A Tangled Affair: The Trials of Finding Love, #1

By Liza O'Connor

Garrison Ford needs a wife and son before his 35th birthday. He goes to London to find a bride and falls in love with a debutante's elder sister, Sara. Unfortunately, Sara considers herself "ruined and unfit" to be his wife. Desperate to keep the woman he loves in his life, Garrison marries her younger sister, Dana. Returning home with both sisters, Dana, his untouched wife, and Sara, his beloved mistress, Garrison learns that a young lady in town is rumored to be carrying his child. As if this is not tangled enough, Garrison's best friend is determined to free Dana from this tangled knot and take her as his bride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Authors Online
• Release date: Feb 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393439776

Liza O'Connor

   Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens in a myriad of genres. http://www.lizaoconnor.com/   

Book preview

Chapter 1

GARRISON FORD STARED at the room of young debutantes with little enthusiasm. They look like frightened children.

Of course, they look frightened. Lady Castel snapped her fan with a hint of agitation. They are young and fresh. This is their first season. They will become more polished with exposure to society.

I hoped for more character, not polish.

Lady Castel’s fan fluttered with more than a little impatience. You are the one who came to me for help.

Garrison sighed and ran a hand through his dark curly hair. Yes, I apologize. I just hoped they’d be... his hand waved about as he sought the words to express his extreme dissatisfaction with the selection of potential brides without insulting his friend, ...not so young.

What did you expect? The best of these girls will enter an engagement within the next six months. If you are slow to the mark, you’ll have to wait another year to search for a suitable bride.

Garrison’s stomach tightened into a knot. His need to marry could not wait until next year. He must acquire a wife and a son as soon as possible. Steeling his nerve, he perused the silly girls for the least objectionable.

His gaze roamed the room and stopped on one that at least wasn’t stiff with terror: a pretty brunette with a heart shaped face. She appeared most animated in her discussion with another young woman, who, based on the similarities, might be her older sister. The resemblance of the two girls was quite marked, although the results quite different. The younger one was full of joy, which gave her beauty an internal glow. The elder, who could not be more than twenty, had almost the same features, and should have been just as beautiful, yet there was sadness in her eyes that hinted of some great tragedy.

He nodded towards the young woman. Who is that?

Lady Castel’s eyes fell on the younger girl. Dana Hawkens. She won’t do for you.

Her certainty prevented him from correcting which sister he meant. Why ever not?

Well, the family has suffered an embarrassment of grand proportion this last season. And they do nothing to contain the damage. My heart goes out to the poor girl. If not for the scandal, she’d be the catch of the season.

Is the family incurring financial difficulties?

Heavens no! Lady Castel coughed at the thought. The Earl of Rottengale, Samual Hawkens, seems to grow wealthier by the day.

A financially sound Earl? Pray tell, what has the poor girl done to ruin her chances?

"Oh, it’s not her. She’s perfectly lovely, has manners like a princess, and always appears remarkably poised. No, it’s her older sister, the one beside her. Lady Castel sighed and fluttered her fan. I don’t understand why they didn’t send her away. They must realize her presence destroys poor Dana’s chances. I’ve considered writing her Grace, but I cannot conceive of a way to phrase my advice without risking insult, and I would rather not fall into disfavor with the Earl."

He studied the elder’s smile that could not hide the misery within. Whatever occurred, she evidently paid a terrible price for it. He watched her smile fade once her sister accepted a dance partner and left her side. What did she do?

Now alone, the elder sister moved to a far corner out of everyone’s view.

What did she do? Lady Hawkens softly exclaimed. If you ever left that estate of yours, you would know the story! Five years ago, Lady Hawkens claimed the girl had been sent to a finishing school in Switzerland. Then this summer, she returns with a shipload of young women rescued from a harem. A harem! I don’t know what they thought they were doing‒trying to bring the girls home.

Garrison’s sympathy for the young woman and his anger at Lady Castel rose in unison. I suspect they thought they were returning them to the welcoming arms of their families.

No doubt that was the good intention of Admiral Jackson when he rescued them. But the man should have known better. You cannot bring unchaste, unmarried girls back into society!

It seems someone is trying. Garrison looked at the sad young woman. Only society was too dogmatic to allow the girl a chance to reclaim her life.

Well, we have little choice. The Earl has significant influence and let it be known he’d seek revenge on any who slights his daughters. So, we suffer Sara’s presence, but I assure you, no one associates with her.

He noticed the unwanted Sara was no longer alone. Carlton Jennings had her cornered.  By the stress in her eyes and her rigid posture, Garrison thought she did not appreciate the company, thus, he was surprised when she allowed Carlton to escort her from the room. It was not until they crossed in front of him and Lady Castel, that he noted how Carlton’s fingers dug into her arm. Garrison was certain by the defeat in her eyes, that Sara Hawkens accompanied the gentleman against her will.

Introduce me, he said to Lady Castel.

Her eyes rounded in horror while her fan fluttered at the speed of a hummingbird’s wings. I will do no such thing. You have no idea what you are asking. She is .... well, let us just say she takes too many walks with our young men.

Garrison watched Carlton push her out the door. Where are her parents? he asked in quiet fury. Why are they not protecting her?

Lady Castel flicked her fan closed in agitation. They remain in the country, evidently in total oblivion. They pretend nothing is the matter.

He had heard enough. The Earl could pretend all he wished, but Garrison could not stand by and watch a young lady in torment. Excuse me, Lady Castel, but I am in need of a bit of fresh air myself.

Chapter 2

GARRISON SOUGHT OUT the darkest corner of the gardens, locating Carlton and the young lady. He was careful not to make his presence known. If the lady was willing, he didn’t want to create an embarrassing situation. However, he knew Carlton well enough to know that a woman would not have to consent for the scoundrel to take advantage.

Staying within the shadows, he edged around the hedge until he saw her. Her hands were pressed against a large oak tree. Carlton took her from behind, her dress pushed to her waist. Garrison knew he should leave, she was obviously willing, but his feet remained frozen to the spot. His stomach roiled as he watched. Why did she not fight him? Carlton was treating her like an animal. Why would she accept this? He remembered Lady Castel’s words. She had been rescued from a harem.

Is this all she thinks she deserves?

Garrison moved between two large boxwoods as Carlton pulled out and put his clothes to right. He watched the girl straighten up and settle her skirt.

Carlton yanked her face roughly to the light. I told you no more crying.

She pulled her face from his hands. I am not crying.

I beg to differ. I cannot take you back in looking as you do.

You don’t have to. I know my way back.

Carlton laughed. I guess you know all the gardens of the gentry pretty well by now.

When she didn’t respond, he shrugged and returned to the ball.

Garrison couldn’t move without giving away his presence. When the moonlight lit her face, her cheeks glistened from tears and her expression betrayed devastated misery. He knew for certain she had not wanted the man’s attention, but what he didn’t understand was why she allowed it to happen.

The young woman breathed in deep and brushed her skirts once more. Her shaking hands wiped away the telltale moisture from her cheeks and she chanted something beneath her breath. She had only taken one step towards the house, when voices of young men rang in the distance. Panic filled her eyes as she scanned the garden. As the voices grew louder, she rushed between the boxwoods and ran directly into Garrison.

She gasped upon hitting his chest. His arms reached out to steady her. He had never seen such despair in such a beautiful face. His finger rose to his lips and he pushed her deeper into the shadows behind him, shielding her body from view. Convinced she was out of sight, Garrison stepped out and lit his pipe. When the three young men turned the corner, they came to a complete halt.

May I help you gentlemen? he asked.

Their mouths opened in shocked unison, but none spoke.

Finally, the tallest of the young men, no more than seventeen with red, bushy hair, found his tongue. We were looking for a lady.

The shortest fellow sniggered and the third fellow punched him into silence.

The red-haired boy arched his brow. Have you seen her?

Garrison puffed on his pipe and studied the boys. Why the hell would such children be a party to Sara’s torment?

I’ve seen no less than a hundred of them in the house. You boys are headed in the wrong direction. His response disappointed them, and his hard stare sent them on their way. He waited until they were inside before he turned to the woman and held out his hand. It’s safe to come out now.

When she did not take his hand, he wondered if she had escaped through the hedge. I won’t hurt you, he added.

Still nothing.

Would you like an escort to the house? Those boys might still be about.

His observation triggered some rustling and the young woman pushed her way out of the hedge, but still avoided his hand. I would appreciate an escort.

He nodded solemnly. You may want to fix your hair.

With her hands, she examined the state of her hair and the expression on her face told him what seemed terribly apparent upon consideration. Her hair could not be repaired in the garden. She would require brushes and pins.

Perhaps we should go through the kitchen and up the servant stairs, he suggested.

Pain creased her brow, but she followed him around the house without protest as he led her up the narrow stairs and into a bedroom.

He pointed out the vanity table. You should be able to find whatever you need in there.

Her eyes rounded in confusion as she faced him, making no effort to fix her hair.

He pressed his ear against the door. Hurry. I wouldn’t want to compromise your reputation by someone discovering us in this room.

Sara continued to stare at him, as if unable to understand his simple request.

Hurry, he said again with greater urgency.

Finally, she moved into action.

She rushed to the vanity and set about fixing her hair. When she was finished, she carefully removed her hairs from the brush. Upon twisting them in a small ring about her finger, she stood up and faced him.

He peeked outside and then motioned for her to follow. In the hallway, he pointed to the stairs. Just follow those down to the party, I’ll go down the servants’ steps.

She nodded and started downstairs.

Garrison watched her until she disappeared around the curve of the stairwell, then made his way down to the kitchen and entered through the garden. When he reentered the house, he searched for her and found her safely with her sister.

Lady Castel introduced him to several young women that evening, but he could not recall their names or anything about them. All he could remember was one young woman with beautiful, yet wounded eyes, rescued from white slavers, but treated no better by the young gentlemen of society. The more he thought of it, the angrier he became.

No matter what debutante he danced with during