From the Ashes

Chapter One

Her name echoed through the vast entry hall. "Coming, Lady Bentley," she gasped out of breath, entering the drawing room balancing a serving tray laden heavily with the ornate silver tea service.

"Confounded girl, where have you been?" Lady Bentley snapped.

Pulling a letter from her apron pocket, Juliana informed her, "Sorry, Madame. The post delayed me. This just came for you."

"Well, give it here," she said, snatching the letter from Juliana's hand. "Well, well, well. Wonders never cease," she snickered, the sound of it grating on Juliana's last nerve. "Do you know who this is from?"

"No, Lady Bentley," Juliana answered as began the task of pouring her mistress's tea.

"Of course not," Lady Catherine Bentley said, putting on airs. The woman certainly had a flair for the dramatic. "It's from Richard. He's coming home."

At the sound of that name, Juliana felt something within her jump for joy, only then to wither and die. How much more could she stand? When, when will it be over? She knew better than to show any reaction to such tidings. After years of abuse at this woman's hand, Juliana had become a master of deception and found she could now conceal her feelings with ease.

Obviously put out by her lack of response, Lady Catherine snipped, "Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes, Lady Bentley," Juliana said with a schooled expression and with a steady hand passed her mistress her tea. "Should I prepare his room for him?"

"Yes, go," Lady Catherine said, her annoyance transparent by the wave of her hand dismissing Juliana as if she were a pest she wished removed at once.

As she folded the crisp linens, Juliana thought about how she came to be at Bentley Manor. It had been almost twelve years now since she had last seen Richard. Her entire world had changed since then. Richard had been her very best friend growing up. Her father had made his fortune in textiles and did quite a bit of business with Lord Charles Bentley, a very kind and wonderful man. Richard's actual mother had died when he was young and Lord Bentley thought it best to remarry, but his new wife was a shrew. The only reason she had married his Lordship was for his vast fortune.

She bore him two more children, two girls that thankfully took more after their father. Lady Catherine disliked children. She really saw no need to have more. Lord Bentley already had an heir from his first wife but if it would keep him happy and keep her lavished in fine clothes and jewels so be it. Although, once they were born, she showed no interest in raising the girls or Richard.

So, Lord Bentley had taken advantage of the ill fortune that had befallen the Wadsworth family. In a tragic fire Juliana lost everything, her family, her home, and she believed her only chance at true love. She had no titles, no money to fall back on. It was painfully obvious that her father although a brilliant businessman made no plans for his family's future should the unspeakable happen.

Lord Bentley took Juliana on as a governess to his daughters, Annabelle who was ten and four and Clara who was two years younger. They had sent Richard to boarding school four years prior to the accident. Unfortunately, Lord Bentley had hidden the fact that his health was poor and only after a few years had passed of a poor heart.

Lady Catherine had always despised the way Lord Bentley had treated Juliana as one of the family when she felt the girl was no more than a freeloader. Preying on the kindness of an obviously sick man.

Once the girls were of marriageable age, she had sent them off to her sister in London to be presented so that they may find a good match, and with them no longer in the household, Juliana had asked for a letter of recommendation so that she could find employment elsewhere. Lady Catherine informed Juliana she had no intentions of doing any such thing.

Personally, she felt Juliana had no effect on the girls' upbringing that good breeding did not already provide. Having no other option, Juliana had become a chambermaid at Bentley Manor, forced to serve Lady Bentley's every whim.

Now Richard was coming home. They had so much fun together as children pulling pranks on the help. Racing their horses through the forest. She remembered one time in particular when she had ridden far ahead of him. She climbed a large oak tree to see if she could spot him. He looked so gallant as he rode his black stallion. His hair was wild and untamed, long in length it flowed behind him like a banner. She couldn't help but admire him. He had spotted her among the trees. It was the beginning of fall and most of the oaks had lost their foliage, so it left her with little cover.

Taking a turn with his horse, Juliana had lost sight of him. She strained to catch a glimpse of him from her precarious perch. He encircled her, to come at her from behind, thinking it amusing to scare her, but he nearly scared her to death as he called out her name.

Surprised, she jumped as she turned to look at him, and lost her footing on the branch she stood on. The ground rose to meet her at an alarming rate. A tree branch had broken her fall slowing the rate at which she fell possibly saving her life but not before the branch pierced her skin leaving a deep gouge in her side.

Richard's face grew so pale and his stormy gray eyes clouded over with concern and fear as he rushed to her side. He stared in horror at the blood that oozed through her clothing. Tearing his shirt's sleeve, he pressed it into the wound and whipped off his cravat to tie around her delicate waist.

She was only twelve then, and Richard was four years her elder. When she told him to get help, he told her he would not leave her and instead saddled up with her on his lap. He rode like the wind that day. Taking her to her father's house.

Juliana recovered from the wound just fine, but by the time they permitted her to see anyone, she was told that his parents sent Richard away to school. Juliana did not know if she would ever see him again. Life was so cruel to allow their paths to cross again, especially now. Depending on when he dispatched his letter, he could be here as soon as tomorrow.

How ashamed Juliana felt for him to find her this way, but she was quite older now, nearly twenty-five. With luck, he will not recognize her. After all, years of household work and misery serves their toll on a person's physical appearance. She only hoped, if that were so, that Lady Bentley would not give her away.