The rain began before dawn.
It fell softly at first, kissing the windows of Hart Manor like a gentle warning, but by morning, the skies had opened completely, drowning the world in silver and gray.
Eleanor Hart stood in the library, her fingers tracing the spine of her father's favorite book.
The house was unbearably quiet.
For nineteen years, Hart Manor had been filled with laughter, music, and the warmth of a loving family. Now, silence had become its only companion.
Three weeks had passed since Lord William Hart was buried.
Three weeks since Eleanor had watched the only parent she had left disappear beneath the earth.
And yet, she still expected to hear his footsteps in the corridor. Still expected him to call her name before breakfast. Still expected him to tell her that everything would be alright.
But nothing was alright. Nothing would ever be the same again.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss Eleanor?"
It was Martha, the elderly housekeeper who had served the family since Eleanor was a child.
"Yes?"
"The solicitor has arrived."
Eleanor closed her eyes.
She had been dreading this day.
Her father's affairs needed to be settled, and deep down, she already knew the truth.
The Hart family fortune had been declining for years.
The endless medical treatments, the debts, and the poor harvests had destroyed what remained of their wealth.
She smoothed her dark blue dress before walking downstairs.
The drawing room felt colder than usual.
Mr. Pembroke, her father's solicitor, sat beside the fireplace, clutching a leather folder against his chest.
His expression alone told her everything.
He stood immediately.
"Miss Hart."
She forced a small smile.
"Please, sit."
The old man hesitated.
"I wish I were bringing better news."
Her stomach tightened.
"Just tell me the truth."
He removed several documents from the folder.
"Your father owed a considerable amount to the Crown and several private lenders. Unfortunately, after reviewing the estate, there are not enough assets to cover the debt."
The words struck harder than she had prepared for.
"So... what does that mean?"
Mr. Pembroke lowered his gaze.
"It means Hart Manor no longer belongs to your family."
The room seemed to spin.
No.
No, that couldn't be possible.
This house had belonged to the Harts for generations.
Every memory she possessed lived within these walls.
YOU ARE READING
THE DUKE'S FORBIDDEN BRIDE (PART ONE)
Historical FictionShe was forced to marry the most feared man in the kingdom. After her father's death, Eleanor Hart loses everything she has ever known. By order of the Crown, she must marry Alexander Blackwood the mysterious Duke whose heart is said to be colder th...
