: Elaine Brown
: Grover Hall
: BookBaby
: 9781667838496
: 1
: CHF 6.20
:
: Erzählende Literatur
: English
: 188
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Young girl, Emily, is sent by her now deceased mother to Grover Hall and her father, Henry Ashton, Earl of Grover. She finds Grover Hall in disrepair and abandoned except for the ill caretaker, Henderson. She learns that the Earl is carousing on the Continent and has neglected his responsibilities to the Hall and villagers for the past twelve years. She helps Henderson to recover and to improve their living circumstances. Emilies greatest fear is that she will be turned out with nothing. Henry's return is fraught with painful alcohol withdrawal and a desire to continue to reject responsibilities for the Hall and Emily. Emily must fight her disrespect for her father's condition as she works to win the ability to remain at the Hall. Their lives are complicated by the emergence of Lady Georgina, a previous acquaintance of Henrey and his parents. She throws herself at Henry with malicious intent. Among the many persons Henry hires to bring the hall back to its previous grandeur is Grace Applegate, governess for Emily. Lady Georgina is determined to rid herself of the presence of Emily once she marries the earl. Her attempts to gain Henry's attention are hampered by his increasing interest in Grace. Emily and Grace suffer near fatal malevolent accidents. Slowly, Emily, Henry and Grace work to overcome their fears and doubts.

CHAPTERONE


GROVERHALL

England, May1815

Emily sat on a log and stretched to remove a small stone from her worn-out shoe. The dense forest surrounding her darkened with the descending sun. Night sounds drifted on the rising wind as leaves rustled above the scurrying rush of a small animal in the underbrush. The howl of a distant animal sent shivers down her back. Never had she been so far away from home let alone been in a forest of what appeared to be beastly trees and underbrush that tore at her clothes andflesh.

It was time to move on before she became frozen in fear and stuck in this frightful forest all night. She picked up her cloth bag and made sure the note was still in her pocket. A long stick lay in her path, so she picked it up to use for defense and aid in her continued trudge through the woods. As the night darkened, it became harder to make out the overgrown path. She felt more than saw the path where many footsteps from years past smoothed theearth.

Finally, the forest gave way to overgrown grass and weeds and a neglected formal garden the size of a large London park. There, silhouetted against a clouded sky, was the mansion she sought. Grover Hall. The mammoth four-story structure boasted turrets and many chimneys and windows as well as a columnedportico.

How strange, she thought, all the windows are dark. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the many signs of neglect. Even as her hopes sagged, she thought to find shelter for thenight.

She didn’t think anyone was there to answer the front entrance, so she skirted the length of the mansion with trepidation. She turned the corner to find a long wing of the building. It was darker here, and she tripped over a pile of debris that had fallen from the roof. With a startled “oof,” she managed to maintain her balance and eventually found the servants’ entry. A weak light emanated from a small window beside thedoor.

Emily’s body shook. Who was the person inside? Surely, it wasn’t the master she had traveled so far to find. Well, she couldn’t stay outside in the chilled air allnight.

Putting on her armor of courage, she knocked on the door. It wasn’t immediately answered, so she knocked harder. Finally, the door opened to reveal an old man leaning on a cane. Long white hair covered his head and face, and he was dressed in the uniform of a butler in much need of mending andlaundering.

“What d’ye mean knockin on me door at this time o’ night?” croaked the oldman.

“Please, mister?” Emily said. “I took a coach as far as my money would take me, and I’ve had to walk for hours to get here. I’m sotired.”<