Is love enough to light up the darkness...?
Lady Eleanora Smythe is participating in her very last season, her last chance to make a fortuitous match and escape the control of her domineering guardian, Lord Holster, the Earl of Greenbriar.
Lord Thomas Greely only months back from the Napoleonic Wars returns home to find the England he left behind much changed. His beloved brother is dead, his widow cast out. Thomas must find the woman to make matters rightâŚ
But Thomas finds more than he bargained for, when he finally locates his brotherâs widow. She is the companion to the beautiful and vulnerable Lady Eleanora. He is drawn to Lady Eleanora in a way that he cannot explain and she needs his help.
Time is ticking, and soon the Earl of Greenbriar will have control. Eleanora finds herself not only fighting for her life, but her sanity!
Can Thomas save her life without losing his own?
If you like stories filled with romance, intrigue, drama, suspense, mystery, murder, then The Salvation of a pure Lady is the novel for you. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Is love enough to light up the darkness...?
Lady Eleanora Smythe is participating in her very last season, her last chance to make a fortuitous match and escape the control of her domineering guardian, Lord Holster, the Earl of Greenbriar.
Lord Thomas Greely only months back from the Napoleonic Wars returns home to find the England he left behind much changed. His beloved brother is dead, his widow cast out. Thomas must find the woman to make matters rightâŚ
But Thomas finds more than he bargained for, when he finally locates his brotherâs widow. She is the companion to the beautiful and vulnerable Lady Eleanora. He is drawn to Lady Eleanora in a way that he cannot explain and she needs his help.
Time is ticking, and soon the Earl of Greenbriar will have control. Eleanora finds herself not only fighting for her life, but her sanity!
Can Thomas save her life without losing his own?
If you like stories filled with romance, intrigue, drama, suspense, mystery, murder, then The Salvation of a pure Lady is the novel for you. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Lady Eleanora Smythe trembled slightly, gripping the fan tighter in her hand. She raised it to her face, peering over it, blinking as she surveyed the scene in front of her. The mixed feelings that she always felt, as soon as she walked into any of these fine London soirees, were churning to life in her stomach.
âMy dear,â said a familiar low, sweet voice, at her elbow, âcome and sit down.â
Eleanora turned to her companion, her face softening. Even just hearing Lady Diana Greelyâs voice calmed her considerably. The older lady was gazing at her, a little anxiously, her grey eyes sweeping over her face. Eleanora could tell she was searching for the tell-tale signs that all was not well with her charge, and ready to swoop in and comfort her, as was her habit.
She blinked back sudden tears. Dear Diana, she thought slowly. How would I have survived the past year, without her by my side? How did I survive the previous ones, without her?
For a moment, she studied her companion, almost with fresh eyes, as if she had never seen her before. A tall, willowy woman, with raven black hair swept back into a chignon at the nape of her swan like neck, Lady Diana looked as if she was at least five years younger than the three and thirty that Eleanora knew she was. She was dressed elegantly, as always, in a lavender hued gown of silk and damask, with matching long gloves and ribbon, twined through her hair. The subdued hue matched the grey of her eyes.
She is beautiful, thought Eleanora, not for the first time. And yet, there was nothing ostentatious about Lady Diana. She did not seek attention with her dress or her bearing. Rather, she desired to blend into the background; to truly be the ladyâs companion that she was now, instead of the grand lady that Eleanora knew that she had once been.
âCome,â said the lady again, gripping her chargeâs elbow, steering her through the crowd towards the seats at the rear of the assembly. âWe shall assess the evening before we join in the revelry, my dear Eleanora.â
They settled into seats, adjusting their gowns. Eleanora slowly lowered her fan, daring to stare directly at the scene. Her heart was thumping hard.
She blinked rapidly. It was all so terribly well to do and fashionable. A grand ball, at Lord Worthingtonâs exclusive London townhouse. The ton were crowded inside, chatting and laughing in groups, or dancing together in the large ball room. The ladies' fine jewelry glimmered as they moved beneath the low-lying crystal chandeliers, looking for all the world like fireflies twirling through the air on a warm summerâs night.
âThere,â said Lady Diana, taking a deep breath. âIt is rather glorious, is it not, Eleanora? Lord Worthington has put on a splendid show, and there are so many fine people in attendance!â
âIndeed,â replied Eleanora, in a small voice. âIt is wonderful, as always.â She bit her lip. âBut I do not think I shall dance at all tonightâŚâ
Diana looked at her sharply. âThat is not the attitude to have, my dear.â She craned her neck, glancing around the room. âWhy, there is Lord Grovedale, near the card table. He is a very well placed baron, you know, and he is looking over here. I think you are intriguing him, Eleanora.â
Eleanora followed her companionâs gaze. The man in question was indeed staring over at them, ignoring his hand, his eyes narrowed in speculation.
âI do not like him,â she sniffed, turning back to Diana. âI danced with him in the assembly room two weeks ago, and he questioned me a little too vigorously on how well placed I am in lifeâŚheâs a fortune hunter, Di, just like they all are. He is only interested in my dowry, not in me.â
Diana gazed at her levelly. âYou cannot know that, my dear. You are a beautiful young lady, as I remind you constantly. Why cannot a young man be interested in you, for your own fair beauty and charm, rather than your dowry?â
Eleanora smiled slightly. Diana always said things like that. But then, Diana was her paid companion, and was required to fawn over her, just a little. Their friendship was genuine, but she still did not believe a word of what her companion had just said. She was no beauty. Not compared to the dazzling, elegant ladies who flitted like butterflies around this ballroom.
âYou are kind,â she said now, sighing deeply. âVery kind, to say such things. But we both know they are not true. Why else do these fashionable young men pay attention to me, for a while, and then abruptly move on to other young ladies, without even a backward glance in my direction? It is because they are not enamored with me, Diana. As soon as they spot a wealthier lady, they move on. It is all about fortune with themâŚâ
Furiously, she blinked back the sudden tears that had risen to her eyes. She didnât want to think about any of those young gentlemen, who had dallied with her, then abruptly dropped her, like a hot potato. And she most certainly did not want to think about one particular young gentleman, who had done so, and almost broken her heart in the process.
She took a deep breath. Lord Freddie Gainsborough had seemed different to the others. But he had turned out exactly the same.
He had approached her during her second season in London, and they had chatted and danced at many assemblies and balls over a course of weeks. He had even asked if he could call on her at the Grosvenor Square townhouse she occupied with her guardian, Lord Holster, the Earl of Greenbriar. His dark eyes had shone with admiration, and she couldnât help but notice how he trembled when he was in her proximity.
And then, abruptly, he had turned cold towards her. Almost overnight.
âYou are thinking about him again,â whispered Diana, a concerned look on her face. She was frowning, just a little. âYou must not, my dearest. You must put him behind youâŚâ
âEasier said than done,â whispered Eleanora, fresh tears springing into her eyes. âI thought that he was different, to the restâŚâ
âBah,â said Diana, waving a gloved hand dismissively. âLord Gainsborough showed his true colors. There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught! Like Lord Grovedale, for instance. You should consider him, my dear. Move onwards and upwards!â
Eleanora sighed again. Diana was always trying to rally her spirits, to interest her in other gentlemen, after her disappointments. But the experience with Lord Gainsborough had soured her, just a little. And she couldnât help thinking â was there something wrong with her? Was there something off about her, that gentlemen sensed, after they had gotten to know her initially? Why else did they all abruptly turn cold, avoiding her like the plague?
âI was not in love with Lord Gainsborough,â she said quietly, gazing intently at her companion. âBut I did have hope, that he was different to the rest. Is it me, Diana? Why do all the gentlemen inevitably start to avoid me?â She paused. âI only just found out, earlier in the day, that Lord Gainsborough is now betrothed to someone else.â
Diana looked grim. âThey are fools, if they do any such thing! And Lord Gainsborough the biggest fool of them all!â
Abruptly, Diana stopped, her gaze travelling across the room. Confused, Eleanora followed her gaze.
It was the Earl of Greenbriar, her guardian, standing there, watching them both, as intently as a hawk watching a grouse. He seemed totally oblivious to the revelry around him.
Eleanora quaked a little. Her unlikely guardian, who she had lived with for the past seven years, ever since her beloved parents had died in a carriage accident. She had only been sixteen when she had come under his guardianship, and she didnât know him any better now than when she had first stepped foot under his roof, all those years ago.
An abrupt, taciturn man, who only spoke to her when he needed to. A cruel man, at times, too. A bachelor, who had apparently been a good friend of the Marquess of Turnberry, her father. That was the reason that her father had named him as her guardian. At least, that was what she had been told. She had still been in shock, when the will had been read, and she had been informed that her life was changing, in the most unexpected of ways.
A distant cousin had been bequeathed the Marquessâ lands and entail and had no desire to have a sixteen year old girl as a ward. So the guardianship had fallen to the mysterious Earl of Greenbriar. She had not even met him, before she had been placed under his care.
She shivered again, as she stared at him. It went against her nature, but she almost hated the man. She hated how he was always assessing her, with those cold eyes, keeping her under lock and key. And she was not such a milk and roses innocent that she had not discerned the predatory nature of his gaze, either. A thought which always made her shudder in distaste. After all, apart from the fact he was her guardian, he was a man in his fifties, and she was only two and twenty.
The man kept staring at them a moment longer, then slowly nodded. The next minute, he had turned away, walking towards the card table.
Dianaâs gaze hardened. âThere is your reason you are unsuccessful with gentlemen, Eleanora,â she mumbled.
âPardon?â said Eleanora, leaning in closer. She wasnât quite certain she had heard correctly.
âNever mind,â said Diana abruptly, her mouth set in a grim line. She opened her fan, waving it vigorously, as if by the motion she might dispel what she was thinking.
Eleanora sighed. Poor Diana, being forced to take a position as a paid companion to her â with Greenbriar as her employer. Eleanora was acutely conscious that it was beneath her friend. Lady Diana Greely had once been the toast of London society, until her husband had died, and her circumstances had shifted.
She was only vaguely aware of the details â Diana was tight lipped about it. But she had heard that a rift with her father in law, the Earl of Hoffenstile, was the reason for her reduced circumstances. The man had been heartbroken when his son and heir had died so suddenly, and blamed Diana for it. Or so the rumors that circulated claimed.
Eleanora blinked back tears again, but this time, they were for her friend, and not for her. Poor Diana, she thought again. Had she loved her husband? It must be so hard, being a widow and paid companion, coming to these balls, where she had once been the toast of the town.
It is hard for all women, she thought suddenly. Our choices are so limited.
In a few short months, when she turned three and twenty, she would finally come into her majority, and inherit the fortune her father had left her. Then, she would not have to play the marriage market, if she didnât desire to do so. She could retreat to the country, if she so wished. She could do anything that she liked.
Her heart lurched. She was still so young; why should she retreat to the country, like a much older woman, her best years behind her? Why couldnât she meet a handsome and charming gentleman? This was her third London season, and she knew it would be her last. If she didnât find a husband now, she might never have the opportunity again.
She blinked back the tears. The current season was coming to an end. She would soon be a very rich woman. But she might also be a very lonely one, as well.
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An orphaned young woman who has high potential during the season to find a match seems unable to do so. What is wrong when those who seem suitable and interest suddenly abandon their chance? Eleanor is about to discover that the reasons are very dark and will threaten her life.
This was a very enjoyable read as it reminded me of many of the vintage romances I had read when I began reading romance stories. A young innocent woman. An evil one who wants to ruin her life. A young man who wants to whisk her away to safety. Innocent love with a hint of danger. Okay, maybe not just a hint in this story.
The romance aspect of this story is very quick in forming. The couple seem to fall in love at first sight which is possible but it seemed to progress so fast. Now that could be argued that the evil guardian might have something to do with that. Events unfold quickly as her coming of age birthday nears. The truth of the last few years of her life comes out and is not a pretty tale.
What intrigued me the most about this story is how it touches on how society treats the wealthy and women so differently than the rest of society. Women could be committed to an asylum with little to no effort and without any solid basis. How many were committed that shouldn't have been? What could do they do? What could those on the outside do for them? Also, if a member of high society committed a crime, can the police be notified and expect it to be handled? Probably not. Society of the day was so different than what we are exposed to in today's world. It got me digging deeper into these topics and following a few rabbit holes. I thank the author for highlighting these topics.
An enjoyable read for a relaxing weekend this spring.