Lady Adalyn (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 1), Sahara Kelly [the best e book reader .TXT] 📗

These are idle suppositions, dear Diary, for this is all new and once again I am sailing across unknown waters. But I am confident that now I shall be at the helm of my own ship, not at the mercy of unfamiliar winds.

I must laugh at the nautical theme of those words, since my recent experiences with water have made me disinclined to go near any in the future, unless it is to bathe.

But the fact remains.

I am in love with Daniel. Deeply, passionately in love.

And I am surrounded by others who love me as well, in every way that matters.

Being Lady of Wolfbridge has brought me so much joy, some tears and anguish, and some burdens that were difficult to accept. But it has also brought me Daniel.

And a chance at future I never could have expected in my wildest dreams.

TO BE CONTINUED

in The Dowager Countess - The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor - Book Two

~~~~~

From Sahara:

The book you have just read is the first in a saga—a word that boasts the delightful definition:

“A long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval prose narrative in Old Norse or Old Icelandic.”

Gives you goosepimples just reading that, doesn’t it?

As you will have noticed, this isn’t in Old Norse, or Old Icelandic, for which I apologise to Old Vikings and Old Icelanders.

It is, however a long story, with some heroics. And it has been quite a challenge to write. It is open-ended, as you’ll have discovered, so I can assure you right here that yes, there is more to come and this story has yet to reach its conclusion.

Here’s a quick peek into Book Two, titled The Dowager Countess, and on the release schedule for some time in the early summer of 2019.

The Dowager Countess – The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book Two

Prologue

A festive air drifted over Wolfbridge Manor on the warm breeze of a late autumn afternoon. For once the weather had obliged and the harvest festival planned by Lady Wilkerson and her household had taken place beneath blue skies that showed nary a hint of the appalling rains that drowned the past spring, or the bitter cold of the previous winter.

Adalyn Wilkerson was thrilled to bits, and by the end of the day guessed she must have walked a distance at least equal to the entire perimeter of her estate.

As the Lady of Wolfbridge, it was Adalyn’s place to mastermind such events, and though it had taken her a while to become accustomed to such matters, today had been a splendid success and she was exhausted but proud that all had gone so well.

“Yer did a marvel here, m’Lady,” said Mrs. Barnsley, a local lady of much prestige. “I knew yer would, but ’tis good to see it happen.”

“I’m so happy as well, Mrs. B.” Adalyn rested in a chair next to the older woman. “Everyone seems to have had a lovely time.”

“Bit o’ dancin’ later, they tell me?”

“I heard that too,” she grinned. “But to be honest, I doubt I’ll be kicking up my heels. I just want to put up my feet.”

“And yerself so young…?” Mrs. Barnsley chuckled. “I’d thought yon Daniel would have yer out there whirlin’ with the best of ‘em.”

Adalyn gazed across the lawn to where a tall man was talking earnestly with another tall man. “He has me in a whirl all the time, you know.”

“Ah, that’s the way it is when yer find the right one.”

“It wasn’t easy.” Another man joined Daniel. “I love them all so much.”

“If I were only twenty years younger,” sighed Mrs. Barnsley.

Adalyn laughed. “You would have every man languishing, I have no doubt.”

“I’d have every man tired out, lass, that I would.” She laughed aloud, then blinked. “Just between us, of course. Wouldn’t want Mr. B. hearin’ that.”

“I quite understand.”

“Yer gonna wed the lad then?”

“Yes, I am.” Adalyn’s heart sped up at the thought. “There are matters I have to take care of first, though. Because once wed, I must leave Wolfbridge.”

“Aye. I heard somethin’ about that,” Mrs. Barnsley replied sadly. “We’ll miss yer.”

“As will I.” She sighed. “We’re hoping to be able to live somewhere nearby, but as I said, there are other things that must come first.”

“Yer’ll be talkin’ of young Trick, then?”

Adalyn swallowed roughly. “He’s confined, Mrs. B. I cannot think about leaving until he is free.”

“Jane said he’s still hopeful…”

“I am so glad for Jane. She’s been a constant support to Trick—and myself—since this mess started.” Adalyn sought out the gold head and the tall slender body of Mrs. Barnsley’s daughter, finding her chatting with some young mothers. “And she’s made many friends.”

“She has,” nodded her mother proudly. “With those scars, it’s a good thing, since she’s standin’ taller now. Not hiding so much.”

The unfortunate incident that had resulted in boiling water scarring half of Jane’s face had been put to rest by the friendship and respect she now enjoyed. At least Adalyn hoped so.

“And we might be close to finding out who was responsible for Sir Amery’s death,” mused Adalyn, more to herself than to her companion.

“That’ll be a good thing. I don’t like Fivetrees just sittin’ there. Next yer know it’ll be fallin’ down in pieces.” She glanced at Adalyn. “Young Miss Fairhurst doing all right then, is she?”

“From what I hear, yes,” answered Adalyn. “She is making new friends in London thanks to Sir Laurence and Lady Sydenham. And something called the Wednesday Club, although I’m not sure what that is.”

“As long as she’s safe,” said the woman who mothered half the county. “And here comes yer young man.”

Daniel walked across the grass, his gaze on Adalyn.

Seeing him draw near sent a pleasurable shimmer of recognition up her spine as her body responded to the man she had chosen as her lifetime mate.

Nobody seemed surprised when she announced that she and Daniel were going to become more than mistress and estate manager, although there was a