When A Rose Blooms- Book 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Miss Juliana! Miss Juliana! Where are you? The coach has arrived to take you to London. Your bags have been loaded up and everything Miss Juliana.” Olivia called to her loudly. Juliana had heard her the first time she had called but could not bear to leave her life long home just yet for a new life in London.

Memories of the time she had spent in this library with her father flooded back, sadness overwhelmed her but getting up from her seat in the window she pushed the sadness away and focused on the new life ahead of her in London with Lord Carlyle. Lord Carlyle, her heart fluttered at the thought of him but it shouldn’t he was now a married man and she shouldn’t still feel this way after all this time. Olivia called to her again and this time Juliana answered.

“Coming Olivia… I’m going…” she almost whispered to herself running a gloved hand along the dusty shelve as she left.

~

The coach ride was long and boring and Juliana expressed her boredom numerous times to Olivia. Olivia suffered in silence, travelling, especially long distances, did not agree with her and neither did Juliana’s incessant complaining. Finally the coach stopped outside Lord Carlyle’s town house and she had to face her future after a long and agonizing wait. She was handed down from the coach by a burly foot man and stood on the busy street waiting. Juliana did not like cities except when visiting was absolutely necessary, but the happy hum and bustle of London did not annoy her as much and she believed she could get used to it with time.

The footman invited them in graciously and carried their luggage in for them. It was late evening by now and the butler informed them loftily that Lord and Lady Carlyle had already sat down for dinner and would Miss Lucas care to join them. She agreed that she would indeed like to join them but could Olivia be provided with some food in their rooms. He nodded grudgingly and passed the order on to an awaiting maid before announcing her to the dining room.

She floated into the room gracefully, maintaining a courteous smile as she found herself being stared at by Lord Carlyle’s piercing ice blue eyes warmed by the numerous candles that lit the room; Lady Carlyle however was not there as far as she could see.

“Miss Lucas, charmed I’m sure. It’s been a long time hasn’t it, please join me I’m sure you must be hungry.”

“Yes I am thank you my Lord, is your wife not joining us?” she asked maintaining her courteous manner  as she sat down at his left hand, nodding her thanks to the butler as he placed a bowl of soup in front of her.

“Rebecca was not feeling well so she retired early, she sent you her apologises.” He stopped quickly on this conversation line, and Juliana watched him closely for his reaction at her mention of his wife. He had completely stopped talking and was staring down at his food as if he had gone off eating; she got the impression that something about his wife was worrying him.

“Are you ok my Lord?” she asked softly, startling him out of his daze and he stared at her in surprise as if just seeing her for the first time.

“Oh… yes Miss Lucas I am fine.” He murmured lifting his brandy glass to his lips downing it in one, before holding it out for a refill. Dinner continued in this silent dazed manner until the brandy bottle was empty and Lord Carlyle cursed loudly.

“My Lord, are you hurt?” Juliana asked surprised by his use of such a foul word.

“Stop calling me ‘my Lord’ I hate it, that’s who I am at parliament my name at home is just Francis Carlyle but I would much rather you called me Frank after all we are related in a way, Juliana…” he stared at her blatantly.

“Thank you… Frank… that would be much easier, but I believe it is time for both of us to retire.”

“Of course, excuse me however I don’t feel like retiring just yet and Wells should be back soon with another bottle of brandy.”

“Good night then my Lord, Frank… good night…” Juliana was just opening the door when a high pitched scream echoed through the house. Frank leapt up as if he had been stuck with a hot poker, spilling the remains of brandy on the table.

“The baby,” he rasped, “Rebecca.” She stared at him surprised, Rebecca was pregnant? A maid hurried by carrying bloodied towels and a footman leapt down the stairs calling for a messenger boy to go for the doctor. Still Frank didn’t move so Juliana’s sensible side took over and she left Frank to panic on his own and went to help Rebecca.

 Up in the ornate bedroom servants stared at her in surprise as Juliana took Rebecca’s hand and told her who it was softly. Rebecca smiled at her weakly and Juliana gestured for one of the hovering maids to pass her a bowl of water and a cloth. As she sat stroking the sweat from Rebecca’s forehead she felt the grip on her hand tighten slightly and realised Rebecca was trying to ask her something. She bent down close to Rebecca’s mouth and listened carefully.

“The baby?” she murmured and Juliana shook her head slowly, Rebecca’s eyes closed and she seemed to relax into the bed. It was as if she felt she had nothing left to live for now the baby was dead and she didn’t want to keep trying. Juliana got the feeling that her patient was not going to last much longer and the servants seemed to agree as they stood around in respectful silence. Putting Rebecca's hand down gently, she addressed the waiting staff softly,

“I am going to talk to Lord Carlyle, please inform me when the doctor arrives and keep Lady Carlyle as comfortable as possible.”

“Yes Miss Lucas.” Came the reply and she nodded to them thankfully before leaving quietly. Down in the hallway Wells, the butler was waiting for her. She looked at him questioningly and he led her willingly to Frank’s study, where he sat in darkness knocking back glass after glass of high quality French brandy.

“Frank, Rebecca is dying you need to go and see her before it is too late.”

“Did the baby make it?” Came his strained voice from the darkness. She couldn’t make a reply to the pain in his voice, but where she stood in the lit doorway he could see her shake her head when her hair glinted in the dim light.

“Please just leave me alone Juliana.”

“I’ll be upstairs if you need me… I’m sorry Frank.” She hurried away in a flurry of skirts, meeting the doctor on the stairs as he came back down; she must have just missed him as she had gone in search of Frank. “What’s happening Doctor?”

“She has died I am afraid Miss… were you close?”

“Its Miss Lucas sir and no we weren’t close at all we just met this evening. What was the cause?”

“Massive lose of blood trying to give birth too early. Her whole pregnancy was very risky if you ask me, she was not built to bear children but he insisted on having a child. Would you like to tell Lord Carlyle or shall I?”

“I think it would be best if I did, thank you Doctor. Can I leave it with you to inform an undertaker for me, I don’t believe that Lord Carlyle will be up to it.”

“Of course Miss Lucas, may I be so bold as to ask your relation to Lord and Lady Carlyle?”

“Lord Carlyle is my guardian.” She wasn’t surprised when the straight laced looking doctor looked shocked, she would be one of the first to admit it was an unusually close age gap between guardian and charge. He nodded his goodbye after that and Juliana hurried back down the corridor to Frank’s study.