The House of Broken Hearts by Judy Colella (i want to read a book .txt) 📕
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"It was a dark and stormy night..." And so begins many a badly-written romance novel. This is my take on that idea, a love story filled with tongue-in-cheek cliches of the Romance genre, but a story nonetheless of love and loss, sorrow and hope. The quintessential tale of the young governess and the wealthy, sardonic widow...
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peaceful symphony that nearly put the girl to sleep again. But then she shook herself, not at all satisfied nor even agreeable about her situation.
“What of that woman he brought here, and how did he end up in your office, or the gun going off, or - ”
“Ssshh, patience!” Giles laughed softly. “I’m getting there. I suppose this would have come to a head eventually, but it seems your arrival here is what made it all happen as soon as it did. You were the catalyst, you see.”
“You blame me?” Despite her discomfort, she was outraged and tried – unsuccessfully – to wrench herself from his arms.
“No, no, no! Please stop struggling. You have to hear me out, and then, should you decide it’s unbelievable or simply too much to handle, you will be free to leave Grey House forever. I’ll provide well for you, and won’t bother you ever again.”
His voice almost broke with those last words, and she looked up at him once more, this time with puzzlement. “I – very well. I’ll listen.” She dared not allow herself to admit what was so clearly bothering him, so leaned back against his warmth once more, forcing herself to relax.
“Thank you. This will be difficult enough to say, but say it I must, even if it drives you away more quickly than you might otherwise go.” He took a deep breath and then continued. “The day we met for tea, I found you to be a pleasant young lady with a lively intelligence despite your obvious naivete. You seemed perfect for the job of governess, so despite feeling terribly attracted to you, I – yes, I admit that – I determined to maintain a purely professional attitude where you were concerned for the sake of my children. But then you entered the diningroom that first night, and every one of us fell instantly in love with you.”
“Did you!”
“We did. Granville’s behavior should have tipped you off, but you’re such an innocent. Anyway, I thought it all rather amusing, mainly because I was so adamant about remaining aloof from any feelings I had toward you, but I wasn’t certain about Julian. In fact, that first time we met I began to have misgivings about his presence here. He had moved in a short while before, claiming he was worried about my state of mind after Christiana died – my wife – and said he would live here to help me with the children. We had gone through a string of governesses, all of whom had been driven away by the atrocious behavior of my children who were still mourning their mother, and overall I suppose I was still too distraught at the time of his offer to give it much consideration. I knew Julian couldn't possibly teach them, so I decided to try and hire one more governess, but upon seeing how beautiful you are, I starting having serious doubts about his being here.”
He shifted slightly, but didn’t ease his embrace. “I still didn’t trust him, you see, but despite my continued refusal to help him in other ways, I couldn’t see turning him away. But I watched him constantly from the moment you took up residence here, waiting for him to make any kind of inappropriate move toward you. This is why I was so upset when you told me about how he had approached you in the library. Nothing further occurred that I was aware of, but I was still wary of his intentions.
“After travelling to William’s home two weeks ago to get the boys settled in, I received a message from my valet that Julian had come to the house, drunk, and accompanied by a pregnant woman. I rushed back, and that night confronted him in the study. We had…words. He expressed his resentment of me and the fact that I alone had inherited the Lanford wealth. He said some other things that I found deeply disturbing, and I demanded that he leave Grey House and not return. If for no other reason, I didn’t want my children exposed to his so-called fiancee or risk them seeing their uncle in a state of drunkenness.”
“Did you really think he’d stay away?”
“No, which is why, upon returning again, I was out every day checking the perimeters of the property to make sure he wasn’t here somewhere. Apparently he eluded my search, since, as I later learned, he was able to approach you in the garden. You see, he had been planning to take everything from me, and as is typical of his luck, had chosen the day of the storm to implement his plans. Which were flawed, you know. He really isn’t very bright, just diabolical. This plan, I now know, was to try and steal you away from here, but because you’re a person of principal, you refused his advances. Being of such poor character himself he naturally blamed me, never thinking it possible that a woman could refuse him of her own volition. So when that part of his plot didn’t work, he tried the next step. Using a gun with blanks and placing a small bag filled with sheep’s blood under his shirt, he confronted me at the stables. The storm became too fierce, so we resorted to my office. His brilliant idea was to force me into a struggle, draw his gun, and make certain it was turned toward him when it went off. Our little battle gave him the chance to release the opening of the bag so all that blood would gush out and soak his shirt just as the weapon was fired, making it look as if I’d shot him. He had a friend hiding behind the stables who was to come in when he heard the gunshot and make sure I couldn’t examine Julian’s wound too closely. But the noise of the storm prevented him from hearing anything, and I quickly discovered the ruse. Julian later confessed to the subterfuge, admitting that he was going to accuse me of attempted murder, get me imprisoned, and take control of the estate. Before I had a chance to confront him, however, you chose to burst in, and forgive me, sweet Giselle, but I was so overwrought, so horrified, and so completely unable to handle explaining anything while at the same time preventing my brother from escaping, that I’m afraid I spoke harshly to you.”
She gazed up at him now in wonder. Everything he’d told her made sense; his description fit the situation perfectly, and his voice and eyes told her the rest. What made her wonder was that he felt the need to feel bad about being gruff with her. She was ready to fully accept his words, but had one more question. “You said you wanted to secure my silence – how?”
“How else? By explaining everything the way I have only now been able to. Unfortunately, my dear, you never gave me the chance, and nearly got yourself killed in the process.”
She said nothing for a few minutes, torn between feeling foolish and wanting very badly to make room for a new kind of hope that had begun to blossom within her heart. “Are – are you angry with me?” she finally asked, knowing no other way to start down this new path.
“Angry?” He released her long enough to take her by the shoulders and turn her around to face him. “My God, no! Don’t you – have you heard what I’ve been telling you? I love you, Giselle! I’ve loved you from the day you came to Grey House, and may God and my poor, deceased wife forgive me, but I think I will love you long after eternity has claimed us both. When you said you…you despised me and, and called me a murderer, and gave me that look of total hatred, I thought I would die right there of sorrow. My life has become something wondrous with you in it, even as a mere governess, but - ” He looked away. “I don’t expect you to feel the same. You’re much younger than I, and probably wish to find yourself someone more suitable, closer to your own age, someone who – ”
“You may release me now. I won’t run away.”
He dropped his hands, his shoulders slumping in defeat and despair. “Of course.”
“Besides, it’s very difficult to do this if you’re grabbing my shoulders, you silly man.” Before he could ask what she meant, she leaned closer, took his face in her hands, and kissed him gently on the mouth.
When the kiss ended, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Does this mean you – that you – ”
“I don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but it was always there, wasn’t it,” she replied, more to herself than to him. “Giles, forgive me for being so blind.” She smiled up at him and took one of his hands between hers. “I love you, too. I can imagine no one else magnificent enough to take your place. Somewhere in all this madness, my heart became yours. I love you, Giles. I love you!”
He uttered a joyful laugh and once more wrapped her in his arms but this time, he was the captive.
Imprint
“What of that woman he brought here, and how did he end up in your office, or the gun going off, or - ”
“Ssshh, patience!” Giles laughed softly. “I’m getting there. I suppose this would have come to a head eventually, but it seems your arrival here is what made it all happen as soon as it did. You were the catalyst, you see.”
“You blame me?” Despite her discomfort, she was outraged and tried – unsuccessfully – to wrench herself from his arms.
“No, no, no! Please stop struggling. You have to hear me out, and then, should you decide it’s unbelievable or simply too much to handle, you will be free to leave Grey House forever. I’ll provide well for you, and won’t bother you ever again.”
His voice almost broke with those last words, and she looked up at him once more, this time with puzzlement. “I – very well. I’ll listen.” She dared not allow herself to admit what was so clearly bothering him, so leaned back against his warmth once more, forcing herself to relax.
“Thank you. This will be difficult enough to say, but say it I must, even if it drives you away more quickly than you might otherwise go.” He took a deep breath and then continued. “The day we met for tea, I found you to be a pleasant young lady with a lively intelligence despite your obvious naivete. You seemed perfect for the job of governess, so despite feeling terribly attracted to you, I – yes, I admit that – I determined to maintain a purely professional attitude where you were concerned for the sake of my children. But then you entered the diningroom that first night, and every one of us fell instantly in love with you.”
“Did you!”
“We did. Granville’s behavior should have tipped you off, but you’re such an innocent. Anyway, I thought it all rather amusing, mainly because I was so adamant about remaining aloof from any feelings I had toward you, but I wasn’t certain about Julian. In fact, that first time we met I began to have misgivings about his presence here. He had moved in a short while before, claiming he was worried about my state of mind after Christiana died – my wife – and said he would live here to help me with the children. We had gone through a string of governesses, all of whom had been driven away by the atrocious behavior of my children who were still mourning their mother, and overall I suppose I was still too distraught at the time of his offer to give it much consideration. I knew Julian couldn't possibly teach them, so I decided to try and hire one more governess, but upon seeing how beautiful you are, I starting having serious doubts about his being here.”
He shifted slightly, but didn’t ease his embrace. “I still didn’t trust him, you see, but despite my continued refusal to help him in other ways, I couldn’t see turning him away. But I watched him constantly from the moment you took up residence here, waiting for him to make any kind of inappropriate move toward you. This is why I was so upset when you told me about how he had approached you in the library. Nothing further occurred that I was aware of, but I was still wary of his intentions.
“After travelling to William’s home two weeks ago to get the boys settled in, I received a message from my valet that Julian had come to the house, drunk, and accompanied by a pregnant woman. I rushed back, and that night confronted him in the study. We had…words. He expressed his resentment of me and the fact that I alone had inherited the Lanford wealth. He said some other things that I found deeply disturbing, and I demanded that he leave Grey House and not return. If for no other reason, I didn’t want my children exposed to his so-called fiancee or risk them seeing their uncle in a state of drunkenness.”
“Did you really think he’d stay away?”
“No, which is why, upon returning again, I was out every day checking the perimeters of the property to make sure he wasn’t here somewhere. Apparently he eluded my search, since, as I later learned, he was able to approach you in the garden. You see, he had been planning to take everything from me, and as is typical of his luck, had chosen the day of the storm to implement his plans. Which were flawed, you know. He really isn’t very bright, just diabolical. This plan, I now know, was to try and steal you away from here, but because you’re a person of principal, you refused his advances. Being of such poor character himself he naturally blamed me, never thinking it possible that a woman could refuse him of her own volition. So when that part of his plot didn’t work, he tried the next step. Using a gun with blanks and placing a small bag filled with sheep’s blood under his shirt, he confronted me at the stables. The storm became too fierce, so we resorted to my office. His brilliant idea was to force me into a struggle, draw his gun, and make certain it was turned toward him when it went off. Our little battle gave him the chance to release the opening of the bag so all that blood would gush out and soak his shirt just as the weapon was fired, making it look as if I’d shot him. He had a friend hiding behind the stables who was to come in when he heard the gunshot and make sure I couldn’t examine Julian’s wound too closely. But the noise of the storm prevented him from hearing anything, and I quickly discovered the ruse. Julian later confessed to the subterfuge, admitting that he was going to accuse me of attempted murder, get me imprisoned, and take control of the estate. Before I had a chance to confront him, however, you chose to burst in, and forgive me, sweet Giselle, but I was so overwrought, so horrified, and so completely unable to handle explaining anything while at the same time preventing my brother from escaping, that I’m afraid I spoke harshly to you.”
She gazed up at him now in wonder. Everything he’d told her made sense; his description fit the situation perfectly, and his voice and eyes told her the rest. What made her wonder was that he felt the need to feel bad about being gruff with her. She was ready to fully accept his words, but had one more question. “You said you wanted to secure my silence – how?”
“How else? By explaining everything the way I have only now been able to. Unfortunately, my dear, you never gave me the chance, and nearly got yourself killed in the process.”
She said nothing for a few minutes, torn between feeling foolish and wanting very badly to make room for a new kind of hope that had begun to blossom within her heart. “Are – are you angry with me?” she finally asked, knowing no other way to start down this new path.
“Angry?” He released her long enough to take her by the shoulders and turn her around to face him. “My God, no! Don’t you – have you heard what I’ve been telling you? I love you, Giselle! I’ve loved you from the day you came to Grey House, and may God and my poor, deceased wife forgive me, but I think I will love you long after eternity has claimed us both. When you said you…you despised me and, and called me a murderer, and gave me that look of total hatred, I thought I would die right there of sorrow. My life has become something wondrous with you in it, even as a mere governess, but - ” He looked away. “I don’t expect you to feel the same. You’re much younger than I, and probably wish to find yourself someone more suitable, closer to your own age, someone who – ”
“You may release me now. I won’t run away.”
He dropped his hands, his shoulders slumping in defeat and despair. “Of course.”
“Besides, it’s very difficult to do this if you’re grabbing my shoulders, you silly man.” Before he could ask what she meant, she leaned closer, took his face in her hands, and kissed him gently on the mouth.
When the kiss ended, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Does this mean you – that you – ”
“I don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but it was always there, wasn’t it,” she replied, more to herself than to him. “Giles, forgive me for being so blind.” She smiled up at him and took one of his hands between hers. “I love you, too. I can imagine no one else magnificent enough to take your place. Somewhere in all this madness, my heart became yours. I love you, Giles. I love you!”
He uttered a joyful laugh and once more wrapped her in his arms but this time, he was the captive.
Imprint
Text: The content herein is the exclusive property of the author, subject to all national and international copyright laws. No part of this work, nor its entirety, may be copied, quoted, or otherwise used without the express, written permission of the author of record.
Images: Cover by Laszlo Kugler
Publication Date: 03-11-2012
All Rights Reserved
Dedication:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT The contents of this book is protected by United States Copyright laws and may not, in whole or in part, be reproduced by anyone other than the author. Further, no portion of this work, nor the book in its entirety, may be offered by any third party(ies) in any form, either electronic (such as a PDF document or an ebook) or physical (such as a paperback or included in a hard-copy publication) without the express, written permission by, or contractual agreement with, the author. Its availability on BookRix is an example of the latter availability and may be read, in situ, but not downloaded by any foreign entities nor copied by same.
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