Teasing your wicked heart

hoe," she walked slowly and pulled one

arah Jane knew she should bite her tongue to avoid

oo much to expect to be able to stroll through Thurstason's strawberry fields, work and garden in peace

t the odds were against her. In only one month, she had destroyed fiv

neath her breath, she stepped

d shook them violently. She tried, with a dejected expression, to pat dry

g the metal polish as she

ith her for being able to sputte

adjacent window, and she knew at once t

ame and forcefully wrenched the door open, causing the wo

he main door, an elderly, rotund woman pushed her w

e compelled you to venture outside in this weather?" as

visit a completely reputable and decent shoemaker would be

ut you, dear girl," as she furiously wiped mud and filth

you have gone

se Harpers had been her friend, lady's maid, and mother figure. No more than she c

the slightest enjoy being spoken to like a kid, she remarked, "It w

n bright, c

off, and a "My lady

n. The empty buckets that were provided for the leaky rooms have been dropped by his hands. It was unfortunat

se already has one sick individual, which is too much.

a lot about before. Exaggeration was

rn. He has recovered from illness in the past without incident. She also thought

irritated sigh

ust to her sho

the large staircase by Mathilda, her h

giving away the unmistakable indication, "You!" She shot a rounded arm and ges

d tiny creature. "Bathwater now," she insisted, and the women hurried to get to work

son country, where it was customary to get up early and visit the strawberry fields to check on the fresh produce. Having

ch nothing was

hing kept her from accomplishing her tasks

er than three hours at a time. The house was falling apart, and because no one else was living

es, but she couldn't just sit around and weep over the house's decay. She had to take act

which, to be honest, she knew absolutely nothing about, and from discussing crop concerns with the renters. She had smiled most of these times and nodded when necessary. Even though

le spot for her hurting body. She claimed fatigue and dozed in the pool of water a

silence

t, nothin

r, just moments after her thoughts had slipped into a state of weak slee

roaching, and q

hen she heard the slow, constant sound of feet hitti

round a corne

ed the sound through t

aid to herself. As usual, she had

sure they did, and if that man wasn't her uncle, which she was also pretty sure he wasn't because he w

an with lighter breasts had joined the individual. Was tha

she tried to make out wh

Regalia House was deteriorating due to inadequate up

I need to talk to your lord right away since he is a lousy correspondent," the

cated too close t

thilda. It sounded eerily like she was strolling alongside the man. However, isn't

h expressed frustration at

him in his bedroom if I really needed to." At that moment, he stopped breathing loudly enough for her t

d judging from the sound, there app

back, quickening as t

on the tub, so tight that the s

ut perhaps if she hid beneath it, the waves

refrain! The Earl is

d before storming into

d her body feeling chilled. Before that man saw her in al

this, frustrated by the wait and s

d Lady Sarah Jane's neck, and h

thilda gave permission to show

enberg is

words. Her eyes narrowed into slits, her head

way from her chamber. After this episode, she would surely remember to lock he

hosen from the field, including blackberries, mulberries, and strawberries. Well, they would b

came a terr

one she was all

hall came a high,

ld only let out a cry like that in the event of receiving unfavorable news. And t

the death

s paperwork most likely had his name on it, desi

d focused harder as her

e an uncle or how she would have to care for herself in an

-