Shadows Deep

Book 0: The Draper Estates

by Kyoko Church

Genres: Historical Romance

Synopsis

Lillianne Draper has fled the clutches of her drunken husband, Ewan, and returned to the safety of her family farm. But her tormentor, Dr Phillip Samms, needs Lillianne to endorse his machine for curing female hysteria - more than that, he needs to see her strapped in his restraining chair, helpless and at his mercy once more. Can Lillianne free herself for once and for all, and does a lasting love wait for her somewhere beyond the walls of Draper Estate?

Release date: October 31, 2013

Publisher: Accent Press

Print pages: 70

Sample

Chapter One

Dear Mrs Draper,

I don’t often put quill to paper to write missives of a more personal nature so you will hopefully forgive me if my manner is stilted. I am writing to beseech you to return to Draper Estates.

I will admit that at first I was not altogether convinced that my lord’s choice in you for his bride was the most astute one. I want to take this opportunity to apologise to you if I was not entirely welcoming when you arrived. I consider part of my responsibility to his lordship to look out for characters whose motives may not be in his best interest. The truth is that I did not know enough about you and, perhaps sadly, I am a man who always anticipates the worst in people. However, it is a trait that has done me well in my life since I am so often justified.

There are two exceptions, my lady, and I will tell them to you now. They are your husband, my lord and master, Ewan Draper, and you. I say when I’ve been wrong.

I know he is not perfect. Who amongst us is? He is a man who is larger than life; he has big dreams, big ideas, big desires. In the past, these attributes have created some minor issues for him, and yes, perhaps he has not always conducted himself with the utmost decorum, but more so they are responsible for his successes. Sometimes one must accept certain flaws in a loved one and forgive him knowing the whole person you can see him to be.

I am not a person who puts great stock in things like romance or matters of the heart. I usually find these notions to be the stuff of novels and other fancies. But in the interest of performing my duties to the fullest, I cannot ignore his lordship’s distress at your departure and continued absence. He is a broken man, my lady. A shadow of his former self. If you have any reciprocal feelings of fondness in your heart for him, I implore you to at least consider returning to your place here at Draper Estate.

I can assure you that you will have a most humble and willing servant in me.

Yours in earnest,

James

James set down his quill. He read the letter over twice then folded it in half, closed his eyes, and let out a heavy sigh. Reluctantly thinking back to his actions from two nights ago, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the shame over how he’d behaved. He rubbed his temples hard, opened his eyes, and perused the letter a final time before sealing it and ringing for the footman. If Lillianne would come back, now that Phillip and Celeste were out of the picture, it was possible that all could be as it should at Draper Estates. Then hopefully they could put a period on the end of this chapter and he and his lordship would never have to think about what had happened last night.

‘James!’ the master had called. ‘Another spot of whiskey, my good man,’ Ewan had said, waving the empty crystal decanter in the air.

‘Are you quite certain, my lord?’ James said, stepping into the library and taking the decanter. ‘I know you enjoy your whiskey but we both know it can be a fickle friend; one too many and you’ll regret it in the morning. Perhaps a good rest is in order. I can have the new maid turn your bed down now.’

His master looked at him, eyes bleary and distant. He blinked twice, trying to focus on James’s face. ‘Rest. Ha! Like I could rest, James. How can I? How can I rest when every time I lay my head on the pillow and close my eyes all I can see is her face?’ He clasped his head. ‘God, but she’s beautiful, isn’t she? And I was such a fool! Such a fool.’ He stood up, stumbled a fraction, righted himself and began pacing the library floor. ‘She loved me, didn’t she? You saw it. She loved me and I failed her. Oh God, I close my eyes and I can see her before me, pleading for me to make Phillip stop. She asked me for help time and again and I didn’t listen. I didn’t listen! And now she’s gone.’ He turned around and looked at James once more. ‘You understand, don’t you, James? I thought I was helping her. I thought I was doing what was best. I didn’t understand!’ He turned to the window that overlooked the expanse of his estate. ‘Oh Lilly, how can I ever expect you to forgive me? What I put you through! Is it any wonder you don’t return my communications?’

For a sickening moment, James was afraid that Ewan Draper might … cry. Instead, he sat down heavily in his chair again. ‘Whiskey … fickle? You consider her sweet solace fickle, James? Right now, if I can’t have Lillianne, whiskey’s all I want.’ He took his half-empty cut crystal lowball glass in his hand and held it up, swirling it in the light. ‘She calls me,’ he said, more to himself than James, staring at the amber liquid then taking a deep, long inhale over the glass. ‘Her sweet, warm smell beckons me. Here, she says, lie down here and you won’t hurt any more.’ He gulped down the remaining fluid and slammed down the glass. ‘If I need rest, she will bring it. So bring me more!’

James fled to the storeroom. He produced his key, unlocked the cabinet, and took out an unopened bottle of whiskey. As he headed back to the library, his mind was a jumble. He’d never seen his lordship this way. Yes, he was a man who liked his ale and often imbibed. But rarely to this extent and rarely with this abandon. Who was the pensive, sullen, wallowing man in the library? He was in obvious pain. Tortured by how long he’d let his supposed friend, the dubiously accredited Dr Phillip Samms, treat his wife for her nymphomania. James did understand. The doctor was very persuasive. Something about the man’s manner seemed to enable him to inveigle his way into the household and run amok. So he was able to restrain Lilly day after day and perform what he referred to as his “therapies” on her, then was able to convince Celeste, the recently departed scullery maid, to do the same.

Ewan Draper was a busy man; running his successful mill required much of his time. His attention could not always rest on matters at home. Largely the home was James’s arena, and although he knew that the situation regarding Lillianne’s health was of a delicate nature and he had no power over Phillip, still, such was the degree of James’s devotion that he felt some responsibility for his master’s troubles. His mission in life was to clear the road for this man, thi. . .