Somewhere My Lady Read online

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Praise for Beth Trissel

  Somewhere My Lady

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  A word from the author…

  Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  Something about him held her spellbound…the tilt of his head, arch of his brow, glimpse of his profile… She followed his every move with the fixity of an owl.

  He turned blue-gray eyes toward her and sensuous lips curved into a smile on his handsome face.

  Hands down. No contest. He was the hottest guy ever. Her heart beat a thrilling new rhythm.

  He circled closer to where she stood rooted in the foyer, not moving a toe, scarcely drawing breath. Did he truly see her backed tremulously against the wall, or did it only feel that way?

  Unlike the others in the ghostly assembly, his eyes didn’t skirt past her. He paused in the dance. Bending at the shoulders, he tipped his hand to her in a genteel flourish.

  He’d freakin’ bowed. Her jaw dropped. He most definitely saw her. And she sure as heck saw him.

  A sparking sizzle jumped between them, awakening her as she’d never been roused before. Even more than when the house charged through her at her arrival. It was as if she were plugged in—to him.

  How that could be, she had no idea, but when he gazed into her eyes, time seemed to stop. She spiraled into moonless stars, and back again to this dizzying realm. To him. Even if she were dreaming, she’d never forget this moment.

  Praise for Beth Trissel

  “Ms. Trissel captivates her reader from the moment you start reading the first page…I fell in love with Ms. Trissel’s characters [in SOMEWHERE THE BELLS RING] and look forward to the next delightful story ready with Kleenex box in hand.”

  ~Robin, Reviewer for Romancing the Book

  ~*~

  “Ms. Trissel had masterfully blended the past and the present in order to create a lovely romance that spans centuries [in SOMEWHERE MY LASS].”

  ~Poinsettia, Reviewer for Long and Short Reviews

  Somewhere

  My Lady

  by

  Beth Trissel

  Ladies in Time, Book One

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Somewhere My Lady

  COPYRIGHT © 2017 by Beth Trissel

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Debbie Taylor

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Fantasy Rose Edition, 2017

  Print ISBN 978-1-5092-1525-9

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-1526-3

  Ladies in Time, Book One

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  In memory of my dear little dog, Sadie,

  who sat by my side throughout the writing of this story, and many others.

  Gone, but never forgotten.

  Chapter One

  Present Day, Early June, Harrison Hall on the James River, Virginia

  Lorna Randolph craned her neck at the eighteenth century brick mansion looming above her in the early morning mist. Holy freaking cow. Like visiting royalty.

  She glanced around the front of the stately home with white columned porches on the first two stories. No sign of a Mrs. Hill, or anyone else. Perhaps she should head indoors. The dewy haze was chilly, and her sweater was in the car.

  Flutters danced in her stomach as she clicked up the sandstone steps in her blue strappy sandals. Was she crazy wearing heels for a tour that included the extensive grounds? She badly wanted to succeed in her new job and had upped her usual shorts and t-shirt combo for the intro visit. As long as her heels didn’t sink into the damp lawn…

  Music? Strains of a vaguely familiar melody reached her from inside the house. A worker with a radio, maybe. Classical stuff. But pretty. Unusual selection for a construction guy.

  Where had she heard it before?

  Intrigued, and a little intimidated by the imposing structure, she closed her hand around the brass knob on the double front doors and—

  Zap! A spine-tingling connection jolted through her.

  She gasped and stumbled back on the landing. Where did that come from?

  It wasn’t an electrical jolt. She’d been shocked by a faulty outlet before. No. This must stem from another source.

  Shaky, but determined, she swung open the door and walked inside. A prickling current ran down her neck, flushing goosebumps over her bare arms and legs.

  What the heck? It felt like someone had plugged her in. To what? The house? Even her scalp tingled.

  She took a steadying breath and slowly turned, studying the ornate foyer. Sweet-scented beeswax tapers flickered in the brass candelabra on the stand against one ivory wall. A high-backed wooden bench banked another. Queen Anne’s lace filled the green Oriental vase on the low table. Framed floral paintings circled the spacious entryway. Everything appeared normal for a colonial manor decorated with period pieces.

  Her pale yellow sundress shone in the sparkle of the multifaceted glass chandelier suspended overhead. She’d seen the one-of-a-kind fixture before. But when?

  Again, the music summoned her attention. Faint at first, the melodious tune grew more distinct. She dropped her gaze to locate the source of the sound.

  A live ensemble? The music seemed to come from a front room, and she detected muffled voices.

  Even more unexpected, the chords accompanied laughing dancers forming lines in the entryway. No one told her Harrison Hall had a dance troupe, or that they were performing now, at eight thirty on a Thursday morning. Who drew a crowd at that hour?

  Not this group. Someone must’ve neglected to advertise the event. She, alone, stared at the colorful assembly.

  A shame, really. They were totally in character, and looked pure eighteenth century…a painting come to life.

  Ladies in flowing silk gowns, like butterfly wings, their hair caught back in cascading curls, and men in formal coats, waistcoats, and knee breeches stepped to the lively melody. Gentlemen swung their partners as men and women came together and whirled away again. Circling, clapping, the couples wove their way down the rows, alternately changing hands with other ladies and gentlemen in the pairing. The floorboards echoed beneath gilt shoes with bows and glittering buckles. Their bright eyes skimmed by her without the slightest acknowledgement.

  Strange. She comprised their entire audience. Were they trained to ignore onlookers? They couldn’t possibly miss her. She wasn’t gonna give a cheesy wave, but she was right here.

  The longer she watched them
, the more it seemed something was off. Despite their seamless performance, an indefinable quality about the troupe struck her as odd. These were not typical reenactors. Difficult to pinpoint what was different, exactly… They were unarguably genuine, as if carved from time. Isn’t this what was wanted?

  Doubt nagged.

  Holy crap. Depending on how they turned, she could partially see through their forms.

  Trick of the light?

  The only illumination in the foyer came from the candles, chandelier, and pale sunshine. Nothing unusual about that.

  Chills crawled down her spine and stood the tiny hairs at the back of her neck on end. The last thing she expected on this June day was a visitation from beyond, and certainly not by merry dancers.

  She shrank noiselessly against the wall, pinching her pebbled arms to be certain she was awake.

  Could she dream she was pinching herself?

  What about the strong scents? The pungency of tobacco smoke and flowery perfumes wafted around her. Were odors a part of dreams? And sounds?

  Dear Lord, how was any of this possible?

  Uncertain if she were dreaming or haunted, she gaped at the animated figures. Wait. There. Him.

  Her attention riveted on one young man in the gathering. He’d spun by earlier. She’d swear he gazed over his shoulder in her direction, then promenaded up the hall. His expert steps returned him again to the entryway.

  Unlike the other dancers, he was fully corporeal. No partially seen legs or torso. Fitted blue breeches and silk stockings encased his long muscular legs. He wore his own chestnut brown hair pulled back in a queue at his neck, free of powder, while most male heads were wigged and white. The deep blue suit tailored to his tall figure complemented his deft steps in the English country dance.

  Something about him held her spellbound…the tilt of his head, arch of his brow, glimpse of his profile… She followed his every move with the fixity of an owl.

  He turned blue-gray eyes toward her and sensuous lips curved into a smile on his handsome face.

  Hands down. No contest. He was the hottest guy ever. Her heart beat a thrilling new rhythm.

  He circled closer to where she stood rooted in the foyer, not moving a toe, scarcely drawing breath. Did he truly see her backed tremulously against the wall, or did it only feel that way?

  Unlike the others in the ghostly assembly, his eyes didn’t skirt past her. He paused in the dance. Bending at the shoulders, he tipped his hand to her in a genteel flourish.

  He’d freakin’ bowed. Her jaw dropped. He most definitely saw her. And she sure as heck saw him.

  A sparking sizzle jumped between them, awakening her as she’d never been roused before. Even more than when the house charged through her at her arrival. It was as if she were plugged in—to him.

  How that could be, she had no idea, but when he gazed into her eyes, time seemed to stop. She spiraled into moonless stars, and back again to this dizzying realm. To him. Even if she were dreaming, she’d never forget this moment.

  “Dance with me.” He beckoned to her.

  “I don’t know how.” She forced the panted reply past the tightness in her throat.

  He shook his head. “Nae, lady. You are grace itself.”

  Gallant of him to say. “Clearly, you’ve never seen me play tennis.”

  Humor flickered in his eyes and touched his mouth. “I should like to.” A look of urgency displaced the fleeting mirth. “Wait. Stay a moment,” he entreated.

  Was she fading into dreamland, or was he?

  Freeing himself from the others, he dashed to her and slipped something into her hand. “Keep this.” His voice a whisper in her ear. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  She eyed him incredulously. “But how—”

  “Did I know you would be here?” he finished for her, melting tenderness in his gaze. “Because we have been here before.” He gestured at the doorway. “Danced through the foyer and into the garden.”

  “What? When?”

  He answered by cupping his hands to her face and pressing his warm lips to hers in a brief, but impassioned kiss. Any remaining breath she had was forfeited to him.

  “Until we meet again, sweet lady.” He swept her a bow and was gone, and the others with him, like the mist vanishing in the sun streaming through the windows.

  She stared after him, or the place he’d been, with her lips slightly parted. There were no words, only her wildly beating heart.

  She shook her head to clear it, almost expecting the party—and him—to reappear. No. She was alone in the foyer. It was a dream. He was, too. Had to be. The most vivid, never-to-be-forgotten, dream ever. But she was awake, and when she glanced at her hand, she still held the scrap of paper.

  Unfolding it, she mouthed, Wait for me, a simple request inked in penmanship that reflected the bold spirit of the young man who’d given it to her.

  Her knees were so unsteady she barely kept herself upright. Reason argued with all of her senses. How could she wait for him when she wasn’t even certain he was real?

  He’d felt divinely real. His presence lingered in the tingles coursing through her, the images dancing in her mind, and the haunting melody she still faintly heard.

  Be rational, she chided herself between gasps of air. Where had he and the others come from? Logically. If logic entered into this scenario.

  Not present-day Virginia.

  They must have lived more than two hundred years ago. She couldn’t have witnessed them, or him, here now. Or remembered, if that’s what this vivid imagery stemmed from.

  Despite his assertion to the contrary, she hadn’t been to Harrison Hall before, unless her parents brought her here as a child. If so, she didn’t recall the visit, and it certainly hadn’t been in the eighteenth century. And she’d never been kissed by the sexiest guy on the planet, who claimed a previous acquaintance of the most intimate sort with her. How was such intense familiarity possible?

  It wasn’t. And yet, she’d seen, heard, felt, and held a scrap of parchment she hadn’t clutched when she first entered the house.

  What was with this place? The moment she walked through the electrifying door, she’d entered more than an old home. Another world.

  Whiffs and glimpses of what must be memories awoke in her. She sniffed the sweetness of jasmine perfume dabbed behind her ears, tasted the luscious chocolate cream dessert spooned from a fluted glass melting on her tongue, waltzed through clipped boxwood hedges in a fragrant moonlit garden…

  Wait. She hadn’t waltzed there alone. He’d circled with her in exhilarating spirals. Who was he?

  How did a twenty-first century girl have a barrage of sensations carrying her back to the seventeen hundreds? Had she tumbled into an eighteenth century woman’s thought stream? If so, whose? It couldn’t be hers.

  Could it?

  No. She muffled the whispered query.

  Perhaps Harrison Hall was a repository for the past, imprinted with glimpses into the lives of those who’d gone before her. Like living, breathing video clips. Residual ghosts, she’d heard them called. Or maybe a magnetic field charged with energy had created a paranormal hot spot here.

  She probably shouldn’t relay these ghostly theories, or her experience, to anyone yet. She couldn’t be sure the encounter wasn’t just in her head. Whatever the cause of her extraordinary meeting, she was certain of one thing, she had to discover who he was.

  He mattered, in a deep down, to the core, kind of way. But apart from his being the most unbelievably awesome guy she’d ever met, she couldn’t think why. And it seemed to her, that she should, that she’d forgotten something as essential as breathing.

  Chapter Two

  “Ah, here you are, Miss Randolph. My apologies. I’m running behind this morning.”

  Lorna jumped at the intrusion into the strange private world she clutched like the precious paper in her hand.

  A heavyset woman sailed into the foyer, waving apology. “Sorry if I startled you, honey.
I’m Mrs. Hill, tour guide, housekeeper, and all around go-to person.”

  “That’s okay. I figured you were. Pleased to meet you.” Her thudding heart made speaking difficult.

  “And you.” Mrs. Hill looked as if she’d been dropped straight off the streets of colonial Williamsburg. Eighteenth century dress clothed her from the white cap on her head to the snowy apron worn over checked skirts. She must live and breathe this time period.

  Despite the knowledgeable woman’s fit with the era, Lorna doubted she could be of help in her unusual quandary, encompassing all of: ‘what just happened to me,’ nor was she about to ask.

  After four harsh years of high school, and a traitorous best friend making out with her cheater ex-boyfriend, she’d been ecstatic to land a summer job at Harrison Hall. Sure beat working in fast food while she saved for community college, paid better, and offered an escape from all the drama. A crash course in colonial homes, via touring as many old manors as she and her mom could cram into the week after graduation, gave her a clue about historic houses.

  Even with her advance prepping, she suspected the current owner, Mr. Cable, must be desperate to take on such a youthful novice. She’d been hired after a mere phone interview with Mrs. Hill and a few emails from him. But her mom, and consequently she, could claim kin to his aunt’s late husband, Walter Randolph, which might account for the quick hire. Kin are kin in the South, no matter how distant the ties, and the Randolph’s were tied to Harrison Hall. With Mr. Cable in a hurry to take on a new trainee, she wasn’t gonna argue her good fortune.

  No explanation given. None required. Right?

  Mrs. Hill halted in a flurry of skirts, her pale blue eyes welcoming. “Have you met any of the others yet?”

  “No, ma’am.” Apart from her recent visitors, that is, and Lorna wasn’t saying a word about them. It was all she could do to answer straightforward questions.

  The woman’s round face creased in affection. “You’ll like everyone. Mr. Cable lives here with his elderly aunt and some of the staff. You’re to stay, too, I understand.”

  “Yes. He generously offered me room and board. A relief to my mom who feared where on earth I’d live.”