Title:
An Untimely Romance
Author:
J & L Wells
Genre:
New Adult, Time Travel Romance
Synopsis:
Heather Richardson is a seventeen-year-old British girl whose life quickly
becomes an emotional roller coaster when she meets Ruben Brown, a controlling
twenty-four-year-old man who works for her father at Freesdon Manor. As much as
Heather wants to love Ruben, the cracks in their relationship begin to show as
her eighteenth birthday draws nigh.
In a surprising
turn of events Heather is confronted by Frank, an intriguing man from a past
that dates back to the nineteenth century. His untimely presence changes
everything.
When she’s thrown
back in time by an unrelenting force, Heather realizes that her life is not
what it appears to be. Her future has already been written, and it seems she
cannot escape her fate, a fate determined by a love lost long ago. In her
struggle to find herself, Heather must chose her destiny amidst a dangerous
love triangle, vengeful lovers, and passions controlled by the hands of time.
Author Bio:
About J
& L Wells: J & L Wells is a UK based mother daughter team,
consisting of Laura and her mother Judith. Together, they write compelling
fiction and are currently working on book 2 of the Untimely Romance series.
Author
Links
Buy Links
(If Available)
Excerpt:
Chapter
One Ye Olde England
“Oh, Mr Boswel,” Anna sighed
awkwardly, biting her bottom lip as he gazed seductively into her eyes. She
placed her small-gloved hand into his and he smiled, but no words passed
between them. The heady concerto played by the musicians faded into insignificance,
the guests and all their formalities forgotten in the moment. He led her into
an open hallway towards the larger of two grand staircases. She could hardly
breathe. His dark-brown eyes were hypnotic and with every gaze they burned into
hers. His jet-black hair fell in soft waves around his shoulders, while small
curls drifted onto his forehead, which he had a habit of flicking back to
reveal his face. And oh, what a face, with his chiselled jawline, high
cheekbones and overly full lips, perfect traits complemented by a rich olive
skin tone and pretty, near perfect complexion.
Anna had waited so long for
this moment. She felt her legs trembling beneath her, hoping upon hope that
they wouldn’t give way. Upon reaching the first floor, guilt descended upon
her. She knew what she was about to embark on was wrong and that she’d be
judged, but on second glance down the stairs, across the hall and through the
arched doorway, she saw that those in attendance at the masquerade ball danced
on and drank merrily, oblivious to their departure.
She wasn’t allowed to
linger for long, as Mr Boswel’s firm grip pulled her slightly off balance and
she stumbled wearily. Aware that the hour was late, her gaze wandered briefly
before coming to rest on the ornate grandfather clock in its regal attire,
situated equidistantly between the two staircases, both hands sitting
comfortably on the number one.
Mr Boswel’s eyes held a
warm reassurance as he led her across the landing towards a large oak door. “After
you, madam,” he gestured, opening the door.
“Thank y’ sir,” she uttered
nervously.
Why me? Anna thought to herself as her conscience juggled with reality, still
questioning why he had given her the time of day. With his good looks and his
status, he really could have anybody he desired. On close inspection, Anna knew
she was anything but beautiful; even as a child, her mother referred to her as
plain. It wasn’t that she had a bad face, just not an overly pretty one; her
eyes perhaps too small, their colour quite insignificant – somewhere between
light blue and grey – and strawberry-blonde hair scraped back rather severely
in a bun. There wasn’t anything dynamic about her features either; even her
nose had a slight tilt to the left – a flaw nobody else would have picked up
on.
Then the door closed behind
them and they were alone at last, away from unwanted roving eyes. It was a
moment she’d longed for, for what seemed like an eternity.
She found herself in a
large bedchamber, a four-poster bed made from a deep rich wood taking centre
stage, its precise carvings inlaid with gold leaf in large spirals. Warm red silk
drapes, not quite scarlet, perhaps a shade or two deeper complemented the bed.
The room exuded wealth, with its deep-mahogany furnishings, high walls and
numerous gilt edged portraits.
Anna felt lost in her new
surroundings.
“Well, Anna…”
She jumped, and her eyes
were drawn once again towards the handsome Mr Boswel, who had already removed
his shoes and was now reclined on the bed, propped up by two thick cotton
bolsters. His long taupe waistcoat was draped untidily over a padded-back
chair, and she watched tentatively as he started unbuttoning his linen shirt to
reveal a toned physique.
“Join me,” he murmured, his
voice soft and inviting.
Her heart was beating so
heavily in her chest as she made her way over to the bed that she was sure he’d
be able to hear. She was even tempted to hold her breath. He leaned his body forward
towards hers as she sat nervously on the edge of the bed. She knew he was going
to take her, and although she felt way out of her depth, she wanted him so very
badly. He smelt so fine, his broad chest brushing against her arm; she could feel
the soft hairs between his nipples, and then their hardness.
She was burning inside as
he ran his fingers longingly over her body. She felt his breath, then his lips,
tenderly at first as they began caressing the nape of her neck, and then with
an urgency, a hunger, the tenderness turned to lust. Their lips met for the
first time and he pulled her body roughly onto his, quickly loosening the
bodice of her gown and starting to untie the lacings of her corset…
~•••~
“Anna,” he whispered, a
husky lilt to his voice.
“Mr Boswel…” were the only
words to leave her lips as they lay lost in the moment, wrapped in each other’s
arms.
“Stay here with me
tonight.”
“Sir, I’ll be tellin’ y’,
I’m betrothed to another,” Anna replied, shedding tears of guilt while darting
around the room, recovering her garments.
Mr Boswel sighed. “An
unfortunate predicament in which you find yourself, my dear,” he said, lifting
himself slightly and leaning the weight of his body on his elbows, looking at her
earnestly while she dressed.
“Mr Boswel, yer reputation
precedes ye.”
“Perhaps, Anna, but they
are just empty conquests.”
“All but one, sir.” Anna paused,
awaiting his response, but the words she longed for were not forthcoming.
“This I cannot deny, but I
would be grateful if you were not to mention her name. She is now but a ghost
from my past.”
“I must take yer leave,
sir. I’ll be missed.” Fear grew in her voice. “Mr Boswel, I ain’t gonna live a
life with ye as me guilty secret.”
“Well, Anna, that’s
all I have to offer you. At this present time you must be patient… I…”
Anna interrupted him before
he could continue. “Please, sir, I beg of ye, say no more. I think it best I
bid ye farewell.”
With that, she walked out
of the room and out of his life, sure that he was watching until she closed the
door.
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