TITLE – Restoring Lady Anna
SERIES – Eversley Siblings Series
AUTHOR – Em Taylor
GENRE – Historical Regency Romance
PUBLICATION DATE – 1 May 2014
LENGTH – 55,000
COVER ARTIST – Veronica Fernandez
Synopsis
When Lord James Eversley is accused of a murder he did not commit, he dresses up as his new brother-in-law’s footman and hitches a ride in their carriage out of town. When it seems they are no longer being followed he begins to relax until a minor accident causes them to stop at a shabby looking inn. As his “master” and his sister sip tea in the scruffy parlour, James comes face to face with Lady Anna, the woman who left him in the dead of night five years before and a familiar looking child.
Lady Anna has accepted her life as Mrs Johnstone, mother of four-year-old Viola, “wife” of Peter, the mentally ill former footman and land lady of a shabby inn on the Great North Road. Her plans for a love match with the handsome Lord Eversley were cruelly snatched away from her five years before. Her ruination means there is no opportunity to return to her family or the ton. When James turns up, dressed as a footman and demanding answers, Anna must decide whether to tell the truth.
James never stopped loving Anna and now he must learn what happened that fateful night that Anna left him heartbroken. With the truth out in the open, he must convince the love of his life to take a chance on him. He wants to marry her and restore her reputation among the aristocracy. But in Regency England reputations are easily lost and difficult to regain. Can Anna trust James enough to do what is right for Peter, despite his actions, her child and most importantly himself? Can James convince Anna to seek the help that Peter needs and return to the ton?
Excerpt
“Why
did you leave?” he asked.
“I...I...
did not have a choice.”
“Were
you in love with him?”
“No.”
She should lie. She knew she should, but his light blue eyes seemed
to bore holes into her very soul and she could not bear to hurt him
further. She could not bear to have him think badly of her.
“Then
I do not understand why you left. Was it... was... God dammit.” He
took a large gulp of his ale and looked around before leaning close.
“Was it the bedding? I know you were an innocent and it must have
hurt but...”
“No.”
She shook her head fervently. Could he really believe that the best
night of her life had driven her from him? “That night... it was
very special. You were wonderful and kind and caring. I could not
have asked for a better lover the first time.”
Relief washed
over his countenance before he frowned. “Then why?”
Should she
tell him? Could she? “It is too complicated to explain, except to
say that it was not my choice and it was not your fault.”
He pushed his
long fingers through his blond curls and stared into his ale. “Is
he—the footman—still alive?”
“Yes.”
He looked into her eyes—the hope that had shone there moments
before was gone.
“So
you are married.”
“We
never married.”
“You
live in sin?”
“Yes.
I refused to marry him—not even to give my daughter a name. I tell
people I am Mrs Johnstone, but there are no legal documents and no
marriage. Therefore, you can return to the ton, my lord, and tell
them that Lady Anna Kingsley is a whore and has a bastard child.”
Now perhaps
he would leave her alone to her miserable life and find someone who
would make a proper countess when his father died. She swallowed
hard, forcing back the tears. Willed herself to stay strong. She only
had to stay strong until the damned ostlers could help Lord Ramsey’s
horse.
“Shh!
I will be returning to the ton to tell them no such thing. I wished
you would tell me what actually happened, if for no other reason than
to assuage my fear that it was something I did or said that drove you
away. You said you have a daughter?”
“Yes.
Viola. She is a pretty little thing but can be quite precocious when
she wants to be. She would have made a beautiful debutante when her
time came.”
“Mama.
Who is this?” She turned to see Viola standing at her side and
realised it had been the child who was tugging at her skirts.
****
James stared
at the little girl standing next to Anna, tugging on the grey wool
skirt. Blond hair, blue eyes and rosy cheeks that reminded him of
Rebecca when she was small. She even had the little turn up in her
nose that was identical to his sister’s. But, it could not be. This
child could not be his? They had made love but once—or at least
just one night. But he had not withdrawn as he knew he should. He had
been too caught up in the moment—in their love. Had Anna fallen
with child that one glorious night, how old would a child be? Three?
No—four! Was this little girl four? He had no idea how large or
small a child should be at the age of four. He did not come into
contact with many children.
But he did
not have to ask her age. His sight told him that Viola was his as did
something else…instinct perhaps?
He schooled
his features so they were unreadable. Years of training to be a
gentleman, to show no outward emotion, were now paying dividends.
“This
is Lord Eversley, a friend of mine.”
“Oh.
Pleased to meet you Lord Evasey.” She bobbed a small curtsey, and
he noted that she over extended her back leg a bit like the actors
did in the theatre at the curtain call. It was very sweet. The child
obviously did not meet many members of the aristocracy. Though it was
just like Anna to have taught her daughter to act like a lady in
preparation for meeting a viscount or even a duke.
“Very
pleased to meet you too, Viola.” She smiled dazzlingly at him. It
really was like being taken back in time to when Rebecca was a child.
“Mama,
he’s awake. I heard him shouting.”
“I
see.” She turned to James. “I need to go just now. I have things
that must be attended to.” Anna stood and looked like she was about
to bob a curtsey but seemed to the think better of it, probably
remembering he was supposed to be a footman.
He watched
her leave, Viola’s hand in hers. He had sired a daughter and all
this time he never knew. He did not need Anna to tell him that Viola
was his flesh and blood—he knew it with every fibre of his being.
If he said it outright, would Anna lie? Could she lie about something
as monumental as him having a child? Not the Anna he once knew. But
she was harder now—more resilient. He saw it in her eyes. Even
though he had sensed she had been on the edge of tears, he suspected
Mrs Anna Johnstone did not cry very often. But he must allow Anna to
tell him in her own time. There was a lot more to this than a silly
lady having her head turned by a handsome footman.
Was the
person who had just woken the footman? Why had Viola looked unhappy
when she had to announce the footman was awake? And why was Anna the
one working in the taproom?
He would find
out, and he would not leave this place until he knew the whole truth
and certainly he would not leave without his daughter.
About The Author
Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an over active imagination--as if that is a bad thing. She's traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.
Unfortunately, Em was put off reading and writing by school and although she rediscovered her love of reading many years ago, she only tried her hand at writing again in 2011. After a year of writing fan fiction, she wrote an original short story for an anthology. This was followed up with two more shorts and 4 novella length books, all published under a pen name. Having fallen in love with a new sub-genre, courtesy of books by Mary Balogh and Lynsay Sands, she decided to try her hand at her new favourite genre for reading--regency.Having bitten the bullet, she feels she has found her home in the 19th century, and it does give her an excuse to watch Colin Firth in a pair of buff breeches and riding books ad infinitum.
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