Heart of Night

By Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard

Heart of Night

A Nightlife Short Story

by Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard

Lady Jannessa Guillory was the daughter of an ambassador, and therefore it was her duty to marry to her station, and to help her father. Yet, the night called to her in such a way she couldn’t deny it. And when a voice found her in the dark, she knew she couldn’t stop her own passions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing
• Release date: Mar 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524291525

Book preview

Dedication

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This is dedicated to Dedrick. And to my girls, always. Much love.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to Jerry, for beta reading, to Lindy for the linguistics, to Ari for the love, and to alex forever and always. Love you all.

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Heart of Night

A Nightlife Short Story

by Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard

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Lady Jannessa Emilie Liliana Guillory wasn’t overly fond of her name. She always felt it was too long, and in many ways unwieldy. Her father, his Excellency Herraoud Guillory was the French ambassador to this small country south east of Hungary. The country was nice of course, from where Jannessa stood. She was really well sheltered. She knew it too. Yes, it was nice to walk among the trees, and well coifed hedges of her father’s estate, but she knew too, that beyond the walls and the road were people less advantaged, with harder lives. It was because of this knowledge; she refused to dwell on the fact that she was her father’s prisoner in all but name. He was working on making a profitable marriage for her. Well, the marriage was for her, the profits were for him.

Jannessa’s mother died when Jannessa was quite small. She was quite certain that, for some reason, her father had never forgiven her for it. She had everything she could need or want, materialistically. Silks, satins, dolls of the finest make, and of course a few choice baubles that might feed a family in the village for a year. But she never had her father’s love. He rarely spared her a word, or a glance. Never a hug, or even a pat on the head. Jannessa excelled at all of her studies with her French tutor, and yet Sir Guillory never once said good job or I’m proud of you. Instead, she was left at this estate in a strange country, while he was very nearly always somewhere else. Her nurse Sabine was always kind to her, but it wasn’t the same as a father’s love.

Jannessa swore to herself, that she’d do her best never to leave her children alone or unloved. Nor would she marry a man who didn’t love her, and wouldn’t love her children, no matter what her father wanted. Of course, pulling that off might be tricky, so she hoped he’d pick a kind, loving man for her. She wasn’t naïve however; she knew how diplomatic weddings worked. It was about wealth and power, not love and respect. Jannessa craved love and respect, but knew it was too much to ask.