Romantically Enchanted: A Twisted Fairytale Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MONARCHAL GLENN PRESS
Published: 2018-09-10T23:00:00+00:00

ENGLAND 1800

“Ryan,” his stepmother shouted. Her shrill voice pierced his eardrums even from the distance that separated them. He still couldn’t believe he’d been excited to have that woman as a mother. “Come down here now, you silly boy.”

He stared at the bare walls of the attic she forced him to sleep in. His nice bedroom had been taken away and given to Delilah. Oh, it hadn’t happened at first, but once his father died Lady Penelope had gained complete control over him. He should be preparing to go to Eton, yet he remained stuck as Lady Penelope’s unpaid labor. She claimed they didn’t have the funds to send him to school and give her girls the proper education they deserved. So she’d hired tutors for them all. He got his education by default. She wouldn’t have have allowed him to meet with the tutor at all if she could have prevented it; however, his grandfather, the Duke of Ashthrone insisted on quarterly reports. If he didn’t hear from Lady Penelope, then they wouldn’t receive any funds.

Ryan hopped down the stairs two at a time and headed into the sitting room. Lady Penelope sat on the chaise reading a book. Her two daughters, Mirabella and Delilah were in chairs opposite of her. Delilah worked on needle work, and Mirabella painted watercolors on a canvas.

“It’s about time,” Lady Penelope scoffed. “I need you to start a fire. It’s getting chilly in the room.”

His stepmother had dismissed almost all the servants. Another way to be frugal and spend money on her daughters and herself—they were all selfish. The only staff they’d kept was a cook and a driver. Ryan couldn’t be seen on top a carriage driving them around. That would make it back to his grandfather, and then she’d have a lot to answer for. As far as cooking—Lady Penelope had tried to make him do that. She’d given up when she realized he was horrid at it. He’d never been so grateful he was terrible at something. Ryan had practically been his stepmother’s slave since his father’s death a few years ago. He couldn’t wait until he came into his inheritance, small that it was, and make Lady Penelope leave his home. Surely she had relatives she could live with. He’d never disliked anyone as much as he did his stepmother and two stepsisters.

“Right away,” Ryan replied.

He set to work lighting the kindling in the hearth. Soon flames licked the wood and warmth spread outward. Ryan stood and brushed his hand over his pants, leaving a streak of ashes and soot in their wake.

“Go and wash. You look disgraceful.”

Ryan clenched his jaw tight and nodded at his stepmother. He didn’t trust himself to speak. A loud boom echoed through the hall, followed by a bellow, “Where is everyone in this blasted house?”

Lady Penelope leaped to her feet to rush out of the room, but she didn’t make it two steps before the owner of the bellow entered. “There you all are.

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