The truth was that her aunt, despite the passage of time, still exuded a certain grace and beauty that only seemed to enhance with age. Her silver-streaked hair, once a radiant chestnut, cascaded in gentle waves around her face, framing features softened by years of wisdom and the right to say exactly what was on her mind.
Sometimes, she would sprinkle some kindness in there, but when one was truthful, kindness had to suffer at the hands of the truth. Deep laugh lines crinkled at the corners of her eyes, a testament to a life that might not have been filled with only joy and laughter, but she still chose them over crying. In her presence, Rose always felt an air of tranquility and wisdom, and there was always a spark of vitality and curiosity that belied her aunt’s age, a reminder that the spirit did not age. Only the body did.
“No, Aunt,” Rose smiled. “I have no interest in such matters, at least not until Henry is all grown up and doesn’t need me as much.”
“But Henry is already fourteen, my dear,” her aunt reminded her. “Besides, he has me to take care of him.”
“I know, and we are both so grateful for everything you did for us,” Rose said lovingly. “I honestly don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t taken us in after Mother and Father died.”
“We are family, Rose,” her aunt beamed. “Family looks out for each other, always. And that is why I am telling you that I will be there for Henry. You, on the other hand, need to think more about yourself. You are a beautiful young woman who has hidden herself away from the world.”
“And that is exactly how I like it, Aunt,” Rose replied with a smile, continuing to sort out the clothes. “Now, how about we finish this pile and start with the sewing? Today is going to be a long day, it would seem.”
Chapter 2
William Ashforth, the Duke of Montford, found himself inspecting the grounds where the boys had done their mischief the previous evening. It was a solitary endeavor. He was the only one in his family alive. Something he never thought possible. He had walked through those paths many times with his older brother, and then they were gone. His brother and his father, both gone as a result of a robbery gone wrong.
“Darn children,” he mumbled angrily, looking up at the broken window of his study.
He tried reminding himself that it was not really the children’s fault. It was the fault of their parents. Their mothers and fathers taught them that it was all right to trespass onto someone else’s property, and even worse, destroy it. He didn’t understand why they would do that. He stayed away from the village, not having stepped foot there since his return from the war. He never bothered anyone. He just wanted to be left alone, and yet, that was obviously too much to ask. He had no idea why.
He sighed heavily as he continued pacing around the house. A bit further away from it, he found the stone he had thrown. He bent down to pick it up, examining the little droplets of blood on it. He sighed heavily, raking his fingers through his hair. The truth was, he never meant to harm that boy. He hit him accidentally.
He only picked it up and threw it back at them after they had broken his study window. He couldn’t understand the need for such senseless violence. Wasn’t there already enough of that in the world? Why did children need to be spurred into causing it? It was nothing but a vicious cycle that had a tendency to trap everyone inside of it.
As he was checking over the stables, suddenly he heard a scream from the nearby woods that bordered with his property. Without thinking, he dashed in the direction where he heard the scream, the urgency echoing in his ears. He couldn’t even begin to guess who that might be, but that didn’t stop him from running as fast as he could.
Finally, he arrived at the scene to find a young woman lying on the ground, her form still and unmoving. His heart raced with concern as he dropped down to his knees beside her. Her copper blonde hair was covering most of her face, and he dared not touch her, as her willowy frame rested on the ground, as if she were a wood nymph just taking a respite.
“Miss, can you hear me?” he asked softly, his voice laced with concern, but she didn’t appear to hear him.
Instead, the sound of a breaking twig was heard from somewhere behind him. His senses immediately sharpened, as he quickly turned around, aware of the fact that he could be moments away from disaster. That was when he saw a wild boarstaring at him. Adrenaline surged through him as he realized the danger that the animal posed, especially with the unconscious woman on the ground.
William knew that he had to act swiftly. Without thinking, he began shouting and making as much noise as possible, hoping to startle the boar and drive it away. His voice echoed through the woods, filled with a mixture of fear and determination, as he waved his arms and stomped his feet in a desperate attempt to intimidate the beast.
The boar, startled by the sudden commotion, hesitated for a moment before turning tail and retreating deeper back into the woods. With a sigh of relief, William watched its departure, thankful that the conformation ended without any harm.
Well… almost. He turned his attention to the woman, still lying on the ground. He slowly knelt next to her once again. He gently brushed her hair back to reveal her face. The touch of her skin sent a bolt of thunder through his body. She was mesmerizingly beautiful. He was immediately struck by her serene beauty, even in her unconscious state. Her features were delicate, her lips full, a blushing pink hue on them.
Her skin felt soft and ethereal in the dappled light filtering through the verdant canopy above. He couldn’t help but admire the gentle, slim curve of her cheek, the occasional flutter of her dark eyelashes against her pale complexion framed by her curls.
At that moment, he noticed a wound on her head. The blood had already thickened, but that feeling of urgency washed over him. Without hesitation, he carefully lifted her into his arms, cradling her close as he began the journey back to the safety of his manor house. Each step was deliberate, his focus solely on ensuring the mystery woman’s safety and well-being as he navigated through the dense underbrush of the woods. The weight of her in his arms was both a reminder of the fragility of life and a testament to his sudden and unexpected determination to help a stranger.
With each passing second, the manor drew closer, and he could feel the tension in his muscles ease slightly as he approached the familiar surroundings that have provided him with safety as well as seclusion. Relief flooded through him as he carried her inside.
“Your Grace! What happened?” Peter Hancock, William’s loyal and trustworthy steward, gasped upon finding him in the main hallway. However, even without any words being spoken, Mr. Hancock quickly grasped the gravity of the situation and rushed forward to assist.
“I found her unconscious in the woods,” William explained. “She’s hurt. We need to lay her down somewhere soft.”
“The chaise lounge in the drawing room,” Mr. Hancock remembered immediately. “That is the closest place.”
“Open the door, Mr. Hancock,” William asked as he headed in that direction.
His steward didn’t need to be told twice. He rushed ahead to do as he was told, allowing William into the drawing room. William had to admit that Mr. Hancock’s steady presence provided a sense of reassurance in the midst of all this uncertainty. The man’s calm demeanor was a balm to William’s frayed nerves. As they settled the woman in the quiet room, Mr. Hancock offered a supportive nod, silently conveying his willingness to help in any way he could.
“We need something to clean her wound, Mr. Hancock,” William whispered, and the man immediately nodded, swiftly turning to fulfill the task. With a brisk yet purposeful stride, Mr. Hancock departed the room, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors of the manor.
Left alone with the mystery woman, he wrestled with his conflicting emotions, a knot tightening in his stomach. He was torn between his desire to shield the woman from his scars and his determination to provide her with the care she needed.
