Read Online The Fallen Woman (A Regency Romance) by K.L. O'Keefe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K.L. O'Keefe
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beside her, silent as a hibernating bear.
Leona stared out the window for what felt like an eon. The scenery wasn’t particularly interesting, but the rolling fields of green were somewhat soothing. A continuous wind blew into the carriage, tousling the curls that framed Leona’s face. By the time they arrived at their destination, she wondered if she’d look like a banshee.
Suddenly, a tremendous gust of wind pounded their carriage, nearly knocking the vehicle on its side. It broke the silence.
“Oh!” Leona gasped. “Such wind! And the air was so stagnant in London!”
“The further north you travel, the windier it seems to get. If you think this wind is bad, you should visit Yorkshire,” Tristan responded. “I suppose this could be a sign of bad weather.”
“Whatever it is, it’s wreaking havoc on my hair!” she exclaimed, lightly patting her blond curls. “I must look awful.”
“On the contrary, I think you look beautiful.”
For the first time, Leona gave her husband more than a quick glance. She wanted so badly to return a compliment, but nothing honest crossed her mind. He wasn’t wholly unappealing, but he wasn’t handsome. She didn’t feel like telling him any more lies. “Oh, but… this dress is so outmoded. It belonged to my mother. I would have liked to go to the dressmaker for a gown of my own, but… as you know, we had little time to prepare. If we had had a large wedding, I would have been embarrassed to be seen in such an unfashionable gown.”
“I think it looks very pretty on you.”
Leona sneered. She hoped her husband wasn’t the sort of man who would tell her what she wanted to hear, regardless of the truth. There wasn’t anything she hated more than an empty compliment. “My lord?”
“Tristan,” he corrected her.
“Tristan… yes… well… I was wondering… are we nearly there?”
“Anxious, are we?” he asked with a chuckle. “Actually, Randall Hall should come into view any moment now. As soon as we’re past those trees…” He pointed to a cluster of trees nestled beside a narrow brook.
“Really? We’re that close? But we haven’t passed anything for miles! It really is a secluded place, isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is. When I was a child, I was something of a recluse. What other choice did I have? Randall Hall is so far removed from any trace of civilization.”
Realizing what a lonely life she was facing, Leona frowned. Her only companions would be her husband and her maid. What other choice did she have?
“Look,” Tristan directed her attention to the window. “You can see it now.”
Leona’s head swiveled. She was very eager to see her new home. In her mind, she’d dreamt up a dark, foreboding castle, like something that might have suited Vladimir the Impaler. A dreary castle would have been appropriate, for she felt like a glorified prisoner. However, as Randall Hall rolled into view, she was a bit disappointed to see it wasn’t nearly as imposing as she imagined it would be. It was a bright, impressive place, built from red stone. On one side of the house there was a small pond, where a pair of ducks was calmly drifting. On the other side, a handsome tangle of vines spread across the wall. The most impressive part of the house was the front, which was flanked by grand, giant columns that made Leona think of an ancient Greek temple.
Her initial reaction was speechlessness. As she stared at the house, Leona mustered a tiny, “Oh.”
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Very much. It’s breathtaking.”
When Tristan hopped from the carriage, he looked like a picture of health. Leona could almost forget he was a dying man. With a smile, he offered her a hand. “Come. Will you let me give you a tour?”
She took his hand and alighted from the carriage. “I’d like that very much.”
Tristan, Leona and Mary headed toward the house, where they were greeted by a thin man with an extraordinarily long nose.
“Ah!” Tristan greeted
Leona stared out the window for what felt like an eon. The scenery wasn’t particularly interesting, but the rolling fields of green were somewhat soothing. A continuous wind blew into the carriage, tousling the curls that framed Leona’s face. By the time they arrived at their destination, she wondered if she’d look like a banshee.
Suddenly, a tremendous gust of wind pounded their carriage, nearly knocking the vehicle on its side. It broke the silence.
“Oh!” Leona gasped. “Such wind! And the air was so stagnant in London!”
“The further north you travel, the windier it seems to get. If you think this wind is bad, you should visit Yorkshire,” Tristan responded. “I suppose this could be a sign of bad weather.”
“Whatever it is, it’s wreaking havoc on my hair!” she exclaimed, lightly patting her blond curls. “I must look awful.”
“On the contrary, I think you look beautiful.”
For the first time, Leona gave her husband more than a quick glance. She wanted so badly to return a compliment, but nothing honest crossed her mind. He wasn’t wholly unappealing, but he wasn’t handsome. She didn’t feel like telling him any more lies. “Oh, but… this dress is so outmoded. It belonged to my mother. I would have liked to go to the dressmaker for a gown of my own, but… as you know, we had little time to prepare. If we had had a large wedding, I would have been embarrassed to be seen in such an unfashionable gown.”
“I think it looks very pretty on you.”
Leona sneered. She hoped her husband wasn’t the sort of man who would tell her what she wanted to hear, regardless of the truth. There wasn’t anything she hated more than an empty compliment. “My lord?”
“Tristan,” he corrected her.
“Tristan… yes… well… I was wondering… are we nearly there?”
“Anxious, are we?” he asked with a chuckle. “Actually, Randall Hall should come into view any moment now. As soon as we’re past those trees…” He pointed to a cluster of trees nestled beside a narrow brook.
“Really? We’re that close? But we haven’t passed anything for miles! It really is a secluded place, isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is. When I was a child, I was something of a recluse. What other choice did I have? Randall Hall is so far removed from any trace of civilization.”
Realizing what a lonely life she was facing, Leona frowned. Her only companions would be her husband and her maid. What other choice did she have?
“Look,” Tristan directed her attention to the window. “You can see it now.”
Leona’s head swiveled. She was very eager to see her new home. In her mind, she’d dreamt up a dark, foreboding castle, like something that might have suited Vladimir the Impaler. A dreary castle would have been appropriate, for she felt like a glorified prisoner. However, as Randall Hall rolled into view, she was a bit disappointed to see it wasn’t nearly as imposing as she imagined it would be. It was a bright, impressive place, built from red stone. On one side of the house there was a small pond, where a pair of ducks was calmly drifting. On the other side, a handsome tangle of vines spread across the wall. The most impressive part of the house was the front, which was flanked by grand, giant columns that made Leona think of an ancient Greek temple.
Her initial reaction was speechlessness. As she stared at the house, Leona mustered a tiny, “Oh.”
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Very much. It’s breathtaking.”
When Tristan hopped from the carriage, he looked like a picture of health. Leona could almost forget he was a dying man. With a smile, he offered her a hand. “Come. Will you let me give you a tour?”
She took his hand and alighted from the carriage. “I’d like that very much.”
Tristan, Leona and Mary headed toward the house, where they were greeted by a thin man with an extraordinarily long nose.
“Ah!” Tristan greeted
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