man.
Unmasked Heart is the first Challenge of the Soul Regency novel.
Excerpt from Unmasked Heart: The Truth
Her father sat near Sarah. Nodding his clean-shaven face, his long ash-blonde sideburns curling to his ears, he waved her forward. "Come in, Gaia."
She hadn't expected him to be in here. He usually took refuge in his study on the far side of the house; that is, if he made it out of bed. This couldn't be good.
Gaia swallowed and almost clasped the pianoforte tucked in the curved niche at the threshold. Maybe she could lean against it to regain her composure.
Sarah smiled at her before lowering her gaze. She motioned for Gaia to cross the paisley rug framing the sitting area close to the fireplace. "We need to speak with you."
"Does this mean I can't have the fabric? You can see I'm much grown." She tugged at the snug lines of her bodice.
His lips flattened to a line. "Your mother and I have decided you should be aware of all your responsibilities."
"My responsibilities?" At this, she slipped onto the couch. Why did she have the feeling her cheeks would soon color the same shade of burgundy as the sturdy seat?
Sarah tugged upon her treasured coral necklace then started working embroidery thread from the coiled jute basket near her caned chair. Her gaze seemed to be wandering as her tapping foot lifted her cream-and-rose skirt. "You know your father's estate is entailed to the males of the Telfair?"
"Yes, Timothy will inherit everything," Father coughed. His lungs raged as if he were coming down with another cold, the third this year. "You've made much progress with him. If you continue to keep him, I think he'll be prepared to manage Chevron Manor."
She stopped her fingers from twitching and then squinted at her unusually silent stepmother. Her hands shook as she passed a needle through a snowy handkerchief. Something definitely was amiss. "Sarah, Father, I don't understand."
"We, your mother and I, feel you should be his permanent companion."
"Permanent?" Gaia clutched the arm of the sofa, her nails denting the swell of the cushioning.
Sarah raised her head. Her mouth opened and closed and opened again as her voice went from non-existent to low. "You... will be mistress of Chevron, making sure that he runs things well. My Timothy will always need supervision."
Gaia bounced to her feet and headed for the fireplace. Clasping the dark poker, she stoked the low flame and allowed the heat to dry the water leaking from her eyes. "But what of my hopes?"
Father wheezed, and he pounded the arm of his chair. "You've never been inclined to anything but books. And this will make sure that your sisters and mother will be taken care of always."
"My mother is dead." Gaia spun around and pointed to her stepmother. "This is her work. She's only worried about herself."
"Don't talk to her like that." His feeble fingers gripped the woman's hand. "And she's a good woman, unlike…"
"No, dear," Sarah wiped her leaky eyes. "You see she does not wish it."
Father left his chair and took the poker from Gaia's tight fingers. His clammy palms contrasted the blackness of the implement. "If my cousins press that Timothy is unfit, or they dupe his easy mind, all the family will be in jeopardy. I'm convinced your care will keep things well. You're levelheaded. You will be the guardian of this manor. That's a worthy calling for you."
With the back of her hand, Gaia swiped at her cheek. The lenses of her spectacles steamed. "Abandon my dreams? Don't you think I want to marry?"
Father guffawed, placed the poker by the fire's grate, and twisted the fob of his pocket watch. "It's not possible. You've never had any inclination."
Why wasn't it possible? She squinted at his creasing forehead. "I want to. In fact, I want to marry Mr. Elliot Whimple."
"You want your cousin's leavings?" Father chuckled. "I can tell you now, Whimple is not looking for a bluestocking. We're even too poor for your sister's pretty face to catch
Unmasked Heart is the first Challenge of the Soul Regency novel.
Excerpt from Unmasked Heart: The Truth
Her father sat near Sarah. Nodding his clean-shaven face, his long ash-blonde sideburns curling to his ears, he waved her forward. "Come in, Gaia."
She hadn't expected him to be in here. He usually took refuge in his study on the far side of the house; that is, if he made it out of bed. This couldn't be good.
Gaia swallowed and almost clasped the pianoforte tucked in the curved niche at the threshold. Maybe she could lean against it to regain her composure.
Sarah smiled at her before lowering her gaze. She motioned for Gaia to cross the paisley rug framing the sitting area close to the fireplace. "We need to speak with you."
"Does this mean I can't have the fabric? You can see I'm much grown." She tugged at the snug lines of her bodice.
His lips flattened to a line. "Your mother and I have decided you should be aware of all your responsibilities."
"My responsibilities?" At this, she slipped onto the couch. Why did she have the feeling her cheeks would soon color the same shade of burgundy as the sturdy seat?
Sarah tugged upon her treasured coral necklace then started working embroidery thread from the coiled jute basket near her caned chair. Her gaze seemed to be wandering as her tapping foot lifted her cream-and-rose skirt. "You know your father's estate is entailed to the males of the Telfair?"
"Yes, Timothy will inherit everything," Father coughed. His lungs raged as if he were coming down with another cold, the third this year. "You've made much progress with him. If you continue to keep him, I think he'll be prepared to manage Chevron Manor."
She stopped her fingers from twitching and then squinted at her unusually silent stepmother. Her hands shook as she passed a needle through a snowy handkerchief. Something definitely was amiss. "Sarah, Father, I don't understand."
"We, your mother and I, feel you should be his permanent companion."
"Permanent?" Gaia clutched the arm of the sofa, her nails denting the swell of the cushioning.
Sarah raised her head. Her mouth opened and closed and opened again as her voice went from non-existent to low. "You... will be mistress of Chevron, making sure that he runs things well. My Timothy will always need supervision."
Gaia bounced to her feet and headed for the fireplace. Clasping the dark poker, she stoked the low flame and allowed the heat to dry the water leaking from her eyes. "But what of my hopes?"
Father wheezed, and he pounded the arm of his chair. "You've never been inclined to anything but books. And this will make sure that your sisters and mother will be taken care of always."
"My mother is dead." Gaia spun around and pointed to her stepmother. "This is her work. She's only worried about herself."
"Don't talk to her like that." His feeble fingers gripped the woman's hand. "And she's a good woman, unlike…"
"No, dear," Sarah wiped her leaky eyes. "You see she does not wish it."
Father left his chair and took the poker from Gaia's tight fingers. His clammy palms contrasted the blackness of the implement. "If my cousins press that Timothy is unfit, or they dupe his easy mind, all the family will be in jeopardy. I'm convinced your care will keep things well. You're levelheaded. You will be the guardian of this manor. That's a worthy calling for you."
With the back of her hand, Gaia swiped at her cheek. The lenses of her spectacles steamed. "Abandon my dreams? Don't you think I want to marry?"
Father guffawed, placed the poker by the fire's grate, and twisted the fob of his pocket watch. "It's not possible. You've never had any inclination."
Why wasn't it possible? She squinted at his creasing forehead. "I want to. In fact, I want to marry Mr. Elliot Whimple."
"You want your cousin's leavings?" Father chuckled. "I can tell you now, Whimple is not looking for a bluestocking. We're even too poor for your sister's pretty face to catch
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