Hannah of Harpham Hall

By Valerie Holmes

‘Hannah of Harpham Hall’ was shortlisted for The Romantic Novelists’ Association’s category award – The Love Story of the Year. This engaging romantic novella has been newly edited to delight further.
Harpham Hall, North Yorkshire, England, 1817
Hannah is headstrong and blinkered to life’s dangers beyond the boundaries of the Harpham Hall estate. She spends little time with Lord Harpham, her father, or her aloof stepmother. Reluctant to leave her carefree childhood behind, she is prone to irresponsible actions.
Into her life steps handsome young tenant, Tobias Jenkins, when Hannah unwittingly puts herself in danger. However, the resentment shown by her father towards Tobias shocks Hannah, but Tobias is someone she can never forget.
Her father dismisses Hannah’s lifelong maid, Betsy, on the spot for her incompetence at failing to control Hannah’s willful nature. Hannah is left bereft recognising her selfishness, but too late.
Hannah becomes a lonely young lady who is reluctant to accept the tuition of a governess. It seems to Hannah that everyone she loves is taken from her. Then fate intervenes once more when Hannah is sent to a seminary near Northallerton.
Hannah’s unlikely ally as time passes and events unfold is Tobias Jenkins - a man who is to become a part of her future as planned by the Harpham’s - but why has Lord Harpham’s attitude changed towards Jenkins?
What secret does Tobias hide?
Why does everyone Hannah love seem to leave her?
Dare she trust Tobias and if so – will he too abandon her?
The woman Hannah has become must face the truth and place her faith the man – but can she?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valerie Holmes
• Release date: Aug 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476448091

Valerie Holmes

Valerie writes sweet romances and mysteries, both historical and contemporary. Two of which have been shortlisted for awards by the Romantic Novelists’ Association.She is a previous winner of Writing Magazine’s, ‘Annual Ghost Story Competition’. This illustrates her love of writing under the genres of ‘Romantic Adventure’ or darker ‘History Mystery’.Valerie is an experienced creative writing tutor working for The London School of Journalism, Writing Magazine and independently.As well as being an author herself, she enjoys being a reviewer of books for the Historical Novel Society and is also member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Authors.

Book preview

Hannah

of Harpham Hall

by

Valerie Holmes

Shortlisted for ‘Love Story of the Year’ Category Award

by the Romantic Novelists Association

2nd Edition published 2022

The Prologue

Summer 1817

No one ever comes here, Betsy. We are as outcasts, that’s what we are, Hannah complained to her lifelong maid. At fourteen years of age, she had yet to learn patience, thick brown hair fell over her shoulders freely as she stretched out on the window seat in her nightdress.

The sun’s rays warmed Hannah as she gazed out at Harpham Hall’s expanse.

Now that’s just not so, Miss Hannah, is it? Betsy replied as she finished laying out Hannah’s clothes for the day.

Yes, it is! she insisted.

Miss Hannah, we had a visitor only two days ago. Reverend, Mr McNab, stayed a whole four hours with your mama.

My step-mama! Hannah corrected. He always comes, it’s his duty. Hannah rolled onto her back and lifted her lean legs straight into the air, studying them and then the ornate plastered ceiling above her.

Well, he’s ‘people’, isn’t he? Betsy reproached. Cover yourself, up, miss. Betsy shook her head. Soon that body of yours will show you that you are becoming a young lady, so you must start behaving like one.

Hannah liked to try and shock Betsy. It broke the tedium of – ‘nothingness’ which her life had become. She dreamed of riding across open fields or along the flat sandy beach, with the wind blowing through her mass of hair. Actually, he’s very boring.

Saint’s preserve us, Hannah! If your mama could hear you, she would have you locked into your room until you apologised with only water or soup to break your fast! Remember when you insulted her friend’s daughter?

I merely complimented her Romanesque features…

You were rude, her nose was not that big! Betsy said, and her hand flapped to hush the girl as if Lady Alicia Harpham was in the very next room, which was highly unlikely because Hannah’s stepmother had chosen to have little to do with her.

My real mama was beautiful, adventurous, spirited and refined - the finest specimen of women kind. Hannah repeated the words her father had used when he was the worse for drink after a particularly successful Christmas gathering. That was before he had met the blonde-haired beauty, Lady Alicia. Hannah thought that day he had been touched by ‘yellow fever’. I’m going to be the very image of my real mother. My father said so!

Listen, Miss Hannah, Betsy spoke in a low voice, as far as the world and your father are concerned, Lady Harpham is your real mother now. Your own, Lord bless her soul, has long since departed this life. She may have been everything you have heard and more, but she is the past – Lady Alicia Harpham now fills that position. It is time you accepted her with good grace. Betsy spoke firmly but kindly as Hannah chewed her lip.

Father gives her everything she asks for. She has two new rats. Hannah threw herself onto the bed. I want a proper dog.

They are some sort of fancy foreign breed, and you could have had one too, but you had to go and ask for a wolfhound! Betsy shook her head, but Hannah saw that she had a twinkle in her eye. How would poor Phillips, the manservant, carry a hound on its own pillow like he does with Cain and Abel? Betsy laughed at the thought.

He wouldn’t have to. They’re magnificent beasts, intelligent too. More intelligent than my dear step-mama.

Betsy tut-tutted at her, but Hannah continued unabated. Wouldn’t it be a joy to see if Cain and Abel were going to live up to their names and one ripped the other apart? Hannah rolled around on the bed laughing at Betsy’s remonstrations.

It was Betsy who Hannah would have thought of as a real mother figure to her, if she had ever stopped to give the matter any thought. For whom else had nursed, loved and protected her throughout her short life?

Hannah did not like the change of look in Betsy’s eyes. She was serious. Something about her manner made Hannah sit still.

Miss Hannah, Lady Harpham will be here for many years to come. Never doubt her guile. She may not be what you want her to be but, your father loves her very much…

Does not! Hannah snapped back.

He does just, Miss Hannah. She will influence his every decision on your future. Heed my words, curb your opinions on her, or keep them to yourself, or it will be you who shall face the consequences. Betsy put an arm around Hannah.

Neither Betsy nor Lady Harpham would stop her from breaking free, though. Hannah kissed Betsy on her cheek, an act of intimacy that was guaranteed to make the woman blush then busy herself with her next chore. Take me out for a walk, Betsy – please? Hannah opened her blue eyes wide and smiled sweetly.

Well, let’s be getting you dressed then.

A short while later they were at the top of the landscaped garden, and there they broke their fast with a few sweetmeats prepared by Cook and drank fresh lemonade, so refreshing in the warmth of the day.

Hannah looked beyond the treetops of the woods, and down across the sandy bay to the German sea.

How far is it to the fishing village? she asked casually. Hannah wanted to explore beyond the estate.

I don’t know. One or two miles, but Ebton’s no place for you.

Why ever not? I thought the sea air was a tonic, Hannah answered carefully, as she planned her next move.

They’re common folk. The people of Ebton are from a close-knit fishing village. There are some strangers in the new houses but they’re not gentry like you, Miss Hannah. Betsy looked away.

Well, I’m surprised at your attitude! Hannah stood up and put her hands on her hips as Betsy’s face turned back to her.

You cheeky little… Betsy rolled her ample figure to the side, to stand up.

You’ll have to catch me first! Hannah ran for the trees. Betsy being slower and cumbersome, struggled to catch Hannah up.

She ignored Betsy’s pleas for her to stop. When an arm reached out and grabbed Hannah by the shoulder pulling her backwards. Hannah slipped and landed in a pool of mud and foliage.

How dare you? You great bully! Hannah shouted at the young landsman who stood openly laughing at her.

This is no place for you, Miss Harpham, he said. His lithe physique suggested the makings of a fine man beneath his open shirt. Hannah guessed he would be three of four years older than herself.

Betsy ran up behind her.

You silly girl! Betsy panted as she politely nodded towards the youth.

Hannah fought to hold back tears of frustration and embarrassment, as they heard a rider approach.

What is the meaning of this? Lord Harpham’s voice demanded as he dismounted.

Miss Harpham ran into the woods, sir. I stopped her from getting lost or shot at by the gamekeeper.

Jenkins, go back to your tenancy! Your family are no longer welcome near this hall.

The look Jenkins gave her irate father before he left bordered hatred. Hannah shivered.

Lord Harpham turned on Betsy, I have trusted you with Hannah’s safety and well-being against Lady Harpham’s better judgement and this is how you repay me!

Hannah felt sick. She loved Betsy. All of this was her fault, not Betsy’s. Father, I…

Hannah do not concern yourself. It is time you had a governess. His voice was gentler, but his eyes were full of rage. Hannah had never seen him like this, somehow beyond her reach. She had disgraced herself and him in front of one of his tenants.

Lord Harpham, please, no… Betsy begged. She was too quick for me, that’s all. She was just playing a childish prank. Betsy tried to explain but Hannah listened in dumbfounded silence as her beloved father dismissed Betsy on the spot.

She ran to Betsy and flung her arms around her. I’m sorry, I didn’t think! Hannah’s voice broke as she spoke, choking back sobs of anguish.

Betsy too was sobbing. No, Hannah, you didn’t. That’s your problem, you never do.

Chapter One

December 1817

Betsy had gone. Hannah had been assisted by one of the maids who was polite but never friendly. Months had gone by. She had been instructed twice a week by a tutor borrowed from