The Devil of Blackhill Hall - Part 1 (The Blackhill Hall Saga) by Eliza Carlton

Author:Eliza Carlton [Carlton, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

"Are you nervous?" Caroline asked Eva, as their carriage rolled through a small village near to the Ashford’s estate. Eva looked at her, her face still lost in the thoughts Caroline had pulled her from.

"A little, of course. Though I expect we shan't see Lord Lucian until he is recovered somewhat." As she said it, the relief on her face was palpable.

Caroline looked away, her thoughts betraying her for a moment, in a pang of sadness for an injured man, whose own fiancee was relieved at not having to see him sooner than necessary. He deserved better than that, Caroline thought of the way he had protected her that dark night weeks ago. They both deserved better than they would be able to give each other. Turning back to the window she lost herself in the overwhelming charm of Wiltshire’s rolling green hills as the carriage turned into the long driveway toward the manor.

Blackhill Hall was grander than she might ever have imagined. Sitting amongst emerald hills, with beautifully manicured gardens and a lake like a jewel in the middle of them, the house rose, grey and imposing, with more windows and chimneys than she had ever seen on one building, matching spires and turrets, like a castle from a fairytale.

The manor was just as breathtaking inside as it was out, Caroline thought as she walked into the entry, which seemed big enough to fit their entire London townhouse inside. It had high gracious ceilings, with elegant stairs, splitting, and curving in tandem up toward the higher levels, the floors were a pale marble that gleamed in the sunlight, streaming in from the long, plentiful windows.

After being shown to her rooms, Caroline went directly to the large window where a setting sun was casting warm, golden light, tinged with pink, spilling over the fabrics of her elegant testered bed. The lake lay before her, glimmering in the light, and as she watched a heron, graceful and serene in its flight, glided over the water, before landing gently at its edge. She closed her eyes, and drew a deep breath, feeling the perfect tranquility of the moment fill her, her smile irrepressible as she felt the tensions of the city melt away.

When she turned, she found herself looking into another window, from her room's west wing position, and gasped as her eyes met inquisitive blue ones. The room was dark, with only flickering firelight glowing from deep within and Lucian's face was shrouded in shadow, but his eyes, catching the last rays of daylight, blazed at her. Looking closer, she realised it was not simply shadow darkening his features, but bruises. Vivid purple, fading into yellow and black, cuts lined with dried blood.

She fought down the expression of horror she instinctively felt, and offered a tentative smile, raising her hand in a small wave. His face, regarding her speculatively, relaxed at her smile, and formed a small one of his own. He glanced down as she watched him, and she saw he held on his knee a sheath of paper, on which he was working with charcoal.

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