The Unmasking of Lady Loveless...
From Chapter 2
She opened the front door. A blast of cold air
swirled into the hall, bringing with it a powdering of snow. The day was
even more inclement than Melicent had imagined. Dark grey clouds
lowered over the roofs of Peacock Oak.
She could barely see the gentleman standing in the
shadow of the porch, other than to acknowledge that he was very tall and
broad-shouldered. The spiteful wind clipped her ankles and set her
shivering, and she stood aside quickly to allow him entrance.
“Please come in, sir,” she said. “You must be Dr
Abbott’s nephew. Thank you for coming so promptly, although I fear you had a
wasted journey. Mama will not see visitors today.” She could not quite keep
the exasperation from her tone, no matter how she tried. “Indeed, it is very
bad of her to put everyone to so much trouble, particularly when she knows
we cannot afford to pay-”
He
stepped into the light and she turned to look at him properly for the first
time. For one long, agonising moment her mind refused to accept the evidence
of her eyes.
“But you are not the doctor!” She said foolishly. “You
are…” Her voice dwindled to nothing.
The gentleman raised one dark brow in mockery then
bowed elegantly.
“Your husband,” he said. “Indeed I am.”
