A Romance for Every Season: A Collection of Four Novellas

By Patricia Catacalos

Set in Victorian England...four seasonal love stories to warm the heart and nurture a romantic spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patricia Catacalos
• Release date: May 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301072088

Patricia Catacalos

I hold a BA in Theatre from Seton Hill University and a MA in Theatre from the University of Denver. Years ago, when still single, I acted in and directed plays in the Philadelphia area but suffered the fate of many artists, struggling financially. So I entered a career in sales. But, my creative spirit needed to express itself and several years, ago, I started writing historical romances. I discovered that writing historical romances is my passion. I love weaving historical personalities into my plot, interacting with my fictional characters. Recently, I began writing historical mysteries/intrigue and again, love the aspect of interspersing historical fact and personalities into my story line.I am married to a loving and supportive man with a Greek heritage (which influenced a couple of my novels) and we live in southern New Jersey.

Book preview

Spring

"Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?"

– Neltje Blanchan

Thawing a Frozen Heart

Chapter One

England, 1863

The Lady you have been expecting is here, my Lord.

Christian Williston, Viscount Upland, lifted his dark eyes from the ledger he was perusing to look at his hired companion whom he considered both confidante and friend.  An errant lock of jet-black hair caressed his left eyebrow as he leaned back in his chair, resting his elbows on the padded arms and tenting his fingers beneath his newly shaven chin.  He no longer cared about appearances, but his loyal and insistent valet did.  And so, he allowed the aging man to shave him and tie his unfashionably long hair into a queue with a black ribbon at the nape of his neck.

Have you seen her, Samson?

Yes, my Lord.  She is even lovelier than your sister Madeline indicated.  She appears slightly nervous but in the same breath quite determined.  Her bearing is certainly that of a Lady.  It is a pity that she has fallen on hard times.

Christian’s dark eyes narrowed.  I care nothing of her beauty or lack thereof nor do I care about her financial hardships.  He sighed somewhat apologetically.  He did not mean to sound so heartless, but that was how he felt.  He was a man with a hollow cavity in his chest where once a feeling heart was housed.  Do you think that she can perform the duties without crumbling beneath Lucinda’s viperous tongue?

The brawny man shrugged his muscular shoulders.  Or cringe in your irate and insufferable presence?

Christian frowned.  You manage, my friend, quite nicely.

Samson tilted his head in silent acknowledgement.  I cannot say from first glance if she is of strong stock.  But your audience with her will surely answer that question.  Shall I send her in?

Christian flicked his right hand, miming for the burly man to do as he suggested.

Samson nodded before lumbering to the double pocket doors where he slid one door open, disappearing beyond the portal.

Christian dropped his face onto his open palms, effectively covering his pained visage.  He had not conversed with a Lady in well over a year and certainly was not in a position or disposition to treat her with polite graciousness.  He would not rise upon her entrance or kiss her knuckles in perfunctory politeness but would greet her with the surliness which had become an intrinsic part of his personality since that fateful day.

But then this sort of interview did not require social graces.  Graces he no longer possessed.

Loneliness and self-pity were the traits he now owned and anger was the emotion he now honed.

He tightly closed his eyes and as always happened, Bryan’s anguished and frozen face appeared…frozen in death and frozen in time.  He nearly howled aloud like an injured animal for that was how he truly felt, wounded and bestial.

Christian was so engrossed in his reverie and self-pity that he barely heard the soft knock at the door.  Bellowing, he ordered, Enter!

One of the pocket doors slid open by an invisible hand, presumably Samson’s, and standing framed in the doorway was perhaps the most beautiful woman Christian had ever seen.  She smiled graciously at the person who opened the door and then sashayed into the room where Christian sat scowling.

Samson had been correct.  His sister Madeline’s description did not do this young lady justice.  He thought that she was breathtakingly beautiful.  At the very least, she stole his breath away and no female had ever done that since he was a young buck besotted with an older woman four years his senior who had introduced him to carnal joys.

She crossed to a spot directly in front of his desk with her chin held high, revealing a long neck only partially visible beneath her high-collared day dress.  One lock of strawberry-blonde hair had escaped from a hairstyle pulled tightly back and tucked beneath a wide-rimmed bonnet and was caressing her forehead.  Annoyingly she blew the curl out of her left eye in what Christian surmised was perhaps a habitual mannerism. The turquoise color of her hat drew out the brilliant blue hue of her large eyes on a perfectly proportioned but thin face accentuating high cheekbones and full lips.

Christian thought her a mite too thin for his tastes, generally preferring a fleshier and more buxom woman.  But he could not deny that she was enticingly curvaceous and his eyes were drawn to her small but pert breasts.

He shifted on his seat as he felt a stirring in his groin, a foreign sensation not experienced in a very long time.  Christian did not like that her appearance affected him and his dark hazel eyes deepened in color from green to deep brown as he growled, Be seated.

She blinked at his rudeness before complying with his command and sitting gracefully on a chair positioned to her right where she arranged her long skirts.  She folded her gloved hands on her lap and sat with perfect posture, seemingly confident.

He leaned back in his chair, resting his forearms on the padded arms and blatantly stared at the composed woman seated before him.  As he stared, her composure seemed to crumble under his scrutiny.  Lady Audra Worthington, I presume.

Audra averted her eyes.  Your sister mentioned that you might be a mite surly, but I had not expected such rudeness, my Lord.  I do not appreciate you gawking at me.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as if attempting to smile.  But Christian had not smiled in over a year so he doubted that the twitch was the beginning of a forgotten smile.  Yet, he found her bravado amusing, be it feigned or genuine.

I am the one conducting this interview, Lady Worthington, and may act in whatever manner I so choose, be it gawking or…ogling.

She tilted her head slightly as she looked directly into his smoldering eyes.  I beg pardon, my Lord.  But you are not looking at me in a flirtatious manner but are staring rather impertinently.  She quickly placed a gloved forefinger over her lips as if she suddenly realized her impudence and wished to recapture her brazen words.  Then she sighed as she lowered her eyes to her hands.  I apologize, my Lord, for my boldness.  But I am not accustomed to playing the submissive and subservient role.  I often speak what is on my mind, most candidly.

No, you do not play the submissive role very well.  But then you were born to a privileged life and are highly educated.  Now, however, you are impoverished, left without provisions by a selfish father.  Christian mentally cringed at his own harsh insensitivity.

She stiffened as she lifted her eyes and glared at Christian.  My father was not selfish.  You did not know him and therefore have no right or basis upon which to judge his character.

Christian cocked his head as he examined her more closely.  Her eyes were flashing and he could detect a golden ring around her irises.  He did not provide for your future, did he?

No, but it was not because he was selfish.  He was a doting and loving father who was not very financially astute and…

…and had a gambling problem of which the entire Ton was aware.

She abruptly stood.  You, my Lord, are an insensitive boar.  My father has only recently died and my emotions are most raw, I admit, resulting in my oversensitivity.  But you are cold and uncaring and I do not think that this arrangement will work.

She whirled around to make a dramatic exit but spied Samson standing in front of the pocket doors with his bulk blocking her departure.  I wish to leave.

And I wish you to stay.

Audra stood with her back to Christian as she snippily retorted over her right shoulder, Your wish is not my command.

Why did your father not arrange a marriage for you?  You are thin but…somewhat pleasing to the eye.  Christian had no intention of admitting that she was exquisitely lovely.

Audra whirled around again to face Christian.  And you, my Lord, might be considered handsome were it not for the perpetual scowl on your face.

Samson harrumphed. 

And again, Christian felt a twinge at the corner of his mouth.  She was a feisty one.  He liked that aspect of her personality and in truth, considered it to be a prerequisite for the position for which she was applying. You did not answer my question.  Why not marry and fall under a husband’s protection?

She defiantly lifted her chin as she declared, I am not goods to be sold at the marriage mart.  My parents were a love-match and if I were to marry, it would only be for love.

Christian crossed his muscular arms against his broad chest as he sneered.  A love-match is overly rated and a rare find to be sure.

Audra crossed her arms beneath her bosom, mirroring Christian.  And what would an insufferable man such as you know about love?

This time the twitch did turn into a crooked smile.  And then suddenly Christian did something he had not done in over a year.  He threw his head back and laughed, uproariously.

Initially, Samson was shocked to hear his lordship’s laughter, but within seconds, he echoed the sound with a hearty laugh of his own.

Catching his breath, Christian queried, What do you think, Samson?  She has spunk.  Would you say that she has passed the test?

T-test…?  Audra stammered.

Any woman who can cause you to laugh, my Lord, has certainly earned high grades.

You were testing me?

I was.  Turning to Samson once again, Christian suggested that the giant go to the kitchen and bring tea and sweet biscuits for the lady. Samson promptly left the room.

Please be seated, Lady Audra.  We have much to discuss.

I do not appreciate being treated as a test subject.

No, of course you do not and that is why I think that you will be perfect for the position.  Please sit, Lady Audra, and let me explain.

Audra hesitated before moving slowly toward the chair she had previously vacated and sat with her spine rigid.

"Firstly, let me assure you that I am an insufferable, surly and often rude man.  And you must learn to deal with my bad behavior and my oft sharp temper."

Self-knowledge does not excuse such inexcusable behavior, my Lord.

I make no excuse.  Fate has dictated my present wretched condition and I am now who I am without apology.  A part of Christian did wish to apologize to this lady, but the apology would be short-lived for he knew himself all too well and his present gentlemanly behavior would not last.  He was too miserably unhappy to feign pleasantries for very long.

Audra averted her eyes to the fire blazing in the hearth, warding off the chill of an early spring night.  Madeline shared your…misfortune…with me and I am very sorry for your loss.

Christian’s jaw tightened.  Deridingly, he asked, The loss of my dearest friend or the loss of my mobility?

She looked directly into his darkened expression.  You are a man wallowing in self-pity, are you not?

You are a bold one to verbalize such a blatant but accurate observation.  My self-pity warms me where all other emotions leave me cold.

"Then, I am truly sorry."

Christian did not want her pity.  I need a housekeeper who can withstand my occasional outbursts but most importantly, can withstand the venomous treatment of my sister Lucinda.  She has fired two housekeepers and caused countless others to quit, each swearing never to return to this house again.

Madeline has also explained… that your dearest friend was Lucinda’s fiancé and that his death has devastated her.

Yes.  Christian averted his eyes as a pained expression clouded his face. She blames me for Bryan’s demise…and perhaps, rightly so.  Christian paused.  He could not voice what had happened.  The avalanche still haunted his dreams nightly and he often woke screaming for help.

Madeline loves you both dearly and told me that both you and Lucinda were extremely close before…the accident.

Christian turned his head toward the blazing fire as he spoke.  His voice cracked with emotion.  That was in another lifetime when we all three, Bryan, Lucinda and I embraced life enthusiastically.  Before…

Yes, before…

Chapter Two

Audra’s heart softened to his lordship.  The emotional pain he was feeling was palpable.  But she knew that he was not a man to accept her empathy.

She had nearly gasped when first she entered his study, never expecting to find such an extraordinarily handsome man seated behind the massive oak desk.  Madeline had indicated that her brother was attractive, but that his present unpleasant personality detracted from that attractiveness.

But Audra never imagined that he would be as physically appealing as he was with his dark coloring and classical features.  His upper torso and arms were muscular.  No doubt she thought strengthened by his daily use of the wheelchair he was now required to use.  The scowl on his face and his surliness were certainly detractions, but when he smiled a crooked smile, Audra felt tingling in her intimate core.  Such sensations she had never experienced before in response to a man’s smile.  Her physical response unnerved her.

She had been so nervous waiting in the foyer, anticipating her audience with Lord Upland.  But when he rudely stared at her with such flagrant audacity and brazen intensity, she could not hold her tongue.  Her father often chided her for her candidness but ultimately realized that her forthrightness was an intrinsic part of her personality and could not be erased by his gentle reprimands.

And when his lordship insulted her beloved father, she could not contain her ire.  Lord Upland’s words had scratched her raw sensibilities with a truth she refused to openly admit.  Her father had not provided for her and in a small part of her aching heart she did blame him for his selfishness in succumbing to his gambling addiction.  He had squandered the family fortune, in gaming establishments, in a futile pursuit of greater financial gains.  The result was her now impoverished state and the dire need for a job.

She felt humiliated to be seeking employment and especially embarrassed to be interviewing with such an incredibly handsome albeit miserably unhappy man.  Were their situations different and she not an impoverished Lady and he not a man now crippled, he might have been a man whose suit would have pleased her.  The thought nearly caused her to laugh aloud. It was indeed a ludicrous thought to think that this man would have found her attractive enough to court and would then have opened his jaded heart to love.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the image of his lordship courting her…a fairy tale in its impossibility.

As I said, I need a housekeeper who can withstand my sister’s verbal abusiveness.  Such a person must be strong-willed and resilient.  You, my Lady, appear to possess those characteristics.

Audra, my Lord… my given name is Audra.  Should you offer me this position and if I were to accept it, I cannot be addressed as a ‘Lady’.   I would be your housekeeper…and a…  Audra lowered her eyes.  She could not say the word as it would make her truly face the reality of her situation.  She would be a servant and an outcast, no longer attending afternoon soirees and evening Balls.

Yes, you would be a lowly servant.

Audra lifted her eyes and glared at Lord Upland.  Angrily, she retorted, Have you no sensitivity to my situation?  Has your own misfortune truly turned your heart to stone?  This is quite embarrassing for me to seek employment and yet, you seem to delight in my humiliation.

For a brief moment, Audra thought she saw regret on his face, but the look was so fleeting that she decided perhaps she had imagined it.

I do not wish for anyone’s pity, not for myself or for others’ misfortune.

"And yet you wallow in self-pity.  Are you not being hypocritical?"

Again, he smiled a half smile and its crooked nature produced sudden dampness at the apex of her thighs.  She shifted on her seat.

I believe that you will do quite nicely in the position of housekeeper and…in the role of my companion.

Audra abruptly rose to her feet.  Her heart was pounding against her chest. Beg pardon?  Madeline made no mention of serving as your companion.

Actually, the thought of a duel position just occurred to me.  In the past few minutes, I did that which I have not done in over a year.  I smiled twice and laughed once while in your company.  Perhaps I require female companionship.

Audra’s eyes widened.  She was appalled.  Could his lordship be suggesting an intimate relationship?

You needn’t look so panicked…Audra.  I am not referring to a sexual relationship, only a platonic one.

No man had ever uttered the word ‘sexual’ to Audra before and she suddenly felt extremely self-conscious in the presence of a man who dared to verbalize the word.

"You may serve as housekeeper during the day as Miss Worthington and as my companion during the evening hours as Audra.  I believe that I shall enjoy conversing with you nightly."

"You mean bickering, do you not?"

Oh, I believe that an educated woman such as you can converse quite intelligently about history, art, literature and a plethora of other topics while being open to a difference of opinion.

Audra unconsciously blew the wisp of curly hair out of her eye in annoyance.  I am always open-minded to others’ opinions but do not hesitate to express my own.  Therefore, I suspect we will squabble were I to play the role you suggest.

Good.  I enjoy a challenge.  Do you play chess?

Yes, and I am rather good at the game.  She did not mean to sound boastful but when challenged to a game of chess, she rarely lost.

"Good