance, I want you to do something for me.” Dominic asked.
“Depends on what it is.” He said warily.
“Go down to the kitchens and ask for more brandy. 1600
I think.”
“Why can’t I just ring for Fields?”
“Because I want you to see my new cook’s assistant.”
Chance gave Dominic a level stare. “Dominic.”
“Just do it and tell me what you think.”
Chance
sighed heavily and made his way to the kitchens. He did not like the far-away
look Dominic had especially, if it had to do with some
maid. Lord help him, he was beginning to worry about Dominic and he did
not know how to bring him out from under the dark cloud overshadowing him. Chance strode through the kitchen door with an
air of nonchalance.
“Hello
ladies, I’ve been sent to find more brandy. 1600 and French if you plea–.” His
eyes focused on the girl standing over a pile of dishes ready to be washed and froze.
Her eyes widened in
horror, she began to shake her head in the negative hoping he would
understand her gesture and go with it. Lilly looked around to make sure no one
witnessed her silent communication with the gentleman.
“I will help you my lord, follow me.” She ungraciously
pulled Chance into the wine cellar and down a narrow flight of stairs. Once out
of earshot she turned to him.
“What are you doing here?” He hissed.
“What does it look like, I’m hiding out."
“Good, that’s what I need right now.”
“How long do you plan to masquerade as a kitchen
maid?”
“As long as I have to, possibly the rest of my life.
And I’m a cook’s assistant, not a maid.” Lilly folded her arms indignantly.
“Oh God you didn’t just say... oh no, this is a bloody
mess.” Chance sat on a barrel and put his head in his hands.
“What... what’s wrong?”
Chance seemed to be mumbling to himself. “All the
years I’ve known you Lilly, I’ve never had to pull you out of such a scrape.”
“What do you mean?”
“How did you get hired here?” He asked suddenly.
“Ellie helped me.” Lilly wrung her hands nervously.
“Your cook?”
“Yes! Now tell me what’s so wrong with me working
here?”
Chance just stared at her. The beautiful vibrant girl
who used to glide across the dance floors and make men fall to her feet was
covered in grease and flour. She had dark circles under her eyes and her
frazzled hair hung limp and lifeless around her face.
“He noticed you Lilly; you have to stay away from
him.”
“Who?” her voice froze with alarm.
“Lord Dominic.”
“Oh.” She sighed with relief. “He doesn’t know me;
we’ve never met before last night.”
“Last night?” He glared at her again.
“It was an interview, nothing else, just
talking.”
“He
may have been talking but that’s not what he was thinking. Christ, I’ve got to
get you out of here.”
“But I’m safe here.” She cried.
“No you’re not. You don’t stand a chance against a
rake like him.”
Lilly
raised her chin stubbornly and looked away. “I’ve faced plenty of rakes before
Chance.”
“Not like him.”
Lilly
scoffed. “You act like he’s some kind of God Chance; he’s just a man and even
though I’m dressed as a maid I can still put a man in his place, earl or not.”
“Fine Lilly have it your way. For now.” He emphasized.
“But I’m going to find a way to get you out of here.”
Lilly’s
eyes softened. “Thank you Chance, I’m glad I can still count on someone to help me. I
don’t want to stay like this.” Her voice choked on her last word.
Chance pulled her into a brotherly hug. “Just be careful
and stay away from Dominic.”
“I will, I promise.”
Sweet Torture
When a kiss ruins your day...
“This is a nightmare!” Olivia cried in the pink
parlor of her parents Mayfair townhouse. Her brother sat beside her while her
dearest friend sat across from her, anxiously twisting and untwisting a tear
soaked handkerchief.
“What
can we do?” Olivia sniffed.
“Nothing,
it would ruin us.” Lydia frowned at her hands.
Devon
scowled at her. “We will do whatever we can Lydia.”
“Which is what?” She looked up and met his scorn.
“Lilly has gone into hiding. Her name has been tarnished, by treason, of all
things. We don’t know where she is or least of all how to help her.
“Ever
the voice of hope.” Devon sneered. “If you cannot be supportive, maybe you
should leave."
Tears
welled in Lydia’s brown eyes. “I’m just trying to be reasonable. Lilly is my
friend too. Even if I could help her, she never came to me and asked.”
“Maybe,
because you’re so cold.” Devon snapped back at her.
“Devon!”
Olivia gasped. “How could you say such a thing?”
Lydia stood, her hurt hidden by an icy shield of
composure, and walked away. She exited the French doors left open to the brisk
spring air still chilled from a winter refusing to let go. She took refuge in
the gazebo. Lydia did not like to cry in front of others. From the time she was
a small girl she was raised to always keep her composure in any situation. It
was the mark of true breeding, her mother always said.
Somehow
Devon Brentton always got the best of her. His words could cut to the quick and
when his emerald green eyes looked at her with such disdain it hurt more than
she cared to admit.
“Devon
go apologize at once,” Olivia wept, “I’ve already lost one friend and I won’t
let you drive away another.”
Devon rose and cursed to himself as
he strode through the open doors and was temporarily blinded by the afternoon
sun. His eyes adjusting, he caught sight of a willowy blond who sat demure and
crying in the rose gazebo. He walked to the arched entry and gazed at her before
climbing the steps. He stopped just inside the shrouded interior and leaned
back against the entryway post, hands in pockets, ankles crossed leisurely.
“I
apologize for my hurtful words Lydia.”
She
turned away from him and sniffed.
“I
should not have called you cold. I know you care for Lilly too.”
Still Lydia only gave him her profile, not wanting to
give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt her.
“Oh
hell Lydia, for Christ’s sake, look at me!” Devon grabbed her elbow and pulled
her to her feet to face him.
“Do
not handle me so, it isn’t proper.” Lydia snapped.
“Well
then I should kiss you and really ruin your day.”
Lydia
froze as she met his gaze. “You…you wouldn’t dare.” She blushed hotly.
The
result was quite becoming on her, Devon thought. “Ah, a chink in the great Lydia
Covvington's icy armor.”
“Is
this your apology?” Lydia's body warred between hot and cold, anger
and…excitement?
“You would never accept an apology from me. In your
eyes I’m nothing but a scoundrel.”
“Surely
not just mine.” Lydia responded dryly. Anger was a much more familiar emotion
when dealing with this rogue. She grasped it with both hands. “If you have not
yet grasped the notion, I came out here to escape you.”
Devon
ignored the insult. “What would you do if I kissed you Lydia? Would you melt? I
quite like the idea; in fact, I think I would become famous, ‘Lord Devon
Brentton melted the puritanical ice queen of London.’”
“You
are not amusing. I’ll thank you to let me go now.”
“I’m
really warming to this idea Lydia.”
“Devon
please.”
“In fact I think it would be good for you.”
“Let
me go you impudent rogue.” Lydia growled the words.
“Come
now Lydia, a little kiss never hurt anyone.” He smiled confidently.
“On
the contrary, a single kiss has ruined many young ladies. I also would not like
to have anything in common with the legions of loose women you have made a
conquest of.”
Devon
laughed buoyantly while still holding her arm. The sight scattered Lydia's
composure. When Devon genuinely smiled, not the cool aloof smile he showed the ton, or heaven above all else laughed,
he was truly a demi-god among men. Lydia was not one to be swayed by a man’s
looks but she had never seen a man more handsome than Devon Brentton. He had
the same flashing green eyes as his sister and twin dimples that have been
known to cause swoons. Not Lydia of course but, Devon in full force, as he was
now, was an assault to the female senses. Lydia would only grudgingly admit,
and only to herself, that she was susceptible. She looked away from him feigning
annoyance but in truth it was for self-preservation.
They
were enclosed in a dome of roses, ultimately hidden from all eyes with only one
exit currently blocked by one broad shouldered male. He stopped laughing and
now stared openly at her with that mocking smile.
“I’m
serious Devon, release me.” She demanded.
“I am serious as well; I really
think I should kiss you."
Lydia's
eyes widened in alarm. “Don’t think, it doesn’t suit you.” She tugged at her
arm but his grasp was like steel. He stepped closer bringing them together in the
shadows. Bright pink roses bobbed and stared as if cheering him on. It would
have been romantic if Lydia was some pea brained halfwit in her first season
but, Lydia was Lydia and as a paragon of proper decorum she was
immune to situations such as this except…Devon Brentton was going to kiss her. Fear and excitement skittered
over her skin but she fought against it.
“Devon really, stop this nonsense and let me leave.
This is highly improper.”
“Indeed it is. It will be over before you know it
Lydia.”
“I bet you say that to all your strumpets.”
“Touche.” He laughed and pulled her ever closer until
there was nothing between them but clothing. He pulled her arms up around his
neck and her traitorous hands clasped together at his nape.
Lydia could do naught but stare into the shadowed
emerald of his eyes as his head moved closer blocking out everything but him.
She closed her eyes involuntarily and felt his lips brush against hers.
“Devon.” She didn’t even realize she said his name
aloud. She should tell him to stop but the words wouldn’t form. His hands moved
to her hips and he pulled her tightly against him. She gasped and he took
advantage of her open mouth to deepen the kiss. His mouth slanted over hers. Lydia’s mind scattered
as his warm velvet tongue stroked hers and she responded in kind. Her body was
a traitor. Eagerly they dueled until finally, as stars glittered behind her
eyes, she pushed against him and he broke the kiss. They were both breathing
heavily.
Mine, All Mine is available on Amazon. It is the first novel I have ever written and took me about three years with a lot of stop and go in between. They say the second novel is harder but I am not finding that to be true (so far). I feel like I am learning a lot, now that Mine, All Mine is out, from reviews and through reading other novels. Its extremely difficult not to compare my book to others and take negative feed back to heart but I am paying attention to the helpful criticism and letting it shape me into the writer I want to be.
Sweet Torture is half way done (rough draft) and already I'm thinking of the sharp eyes I need to get it in front of for polishing. I am really excited about it and can't wait to see it published! Until then, the marathon continues and I have lots of work to do.
Happy Reading!
P.S If there is anyone out there actually reading this, I would love some feedback!
