Title: Disturbingly Beautiful – A Paradox in
Time
Author: J & L Wells
Genre: New Adult, Time Travel/ Regency
Romance
Release Date November
2014
Synopsis:
The premeditated ripping of her dress seals her
fate, and an intricate family plot slowly begins to unravel in which she finds herself
centre stage. She was never supposed to leave Haunchcroft estate … and he will
do everything in his power to keep her there.
Nell Dodsworth, a
nineteenth-century governess, is seeking alternative employment following the
tragic passing of her ward, Abigale. Her master, Mr Buchannan, suggests that
she work for his elder sister, and until such time as she is able to take up
the position, he insists that she remain at Haunchcroft Estate.
It is unheard of for
a master to be so familiar with a member of the household as Mr Buchannan is
with Nell, and after an uncomfortable encounter, he confuses her with his
parting words … “My dear, I find you disturbingly
beautiful.”
For reasons known
only to her, Nell is anything but fond of Mr Buchannan and does everything in
her power to avoid him. However, her avoidance tactics are usually
unsuccessful, for it always seems that he has a way of seeking her
out.
Upon overhearing a
conversation between Mr Buchannan and his bedridden father, the Earl of
Dulverton, Nell is unnerved by the revelation that her master intends to marry
her. As the glass she is holding slips from her fingers, the noise alerts Mr
Buchannan and she is discovered. While escorting her onto the landing, he
requests that she join him in his bedchamber.
Unnerved by a thief
on the estate, Nell gives chase and in so doing manages to travel forward in
time, finding herself in the 1960s. Having left her archaic existence far
behind, her life is suddenly enhanced as she finds friendship, egalitarianism
and true love. But complexities unfold, leaving her broken-hearted after
finding the man with whom she hopes to share the rest of her
life….
On finding that there
is no future for her in that time period, Nell returns home, though all is not
well. The ripping of her dress seals her fate, and an intricate family plot
slowly begins to unravel in which she is centre
stage….
It is all too much for Nell to comprehend, and
once again, she runs away, only this time she finds herself in the twenty-first
century. When she comes face to face with a broken family, she discovers that
many of their underlying problems are the result of her actions from her visit
to the 1960s. Where love flourishes it has the means of finding a way,
seemingly allowing Mr Buchannan to travel to this era to be with
her.
When he finally meets
up with Nell he sets the record straight, leading to a night of passion under
the watchful eye of the stars. Wanting to be together but unable to settle in
the twenty-first century, they decide to travel home. When they return to the
year 1813, a paradox is created-
Laura Wells is a
swimming teacher, with a love of books, animals and, of course, Jane Austen.
Once a national swimmer, she now runs three swim schools of her own. She enjoys
spending her spare time with her family and two mad Shiba Inus. She lives in
Staffordshire, England.
Judy Wells works at a
school; in her spare time she enjoys writing poetry and novels, and spending
time with her animals. She also lives in Staffordshire,
England.
Laura and Judy are a mother and daughter duo;
with Judy's love of poetry and writing and Laura's ideas, they work extremely
well together. Time-travel and historical romance novels are their passion, and
they hope that after you have read their books, you will feel the
same.
Our website is:
www.jandlwells.com
Why not come and say
hello to us on Facebook - J & L Wells -
and have a look at our
novels on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23298081-disturbingly-beautiful
Nell sighed as she entered the little girl’s bedchamber. The
crisp cotton bedcovers were crumpled and misplaced from their usual perfection.
Her long strands of chestnut hair, an interwoven decorative remembrance, lay
across the pillowcases. The darkened room and its melancholic mood were now
aglow as a powdery light filtered between an opening in the drapes, eerie in
appearance. To her it looked as though minute crystals hung in a display of
elegance.
Abigale was now a
mere memory, though one held ardently within the fabric of Nell’s heart. The
empty room, once filled with happiness and hours of laughter, was now an empty
shroud of yesterdays gone by.
Nell ruched up the
coarse material of her skirt between her fingers and knelt down, her knees instantly
chilled by the stone hearth as she warmed herself before the open coals. She
felt angered, for the winter months had been particularly harsh this
year.
Cruel, she thought to
herself.
She gave a sideways
glance and from the corner of her eye caught sight of winter’s first
snowflakes. Abigale adored the snow, and had done from a very early age.
Remembering that time, a shiver ran the length of Nell’s spine. Letting out a
despondent sigh, she rose to her feet and straightened her clothing. It was a
bittersweet emotion that surged inside her. In the next few days she would be
leaving her post of governess and the life she had known for the past five
years. She was touched by a pang of nostalgia as her eyes caught the black
crepe band she wore around her arm in mourning for her ward. She paused
momentarily to reminisce.
Abigale had been such
a bright, pleasurable child to teach, her art in needlecraft commendable. It
was such a pity that she had been a sickly soul, and from birth, Nell had been
told.
With Christmas just
over a month away, she was saddened by the realisation that Abigale would not
be here to share this year’s festivities. Nell had spent many hours preparing
her gift, but the embroidery would remain incomplete on the petite bodice of
the dress, and now the garment lay with no purpose. She could envisage Abigale
wearing it, the pretty little girl with a ribbon tied in her hair running
towards her. Nell could still recall the pallor of her skin, like the virgin
snowflake; it was long ago that the kiss of a rose had left her cheeks. The
bitter weather had served Abigale no favours; her chest was her overriding
weakness, and pneumonia her downfall. Even when the end was nigh and breaths
were hard to take, she was still able to offer Nell a paper-thin smile as she
sat holding her hand and watched her fade away. Words were not needed, for she
knew how much she was loved.
Her mourning brought
with it a cold reality that broke through the silence. How she would miss that
beautiful girl, snatched from life so cruelly at only twelve years of
age.
Nell meandered
towards the window, and lifting her arm slightly pushed aside the heavy velvet
drapes, allowing in more light which danced around the walls of the bedchamber,
illuminating the bold wooden panelling and turning the numerous tapestries into
a rich display of artistry.
She folded her arms
neatly across her chest, pulling in her petite frame. A heavy sigh passed
between her lips as she cast her gaze far out across the fifty-acre gardens. A
three-tiered landscape opened up before her. Her eyes embraced an open fan of
evergreens, their branches kissed by the frost, leaving only the briefest of
imprints. Sporadic stepping stones weaved their way from one tier to the next,
and a small stream appeared to join their divide where snowflakes fell, their
individuality lost forever. Its dramatic incline gave the extensive gardens an
illusion of endlessness.
Nell was overwhelmed
by a sudden feeling of freedom. After all the heartache, how she relished the
thought of what a new beginning would bring. Perhaps she would find employment
as a teacher, a path she found to be most agreeable. In her opinion she needed
a change; her role of governess was all played out. The position had brought
with it much isolation; she was shunned by the servants, and not valued by her
employers, so she found herself to be neither fish nor fowl in the estate. She
was a middle-class lady, for all intents and purposes, and it was only due to
her parents’ lack of wealth that she had to seek employment; but this had
prevented her from being considered an equal alongside that echelon.
A warm glow inside
ignited her imagination, throwing her into a fictional world where words, lines
and chapters from the countless books she had read came to life, filling her
mind with hope. How different her life could be if she were to become a leading
lady in one of the novels she had read, how her dreams could lift her from the
monotony of the life she led. The picture she painted in her mind was herself
as a beautiful butterfly — a red admiral — hovering high above the world,
visiting flower gardens. She had no intention of outstaying her welcome, or
forming liaisons, remaining just long enough for her beauty to be admired, for
the briefest of moments, for then once again she would be free, at one with
herself and with nature. It was so very different from the constraints of
Haunchcroft, where the walls held her deep within. It was only Abigale’s
presence that had given the walls a warmth, allowing her to feel able to live
happily inside.
Nell snapped out of
her daydreams as footsteps entered the bedchamber, and she listened as they
echoed over the polished wooden floorboards. The reflections of the frosted
gardens were lost in an instant as her master stole up from behind. He was now
the reflection staring back at her.
“Mr Buchannan, you
startled me.” Nell breathed heavily.
A trickle of
condensation decorated the glass pane as Nell did her best to compose herself. She
did not turn to greet him, her backward stance hiding her
unease.
“You rise early,
sir,” she stuttered, choking out her words.
Although she had seen
the gentleman at various times around the estate, she was not overly familiar
with Abigale’s father, and whenever their paths crossed she felt uncomfortable
in his presence. She took a breath, allowing her the courage to
speak.
“I would just like to
take the time to express how very sorry I am for your loss.”
There was an awkward
silence as Nell’s eyes traced his reflection through the partially frozen
windowpane; his facial outline looked angular through the icy glass, giving his
distorted features a stern, unapproachable look.
Turning slightly,
Nell said, “You will no longer be requiring my services.” Exhaling, she continued,
“I shall send word to my father, who will arrange for my transportation home.
All I ask is if you could possibly supply me with a
reference?”
“That will not be
necessary; my family do not wish you to leave.”
Nell was thrown off
guard by his response.
“You see, Miss Dodsworth, my niece
has outgrown her nanny, and my sister is seeking a governess as we speak. You
need not worry your father; I assume that his parish requires his undivided
attention. If you are agreeable to my sister’s offer, then I will provide your
transportation to her home in Gloucestershire; your reference to her will be my
word.”
“Thank you kindly,
but since your daughter’s death, I have had a change of heart.” Nell could feel
a pain rise within, and hurriedly blinked back her tears. “I cannot possibly
put myself in the position to grow as close to, and to love another child as I
came to love dear Abby.”
“My sister will be
most displeased, for you know not how I have sung your praises. Please do not
be hasty in your decision, and allow me to arrange a formal introduction. I
have it on good authority that Catherine will be arriving in the coming
weeks.”
“Sir…”
She paused, his
fallen face showing the non-appreciation of her reply.
“Have I offended you,
sir?” she enquired, looking up sheepishly, for eye contact with Mr Buchannan
felt so demeaning.
Nell could not help
but notice the confusion etched on his face, the rise of his dark brow. How
much softer his features appeared in close proximity. Mr Buchannan was in his
early thirties, a good few years her senior. A peppering of light auburn
streaks highlighted his sideburns and deep-brown hair. She could feel his eyes
as they penetrated her own, and their softness ebbed. His eyes were like dark
pools of the most unusual colour, a gunmetal grey, deep set, cold and
unfeeling. She held his gaze, difficult though it was. A silence fell, broken
only by the constant tapping of Mr Buchannan’s shoe on the
floorboards.
“No, my dear,” he
said abruptly, taking a step forwards. “I find it hard to comprehend that such
a handsome creature as yourself could be no more than a mere
governess.”
Nell frowned; she
felt his words to be both belittling and complimentary, if that were possible.
His tone was harsh, and it held an annoyance that she was unable to read. His
offhandedness forced her to lower her eyes, immediately returning her to her
station. If anyone was capable of making her feel subservient, it was Mr
Buchannan, and he had managed to do just that with one short sentence. Her eyes
rose as she felt his hand brush against her face. She flinched at the feel of
his smooth skin against her own.
“Sir!” Blushing, she
gasped as his hand swept along her cheek, his index finger coming to rest
softly upon her lips.
“You, madam, are my
weakness. Believe me when I say that I did not seek you out, you just happened
upon me.” His eyes widened. “You have not the slightest idea how I have tried
to fight my desires long and hard, but I have to admit defeat; I have succumbed
to your charms.” His words faltered as he continued. “I … I find you
uncommonly…” With a shake of his head he corrected himself. “No, my dear, I
find you disturbingly beautiful.”
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