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Lady in the Grove

By Jane Charles

When Orion Drakos was told that not only was a mysterious lady in the grove, but that she lived there, he knew that he must investigate, even though she was likely the imagination of a child. After all, Nightshade Manor had been in his family for generations so certainly he would know if someone was living there. What he learns, however, is that the lady isn’t the only secret that had been kept from him.

Lady Nina Jourdain has lived in the Sacred Grove of Nightshade Manor for most of her life. For the most part she had been content. She also could not leave.

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Excerpt:

On the steps near the water, with sunlight cast upon her from a break in the trees, a redhaired young woman sat reading. A rich emerald skirt of silk or satin fell about her, as well as an underskirt of orange. A scarf of deep blue wound around her neck and trailed down her back. Not only were her shoulders bare, but so was the foot that stuck out from beneath her skirts. And if Orion wasn’t mistaken, the garment covering her breasts and abdomen was a corset of cream and gold.

He blinked and wondered if he was the one with the vivid imagination.

Consumed with curiosity, Orion was nearly pulled toward the temple and the woman within when his boot snapped a twig in his quest.

The young woman’s head jerked up and he sucked in a breath. The vision, sitting on the step of the folly was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Red hair curled about her shoulders, light eyes stared at him, full, pink lips parted in shock as her perfectly rounded cheeks lost all color.

Slowly she closed her book, set it aside and stood.

“Why are you here?”

“Nephele mentioned the lady and I thought to meet her myself,” Orion answered as he drew closer.

The woman shifted her eyes to Nephele and offered a stern glare, but Orion was mesmerized by her. He had thought her eyes were blue given they were light in color, but they were grey, and growing stormier by the moment.

Nephele glanced down. “I know you were to be a secret. I am sorry.”

“Why must you remain a secret?” Orion asked.

The woman speared him with her pewter eyes. “It is best if I am. Now please, go away.”

“Not until I know your name.”

Her grey eyes shifted, taking in the top of his head down to his Hessians before meeting his eyes once again. “Is it so important?”

“It is to me.”

“If I give you my name, will you go away?”

Orion didn’t want to tell her yes. He had too many other questions.

“No.”

“Then I shall go.”

She bent, picked up her book and turned. Her back straightened and her chin lifted as she crossed to the opposite side of the folly. Orion hurried forward, hoping to catch the lady before she disappeared.

“Wait,” he called.

She paused and glanced over her shoulder, grey eyes narrowed, a thin auburn eyebrow arched.

“Where did you come from?” Orion asked.

“Good day.” The woman then hurried down the steps and away from him.

Orion rushed up the steps nearest him, but by the time he reached the other side of the folly and the worn path he assumed she had taken, the lady had already disappeared. He would have still pursued her if the path hadn’t then branched off in two separate directions. With no idea which way to go, Orion slowly returned to the folly with the weight of disappointment accompanying him.

Meet Jane Charles

USA Today Bestselling Author Jane Charles lives in the Midwest with her former marine, police officer husband. As a child she would more likely be found outside with a baseball than a book in her hand, until one day, out of boredom on a long road trip, she borrowed her sister’s romance novel and fell in love. Her life is filled with three amazing children, two dogs, two cats, community theatre, and traveling whenever possible. Jane may have begun her career writing romances set in the Regency era, but blames being a Gemini as to why she’s equally pulled toward writing Contemporary/New Adult as well as Historical romances.