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
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disturbingly-beautiful-j-wells/1120722615?ean=2940046294705&itm=1&usri=2940046294705
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id939204300
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/disturbingly-beautiful
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id939204300
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/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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