A sweet Christmas themed Regency story written for an Ellora's Cave submission call
Palming a juicy pear
from the breakfast room, Eleanor slipped out the front door and all but ran to
the stables.
She bit into the flesh,
groaning as the juice ran down her lips and onto her chin. To taste fresh fruit
again, to smell clean air. It was a pleasure that could not easily be put into
words. London was so stifling, their food so extravagant and often French.
Not looking where she
was going until it was too late, Ellie tripped over something and tumbled to
the ground.
“Oh my goodness, I am
so sorry.”
Ellie was apologizing
before she had even got back up again. The something she had fallen over was
actually a person sitting on the hill looking over the pond.
The older gentleman
chuckled and awkwardly got to his feet.
“I should be
apologizing to you young lady, not the other way around.”
He held out both hands
and she used them to lift herself up. He had the most beautiful blue eyes,
almost grey actually. Why hadn’t she met this person before?
“No, truly. It was my
fault.”
He let go of her hand
and Ellie felt the loss of the warmth keenly, how unusual a feeling.
“I haven’t introduced
myself. I am Robert Blakely.”
Ellie held out her
hand, anxious to feel his fingers on her bare skin again.
“Eleanor Sommers.”
She curtseyed as
elegantly as possible on a hillside, the gentleman smiled but it didn’t quite
reach his eyes.
“You are William’s
daughter.”
She smiled, who else
would she be?
“Of course. Are you the
friend my father spoke of last night?”
Robert Blakely nodded
and indicated that she should sit on the blanket he had been resting upon.
Eleanor sat and patted
the area next to her. His eyes narrowed slightly but he did sit down next to her
looking a little rigid.
“Miss Sommers…”
“Oh, call me Ellie,
please.”
A small smile lifted
his generous mouth up.
“Robert.”
His name was beautiful
and his voice matched. Lovely tones, soothing. She smiled up at him, feeling
relaxed.
“Of course, thank you
Robert. Tell me why you are up so early.”
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